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Earned Innocence: Camaraderie while taking on the world alone is mandatory
Written in first person, the author puts us in the boots of a seventeen year old American male as he joins the military seeking adventure and a "wake-up call", he awakes, more than he ever imagined, albeit twenty years later.
Transcending military fiction, Earned innocence enters the realm of contemporary and coming of age stories,
Transcending military fiction, Earned innocence enters the realm of contemporary and coming of age stories,
280 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 3, 2017
5 people are currently reading
556 people want to read
About the author
C.M. Halstead
8 books113 followersC.M. Halstead is a life long adventurer torn between his writer’s cave, exploring, and pondering, he spends the rest of his time off-trail hiking, fishing, and seeking solitude. Early careers and titles include, USMC, Procurement, NAI Certified Interpretive Guide, Boss, and the hardest one of all, Dad.
He writes his stories on an old bus he is converting, the planned completion date between now and his 30th novel; this does not stop him from driving it around the American Southwest’s wilds seeking the places of solitude he needs to create the next story. He does not discriminate in the length of the stories he writes, each hero’s journey is as long or as short as it needs to be, no fluff necessary to tell the tale.
Self banished from “town” and away from its distractions, C.M. Halstead crafted The Tripper Series, Earned innocence, Mongers, and Not Eligible to name a few. As a highly focused creative, he is usually working several stories at once and has 20 creative works in process. Regularly accused of depleting his readers of sleep, his stories are an escape from the grind eliciting the use of PTO, sick days, and late nights under the covers.
He writes his stories on an old bus he is converting, the planned completion date between now and his 30th novel; this does not stop him from driving it around the American Southwest’s wilds seeking the places of solitude he needs to create the next story. He does not discriminate in the length of the stories he writes, each hero’s journey is as long or as short as it needs to be, no fluff necessary to tell the tale.
Self banished from “town” and away from its distractions, C.M. Halstead crafted The Tripper Series, Earned innocence, Mongers, and Not Eligible to name a few. As a highly focused creative, he is usually working several stories at once and has 20 creative works in process. Regularly accused of depleting his readers of sleep, his stories are an escape from the grind eliciting the use of PTO, sick days, and late nights under the covers.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
March 4, 2022
Genre - Military Fiction/Contemporary/Coming of Age
Pages- 260
Where does one begin to tell you about one of the most emotional books I’ve read in some time. I guess by telling you that “Earned Innocence” by C.M. Halstead is just an incredible, thought provoking and very moving and real piece of literature. As a Veteran I want to thank Chris for writing such a moving story and allowing me the opportunity to read it before it’s release in September of this year. It was a pleasure and an honor. Also thank you for your ability to pen this story in such a way that makes the reader stop, think and reflect. I was transported back to my days in basic training and my time in the United States Air Force the entire time I was reading this book. Although I entered the military at the end of the Vietnam conflict in 1974, and never saw any kind of action, this book was still very relevant and comes as close to Non Fiction that fiction can allow. C.M. related that writing this Military Fiction was quite cathartic. I must say that that feeling came through in the telling of this story. I would also say that in categorizing this book it goes well beyond the “Military Fiction” genre. I would consider this a work of “Contemporary Literature”, and also a “Coming of Age” story. I highly recommend this read for any Veteran or non Veteran who has to deal with any kind of unresolved demons in their life. Brilliant...that about sums up my feelings.
Synopsis:
The protagonist at age 17, feed up with and bored with school, and having no desire to continue his education by going to college decides to join the military, as it is part of his lineage. So he and a buddy from his hometown decide to join the United States Marines. He endures and completes boot camp and goes on to and completes Recon School. Soon after completion he and his unit go on their first mission. The location of the mission is unknown and on a need to know basis, so all he has to go by to figure out where they are at any point in time is their surrounding landscape. Although they are there to observe and report they are witness to carnage and genocide of civilians including children and women. This image will stay with him for some time...after the second mission he is injured and decides to be medically discharged opposed to taking a desk job.
Fast forward 20 years...the protagonist unable to deal with his demons makes his home in the wilderness, living in the deserts, forests or wherever he ends up. While in the wilderness hiking he meets a young lady who has fallen off a cliff. It turns out she’s a nurse and hikes the area from time to time. She comes and goes and on one particular hiking excursion she decides to try and get him to tell her why he lives in the wilderness.
Coming home in a physical sense doesn’t mean you are home. It’s going to take a battle with his demons to finally find a path home….
Pages- 260
Where does one begin to tell you about one of the most emotional books I’ve read in some time. I guess by telling you that “Earned Innocence” by C.M. Halstead is just an incredible, thought provoking and very moving and real piece of literature. As a Veteran I want to thank Chris for writing such a moving story and allowing me the opportunity to read it before it’s release in September of this year. It was a pleasure and an honor. Also thank you for your ability to pen this story in such a way that makes the reader stop, think and reflect. I was transported back to my days in basic training and my time in the United States Air Force the entire time I was reading this book. Although I entered the military at the end of the Vietnam conflict in 1974, and never saw any kind of action, this book was still very relevant and comes as close to Non Fiction that fiction can allow. C.M. related that writing this Military Fiction was quite cathartic. I must say that that feeling came through in the telling of this story. I would also say that in categorizing this book it goes well beyond the “Military Fiction” genre. I would consider this a work of “Contemporary Literature”, and also a “Coming of Age” story. I highly recommend this read for any Veteran or non Veteran who has to deal with any kind of unresolved demons in their life. Brilliant...that about sums up my feelings.
