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Author and historian James L. Clark is looking for contributions for two up-coming titles to be released in 2008.

"Outside The Wire: True Stories of American Soldiers in Iraq" will contain personal accounts from those who served there depicting the positive side of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

With all of the negativity spun by the media, we are looking for heart-warming stories from and about soldiers who did “good things” for the Iraqi people such as building treatment facilities, policing the streets so the population could move around freely and safely, providing medical and veterinary care to the sick and wounded, turning utilities back on, playing soccer with children, feeding the hungry, or simply befriending the locals.

Stories that touched them are stories that will touch others.

The second book: “Between Iraq and a Hard Place” portrays the difficulties soldier’s experience “gearing-up” for deployment—especially for those who serve in reserve components. The emotional ups-and-downs, the toll activations and deployments take on the soldier and their families, and the decision making process involved in making the mental leap between the initial shock and coming to peace with “it”.

We are especially interested in stories about soldiers who either joined to serve in Iraq or re-enlisted after extended breaks. We want to know “why” you made the decisions you did, how it impacted you personally, your business, and your family.

Eligible contributors for both books can be from active duty, Reserve, or National Guard soldiers and may be submitted in any media whatsoever.

Emails of interest may be sent to: jclark@bootsontheground.org.

All contributors will be “featured” in the book with a brief biography along with their story. Photos and video submissions are also welcome.

Deadline for all submissions is July 8, 2007. Submissions cannot be returned.