David asked Michele Wesley:

How do you find that your experiences in the military affect your writing?

Michele Wesley My experience in the military actually provides me interesting sparks and bits of interesting concepts that I sometimes weave into some of my stories. I will always feel honored to have served this country, but I have experienced and seen some of the worse tragedies imaginable while deployed in Iraq. Having been diagnosed with PTSD, I still struggle with those bad times. When one of my characters is struggling with an issue or is saddened or struggling with one of my impossibly tragic plots, I use the way I felt during those bad times to intensify my character’s feelings.
The military also provided me the opportunity to travel around the globe. Spending time in many different countries, I have experienced and interacted with many different cultures. I have used and will continue to use some of those experiences in my books.
Overall, my experience in the military has a positive effect on my writing.

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