Synopsis:
The protagonist at age 17, feed up with and bored with school, and having no desire to continue his education by going to college decides to join the military, as it is part of his lineage. So he and a buddy from his hometown decide to join the United States Marines. He endures and completes boot camp and goes on to and completes Recon School. Soon after completion he and his unit go on their first mission. The location of the mission is unknown and on a need to know basis, so all he has to go by to figure out where they are at any point in time is their surrounding landscape. Although they are there to observe and report they are witness to carnage and genocide of civilians including children and women. This image will stay with him for some time...after the second mission he is injured and decides to be medically discharged opposed to taking a desk job.
Fast forward 20 years...the protagonist unable to deal with his demons makes his home in the wilderness, living in the deserts, forests or wherever he ends up. While in the wilderness hiking he meets a young lady who has fallen off a cliff. It turns out she’s a nurse and hikes the area from time to time. She comes and goes and on one particular hiking excursion she decides to try and get him to tell her why he lives in the wilderness.
Coming home in a physical sense doesn’t mean you are home. It’s going to take a battle with his demons to finally find a path home….
November 4, 2017
With writing that at once envelopes and incites with its flowing POV, voice, and stream of consciousness, C.M. Halstead is an American author, a Faulkner on steroids, who breaks the fourth wall of our culture and anything else that could keep his message from finding a welcoming home in our hearts. Earned Innocence carries a banner, held high and strong, that will strengthen the character of American society. It is a story and message that deserves to be told in film, Universities, and in every living room, especially among military families seeking to reunite, rather than bury, their living.
Who should read it? Vets, of course, and the women who love them. Military families and media companies who may have up to now upheld only the mindsets necessary for war, at the expense of the benefits of peace. For while it is based on a true story, and told wholly in Truth, (although in Kesey's words, “even if it didn't happen”), Earned Innocence blazes a trail out of hell for us all, finally reclaiming those left behind, by showing them how to apply their warrior's code in fighting the toughest battle of all, that of taking back that hill they once called home, and in so doing, earning in themselves the right to believe they can re-enter the green valley beyond.
Through Halstead's stream of consciousness, you know this guy. You know the man who was once a boy, and you know the heart of the man inside a marine. He's the guy you've seen on the corner with a cardboard sign, or in your living room at 2 a.m., staring blankly at the TV. Maybe you've both admired and loathed the marine inside your man's heart. Doing his job. Ignoring the pain. Doing his job. Keeping it bottled in. Doing his job. Not showing weakness that could hurt his unit, which is now his family.
To the proud Vet, Halstead seems to be saying “Got your discharge? You're not done yet, Buddy. Don't quit on yourself. Move swiftly and silently through a sleeping society, avoiding the tripwires of ignorance and the pitfalls of depression, never looking away from your area of responsibility in fighting your way back.”
Do we have a part in this? Halstead is again thankfully relentless, exposing the inner world of the Returned to us, showing us how to reach out to our Vets and actively welcome them home. In the process, Earned Innocence impels us to be better people, not by command, but by slowly, gently, welcoming us into our own better selves.
David Dufour
Producer, Male 2010
Wishnever Productions
Who should read it? Vets, of course, and the women who love them. Military families and media companies who may have up to now upheld only the mindsets necessary for war, at the expense of the benefits of peace. For while it is based on a true story, and told wholly in Truth, (although in Kesey's words, “even if it didn't happen”), Earned Innocence blazes a trail out of hell for us all, finally reclaiming those left behind, by showing them how to apply their warrior's code in fighting the toughest battle of all, that of taking back that hill they once called home, and in so doing, earning in themselves the right to believe they can re-enter the green valley beyond.
Through Halstead's stream of consciousness, you know this guy. You know the man who was once a boy, and you know the heart of the man inside a marine. He's the guy you've seen on the corner with a cardboard sign, or in your living room at 2 a.m., staring blankly at the TV. Maybe you've both admired and loathed the marine inside your man's heart. Doing his job. Ignoring the pain. Doing his job. Keeping it bottled in. Doing his job. Not showing weakness that could hurt his unit, which is now his family.
To the proud Vet, Halstead seems to be saying “Got your discharge? You're not done yet, Buddy. Don't quit on yourself. Move swiftly and silently through a sleeping society, avoiding the tripwires of ignorance and the pitfalls of depression, never looking away from your area of responsibility in fighting your way back.”
Do we have a part in this? Halstead is again thankfully relentless, exposing the inner world of the Returned to us, showing us how to reach out to our Vets and actively welcome them home. In the process, Earned Innocence impels us to be better people, not by command, but by slowly, gently, welcoming us into our own better selves.
David Dufour
Producer, Male 2010
Wishnever Productions
February 23, 2024
Earned Innocence is a captivating read. It’s the story of a young boy of 17 who joins the Marines. It’s a vividly detailed story of his training, his service, his coming home and the demons that haunt him. It gives me a new perspective and great respect for those who serve to protect our country. It also reinforces the ability one person has to change someone’s life. Next time I see a homeless person, a sad person, an angry person, I may not be so quick to just walk by.
July 16, 2021
I just read this again and listened to it on audible. How amazing the difference is hearing it. I recommend both. Enjoy the visuals, it’s like being therefore can see yourself in the story.
May 1, 2024
Exceptionally well done. I was not certain until the end if this was a novel or a memoir.
August 7, 2024
Earned Innocence
From a boy to a man. The book starts out just before a young man goes to the Marines. This talks about challenges faces and what he goes through on any given day. It talks about resilience and determination, being there for your fellow Marine, and about being pushed past any limits you think you have. But what happens to the hardened soldier after the fighting is done. Who fights for them?
#GoodreadsGiveaway
From a boy to a man. The book starts out just before a young man goes to the Marines. This talks about challenges faces and what he goes through on any given day. It talks about resilience and determination, being there for your fellow Marine, and about being pushed past any limits you think you have. But what happens to the hardened soldier after the fighting is done. Who fights for them?
#GoodreadsGiveaway
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews