Hello everyone! I expressed in my intro post when I first joined that I am an author without any material as of yet. Over the last 2 years I have come up with some Historical-Fiction WW2 based book ideas that I plan on writing soon. I am not sure however which one I should start with, so I was hoping you guys could tell me which one you would be most interested reading? This Content is mine, please do not use!!! Here are my ideas and a short description for each: Part 1 Two Unlikely Survivors- The story is set in Spring of 1944 in South West Pacific. A B-25 Pilot is shot down while attacking Japanese shipping. After surviving the initial crash he wakes up on a small island. He is not alone however as a IJN sailor is on the same island with him. The two must overlook their alliances and differences if they want to be rescued......and survive. (Definitely used already) Letters From The Eastern Front- The story is set in the Summer of 1944 in Soviet Byelorussia. Erika's husband Manfred has been fighting on the Eastern Front since 1942, but has been sending letters every month. However in June of 44 Erika does not receive a letter, concerned for the love of her life, she becomes a nurse for the Wehrmacht and is deployed to the front. There she hopes to find her husband and be reunited with him. Shadow Fighters- The story is set in May-August of 1944 in France. A B-24 Navigator is shot down over France in May of 1944, just prior to D-Day. He is rescued by the French resistance, and helps them fight the Germans. While fighting with the resistance he becomes rather close with one of it's members. I Fought For Honor- The story is set throughout the Eastern Front from 1941-1945. A Russian boy named Andrey Joins the Red Army at 17 to help defend Moscow and his home. He fights in countless other battles and begins to question why war exists, and starts to see that neither cause is "right". Desert Rat- The Story is set in October of 1942 in North Africa. Lieutenant Myles Jackson of the RAF is shot down in his P-40 behind enemy lines in the deserts of North Africa. He must survive the intense heat of the desert and the ever present Afrika Korps as he tries to make it back to Allied lines. Shocked & Awed- The Story is set from 1944-1945 on the USS New Jersey. Robert Snow, an 18 year old Navy private who helps operate the ships massive 16" guns, goes along with the USS New Jersey as it stave off Kamikaze attacks, and shells Iwo Jima and Okinawa. The Island of Death- The Story is set in April 1941 on the island of Crete. German Paratrooper Johann Wessel tells of his harrowing and deadly experience during the battle of Crete. Iron Grip- The story is set in June of 1944 in France. Iron Grip is the story of the attack and defense of Pegasus bridge by British paratroopers during the D-Day landings. The Missing Man- The story is set at one point in 1940, and 1944-1945 in Norway. A French Alpine soldier who was not evacuated after the German invasion of Norway, helps fight the Germans with the Norwegian resistance. Hide and Seek- The Story is set from 1942-1943 in the Atlantic. While aboard a US destroyer, Pat Davis comes face to face with the feared U-boats while protecting allied shipping Convoys in the North Atlantic. Tiger Battalion- The Story is set in the CBI theater from 1944-1945. Captain Charles Patterson is charged to command an all Indian unit against the Japanese in Burma and India. Initially skeptical, Captain Patterson seeing how hard they fight, grows fond over his men and begins to question the British colonization of the country.
Some great ideas but I would advise against the first option. It sounds a lot like "Hell in the Pacific", a 1960s film starring only Lee Marvin and Toshiro Mifune.
Part 2 Moscow's Crucible- The Story is set from the fall of 1941 to the spring of 42 in Moscow Russia. Dmitry Tantilov, a convicted robber (wrongly so) is assigned to a Soviet Penal unit. The Unit is tasked to defend the capital, and be the first unit to begin the Counter attack. If Dmitry survives he will be a free man once again. The Rising Son- The Story is set from 1937-1945 in China and Manchuria. Sosuke Hito an Imperial Japanese Soldier, fights in China from 1937 to 1945. Initially a very patriotic and proud Japanese citizen, Sosuke begins to question Japanese involvement and treatment of Chinese. Cape Fear- The story is set in the Summer of 1942 near Cape Fear North Carolina. Robert a 10 year old boy, the son of a Navy Sailor, witnesses the sinking of a U.S Cargo ship a few miles off the coast of his home. Hearing reports of U-boats in the area, Robert takes it upon himself to find the U-boat so he can save lives. The Few- The Story is set from October 1939 to September of 1940 in both France and the U.K. A few weeks after the beginning of WW2, a new RAF squadron no. 78 is created with mostly new recruits. The Story follows the squadron through the silent Phony War, the surprise invasion of the low countries, the miracle at Dunkirk, and the defense of liberty and freedom over the skies of the U.K during the Battle of Britain. (Used Concept, still might do it though) They Come At Night- The Story is set in the Summer of 1943 in the Skies over Europe. Private Lee Stanton, a Bombardier for night bombing Lancaster's, tells his story while fighting for king and country at night over the skies of Germany. The Big Week- The Story is set in Spring of 1944 in U.K and skies over Europe. Private Allen Shaffer, A radioman for a B-17 Flying Fortress, recounts his experiences during Operation Argument, or the "Big Week". A Day at Dieppe- The Story is set on August 19, 1942 at Dieppe France. Lieutenant Kenny Byrd, A Canadian soldier, fights for his survival during the failed operation at Dieppe in 1942. (Used Concept) Kokoda Track- The Story is set in the Summer and Fall of 1942 in Kokoda New Guinea. Private Nicky Avery, An Australian infantryman, struggles to survive in the unforgiving jungles of New Guinea while fighting off hordes of Japanese soldiers to defend Port Moresby. (Used Concept) Finnish Fighter- The story is set in the winter of 1939 in the Mannerheim line in Finland. Armo Korhonen, a 19 year old Finnish Soldier, fights off the Soviet onslaught during the Winter War to save his home and country. Dor Italia- The Story is set in September of 1943 in Italy. Private Federico Romano of the Facist Italian army and his division learn of their countries surrender to the Allies on the 8th of September. They must decide to either fight with the Allies and against their countrymen or continue the fight with the Axis. War Knows No Age- The Story is set in April 1945 in the fictional town of Bunde Germany. Towards the end of the war in Europe, many old and young men are conscripted to help fight the Russians. One such boy was Otto Fischer, Otto having already lost a brother and Father to the war, now fights for his family and life along with other boys his age in the village. (Used Concept) Bearing the Iron Cross- This will be a 3 book series about a German Tank crew who fight on the North African (Book 1), Eastern (Book 2), and Western front (Book 3) during the war.
