Dennis Maulsby
Update Dennis Maulsby
February 21, 2020
| The Fantasy Works: A collection of short stories, novel extracts, and poems by Dennis Maulsby My latest work to be published is now available in eBook preorder for $0.99. Order now at this low price and receive your download on March 1st. Go to: https://www.amazon.com/…/B08…/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i2 • Coming Events My new novel The House de Gracie will be released in April. The House de Gracie book release events. Wine and chocolates provided. •Your choice of location: Thursday, April 30th, 6:00 to 7:30 PM at Beaverdale Books, 2629 Beaver Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa. OR Thursday, May 7th, 6:00 to 7:30 PM at the KHOI Studios, 410 Douglas Avenue, Ames, Iowa. |
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A Marshalltown native and former soldier found writing to be an effective way to deal with haunting dreams and memories of the Vietnam War.
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Dennis Maulsby, 77, of Ames, said a number of former Vietnam veterans used one, or a combination of “drugs, women and creativity,” to deal with combat-induced Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Maulsby said he chose creativity which has led him to write award-winning haiku, short stories, poetry and more. Two of his books will be published this year. “The first is a collection of poetry, short stories and novel extracts, some of which have been published, others not,” he said. “It will be an eBook and print. The second is my first novel, ‘The House DeGracy,’ it takes place in upstate New York.”
CONTRIBUTED GRAPHIC Maulsby, the Army veteran with 4.5 years of active duty uses a military man as the central character in . “He is going home. He has been in most the Army’s major conflicts the last 10 years. He was captured by the Taliban and help captive in caves, where he caught a bat-borne virus. There is no cure for his disease, but medications keep it in check. He does not want to go home, but he has no where else to go.” The major finds out a many family secrets which had been kept from him. A parallel story is that at Taliban-led group of terrorists have vowed revenge on the major for kiting one of their kin, and track him to his home.”
CONTRIBUTED GRAPHIC Discovering creative writing was most effective only came after he tried furniture building, knotting rugs, and acrylic painting among others. “For me, the other crafts had a beginning and an end, limitations that allowed the curse to regain its power in between each transition,” Maulsby said. “Writing has been the most successful therapy. The English language with over a million words, gave me the opportunity to combat the stress directly.” Maulsby served in the U.S. Army in Vietnam 1967-68 where he witnessed intense combat. He led a mobile electronic intelligence gathering platoon in southwestern Vietnam. “My memories of Vietnam have not dulled over the years,” he said. “At night in dreams, or in pensive moments, they have refreshed themselves too many times. Perhaps this is the way it is with all of us.”
CONTRIBUTED GRAPHIC After Maulsby’s honorable discharge, he worked for several Chamber of Commerce organizations. That time was followed by 30 years in banking. He retired in 2009 and now lives in Ames with wife Ruth and dog Charlie. Retirement has given him more time for writing which has garnered numerous awards. His work has appeared in Lyrical Iowa, The North American Review, Haiku Journal, Spillway, The Hawaii Pacific Review and The Briarcliff Review, just to name a few. Maulsby has received several awards from the Military Writers Society of America. At least 70 poems have been individually published and 40 percent of those have won awards. “Having your poetry published, or winning awards, is a validation,” he said. “Writers are always the worst judges of their own work, an so you get to the point where you can’t really tell if your work is any good.” Maulsby said he will continue to write as long as Vietnam haunts him. “I write because I need the therapy,” he said. “Struggling against memories is the fate of all soldiers returned from killing places. The fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan will create another generation of afflicted men and women. I hope residents welcome them back. They need our understanding.” MAULSBY TIMELINE 1950s – Maulsby introduced to poetry at Marshalltown High School. He wrote what he referred to as “primitive efforts.” 1960-64 – Attended Grinnell College. Shortly before graduation in 1964 he enlists in U.S. Army. 1967-68 – Served in Vietnam 1970 – Received honorable discharge 2005 – Published first book of war poetry, “Remembering Willie and all the Others” 2015 – “Near Death/Near Life” a third book of poetry published by Prolific Press 2016 – “Free Fire Zone” published by Prolific Press A Marshalltown native and former soldier found writing to be an effective way to deal with haunting dreams and memories of the Vietnam War. Dennis Maulsby, 77, of Ames, said a number of former Vietnam veterans used one, or a combination of “drugs, women and creativity,” to deal with combat-induced Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Maulsby said he chose creativity which has led him to write award-winning haiku, short stories, poetry and more. Two of his books will be published this year. “The first is a collection of poetry, short stories and novel extracts, some of which have been published, others not,” he said. “It will be an eBook and print. The second is my first novel, ‘The House DeGracy,’ it takes place in upstate New York.”
CONTRIBUTED GRAPHIC Maulsby, the Army veteran with 4.5 years of active duty uses a military man as the central character in . “He is going home. He has been in most the Army’s major conflicts the last 10 years. He was captured by the Taliban and help captive in caves, where he caught a bat-borne virus. There is no cure for his disease, but medications keep it in check. He does not want to go home, but he has no where else to go.” The major finds out a many family secrets which had been kept from him. A parallel story is that at Taliban-led group of terrorists have vowed revenge on the major for kiting one of their kin, and track him to his home.”
CONTRIBUTED GRAPHIC Discovering creative writing was most effective only came after he tried furniture building, knotting rugs, and acrylic painting among others. “For me, the other crafts had a beginning and an end, limitations that allowed the curse to regain its power in between each transition,” Maulsby said. “Writing has been the most successful therapy. The English language with over a million words, gave me the opportunity to combat the stress directly.” Maulsby served in the U.S. Army in Vietnam 1967-68 where he witnessed intense combat. He led a mobile electronic intelligence gathering platoon in southwestern Vietnam. “My memories of Vietnam have not dulled over the years,” he said. “At night in dreams, or in pensive moments, they have refreshed themselves too many times. Perhaps this is the way it is with all of us.”
CONTRIBUTED GRAPHIC After Maulsby’s honorable discharge, he worked for several Chamber of Commerce organizations. That time was followed by 30 years in banking. He retired in 2009 and now lives in Ames with wife Ruth and dog Charlie. Retirement has given him more time for writing which has garnered numerous awards. His work has appeared in Lyrical Iowa, The North American Review, Haiku Journal, Spillway, The Hawaii Pacific Review and The Briarcliff Review, just to name a few. Maulsby has received several awards from the Military Writers Society of America. At least 70 poems have been individually published and 40 percent of those have won awards. “Having your poetry published, or winning awards, is a validation,” he said. “Writers are always the worst judges of their own work, an so you get to the point where you can’t really tell if your work is any good.” Maulsby said he will continue to write as long as Vietnam haunts him. “I write because I need the therapy,” he said. “Struggling against memories is the fate of all soldiers returned from killing places. The fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan will create another generation of afflicted men and women. I hope residents welcome them back. They need our understanding.” MAULSBY TIMELINE 1950s – Maulsby introduced to poetry at Marshalltown High School. He wrote what he referred to as “primitive efforts.” 1960-64 – Attended Grinnell College. Shortly before graduation in 1964 he enlists in U.S. Army. 1967-68 – Served in Vietnam 1970 – Received honorable discharge 2005 – Published first book of war poetry, “Remembering Willie and all the Others” 2015 – “Near Death/Near Life” a third book of poetry published by Prolific Press 2016 – “Free Fire Zone” published by Prolific Press
THE NORWEGIAN AMERICAN TROLL
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