True North

'Born on the Fourth of July meets The Sorrow of War' 'If Wilbur Smith wrote about the Vietnam War this would be the product' Whether you served in South Vietnam or grew up in the '60s, or are someone who wants to know the story behind this vicious and contentious war, you will revel in this utterly gripping page-turner that takes you back to the contested paddy fields of 1962. Showing that there is no one truth in war, readers see the war from both sides of this hotly debated conflict, as Tran, a teenage girl fighting for the North Vietnamese Army, and Jack, an Australian Army adviser, find their way onto the Ap Bac battlefield in the Mekong Delta where they must face their greatest fears. Scarred by combat, Tran and Jack are caught up in the aftermath of war, the political intrigue of Saigon and the truth of why they fought someone else's war. Readers get one hell of a ride as they experience Jack and Tran's revolution of the soul and will urge them on as the pair struggle to find salvation and stay alive in the most dangerous place in the world where no-one can be trusted. Brilliantly researched and written with a lot of heart, True North is the first book of its type in 50 years; it tackles the Vietnam War with a fearless blend of history, romance, philosophy and, most importantly, brutal truth. The intense amount of research that was done and the historical framework into which this story is woven also gives the novel immense power. At times, readers will forget they are reading fiction, as the characters are so richly developed and the setting so frighteningly recognisable. Whether you are passionate about Vietnam War history, crave suspenseful plot-driven romances, or want to peer a bit deeper into the depths of human nature and the cruelty of war, this book attacks on all fronts.

Public servant turned author Roger Rooney was awarded a BA (Hons) from Deakin University in Strategic Studies and International Relations and was Senior Researcher at the Refugee Review Tribunal, where he was on the China and South-East Asia desk. A contributor to Men's Health magazine back in the late 1990s, Roger waited until 2010 to start the manuscript for True North, juggling his work commitments as the Program Director of 6,000 regional infrastructure projects, as part of the Rudd Government's response to the Global Financial Crisis. He has represented the Australian Government internationally at the OECD and worked for the Irish Ministry of Justice as a consultant. An American Football tragic, Roger played Quarterback for Monash University, the Geelong Wildcats and Sydney University and coached the ACT Monarchs. He is now retired and sitting back and waiting for Jimmy Gee to guide his beloved San Francisco 49ers to the next Superbowl. A Victorian by birth, Roger lives in Canberra (ACT) with his wife Tina, two beautiful girls, Ava and Lola and his Siamese cat, Frankie Knuckles - acrobat extraordinaire. This is his first book of many