Ape asked Myke Cole:

Do you get backlash about the positions your characters take? I was Army, and I know the second I deviated from the current jingoist/nationalist rhetoric and suggested it was okay to question our military actions, "we support the troops" was no longer applicable. Surprisingly, it is usually from the conservative never-served bunch more than former military who can actually relate. Do you ever get backlash like that?

Myke Cole I definitely suffer from missing reader expectations. On the one hand, I try to stay out of politics and avoid staking positions. I'd rather not comment than risk alienating a reader or coloring their view of my work. My goal is to write great stories that are unencumbered by the reader's view of me personally.

On the other hand, I have a strong sense of justice and try to stand up for what I believe in, even when doing so is difficult or uncomfortable. There have been some issues where I have taken public stands and it has no doubt cost me readers. I'd be lying if I said I was fine with that. The thought of losing even one reader due to a personal disagreement really rattles me.

Anyone who reads my work can't fail to notice that my positions often diverge from the prevailing military culture, and more importantly, from the prevailing culture of those who admire the military and either have never served, or have served in the past. To the extent this cognitive dissonance causes me to lose their respect or attention, I am tremendously troubled, but I do feel like I've accomplished what I set out to do artistically.

Hope that wasn't too careful an answer :)

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