Just rewatched a podcast I recorded with Chris Thrall a while back — and it hit me harder than I expected.

We talked about “dits” — the old Royal Marines stories that formed the bones of my books. A dit isn’t just a tale; it’s a memory passed between mates, polished over pints and years. Sometimes true, sometimes pure fiction — always worth telling.

Watching it again brought back moments: stressful, hilarious, painful, unforgettable. Reminded me how lucky I was to choose the path I did, over 50 years ago.

One of the stories I share is about Billy Whizz — a brilliant lad who took a different route. While I was just starting at CTCRM, Billy was already in Wandsworth for armed robbery. At 19, none of us think too far ahead. But choices have long shadows.

Dits are stories. And behind every good book, there’s always a good dit.

📖 Billy features in my latest novel, A Collusion of Shadows.

#RoyalMarines #VeteranStories #Podcast #WritingCommunity #MilitaryMemoirs #Dits #ACollusionOfShadows #LifeChoices #Brotherhood #ChrisThrall