When I was younger, (many moons ago) around my second year at university if I recall, our country was involved in a conflict in Kuwait and a call went out for people to write to soldiers on the front line, to keep their spirits up. I was one of those who answered this call and found myself writing on blue foldup letters, sending them across the world and waiting for their response.
As you would expect from a soldier, they were full bravado and flirtation, but honesty too. It was fun while it lasted. Photos went to and fro and I got a real feel for the camaraderie among the men. That was many years ago now, but it gave me a little insight into the style of communication at such a time.
Fast forward several years and I was in a bit of a lull with my writing. It seemed to be going nowhere and at this time, I started to read a love story about a soldier coming home from a conflict. It wasn’t my cup of tea. I couldn’t get into it, but it did get me wondering if I should write the sort of story I wanted to read. Maybe this was what I needed. Shake the cobwebs off and get my teeth into something completely different. I wanted to highlight the insecurity of holding onto a relationship, still in its youth, with so many miles between them and so I tried and this was where it began.
Next time I will tell you a little more about how I brought the MOD down on my head when I started to do some research.
http://www.harperimpulseromance.com/books/the-songbird-and-the-soldier/