Keep Forever

by Alexa Kingaard

Now that Paul O’Brien has returned from serving in Vietnam, he wants nothing more than to piece together a meaningful life, but the war spawned, guilt-driven nightmares won't stop haunting him. Elizabeth is determined to help him overcome the obstacles in their path while living in an era when veterans refuse to speak of their pain, they are ignored by the bureaucracy that put them in harm's way, and are vilified by public opinion. Together they struggle a lifetime with the challenges of raising a family and learn to accept the realities of living with the burden that Paul brought home. In the shadows of the Vietnam War, tens of thousands of veterans keep silent, even amongst themselves. Their children are witness to the travesty of war, seen through the eyes of their fathers who, in spite of themselves, leave behind legacies of light, love, and understanding.

268 pages, Paperback

Published February 5, 2018

About the author

Alexa Kingaard was born in San Diego, CA and has lived most of her life in the area. She currently resides in Carlsbad and is the mother of a son and daughter who continue to be her biggest fans and cheerleaders.

Her debut novel, KEEP FOREVER, was inspired by her late ex-husband who battled the residual effects of the Vietnam War for decades after his return. The burden he brought home is shared by combat veterans of all conflicts, and her fictional account highlights the collateral damage encountered by family members and loved ones living with PTSD in their midst.

Her second novel, MY NAME IS ROSE, departs from her personal experiences and focuses on the collective memories of her generation. She loves writing about nostalgia and the human condition, the common denominator of our lives.

You can visit her online at
www.alexakingaard.com

Reviews

[Philip Myles · Rating 5 out of 5]

The premise is emotionally devastating and deeply important. A Vietnam veteran returns home haunted by guilt-driven nightmares, living in an era when veterans refuse to speak of their pain, are ignored by the bureaucracy, and vilified by public opinion. The focus on the legacy passed to the children, who witness the travesty of war through their fathers' eyes, is a powerful and necessary perspective. The central relationship between Paul and Elizabeth, with her determination to help him overcome the obstacles while he struggles silently, gives the narrative an emotional anchor that grounds the larger historical themes. One structural note: the synopsis covers a lifetime of challenges, raising a family, accepting the realities of Paul's burden, and the silence among veterans. The reader may benefit from a clearer sense of the specific conflicts that drive the narrative. A particular moment of crisis or a turning point in their relationship would give the story more shape and make the "lifetime of challenges" feel less like a summary and more like a journey. The theme of legacy, light, love, and understanding is a hopeful counterpoint to the weight of the subject matter, and with a more defined narrative arc, this will be a deeply moving and resonant read.

If you would like to talk through structure, character development, or next steps for this project, I am happy to dig deeper.

Reach me at philipmyles42 [at] gmail [dot] com or reply here.