A question at a party in 2019 led Papillion attorney John Waters to write his first book.

John Waters wrote a novel based on his experiences as a Marine in a war zone. He’s now 27 years old with a wife and three kids, and he works as an attorney for Fiserv.

The gathering was a fundraiser for Opera Omaha at the home of a colleague. Waters, who wasn’t an opera fan, felt alone and out of his element. When he listened to a talk about the company’s next performance, that feeling got stronger.

Then a singer performed “Danny Boy,” a sad Irish ballad about a mom who watches her son march off to war. That struck a chord with Waters, who graduated from the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, and spent time in Afghanistan and Iraq as a Marine.

He stopped to talk to the singer on his way out of the party.

“I told her I had gone to war,” he said, and she responded with a question: “Do you think a soldier ever comes home from war?”

People are also reading…

It was an issue he’d never resolved, but one he wanted to contemplate. He had some questions of his own. And as he searched for answers, he was also developing a newfound interest in the arts.

“River Zone One,” by John Waters, is about a man’s return from war and his efforts to build a new life with a beautiful singer.

This month, his novel, “River City One,” was released by Permuted Press and distributed by Simon & Schuster. He had a launch party in Washington, D.C., hosted by his sister, Erin, the president and CEO of the Real Clear Politics website. He’s also had readings at Omaha’s Bookworm and in Iowa City.

“River City One” tells the story of John Walker, a lawyer and ex-Marine who has been on the edge since he came home from the war. He rages against people who don’t understand the terror he felt in combat and the guilt he still feels. Things turn around when he meets a beautiful singer, but his web of lies may destroy his renewed life.

Papillion resident John Waters, who wrote a novel using his experiences as a Marine as fodder, is congratulated by President Barack Obama at his graduation from the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.  

Waters, 37, has seen war, but he said the book is not autobiographical. After graduating from Annapolis, he became a lieutenant in the Marines and eventually was a ground intelligence officer in Afghanistan. He wasn’t in combat, but he did receive photographic proof that soldiers had captured and killed people he had located.

“Hemingway said to write what you know. I started with a place and people I know and feelings and memories I have,” Waters said. “What happens is not a memoir, (but) it is truthful to the experience of coming home. It is not about me. I wouldn’t force something on the world that was just about me.”

Once he decided to write the book, it took him only three months to complete the first draft, writing in pencil in a journal. He said he wanted it to be hard.

He worked surreptitiously in his basement. Only his wife and his mom knew about it. He said his dad, also named John, wasn’t pleased when he learned what was going on. Put it away, he told his son, and focus on your day job and your family.

The younger Waters soldiered on, writing the next draft in pen and typing the last one.

He prepared for the process by studying how various artists created. He also found a writing mentor and lived with him for six months.

And, he said, “I read everything I could. I was always a reader.”

His mom, Patricia Waters, edited the book before he sent it off to various agents and publishing companies. (She’s a former features editor at The World-Herald.) He said he contacted about 500 editors, writers and publishers before finding an agent in London.

He learned that to get ahead, writers also have to be marketers as well.

Papillion resident John Waters as a student at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. 

“The book was like my client,” he said. “It was hard, but I was a Marine and as a Marine I did hard things.”

He wrote his book, he said, because there was a lot he loved about his time in the corps. But like many soldiers, he felt somewhat lost when his military career ended in 2015.

“When I came home, I felt abandoned and alone. Writing was a comfort … I could be with old friends,” he said. “We come home and we’re feted as heroes but all we’re thinking about is what we didn’t do, where we fell short. I wanted to tell that story.”

The book has already received a couple of positive reviews, including this from Eugene Sledge Award-winning author Kacy Tellessen:

“John Waters renders real a fictional account of what it’s like to attempt to live an ordinary life after experiencing the extraordinary thumbprint of war. With rich prose and a touch of the surreal, Waters tells a story that will make you reflect on your own life, as all great stories do. ‘River City One’ is an utterly human story that demands to be read.”

Waters, who has three young children, said his wife has been very supportive throughout his journey. His seven-year-old son, Henry, has started writing books himself.

He frequently reads to Henry before bedtime.

“We came to the end of reading (one night) and we talked about his book, ‘Ben the Ant,’” Waters said. “And he says, ‘Someday I want to be like you.’”

Since he finished “River City One,” he said, he’s moved on from regular reflection about his military experiences and has found new interests. Writing it has helped him move on.

“It’s not so much in my head anymore,” he said.

