Interview with Liam Chambers, author of Scars and Black Armor

Di Angelo Publications sat down with Liam Chambers, author of Scars and Black Armor, and asked him a few questions about his novel, his writing/work process, and himself.

DAP: Can you give us a brief synopsis of your book?

Liam: Scars and Black Armor follows the life, or rather re-telling of a fictional character I created, Stelios, whose journey parallels the life of the famous Achilles, of Greece. The novel begins with Stelios recounting his life, his pain, to Zeus at Mount Olympus. Throughout the recollection, the reader is given an insight into the life of a soldier, the nuances of those unique friendships, the blurred lines which dictate morality in war, as well as pain of missing home and loved ones. This is a book aimed towards veterans like myself, to put emotions into words and to heal through stories, but at the same time, it gives the reader, who may have never served a day in uniform, an understanding of how those things affect both those who leave home, and those who are left behind. Stelios finds that as his life progresses, he starts to value different things - he reassesses his own mortality. He also finds that those who cannot move on from war, or those who derive all their power from it, like Achilles, eventually turn towards darkness.

DAP: What was the inspiration/motivation for writing your book?

Liam: My inspiration comes from many sources. I love the way Steven Pressfield is able to craft ancient stories with incredible detail, but at the same time I admire the way Tim O’Brien was able to turn horrific memories into poetic coping mechanisms in “The Things They Carried.” I studied English Literature at the Royal Military College of Canada, and initially I had no aspirations to be a published author. Scars was going to be something I wrote, that I committed to, that would sit on my shelf at home. It was more a way for me to deal with my own issues that had arisen over the course of my time in the military, but when it was nearly done, I decided to send it over to Jocko Publishing, who liked the sample, but referred me to Di Angelo.

DAP: What is the key takeaway you want people to have after reading your book?

Liam: The key for me is that the reader can critically reflect on those who serve and the role of the military in society. I will never say to someone reading this novel that there was only one thing I was trying to convey, because most of the time, your subconscious has a big part to play in writing. As long as it helps people, I’ll be happy at the end of the day. The other key thing I’d like to mention is that, to anyone who is struggling with mental health, is to write all that shit down (can I swear?) – it will help you work through issues and find solutions. Much of the time it will show you that most of the pressure you think you’re under is self-invented.

DAP: What inspires you?

Liam: People inspire me. Authors like Ryan Holiday, and Tim Ferriss, whose work is directed designed to help us live better lives inspire me. I listen to men like Tim Kennedy, and Jocko Willink, who inspire everyone, and yet are human enough to say, hey, I’ve made some mistakes too.

My kids are inspirations, but I also needed to separate the part of my ego that wanted to be a published author in order for them to be proud. Kids don’t care what you do or what you’ve accomplished, but rather who you are. I find inspiration in the truth, and in human connection, because I think it’s something we are slowly losing in the modern world.

DAP: What does your writing/working space look like?

Liam: It’s nothing special! My kitchen table, usually in the very early hours of the morning when the rest of the family is asleep. Parents, you understand.

DAP: What are you learning/listening to/reading right now?

Liam: I’m always listening to Jocko Podcast, constantly. I find it to be the best tool for me personally in developing my leadership style, and how I deal with problems at work, being a currently serving military officer. I just finished reading “Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance,” after it was gifted to me by a close friend – that was an incredible read.

DAP: Are there more books in your future? What about?

Liam: Absolutely. I am currently working on a book about Hector, the Prince of Troy. It is more a reimagining of his backstory leading up to his death in the Trojan War. Stay tuned for that! I’m about halfway done the first draft.

DAP: How do you select the books you want to read?

Liam: Honestly, it is a pretty organic process. If I get a recommendation, whether through friends, or through a podcast I’ll order it and put it on the list. I’ll always check the US Army Officer Reading List, as well, because I like to switch the genre up as much as possible.

DAP: Is there a book that you’ve read multiple times? What is it, and why do you keep going back to it?

Liam: There are a few, for sure. “Gate of Fire,” by Steven Pressfield is one of my favorite books, and well as “The Virtues of War.” My most highlighted and bookmarked book in my library is probably “Walden,” by Henry David Thoreau. I revisit it every time I need some perspective on life.

“Rather than love, than money, than fame, give me truth.”

DAP: Share one fun fact about yourself, something that your readers would never guess.

Liam: I tend to sign myself up for things that require a huge support from my wife… without telling her the full extent of the commitment required. Occasions I can remember would be doing a full Ironman in Lake Placid, New York when our first child was 8 weeks old. At one point, I organized a charity event for injured and ill veterans where I decided to do 3000 pullups in a day over Facebook Livestream. She thought I had put real thought into the number and crunched the data – I just thought 3000 sounded tough. Somehow, I pulled it off in 19 hours and 50 minutes, and we raised over $6000. She knows that it’s not a matter of if, but when.