Ask the Author: J.F. Leahy
Answered Questions (7)
J.F. Leahy
Good morning, Chief Raney:
thanks for inquiring about the books I have written about the USS George Washington.
First the bad news. I suffered a major stroke several years ago which has impacted my mobility, causing paralysis on my entire right side. While I have enjoyed many CPO functions in the past, for the last seven years I have been unable to travel. So I'm afraid I'm going to have to take a pass on your kind offer.
The good news is, thanks to the Veterans Administration, I have speech-enabled software which allows me to communicate at will. I'd be glad to answer any questions you might have. The easiest way to reach me is via my current email, nwg1203@gmail.com. You might also tell me where you are stationed and how long you've been initiated as an august CPO.
Best regards,
Jack Leahy
thanks for inquiring about the books I have written about the USS George Washington.
First the bad news. I suffered a major stroke several years ago which has impacted my mobility, causing paralysis on my entire right side. While I have enjoyed many CPO functions in the past, for the last seven years I have been unable to travel. So I'm afraid I'm going to have to take a pass on your kind offer.
The good news is, thanks to the Veterans Administration, I have speech-enabled software which allows me to communicate at will. I'd be glad to answer any questions you might have. The easiest way to reach me is via my current email, nwg1203@gmail.com. You might also tell me where you are stationed and how long you've been initiated as an august CPO.
Best regards,
Jack Leahy
J.F. Leahy
Ms. Williamson:
You asked if my experiences in Vietnam had any impact on my writing. Indeed, it most certainly did in several ways both significant and profound.
I was a young Navy radioman, happy as a clam to be stationed in Puerto Rico. You can imagine my surprise when my chief called me into his office and told me, at the ripe old age of twenty-three, that I was headed to Vietnam. And as a Seabee no less – a particular career choice which I neither welcomed nor much desired. He didn't offer any options though, and a few weeks later I found myself at the east coast Seabee staging base at Davisville R.I. After three weeks combat training at Davisville, and three additional weeks with Mobile Construction Battalion ONE at Camp Lejune NC, I found myself boarding an aircraft en route to Phu Bai, RVN and parts north. I always thought that if I were going to bolt, it would be at the door of the aircraft, but it was there that I learned my first important life-lesson: “If it's to be, it's up to me”. If I balked, it would just hold up the line of other Seabees, none of whom particularly wanted to fly off to a war zone either.
The second life-lesson came in-country. It was there that I learned that “Can Do” was more that an empty slogan, and that everyone-- Seabee, cook, yeoman or even a lowly radioman -- was a rifleman first when a battalion went off to war. I was one of the lucky ones; I came home safely. Nearly sixty thousand did not. I reflect upon that whenever I'm in Washington, where I make it a point of honor to visit our memorial – usually in the evening, when the tourists and school kids have long departed.
For a very long time, like many others, I put Vietnam out of my mind. It wasn't till one of my grandsons asked the inevitable question: “What did you do in the war, Pop-Pop?” It was through the several conversations that followed that I decided on my seventh book “Because Our Fathers Lied”. The first line in that book was a quote from Disraeli “Truth is the first casualty of war.” It's set at the White Elephant in Danang –perhaps your husband knows that building,which was the headquarters for Naval Support Activities in I Corps. It's on sale now on Amazon, or if you send me your address privately, I should be very happy to send you a free copy.
Thanks very much for your interest, and I do hope you and your family have a very Merry Christmas.
You asked if my experiences in Vietnam had any impact on my writing. Indeed, it most certainly did in several ways both significant and profound.
I was a young Navy radioman, happy as a clam to be stationed in Puerto Rico. You can imagine my surprise when my chief called me into his office and told me, at the ripe old age of twenty-three, that I was headed to Vietnam. And as a Seabee no less – a particular career choice which I neither welcomed nor much desired. He didn't offer any options though, and a few weeks later I found myself at the east coast Seabee staging base at Davisville R.I. After three weeks combat training at Davisville, and three additional weeks with Mobile Construction Battalion ONE at Camp Lejune NC, I found myself boarding an aircraft en route to Phu Bai, RVN and parts north. I always thought that if I were going to bolt, it would be at the door of the aircraft, but it was there that I learned my first important life-lesson: “If it's to be, it's up to me”. If I balked, it would just hold up the line of other Seabees, none of whom particularly wanted to fly off to a war zone either.