He’ll continue to practice law; he now works as a corporate lawyer at Fiserv. But he also plans to continue writing. He has a contract for a nonfiction book, composes poetry and someday would like to produce a novel about love and romance.

“Writing, to me, is an impulse that I can’t do anything but indulge,” he said. “I have to do it.”

Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of November 2023

Brothers Finn, 10, and Jaxson Mlynarik, 14, of Winterset, Iowa, stand together with a lit up snowflake during the Holiday Lights Festival lighting ceremony at The RiverFront Park in Omaha on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023.

ANNA REED, THE WORLD-HERALD

Sandhills/Thedford’s Zeb Wilde (32) and Carson Cooksley (14) celebrate with fans Kaden Haake and Connor Cooksley following the Wynot vs. Sandhills/Thedford Nebraska Class D2 State Football Championship at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln on Monday, Nov. 20, 2023. Sandhills/Thedford won the title 50-12.

ANNA REED, THE WORLD-HERALD

Creighton’s Trey Alexander (23) controls the ball in the Texas Southern vs. Creighton men’s college basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023.

ANNA REED, THE WORLD-HERALD

Justin Holzepfel puts Christmas lights on his roof as his daughter, Madalyn, 5, watches on Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2023.

CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD

Nebraska’s Nick Henrich (3) pressures Wisconsin’s Tanner Mordecai (8) during the second half of a college football game at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis., on Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023.

CHRIS MACHIAN THE WORLD-HERALD

Nebraska’s Thomas Fidone II (24) huddles Wisconsin’s Jason Maitre (23) during the second half of a college football game at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis., on Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023.

CHRIS MACHIAN THE WORLD-HERALD

Nebraska’s Chubba Purdy (12) throws under pressure from Wisconsin’s Jake Chaney (36) during the first half of a college football game at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis., on Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023.

CHRIS MACHIAN THE WORLD-HERALD

Nebraska’s Chubba Purdy (12) scores on a 55-yard run on the first drive during the first half of a college football game at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis., on Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023.

CHRIS MACHIAN THE WORLD-HERALD

Nebraska’s Harper Murray (27) goes up for the ball during the first set of a college volleyball match against Michigan at the Devaney Center in Lincoln on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023.

ANNA REED, THE WORLD-HERALD

Jaye’real Coppage 12, dibbles a basketball in the gym at the Salvation Army Omaha North Worship & Service Center located at 2424 Pratt St, on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023. Paint from the mural on the wall is peeling.

CHRIS MACHIAN THE WORLD-HERALD

Atlas Swan, 3, helps his mother, Eryn Swan’s plants on the porch of their Bemis Park home on Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023.

CHRIS MACHIAN THE WORLD-HERALD

Kids play basketball in the gym at the Salvation Army’s North Corps Community Center, 2424 Pratt St., on Nov. 9.

CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD

North Dakota State’s Ryan Sletten (24) tries to stop a Creighton’s Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) dunk at CHI Health Center on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023.

CHRIS MACHIAN THE WORLD-HERALD

Police escort a truck carrying the Durham Museum Christmas heads north on I480 toward Woolworth Avenue on Monday, Nov. 13, 2023.

CHRIS MACHIAN THE WORLD-HERALD

A Union Pacific climbs out of a tree after securing it to a crane on Monday, Nov. 13, 2023.

CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD

Creighton’s Steven Ashworth (1) celebrates a three-point basket against North Dakota State at CHI Health Center on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023.

CHRIS MACHIAN THE WORLD-HERALD

North Dakota State’s Ryan Sletten (24) tries to stop a Creighton’s Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) dunk at CHI Health Center on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023.

CHRIS MACHIAN THE WORLD-HERALD

Nebraska’s Ty Robinson (9) walks off the filed following the college football game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023. Maryland won the game 13-10.

ANNA REED THE WORLD-HERALD

Nebraska’s Blaise Gunnerson (97) stretches out to try an block a pass from Maryland’s Taulia Tagovailoa (3) to Maryland’s Roman Hemby (24) during the first half of a college football game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023.

ANNA REED THE WORLD-HERALD

Nebraska’s Harper Murray (27) watches as Nebraska’s Merritt Beason (13) misses the ball in the Northwestern vs. Nebraska college volleyball match at the Devaney Center in Lincoln on Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023.

ANNA REED THE WORLD-HERALD

Brooke Holloway, Matthew McMullen Bill Holloway and Cindy Holloway cross the Red Cedar river on their way to Spartan Stadium prior to a college football game between the Nebraska Huskers and the Michigan State Spartans in East Lansing, Mich. on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023.

