Date of interview: 4 January 2025
Charles A. Stewart is a Novelist, Shooting Instructor, and a 26-year decorated combat veteran of Desert Storm and the Global War on Terror, with multiple deployments to the Middle East and Central Asia as a sniper. Charles has a BS from Austin Peay University. After retiring as an Operations Sergeant Major Charles continued to serve his country as a High- Threat Diplomatic Security Specialist with government agencies globally. Charles retired in 2017 due to complications of previous wounds received while in uniform.
Charles has served his entire career in the Airborne Infantry, Special Operations, and Calvary Scout occupations. He served with President Bush Jr.’s Security Detail after 911 as a counter-sniper.
His military decorations include Combat Infantryman Badge w/ Star, Airborne Badge, Air Assualt Badge, Pathfinder Badge, Bronze Star Medal w/ V device and Oak Leaf Cluster, Meritorious Medal w/ Three Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Accommodation Medal w/ Three Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Achievement Medal w/ Silver & Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters, German Shooting Badge (Silver), French Commando Badge, among others.
He has received many awards from Sniper Competitions and his community, including Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and Daughters of the Revolution (DAR). Charles is 100% disabled through the VA and is a service dog recipient and former Smoky Mountain Service Dogs board member.
When he isn’t writing, Charles does public speaking events for charities about his story, helping other military veterans/ first responders, woodworking, painting, and shooting instruction.
MWSA: How did you find out about MWSA?
Charles A. Stewart: I wanted to reach my book’s broadest audience possible, especially veterans. I never really thought about awards for my writing. Honestly, I didn’t know if I was good enough initially, but like all things, if you stay with it and work hard enough, you get better. My writing has evolved so much. I am always trying to improve in my craft. When I looked for veteran book organizations, MWSA popped up—after reading about the organization, researching some of the benefits, and reading about some of the authors, I wanted to be part of the organization. Submitting my book for a potential award is a bonus.
MWSA: What was your inspiration for your book Sky Thunder
Charles A. Stewart: I have been diagnosed with Severe PTSD and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), among a slew of other things, mentally and physically, due to wounds received in combat and Diplomatic Security. At one point in my life, I was in a dark place. I knew I had to do something to win this battle, or I would succumb to those demons. My wife, who, by the way, has been my best friend since 5th grade, and my daughter coaxed me into journaling to battle some memory loss and PTSD. My wife knew how creative I was with art growing up. She slowly got me to draw and paint. While I was doing that, I think she saw me journaling more. I knew as I wrote I was getting more creative. I genuinely believe it unlocks so much that I suppressed. When Covid hit, I thought I might write a book. To stay busy, I researched how to write a book, outlined it, and, within 90 days, finished my first novel, Cry of the Eagle. My New release, Sky Thunder, is the sequel.
MWSA: Where are any family members from the military?
Charles A. Stewart: I have traced my family history to the Knights Templars and the Crusades. My ancestors have fought in every major war for America. The Revolutionary War, my family lost four ancestors at Gettysburg during the Civil War. We have continued to defend our country since then. My grandfather was in the invasion of Guadalcanal during WWII and the Pacific Island Campaign. He was also a veteran of the Korean and Vietnam War as a Navy Corpsman. My grandmother drove military tanks onto the boats for the European Theatre. My great-uncle survived three ships being torpedoed and sunk. My dad was in Army Communications during the Cuban Missile Crisis. I come from a long line of veterans.
MWSA: What made you choose your genre’?
Charles A. Stewart: Well, I feel writing something you know or experienced allows you to be more creative. Writing about the military, soldiers, and the brotherhood that the Army and combat create, I felt it would be easier to write about. I could use this to set me apart from other authors using my real-life experiences in my books. I didn’t want to be labeled in a corner as military fiction only. That is why I added to the story about the CIA and its mission. It gives me more labels to put with my writing. Adult Thriller, Commercial, Action-Adventure, Military/ Espionage. I can also be more creative with my stories.
MWSA: What are your books about?
Charles A. Stewart: Cry of the Eagle and my new release, Sky Thunder, are part of the Colt Hawkins series and reveal stories of the men and women of one of the world’s most elite and secretive para-military organizations. Special Activities Division of the CIA, Former Tier One Operator Colt Hawkins is gritty, intelligent, honorable, battle-tested, and devoted to his fellow operators and his country, who are frequently put in harm’s way by the evils of the world.
MWSA: Are the characters in your novel based on historical figures?
Charles A. Stewart: No, however, Many of my characters are real people I know or have worked with. Some are friends I grew up with that have a badass real-life background. Some backgrounds are fictional. For the most part, I used their real names with their permission, but for some, we had to change their names for security and safety. My job as the author is to ensure the reader can’t tell what is real or fictional.
MWSA: What writing projects are you working on these days?
Charles A. Stewart: I am still learning the ins and outs of promoting my new release, Sky Thunder. It is an everyday battle for me on that. However, my editor and I are in the final editing stages of my third book, Rogue Vengeance (75k words), and I am finishing up my fourth book, The Price of Freedom (100k words). Both are future additions to the Colt Hawkins Series.
MWSA: Is there anything else you want to add?
Charles A. Stewart: Yes, I ask you to please join my website; there, you can find direct links to my books and, starting this year, more background and insight about me and my characters. https://www.charlesstewartauthor.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0CTYRK9BB/about