IN MY BLOOD
'A man in trouble lured to the Middle East and Africa by cash and soldiering'
Brief synopsis
A TRUE STORY, this book is about a man drawn into the world of private security and logistics after he is forced to quit his business.
He encounters different cultures, searing temperatures, bombs, menacing officials, and the threat of expulsion. An erstwhile warlord in Africa becomes an unlikely ally.
At one point, he is arrested, escapes – but is then faced with an agonising dilemma.
There are many lighter moments, too. His fascinating and vivid accounts are written with verve and pace. They take you not just to Iraq, but also to Libya when it was a rogue state, Kuwait, East Africa and the Sudan.
In sum, ‘a rich account, skilfully blending a life in security with military tactics, political commentary, travelogue and high comedy’. Much more than a bang-bullets-and-blazes adventure, this book provides a narrative with scope and variety. A must-read with broad appeal.
About the author
GREG WAGGETT’S enthusiasm for experiences abroad was kindled by an overland trip to Nepal in 1970.
Following this, he joined the British army. He left after eight years, and worked in Libya in agri-business operations for a further eight years. (He was in Tripoli, the capital, when the US carried out punitive bombing raids in 1986 – a dramatic and terrifying event which is described in one of the book’s chapters.)
After his time in North Africa, he set up and ran a design and advertising agency in Cambridge.
Then, two severe setbacks. As he puts it, ‘with impeccable timing my personal and professional lives went belly-up together.’ And this is why in 2004 he was drawn to working overseas in the insecure world of private security over the next few years.
What they say about the book
“Greg is the quintessential English adventurer. He doesn’t mind getting his hands dirty in dangerous places. But always with impeccable manners and an ironic smile. And he can write.” Mike G, former 22 SAS soldier, publisher, round-the-world-alone-sailor, and entrepreneur
“A rich account, skillfully blending a life in security with military tactics, political commentary, travelogue, and high comedy. A must read.” Bill L, financial consultant
“A modest, highly readable and often very funny account of work in dangerous places.” Michael M, retd Lt Col, special duties Northern Ireland, tour officer BRIXMIS, and special branch Hong-Kong
“His writing has panache and an immediacy pitching you into events and scene-setting. But there is also reflection and insight.” Ivan R-S, civil engineer, Iran, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia
“He has travelled to places most know only vaguely, yet he writes compellingly to inform, entertain, and make you feel almost there. A rare accomplishment.” Tony B, ex Royal Navy, Royal Geographical Society, and sinologist at Cambridge University
“Reading about Greg Waggett's adventures in dangerous places is rivetting - and always interesting.” Diana W, housewife
The contents
A TOTAL LENGTH of over two hundred pages and fifteen rivetting chapters in hardback. In this premium quality sewn and bound production, contents include six maps complete with informative data, and twenty-nine colour plates across 8 pages in the middle of the book.
Full prelims and fifteen chapters: CHAPTER 1: IN TROUBLE; CHAPTER 2: GETTING INTO THINGS; CHAPTER 3: STAFF-WORK – AND OUT AGAIN; CHAPTER 4: VARIETY – THE SPICE OF LIFE; CHAPTER 5: SIX BAD DAYS, AND LEAVE; CHAPTER 6: THE US BOMBING OF LIBYA; CHAPTER 7: IN KUWAIT, AND A TRIP TO IRAQ; CHAPTER 8: DICING WITH US SECURITY IN IRAQ AND DINNER WITH THE DA; CHAPTER 9: DATING, AND EAGLES IN SPAIN; CHAPTER 10: A RECIPE FOR CONFLICT; CHAPTER 11: A PROBLEM IN THE SUDAN; CHAPTER 12: ENTER THE VICE-PRESIDENT; CHAPTER 13: TO E AFRICA – AND A FUNERAL; CHAPTER 14: ARREST, A NEW DIRECTOR, AN EMBASSY PARTY, & MALARIA; CHAPTER 15: LEAVE, ITALY, AND THE BLONDE; AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST …
Maps complete with informative data: Maps of the countries where the author’s activities took place include Iraq, Kenya, Kuwait, Libya, Sudan and Tanzania.
Twenty-nine colour plates over eight pages: Shots from all areas of activity.
Note: All abbreviations used are explained at the beginning of the book and there is an author’s note about use of noms de plume for some of the characters.
THE BOOK IS PUBLISHED BY: Oak Publishing, The Forum, 277 London Road, Burgess Hill, West Sussex, RH15 9QU in the United Kingdom http://www.oakpm.co.uk/ and the book's ISBN is 978-0-9557047-0-3. (To get a revealing and panoramic overview of the book, be sure to visit the Google book search link on the publisher's web-site.)
Ordering
Please visit the publisher's web-site http://www.oakpm.co.uk/ for information. (Any problems, email your query to them on oak-publishing@hotmail.co.uk).
Thank you!
NOTE: Anyone interested in working in a post-conflict or post-disaster environment should visit http://www.oak-names.blogspot.com/
KEYWORDS: IN MY BLOOD BOOK BOOKS BOOKSHOPS AMAZON IRAQ AFGHANISTAN WAR AFRICA SUDAN POST-CONFLICT POST-DISASTER TERRORIST BASRA BAGHDAD HARDBACK STORY INSURGENCY ACCOUNT SAS SOLDIER PRIVATE SECURITY INSURGENT KENYA TANZANIA LIBYA KLASHNIKOV RIFLES MARINE LEGIONNAIRE MERCENARY MILITARY BOOK HARDCOVER DRAMA MILITIA BLOOD OAK PUBLISHING ARAB AFRICAN MUSLIM ISLAM MIDDLE EAST ARMY REGIMENT AL QUAEDA US USA CAMP KUWAIT WRITING TRAVEL TRAVELOGUE WATERSTONES BORDERS PUBLICATION FORCES OVERSEAS ABROAD BASE HQ QM PRIVATE MILITARY COMPANIES IRAQ UK PRIVATE SECURITY COMPANIES IRAQ SECURITY RECRUITING RECRUITMENT JOBS WORK HIRE HIRING WORK FREELANCE IN MY BLOOD JOBS HR HUMAN RESOURCES COMPANIES BRITISH EX-ARMY BRITISH EX-ROYAL MARINE BRITISH EX-SERVICEMEN BRITISH SOLDIER TA REGIMENT TERRITORIAL CORPORAL SERGEANT SOUTH AFRICAN SPECIAL FORCES POLICE BAGHDAD BASRA KABUL PILOT ARMED ESCORT CONVOY PROTECTION GUARD EX-FORCES PSD PSC PMC CONSULTANT RIFLEMAN SIGNALLER COMMUNICATIONS QUARTERMASTER PROJECT MANAGER KUWAIT AMMAN UNITED NATIONS USAID DFID US RISK ASSESSMENT OPERATIONS SITE SECURITY GULF OPERATIVE WEAPONS EXPLOSIVES IED OED AMBUSH SMALL ARMS TACTICS TACTICIAN COMBAT BATTLE GUERILLA HOSTAGE CAMP AUTHOR IN MY BLOOD