CHRIS MACHIAN THE WORLD-HERALD

Nebraska and Michigan State fans react differently on a penalty call against Michigan State during the first half of a college football game at Spartan in East Lansing, Mich. on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023.

CHRIS MACHIAN THE WORLD-HERALD

Nebraska’s Omar Brown (12) sits in a hall before playing Michigan State in a college football game at Spartan in East Lansing, Mich. on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023.

CHRIS MACHIAN THE WORLD-HERALD

Nebraska’s Heinrich Haarberg (10), Nebraska’s Jeff Sims (7) and Nebraska’s Chubba Purdy (12) have a moment in a hall before playing Michigan State in a college football game at Spartan in East Lansing, Mich. on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023.

CHRIS MACHIAN THE WORLD-HERALD

A member of the Michigan State marching band drums upside down during the second half of a college football game at Spartan in East Lansing, Mich. on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023.

CHRIS MACHIAN THE WORLD-HERALD

Omaha Skutt raises their trophy following the Norris vs. Omaha Skutt Nebraska State Volleyball Class B Championship match at the Devaney Center in Lincoln on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023. Omaha Skutt won the title in three sets.

ANNA REED, THE WORLD-HERALD

Sumner-Eddyville-Miller’s Katelynn Reiter (6) serves the ball in the O’Neill St. Mary’s vs. Sumner-Eddyville-Miller NSAA Class D-1 volleyball state quarterfinal match at the Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln on Thursday, Nov. 2, 2023.

ANNA REED, THE WORLD-HERALD

Shania Twain performs at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Thursday, Nov. 2, 2023.

NIKOS FRAZIER THE WORLD-HERALD

Millard West’s Brody Peterson (7) runs the ball against Grand Island’s Trey Engberg (1) and Grand Island’s Justyce Hostetler (35) during the first quarter of a high school football game at Buell Stadium in Omaha on Friday, Nov. 3, 2023.

NIKOS FRAZIER THE WORLD-HERALD

Minden’s Aubree Bules (11) serves the ball during the fourth set of the Nebraska state volleyball C-1 Championship against Kearney Catholic at the Devaney Center in Lincoln on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023.

NIKOS FRAZIER THE WORLD-HERALD

Overton’s JoLee Ryan (7) and Overton’s Ashlyn Florell (10) celebrate after sweeping Cambridge to win the Nebraska state volleyball D-2 Championship at Devaney Center in Lincoln on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023.

NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD

The sun sets behind Pinnacle Bank Arena before the Huskers’ men’s basketball team tips-off against Lindenwood in Lincoln on Monday, Nov. 6, 2023.

NIKOS FRAZIER THE WORLD-HERALD

Nebraska’s C.J. Wilcher (0) passes the ball against Florida A&M’s Jordan Chatman (2) during the first half of a college men’s basketball game at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023.

NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD

A look inside Memorial Stadium during the national anthem before the first quarter of a college football game in Lincoln on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023.

NIKOS FRAZIER THE WORLD-HERALD

Nebraska’s Janiran Bonner (16) runs the ball past Maryland’s Beau Brade (2) to score a touchdown during the third quarter of a college football game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023.

NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD

Nebraska’s Malcolm Hartzog (13) pushes Maryland’s Antwain Littleton II (7) out of bounds during the third quarter of a college football game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023.

NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD

Creighton’s Trey Alexander (23) goes up to dunk the ball against Iowa’s Tony Perkins (11) during the second half of a men’s college basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2023.

NIKOS FRAZIER THE WORLD-HERALD

attorney-john-waters-processes-his-war-experience-by-writing-a-novel/article_bd70a106-8898-11ee-bdb6-1f70d3c892ee.html”>Source link


Attorneys and law firms can elevate their online presence with professionally written content from SEO Content Writing Services monthly plan. Our team of experienced writers specializes in crafting blog posts, articles, and written content that accurately reflect the expertise and knowledge of our clients in the legal field. With a keen eye for detail and a thorough understanding of legal terminology, we provide high-quality writing that helps our clients stand out from their competition and engage with their target audience. Trust SEO Content Writing Services for one time article writing or monthly written content to handle all of your written content needs and showcase your law firm's expertise.
If you need written content, blog posts, or articles professionally written for your website, we can help. Go HERE to find out more.
or email us here: myseowritingservices@gmail.com
To find out more about our article writing or blog post services, fill out the form, thank you.

