James Stejskal, an ex-Special Forces soldier in Cold War Berlin, has a lifetime of stories to tell. However, despite writing four non-fiction books, he often found himself limited by government non-disclosure agreements and strictly classified information.
Here, he explains how his new “fictional” espionage thriller, A Question of Time, is closer to the truth than ever before.
I am a military historian by trade. Before I got here, I spent 35 years as a soldier and intelligence officer in remote places working with some interesting people. Jokingly, I say it was to get inspiration for my writing.
I have written four non-fiction books, including one about a secret unit I served with: Special Forces Berlin: Clandestine Cold War Operations of the US Army’s Elite. Along the way, I encountered a number of obstacles. As I was writing, my comrades wouldn’t talk to me because the unit was classified. Then the army historians who wouldn’t help said the same thing.
But if I didn’t write the history, no one would. The unit had been disbanded, so there was no reason not to. Undeterred, I was able to write the story (minus a few “special” events).
Then came another issue — a US Government Standard Form 312. Known as “The Classified Information Nondisclosure Agreement,” it’s a paper you sign and never see again (even if you want to see your own copy). It is a life-long obligation that anything you write about your job must be reviewed by a Pre-Publication Review Board.
The PRB exists to ensure that authors don’t give away the keys to the kingdom. But it had to be done and after only 15 months, I received my manuscript back “cleared for publication” with only minimal changes. My comrades talked to me again, happy to see their story told.
I was happy but the experience threw cold water on my desire to write about the secret life of anything. The problem was I had more stories to tell. So with the trauma of the PRB behind me, I decided to write the stories, this time as fiction or what I call “faction.”
As Albert Camus put it: “Fiction is the lie through which we tell the truth.” Fiction also gives the US Government a fig leaf to say: “It never happened.”
But then came yet another obstacle. Everyone said, “You’re a historian, you can’t write fiction.” I wasn’t sure what that meant. I had experience writing fiction — never published because I never finished the stories — so I thought it was time to try again.
The result is a series that follows Special Forces through the Cold War. The incidents all happened — maybe not quite as I describe but it’s left to the reader (and censor) to decide where fact ends and fiction begins.
The first book is called A Question of Time.
A Question of Time
By James Stejskal
Berlin, 1979. When the CIA’s most valuable spy is compromised, the Agency realizes it does not have the capability to bring him to safety. The CIA turns to Becker’s team of unconventional warfare specialists to pull their bacon out of the fire. One question remains — is the man worth the risk?
9781612009032 | Hardback | Casemate | £16.99 (SPECIAL OFFER: £13.99)
Available to order through Casemate UK
Author: A historian and writer, James Stejskal collected interesting stories during 35 years active service with the US Army Special Forces and Central Intelligence Agency in hot and not so hot spots overseas. He is the author of the definitive history: Special Forces Berlin: Clandestine Cold War Operations of the US Army’s Elite, 1956–1990. This is his second novel.
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