The second life-lesson came in-country. It was there that I learned that “Can Do” was more that an empty slogan, and that everyone-- Seabee, cook, yeoman or even a lowly radioman -- was a rifleman first when a battalion went off to war. I was one of the lucky ones; I came home safely. Nearly sixty thousand did not. I reflect upon that whenever I'm in Washington, where I make it a point of honor to visit our memorial – usually in the evening, when the tourists and school kids have long departed.
For a very long time, like many others, I put Vietnam out of my mind. It wasn't till one of my grandsons asked the inevitable question: “What did you do in the war, Pop-Pop?” It was through the several conversations that followed that I decided on my seventh book “Because Our Fathers Lied”. The first line in that book was a quote from Disraeli “Truth is the first casualty of war.” It's set at the White Elephant in Danang –perhaps your husband knows that building,which was the headquarters for Naval Support Activities in I Corps. It's on sale now on Amazon, or if you send me your address privately, I should be very happy to send you a free copy.
Thanks very much for your interest, and I do hope you and your family have a very Merry Christmas.
J.F. Leahy
I have always been fascinated by the events of World War Two in the North Atlantic. Of the seven books I have written for the Naval Institute Press or the Naval Writers Group over the past 15 years, six have make reference to that topic. In particular, I have always been interested in the story of the sinking of the USS Reuben James in October 1941.
And, since I also served in the United States Navy in Danang, Vietnam in 1969 and 1970 I thought it would be interesting to find a way to link those two stories in a single Novel. Because Our Fathers Lied is the story of a young woman who lost her father on the Reuben James in 1941 and her chance encounter with a merchant mariner whose daughter,a Navy Nurse, died under mysterious circumstances in Danang in 1968. Together, with the assistance of friendly staff at the Naval Historical Center in Washington, they learned the startling truths about the deaths of their loved ones.
And, since I also served in the United States Navy in Danang, Vietnam in 1969 and 1970 I thought it would be interesting to find a way to link those two stories in a single Novel. Because Our Fathers Lied is the story of a young woman who lost her father on the Reuben James in 1941 and her chance encounter with a merchant mariner whose daughter,a Navy Nurse, died under mysterious circumstances in Danang in 1968. Together, with the assistance of friendly staff at the Naval Historical Center in Washington, they learned the startling truths about the deaths of their loved ones.
J.F. Leahy
find my inspiration to write is based upon my experiences in the United States military and later my experiences as an author under contract to the United States Navy. While my first three books were works of nonfiction, after joining the Naval Writers Group I tried to broaden my reach by exploring the genre of historical fiction. My two most recent stories--”Come From Away:The Plot To Assassinate Churchill-1941”, and “Because Our Fathers Lied: Death And Deception Afloat And Ashore” are mildly fictionalized stories of actual events during the periods represented.
J.F. Leahy
Presently, I am developing a story based upon the tragic loss of eighty-four souls aboard the Ocean Ranger, a deep sea drilling rig off the coast of Newfoundland in 1982. One of the key characters in my last two books of historical fiction, Capt. Tom Carpentier, a retired merchant skipper, whom we last met as a professor of marine science at the Fisheries College of the Memorial University of Newfoundland will figure yet again in this new tale.
J.F. Leahy
I have but two pieces of advice for anyone who feels motivated to write. The first is to pick up a pencil and a pad, or to fire up their computer and begin! The most horrifying moment for any writer, I suspect, is what I call the "terror of the empty page." I would do anything -- sharpen all my pencils, make coffee, cut the lawn or just play with the dog—indeed, anything to avoid staring at the empty page. But if you don't write it, no one will ever read it!
The second piece of advice is to revise, revise, and revise again! I would be mortified if anyone were to read the first draft of any of my books! In fact, I may revise a dozen times or more before turning over the book to my editors. And the last revision usually comes about 15 minutes before the presses roll!
The second piece of advice is to revise, revise, and revise again! I would be mortified if anyone were to read the first draft of any of my books! In fact, I may revise a dozen times or more before turning over the book to my editors. And the last revision usually comes about 15 minutes before the presses roll!
