Kia Garriques

TOMS RIVER, N.J. – Toms River native and resident Robert M. Tanner III has completed work on and published his first book, “Memoirs of an Outlaw: Life in the Sandbox” (ISBN 1477406395), a look at the unbreakable bonds formed between U.S. Marines overseas and the hardships our service members endure fighting for our freedom.

In “Memoirs of an Outlaw,” USMC veteran Robert M. Tanner III gives civilians a unique and personal look into the life of a Marine Corps infantryman who was a part of the elite Delta Company Outlaws. Written for those with an interest in military life as well as history, this memoir takes readers through the life of a Marine infantryman living and fighting in Fallujah, Iraq, during the height of the war on terror.

Tanner allows readers to experience the war on terror through a first-hand account of the on-the-ground realities of war experienced by the Delta Company Outlaws. He highlights their terrifying experiences and how these moments brought them closer together. The veteran covers the good times and the bad, from playful antics to losing friends in combat.

“The Outlaws experienced so much together – training, combat, life and death – which formed a bond that’s stronger than family,” says Tanner. “Whether it was playing pranks on one another or being a shoulder to lean on when times got tough, these events formed a friendship that will last a lifetime.”

“Memoirs of an Outlaw” started as a therapeutic escape for Tanner, as he wrote down his memories to get them out of his head. He was convinced by his wife, Melissa, and members of the Delta Company Outlaws to finish his memoir and publish the book.

A one-of-a-kind read, “Memoirs of an Outlaw” allows readers into the mind of a modern-day military member, as he tries to live a normal life overseas while fighting for our country’s freedom. Tanner hopes that his heartfelt memoir gives readers a better understanding of the unbreakable bond formed during deployment and what it’s like to be a member of the U.S. Marine Corps. Not one to miss out on the Latest new and exciting book, we couldn’t wait to catch up with Robert M. Tanner III to find out more about this talented Author. Might we also add that Robert M. Tanner III was also the winner of the Kia Unpublished Gem competition!!!  Check out our Conversation with Robert M. Tanner III, author of  “Memoirs of an Outlaw: Life in the Sandbox”

 

1.  When and why did you begin writing?

This is actually a funny story.  In 8th grade, I had just moved to NJ and started a new school.  I guess I was having a hard time adjusting so my grades were affected as a result.  The two classes that were affected the most were reading and writing.  Halfway through the year, I was on the verge of failing both.  My teacher decided to hold a parent-teacher conference to try to get to the bottom of the problem.  After about thirty minutes of conversation, she told my parents that I had to get straight A’s the rest of the year in both subjects or I would need to go to summer school.  From that day on, my dad enforced a very strict regimen of reading and writing.  Each Friday of every week, I had to turn in a two page essay about a subject of his choice.  H would grade it at the end of the week.  Anything less than a B would result in me having to redo the paper until it was at the point where it passed.  Until I provided a passable paper each week, I was not allowed out of the house to play with friends.  This regimen went on for two straight years, even during the summer.  That’s how I eventually got into writing.

 

2.  What inspired you to write your first book?

I had just left the Marine Corps and had so many memories, good and bad, going through my head.  It was getting to the point where I was having a hard time dealing with them.  One day, it was suggested to me to start writing about them to see if it helped.   So, I slowly started writing each memory, one by one.  After writing about one hundred pages, my wife read some of it and encouraged me to make it into a book.  It took quite some time for me to finish, mainly because I didn’t want to relive some memories, but I can happily say that I am finally done!

 

3.  Did writing this book teach you anything and what was it?

Yes, it definitely taught me a lot.  I knew nothing about what goes into self-publishing until I charged into this world head on.   I thought writing everything was the toughest part but it turned out that everything else was much more difficult, from arranging and editor, to revising the manuscript, to marketing the book.  I have a lot more appreciation for what publishers actually handle for the authors, but in the end, I would do it all over again.  The experience was well worth it and very rewarding.

 

4.  What was the hardest part about writing this book?  

I mentioned it briefly before but the hardest part about writing the book was overcoming the bad memories.  There were long periods of me trying to cope with the memory before I could actually write about it.  In total, it took me nearly 6 years to write the whole book just because I didn’t want to relive things all over again.

 

5.  How much of the book is realistic?

The whole book is based on real life events. To ensure it was as accurate as possible, not only did I use notes from when I was deployed to Iraq, I also reached out to a lot of guys I served with to have them review  specific chapter to make sure I didn’t forget something.

 

6.  Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

There’s two really.  The first is that I want readers to gain a better appreciation for the sacrifices of service members deployed in combat zones.  The second is that I want folks to realize that there’s a lot more to war than just pure guts and gore.  Every service member is a human being.  We experience a wide range of emotions in combat, from adrenaline rushes to overwhelming sadness. It’s not like we’re in gunfights every hour of the day.

 

About the Author:

A former infantryman of the United States Marine Corps, Robert M. Tanner III has been a part of the Delta Company Outlaws, Second Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion and Second Marine Division. His travels have taken him around the globe to exotic locations such as Fallujah and Kosovo. After an honorable discharge from the military, Tanner earned his bachelor’s from Rowan University, another bachelor’s from Full Sail University and a master’s from Georgian Court University. As a civilian, he worked as a contract specialist for the Army as well as a business systems analyst for the Department of Veteran Affairs.

“Memoirs of an Outlaw: Life in the Sandbox” will be available for sale online at Amazon.com and through the book’s official web site, www.memoirsofanoutlaw.com on April 22, 2013.