News

A Precious Work of Fiction

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Patrick Cabellon
  • 446th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
MCCHORD FIELD, Wash. --  You find yourself deployed halfway around the world, away from family and friends. You decide to sit and start writing. A world is created unlike the one you walk upon - a mystical realm. A land fraught with magic, mythical creatures, honorable knights, unsavory assassins, great kingdoms and frightful citadels.

Senior Airman Daniel Henderson, a Reservist with the 86th Aerial Port squadron here is crafting such a world.

A self-proclaimed "Trekkie", Henderson has always had an affinity for fantasy stories and writing. His favorite authors include the famed "Lord of the Rings" creator, J.R.R. Tolkien, Barry Eisler and Rick Riordan, author of the "Percy Jackson and the Olympian's" series, round out his list of favorites.

Henderson has drawn much of his inspiration for his own book series from his favorite authors' works.

"I try to see how other authors create characters and how to make them memorable," he said.

There are three aspects to making a memorable character, said Henderson.

"One way is to make the reader hate the character, another way is to make the reader love the character and lastly to make the reader laugh at the character," he said.

The aerial porter remembers a suggestion from his father.

"When I was younger, I said to my dad, 'I've read all my books,' and he replied back to me, 'If you've read all of them, why don't you write your own?'"

So he did.

Henderson began to write his first novel in a series about three years ago. He finished his first book while deployed to Iraq. The fantasy author is about a third of the way done on his second book while on his current deployment to Turkey.

Writing helps take his mind off of things while deployed, and occupies his time when not studying for school, said Henderson.

Having extracurricular hobbies while on deployment can also keep one's mind sharp, said Chief Master Sgt. Chris Dietz, 86th APS superintendent.

"They can be helpful in dealing with the high-speed environment while deployed," said Dietz.

Everything about a story is taken from life experiences, said Henderson.

Henderson suggests to any would-be writers that if they have a story to tell, write it and share it.