Author keen to keep Vietnam story authentic

Carole Brungar was in Stratford last month, signing copies of her latest book The Nam Legacy.

"While other teenagers were going out on dates, to parties and things, I was at home watching Tour of Duty and China Beach."

New Zealand author Carole Brungar says this "morbid fascination" with the Vietnam War when she was younger influenced her when it came to writing her second novel.

"I researched the war and discovered the Vietnam veterans had been really poorly treated on their return. I wanted to right that injustice for them."

The resultant book, The Nam Legacy, was published last month, and Carole was in PaperPlus Stratford on July 20, signing copies.

Margie Hodgetts, director of Stratford PaperPlus, says since the book first went on the shelf it sold quickly. So quickly that when Carole booked her signing session, Margie had to order more books on the overnight courier to ensure they had enough in stock.

"The book has been really popular," says Margie.

Carole says she has had some great feedback from readers already.

"A few Vietnam veterans read the book and told me they had enjoyed it and, more importantly, it was accurate. That means a great deal to me, as they literally were Johnny on the spot, so having their approval was wonderful."

Carole says during her research into how veterans had been treated, she discovered many veterans struggled with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

"I feel we need to talk about this, so made PTSD part of Jack's journey in the book."

Jack is the central character - a young man growing up in small town New Zealand in the 60s and 70s. A farmer's son, he has a promising rugby career ahead of him when he decides to join the army and is sent to Vietnam.

Carole says her book looks at how the Vietnam war changed the lives of the young men like Jack, who went to fight in it.

"And they were mainly young men. I think in total 90 per cent of all the soldiers who went to Vietnam were under 23 years of age. The average age of soldiers fighting in Vietnam was just 19."

Exposing such young men to the horror of a war like Vietnam had lifelong effects on them, says Carole, and her book shows this through Jack's story.

Carole wanted to ensure she truly captured Vietnam, so went there while she was writing the book.

"I wanted to hit all the senses, I wanted to know exactly how it smelt, how it sounded, the feel of a sudden downpour of rain against the heat in the air. I wanted to be able my senses to experience it all so I could tell Jack's story authentically."

While the book has only been on the shelves for a few weeks, it can already claim to be award winning, after it won the international Romance Writers of America California Dreamin' Hooker Competition for the best opening hook with the first chapter.

Carole says while the award it won comes under romance, and her first book was definitely of the romance genre, this book isn't just a romance.

"There is love in it, emotions and feelings, but it is more than just a romance, it tells a bigger story than just of one couple and their relationship. It has been popular with men as much as women, so it certainly wouldn't be what you might call a typical romance novel."

* The Nam Legacy by Carole Brungar. Available from PaperPlus Stratford.