Wow, it's basically the exact same thing, gosh don't want to steal someone else's fire, thank you for pointing that out too me Alan! I'll have to watch the movie some time though
Desert Rats should be about Australians only IMO, they earnt the title! And Kokoda Track sounds too familiar...would love to help you flesh out some of these ideas...
Thank you CAC, I contemplated doing an Australian pilot for the Desert Rat book, but I already had the Kokoda track Australian book idea, but if there is already something out there that is similar, I might change it
Plenty of Spitfires seized up in Darwin (due to them being old and thrashed and the glycol anti freeze not being fully removed from the engines - they came from Europe) - As a result many pilots had to try to glide home...plenty didn't make it...some ditched, some landed on our beaches and some crash landed in the Top End bush! Some REAL horror stories there on the terrain and lack of food and water...one pilot stumbled around for days and days...began shi%%ing dark green gloop...and felt like death warmed up...finally found a river and decided to curl up under a gum tree and die...that's when the Aboriginals found him..."Hey brother! What are you doing out here!?" haha... You could have the pilot stumble across a secret Japanese radio station or some such...I would recommend reading as many Biggles stories as possible...the writers are masters at making a story with a war background...
Many good ideas here, but most of them seem better suited to stories. Why don't you start with that and see if you can flesh it out to book length? If not, contemplate putting several together and making it a book about WW2?
I think that's a pretty good idea Lou, I think you are right that some of these are probably more story than novel worthy. Are there any ideas up here that seem particularly interesting to anybody? I want to write things people are interested in obviously
I agree with Lou. Choose the idea that you are the most interested and passionate about and get going. One step at a time. Like many of your ideas.
Thank you Lou and KJ, your advice and suggestions are very much appreciated! Because my Two unlikely survivors and Kokoda Track ideas have essentially been used already, here are two other ideas that didn't make the original list, but I am still happy to work with. Gulag 9- The Story initially starts after the surrender of the German 6th Army in Stalingrad February 1942, and then takes place in a Gulag/ labor camp in Siberia from 1942 to 1991. Lukas Bauer, a German war photographer for the 6th Army in Stalingrad is captured among SS troops. From Stalingrad, he is transferred to Gulag 9, a Soviet prison and labor camp. Lukas retells his experience in a diary later recovered by his son. The Friendly Enemies- The Story is set in a fictional POW camp in North Western Colorado, named Camp Arnold, from 1942 to the end of the war. Prison Guard Jose Alvarez of the USMP (United State Military Police), shares the many stories and memories of his time there among German, Italian, and Japanese POW's to his wife Angel in the years after the war.
I agree with KJ. I have no favorites, anything to do with WW2 is interesting. Find one that you feel passionate about and get writing. I'm not a writer myself, but you should try to write every day and see how the pieces fit. If you do that on a subject of interest to you, it should result in something you feel good about. We're here to help, so don't be shy about asking for help, advice, or ideas. I helped Jeff (Slipdigit) edit his book, so I'm available to do the same for you. Good luck!
Thank you for your support Lou, I will certainly keep all of you updated and ask for help, and info when needed.
"Piece of Cake" - Novel and British TV miniseries. Die Brucke - !959 West German Film & 2008 remake. Rendezvous at Dieppe - Novel
As I am in the research process myself (only have written various pieces to keep myself sane ) I have received excellent advice from the members here. Tremendous wealth of knowledge on the forum that you can tap into.
I think I should potentially take the time to see if any of my story lines have been used. I have no doubt I'll be able to get the help and advice I need to make this happen!
I have two more concepts that I am pretty positive no one else has attempted to write about. Sons of Lorraine- The story is set in the Summer of 1940 in France. A French battalion from Lorraine tries to buy time for other French and British soldiers to be evacuated at Dunkirk by holding off German assaults. Davids Star- The Story is set in German occupied Europe in 1941. Tamar Levine, a German citizen who defected to the U.K in 1939, conducts operation to save Jews destined to die at Concentration camps. The Secret Intelligence Service gives him the code sign "Davids Star".
