*** Caution: this post may contain politically incorrect comments, but made in good humour! (or is that humor?) ***
Now here is one fantastic idea! Authors contributing their books, free, to troops serving overseas.
OK, so OEBD is a US-led initiative (nothing at all wrong with that!), using US delivery platforms like Kindle e-Books and Smashwords. But, the internet is democratic, indiscriminating and accessible in some of the weirdest places – including zones of conflict – Afghanistan, for example.
Now, speaking purely as an ex-serving officer, with twenty years service in the Air Force, including a good few with NATO, I had no hesitation in personally deciding to opt into the “Operation E-book Drop project”. However, the very nature of the programme got me to thinking.
Clearly, some of the US-troops out there might baulk at my spelling. The title of my own book “River of Judgement” apparently contains a glaring typographical error that has upset at least one US citizen in another network posting, in another social world! (Two nations separated by a common language.) But, at the moment, in overseas zones like Afghanistan, there are a great many non-US and US military serving together, and it struck me that we needed more participation in this project by UK-focussed authors. Who knows (tongue-in-cheek), if we can help our lads and lasses with “English” English books, we may even help the Americans with some of their own spellings!
Joking aside, I believe anything we can do to improve the lot of all coalition troops serving overseas in zones of conflict, we should do.
At the time of this post, I have started to work with Ed Patterson, in developing UK participation in OEBD. This blog is about that participation, and I welcome the participation of UK-based authors and UK troops alike. But, as I mentioned, this is a democratic, indiscriminate place, and I hope this “zone” of focus is also of interest to others – particularly those of our US colleagues (military and authors) who may have a (secret?) passion to learn more about books in our English!
To learn how you can become involved, check out the US-links for full background info, and follow the Intro post for further details on how to participate.
My best wishes to you all, wherever you may be.
Original art work by K.A. M'Lady & P.M. Dittman
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David - hello. I read your blog with interest - especially about the language differences "across the pond". However, I'm in a bit of a quandry as I speak neither "English" English or "Yank" English. I speak Texan. What's a girl to do...?
ReplyDeleteWhatever version of English we write in, may it all carry our heartfelt sentiments to the troop away from home.
All my best
Belle