Name *

First

Last

Business Name

Email *

What type of articles are you intertested in?

Submit

The post Papillion attorney processes war experience by writing novel appeared first on Attorney Legal Counsel.

JEFFERSON CITY – Missouri attorney General Andrew Bailey and Gov. Mike Parson held a press conference Thursday presenting arguments to sustain Bailey’s lawsuit against the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule.

Along with 23 other states, Missouri filed the lawsuit to halt the most recent WOTUS rule, published in mid-January. In sum, this rule redefines federal policies when overseeing hydraulic resources, especially streams, ponds, ditches and other bodies of water.

This measure is best known for its environmental protection-oriented goal – to control pollution on streams and wetlands. Previously promoted and implemented by the Obama administration and publicly discussed over the years, it ended up being reversed by the Trump administration. 

In the current lawsuit, the plaintiffs claim that WOTUS violates the Clean Water Act (CWA), the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) and the United States Constitution. 

At Thursday’s press conference, Gov. Parson showed his support for the lawsuit, claiming it defends farmers’ best interests.

“Our office fully supports attorney General Bailey’s lawsuit against the Biden administration as we fight back against their radical climate agenda,” Parson said.

According to a press release, the body of attorneys general leading this suit believe that, “Landowning Americans of all stripes will thus be left with a choice: fight their way through an expensive and lengthy administrative process to obtain complex jurisdictional determinations and permits or face substantial civil and criminal penalties.” 

Garrett Hawkins, president of the Missouri Farm Bureau, was also present at the press conference. He said he is concerned about what he understands to be a weight that this new policy may put on farmers’ daily activities. He also said he expects the lawsuit to bring clarity to the current interpretation of regulated waters and the scope of WOTUS, defending the recent rule has created ambiguity.

Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup.

Error! There was an error processing your request.

The newly-approved WOTUS rule adds to the waterways regulated list, aiming to expand the federal government’s power over natural water resources. It ultimately has an impact on the way water and water pollution are managed on public and private lands.

Up to 2020, WOTUS’ regulations faced backlash from three specific groups from the economic sphere: fossil fuel producers, farmers and real estate developers, according to the New York Times. 

WOTUS’ redefinition timeline:

• June 29, 2015 – Clean Water Rule/WOTUS – President Barack Obama signs the new rule, expanding federal rights over water resources.
• Jan. 31, 2018 – President Donald Trump orders suspension of Obama’s WOTUS rule for the following two years.
• Oct. 22, 2019 – President Trump reverses WOTUS 2015 rule, and implements Navigable Waters Protection Rule (NWPR), which reinstates the policies in place prior to Obama’s 2015 executive order.
• Jan. 20, 2021 – President Joe Biden signs an executive order to reinstate WOTUS 2015 definition.
• Dec. 30, 2022 – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) releases the pre-publication version of the final rule defining WOTUS.
• Jan. 18, 2023 – Army Corps of Engineers and EPA publish the final WOTUS rule.
• Feb. 16, 2023 – The state of Missouri, along 23 other states, file a lawsuit against the Biden administration, aiming to halt the new WOTUS rule.
• March 20, 2023 – New WOTUS rule is determined to become effective.

In this collective lawsuit, 24 states are plaintiffs, namely, Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia and Wyoming.

Whereas the defendants are federal offices, including the EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

History of litigation over revised definitions of Water of the United States

Since its first approval and implementation, the history of national policies regarding water regulations has been seeing several litigations. Over a dozen are highlighted in this EPA report.

Source link


Attorneys and law firms can elevate their online presence with professionally written content from SEO Content Writing Services monthly plan. Our team of experienced writers specializes in crafting blog posts, articles, and written content that accurately reflect the expertise and knowledge of our clients in the legal field. With a keen eye for detail and a thorough understanding of legal terminology, we provide high-quality writing that helps our clients stand out from their competition and engage with their target audience. Trust SEO Content Writing Services for one time article writing or monthly written content to handle all of your written content needs and showcase your law firm's expertise.
If you need written content, blog posts, or articles professionally written for your website, we can help. Go HERE to find out more.
or email us here: myseowritingservices@gmail.com
To find out more about our article writing or blog post services, fill out the form, thank you.

Name *

First

Last

Business Name

Email *

What type of articles are you intertested in?

Submit

The post Attorneys general claim WOTUS rule will force farmers to hire counsel for routine decisions | State News appeared first on Attorney Legal Counsel.