Book tells of the stress of war

A LYMM author wants to raise awareness of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and help those suffering from the condition.
Stephen Power fuses fact with fiction in his book, The Fight, which has been published on Kindle, at just 98 pence.
All December sales were donated to the Military charity Talking 2 Minds, which treats severe stress-related conditions.
Stephen said: “Although PTSD has crept further into the national consciousness in recent years as returning soldiers from Iraq and Afghanistan drive public awareness about the disorder, I never set out to write something about it.
“Far more used to writing educational material for nursery age children, this was a departure from what I usually write. Initially, I just wanted to write a novel aimed at older children to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Falklands conflict.”
While researching for the book, he discovered the conflict involved a lot of desperate hand-to-hand fighting, which is unusual in modern battles.
He said: “Another thing that grabbed my attention was that 17-year-old British soldiers fought and died in the Falklands, something reflected in the book by the use of the narrator, a young man who goes to war at 17.
“However, one particular piece of information that came to light in my research had the biggest impact: the revelation that the number of Falklands’ veterans who have taken their own lives since the war ended, many displaying symptoms of PTSD, exceeds the number who died in the war itself.”
He decided to raise these issues in the book and examine the far-reaching consequences on lives and families, long after the battle has ended.
Stephen said: “The shape and message of the book may have changed but the descent into darkness still works for children as well as adults,” he said.
He added; “The story focuses on the human spirit. While it might be gritty in parts, ultimately it’s an uplifting, life-affirming story that children can relate to and learn from.”