J.F. Leahy
I love nothing more than to talk about the writing craft and about my stories with anyone kind enough to read them. Sometimes readers will say things like "I don't want to take up your time..." or "I know people are always asking..." when we meet at book signings, or other gatherings. But that's the life blood of a writer! To think that someone has read my words, and care enough to ask "Now, what were you thinking when you wrote such and such..." is immensely gratifying to me as an author, and I suspect to every writer.
John F. Leahy
I have always been fascinated by the events of World War Two in the North Atlantic. Of the seven books I have written for the Naval Institute Press or the Naval Writers Group over the past 15 years, six have make reference to that topic. In particular, I have always been interested in the story of the sinking of the USS Reuben James in October 1941.
And, since I also served in the United States Navy in Danang, Vietnam in 1969 and 1970 I thought it would be interesting to find a way to link those two stories in a single Novel. Because Our Fathers Lied is the story of a young woman who lost her father on the Reuben James in 1941 and her chance encounter with a merchant mariner whose daughter,a Navy Nurse, died under mysterious circumstances in Danang in 1968. Together, with the assistance of friendly staff at the Naval Historical Center in Washington, they learned the startling truths about the deaths of their loved ones.
And, since I also served in the United States Navy in Danang, Vietnam in 1969 and 1970 I thought it would be interesting to find a way to link those two stories in a single Novel. Because Our Fathers Lied is the story of a young woman who lost her father on the Reuben James in 1941 and her chance encounter with a merchant mariner whose daughter,a Navy Nurse, died under mysterious circumstances in Danang in 1968. Together, with the assistance of friendly staff at the Naval Historical Center in Washington, they learned the startling truths about the deaths of their loved ones.
John F. Leahy
I find my inspiration to write is based upon my experiences in the United States military and later my experiences as an author under contract to the United States Navy. While my first three books were works of nonfiction, after joining the Naval Writers Group I tried to broaden my reach by exploring the genre of historical fiction. My two most recent stories--”Come From Away:The Plot To Assassinate Churchill-1941”, and “Because Our Fathers Lied: Death And Deception Afloat And Ashore” are mildly fictionalized stories of actual events during the periods represented.
John F. Leahy
Presently, I am developing a story based upon the tragic loss of eighty-four souls aboard the Ocean Ranger, a deep sea drilling rig off the coast of Newfoundland in 1982. One of the key characters in my last two books of historical fiction, Capt. Tom Carpentier, a retired merchant skipper, whom we last met as a professor of marine science at the Fisheries College of the Memorial University of Newfoundland will figure yet again in this new tale.
John F. Leahy
I have but two pieces of advice for anyone who feels motivated to write. The first is to pick up a pencil and a pad, or to fire up their computer and begin! The most horrifying moment for any writer, I suspect, is what I call the "terror of the empty page." I would do anything -- sharpen all my pencils, make coffee, cut the lawn or just play with the dog—indeed, anything to avoid staring at the empty page. But if you don't write it, no one will ever read it!
The second piece of advice is to revise, revise, and revise again! I would be mortified if anyone were to read the first draft of any of my books! In fact, I may revise a dozen times or more before turning over the book to my editors. And the last revision usually comes about 15 minutes before the presses roll!
The second piece of advice is to revise, revise, and revise again! I would be mortified if anyone were to read the first draft of any of my books! In fact, I may revise a dozen times or more before turning over the book to my editors. And the last revision usually comes about 15 minutes before the presses roll!
John F. Leahy
I love nothing more than to talk about the writing craft and about my stories with anyone kind enough to read them. Sometimes readers will say things like "I don't want to take up your time..." or "I know people are always asking..." when we meet at book signings, or other gatherings. But that's the life blood of a writer! To think that someone has read my words, and care enough to ask "Now, what were you thinking when you wrote such and such..." is immensely gratifying to me as an author, and I suspect to every writer.
I love nothing more than to talk about the writing craft and about my stories with anyone kind enough to read them. Sometimes readers will say things like "I don't want to take up your time..." or "I know people are always asking..." when we meet at book signings, or other gatherings. But that's the life blood of a writer! To think that someone has read my words, and care enough to ask "Now, what were you thinking when you wrote such and such..." is immensely gratifying to me as an author, and I suspect to every writer.
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more