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Published: Monday, Nov. 05, 2012 / Updated: Monday, Nov. 05, 2012 10:52 AM

Lake Wylie authors take on war, romance

LAKE WYLIE -- 

Two Lake Wylie authors telling tales of two different sides of war are hoping to gather an audience by sharing their stories.

Richard Whitten Barnes recently published his fifth book and his second historical novel, “Luzon.”

The World War II-era tale involves a Philippine intelligence officer living in the United States and a plot involving code breaking and rescue.

“This one is unique in that it is as much a love story as it is a war story,” Barnes said.

“My hero is a Nisei, of whom only little has been written regarding their contributions to the World War II war effort.”

Barnes will host a book signing from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 17 at the Lake Wylie Public Library. He’s also hard at work on his next work, a “200-year-old who-done-it” in the historical/mystery novel genre.

Stephen L. Park recently published “Boots: An Unvarnished Memoir of Vietnam” detailing his time serving there.

The book has been nominated for award in the memoir category of the Independent Book Publishers Awards, according to the publisher.

“I thought about it for a while before I decided to do it,” said the fellow River Hills resident. “It was just a story I thought I needed to leave.”

Park said he took three years to write something that could be considered an “anti-war book in some ways,” though his goal wasn’t to be political or philosophical. Instead he just gave his experience, including details that his wife of 46 years hadn’t even heard before the book was published.

“It’s just how things were,” Park said. “It’s very therapeutic in a lot of ways.”

Park had been married less than a week before he was drafted into the Army.

Described are ambushes and patrols, and a desire to get home to his bride and make sure fellow soldiers did, too.

“It’s quite a compelling story,” said wife Sherry.

For more information about or to purchase “Boots: An Unvarnished Memoir of Vietnam,” visit stephenlpark.webs.com.

For “Luzon,” visit richardwhittenbarnes.com.