Writer
James M. Hessler is a writer with published work in Brevity, Shark Reef, Laurel Review and Fourth Genre. Drawing on a rich tapestry of life experiences, including careers in education, ranching, and technology, James is now focused on sharing his compelling memoir. This work explores his time as a draftee in psychological operations during the Vietnam War, and he is currently seeking literary representation.
The author's latest work.
River Crossing
River Crossing is a quietly powerful reflection on the personal cost of war—not the drama of battle, but the subtle, private reckoning of a man determined to stay honest with himself. Through one day on the river, Hessler reveals how courage sometimes means standing still, watching closely, and refusing to let war silence the truth inside you.
Magical Realism
Haunted by past choices and feeling like an outsider, a veteran attends a writers' conference desperate to publish his memoir. When challenged to distill his complex life – from anti-war activism to Vietnam guilt – into a concise pitch, he confronts his own resistance and discovers a surprising truth about his story's power.
