Non-Fiction Books

Modern warriors are extremely well prepared to go into battle.  But we don’t know anything about how to come home.

“I wound up reading it in one sitting. It is really good, one of the best things I’ve read about coming home from war. It is much less clinical than most books and much more straight talk.” Thomas E. Ricks, Bestselling Author and Pulitzer Prize Winning Journalist

“…an excellent resource for returning war veterans as well as anyone who wants to understand what being a warrior is like.” Judge, 24th Annual Writer’s Digest Self-Published Book Awards

“…well planned and researched. The ideas and resources for warriors are well worth the time for readers to investigate.” Judge, 24th Annual Writer’s Digest Self-Published Book Awards

“This book shares so much and gives a tremendous insight to readers who haven’t served. We’ll never know everything, but Sheehan brings us close!” Judge, 24th Annual Writer’s Digest Self-Published Book Awards

Not all wounds are visible.

Dan Sheehan is a third-generation naval aviator. He was eager to test his skills as a Cobra gunship pilot in the theatre of combat – and then he got his chance, first, in East Timor, then during two tours of duty in Iraq.

The scenes in After Action crackle with tension and excitement as we follow his path into battle. Bullets pierce their Cobras as Dan and his comrades struggle to separate enemy fighters from civilians – ultimately deciding who lives and dies. Through blinding sandstorms, the smoke of battle and chaos of low-altitude firefights at night, Dan puts us in the front seat of the Cobra – where we white-knuckle our way through barrages of enemy fire – and into his head as he makes split-second decisions that carry lasting consequences.

But there is far more to Sheehan’s story than this – an important reason why he wants us to understand what military men and women experience on the front lines of war. And what they bring home.

After the adrenaline rush of combat, something inside Dan would not turn off. He was a warrior, willing and proud to serve his country and he was fortunate to come out of battle whole, time and again. But he had not escaped Iraq untouched.

The subtle agitation he felt continued to grow into – restlessness – wariness – the hyper-vigilant sense that he needed to be always on guard. Even as he struggled to ignore it, the edginess grew, trailing him long after the action was over. Eventually, it began to intrude into his personal life, his intimate relationships, and threatened to hurt those he loved the most.

What Dan Sheehan learned, and what he exposes so bravely and frankly in his writing, sheds light on the invisible marks left on the soul of many warriors. As he shows us, admitting those marks are there is the next step in a veteran’s journey after action.

If you are a warrior …or know one… you will want to read this brave and moving memoir.

“AFTER ACTION is not for those sensitive to profanity or depictions of real bloodshed. However, it provides a remarkable window into the experiences of combat pilots and the mindset of soldiers.” IndieReader.com Review, Christopher James Dubey

“Sense-stirring descriptions of air combat, and the terrible responsibility pilots of Cobra helicopter gunships face when deciding whether to kill people or not with their rockets, are both riveting.”  Judge, Writer’s Digest 21st Annual Self-Published Book Awards

“After Action offers readers something that not many well-known books present, which is an amazingly well-written open look at what happens when the bullets stop flying and a decorated soldier tries to come home to adjust to a new level of normal.” GoodEReader Review, Mercy Pilkington

 “…vividly portrays the details of external and internal carnage that transpire when a human assumes the role of warrior and “bears the burden of peace.” Well paced action and reflective insight balance out into an incredible read.” Hodge Wood, Military Writer’s Society of America

“AFTER ACTION has my highest recommendation. It is a remarkable human battle story and a healing tool.” Hodge Wood, Military Writer’s Society of America