A personal look at Vietnam by Elisabeth Edwards

Brian Wizard is a determined man. Like many Vietnam veterans he was profoundly affected by his war experiences but has turned the negative aspects into a positive project.

His fictitious account of his service in Vietnam is told in "Permission to Kill", which he published and marketed himself.

Mr. Wizard is Orange this week promoting the book which he says is a personal look at a war which has been glorified beyond recognition by Hollywood.

He wanted people to know what military service in Vietnam was really like for ordinary soldiers.

Mr. Wizard joined up for Vietnam in 1968, at the age of 18.

He said although his military service gave him responsibilities he was not ready for it also taught him how to make the most of a bad situation. He found himself at 18 in a new country, a vastly different climate to his native Massachusetts and having to shoulder new responsibilities.

He found he had to harden his approach when he had to fight.

"Whatever the politics of the war might be, my first instinct had to be for self preservation," he said.

When he returned to the States he found it impossible to settle down. He felt mature at last but was treated as a juvenile still and was unable to vote or drink in bars.

After his discharge from the army he wandered around the State and Central America until he came to terms with himself and his country once more.

He settled down and studied art and became successful as a sculptor, jeweler and stained glass artist.

But still he wasn't totally satisfied with life. He decided to try a new country, and eventually a new outlet for his creative ability.

In 1980 he settle in the small bush community of Bloomfield in north Queensland and started to write his book.

However, he found it impossible to find a publisher for his book.

But Mr. Wizard's determination was such that he would not give up. He published his book himself and traveled the east coast of Australia selling it.

The difficulty in selling his own work, he said, was that he had to sell his personality as well as the book.

But he is pleased with the results so far and is determined to further his literary career.

Mr. Wizard will be promoting his book in Grace Bros, Orange on Saturday.