Military Fiction
Date Published: October 13, 2023
Publisher: Acorn Publishing
When the People’s Republic of China unleashes a devastating attack on the United States, newly appointed Naval Commander Bill Watkins and his crew are suddenly alone, deep in the enemy’s backyard, and unable to communicate with naval or national leadership.
At home in Washington, the president is detached from reality. Survivors of his cabinet contend with military leadership for control, some to save the nation they serve, others in pursuit of personal power. As America becomes alienated from her allies, Russia begins a campaign that creates heightened fears of nuclear annihilation.
Bill must navigate a political minefield to find friends among China’s neighbors, while undertaking a role that demands he take unimaginable risks and wrestles with the question: What losses are acceptable in order to win?
Interview with Thomas M. Wing
How many books have you written and which is your favorite?
I’ve completed two novels; this is the first one to be published. Though Against All Enemies was my favorite while I worked on it, my current favorite is the one I’m writing now. About forty percent finished, it’s based, very loosely, on my father’s and two uncles’ service during World War II. As an avid reader of war fiction and non-fiction, it gives me the chance to explore theaters in that war that haven’t received much attention from fiction. We can’t let the stories of those events be lost.
If you’re planning a sequel, can you share a tiny bit about your plans for it?
I’m not planning a sequel, though I suppose I could. Because of who my main character is and where he is in his Navy career, it would have to either be a prequel, or he would have to rise to a more senior command, perhaps of a destroyer squadron.
Do you want each book to stand on its own, or are you trying to build a body of work with connections between each book?
This book will stand on its own, as will the World War II novel. The first book I finished is set during the American Revolution, and is planned as the first in a series that follows a single family’s naval service through American history. I do build in easter eggs to all of my novels. One of the secondary characters in Against All Enemies is from the family in the series that starts during the Revolution. And the book my main character is reading on the bridge of his destroyer is meant to be that first book in the series. I suspect that a secondary character in my World War II novel will be the grandfather of one of the characters in Against All Enemies. There will also be a cameo by one of the characters from the naval family chronicles.
How did you come up with the title for your book?
I went through several draft titles. It finally occurred to me that part of the story focuses on identifying and resisting domestic enemies, so I took the title from part of our oath to the Constitution.
How long did it take you to write this book?
Nine months for the first draft, five more years of revisions and polishing. I am a better writer today than I was when I started this one, and I kept having to adjust for real world events. I don’t think I’ll ever write something again that is based on a “what if” so close to potential fruition!
What does the title mean?
It’s a nod to the oath that all military personnel and public servants - elected, appointed, and civil servant - take to “support and defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic.”
What did you learn when writing the book?
I learned that regardless of my background in Navy and joint operations, I still need to do research. That’s not really a surprise as things change fast these days. With regard to craft, I learned that I just need to accept that I overwrite. Lastly, I reconfirmed that stopping to edit along the way is a time killer and ineffective. I just need to get it all out, then go back and edit.
What surprised you the most?
The outcome of some of the character arcs. I had not envisioned a couple of the major events that conclude the story. But the characters took on a life of their own, and in one case, did something that shocked me as it rolled off my fingertips. But it worked, so I kept it.
Have you ever killed off a character your readers loved?
I’ve never been published, so I’m not sure…. Yes, a character in this book dies that was fairly popular with beta readers. It was a character I really liked, too, but it had to happen.
What do you do to get inside your character’s heads?
Since many of my characters are an amalgamation of people I know or have read about it, I take what I imagine they would think or do in a situation and use at least some of that. Also, though I didn’t start doing this until about five years ago, I also develop moderately detailed character sheets of information about the character, including backstory and the way they speak, favorite words and phrases. As part of that character sheet, I ask myself what they would do in certain situations. For example, what would it take for my main character to get into a fist fight, or to make them sob uncontrollably? When I have them adequately developed, they take control; I hear them speaking in my head, and I’m just a typist at that point.
About the Author
A Naval Academy and Naval War College graduate, Thomas M. Wing retired after thirty-two years as a Navy Surface Warfare officer. He served in guided missile destroyers and frigates, as well as with destroyer squadron, cruiser destroyer group, numbered fleet, and Joint Task Force staffs, where he planned and executed real-world joint operations at the operational and strategic levels of war. He also participated in naval combat during Operation Praying Mantis in the Middle East in April, 1988. He has taught Coast Guard licensing courses and has held a variety of sailing licenses, including Master and Master of Sailing Vessels, Upon Oceans. As well, he founded and served as Executive Director for the Continental Navy Foundation, which conducted experiential education at sea for young people 13-17 years of age. He also commanded the Foundation's tall ship, the brigantine Megan D.
His novel, Against All Enemies, resulted from a random thought during a period of political tension between China and the U.S. What if that political tension included cruise missiles flying in from the sea to strike the San Diego waterfront? Thomas M. Wing resides in San Diego with his wife and daughter, two cats, and a dog. He still spends whatever free time he has on the water.
Contact Links
Twitter: @thomasmwing1
Purchase Links
0 comments:
Post a Comment