| (Auto)-Biography, with something on the
side
It all started with the autobiography The Long Way
Home, which was a story of my years as a soldier for
the cause of peace in the Middle East. An experience that
made inerasable impressions, and which have affected everything
I have written since. The book was published in 2001, and
is purchased by the Norwegian Military for the purpose of
educating new soldiers.
TLWH made me want to write more about the conditions in
the Middle East, and especially about the destinies of individuals.
The result was the thriller Delete. The book deals
with the problem issues between Israel and the Palestinians.
The basis for the plot was a description of the ultra conservative
branch of Shin Bet’s attempts to achieve The Final
Solution in the Palestinian areas. The book was very much
noticed, and I got murder threats from an obscure, forbidden,
Israeli terror organisation called Kahane Chai.
The book was well received and sold well both in Norway
and Denmark.
During the research for Delete I stumbled upon
several American Senate Hearings regarding the massacres
in Rwanda. I was surprised by the very low concern the world
as a whole seemed to show about this gruesome genocide.
And this in a period in which UN forces could observe up
to 70 000 children in the ages 3-5 with none other care
provider than a brother of sister. Nobody knows hoe many
children that were killed by predators, or who died in the
massacres, but one is certain that many just disappeared.
Again, I wanted to write a story based on the experiences
of individuals. I grabbed hold of the industry around paedophiles,
which is increasing day by day, and wrote the book about
where these children ended up – Dreamland.com.
The narration is situated ten years after the massacre,
and displays how cynical trafficking functions almost without
hindrance on the internet.
I usually say that all my books are born towards the end
of the last one. This was also the case with Endgame.
In 2005 I, as the first Norwegian soldier in international
service, went on with a lawsuit against the Ministry of
Defence. My view was that the state was in charge
of the injured soldiers, not only while on service, but
also when they are returned, and the cause for the injury
is the international service. It was a case of principle,
and the whole country was engaged in it. After two rounds
in court, where my demands won through, I must honestly
say that my belief in honest politicians who are aware of
their responsibilities was almost non-existing. With this
discussion about Norwegian engagement in Afghanistan, the
plot for Endgame matured. I noted that our politicians
were more than willing to offer the Norwegian soldiers for
duty in Iraq, the Balkans and in Afghanistan, as long as
this served the politicians’ interests.
I often underline that I do not write war stories. None
of my books are explicitly about the military. But where
others use the police officer or the journalist to drive
the narration forward, I let Tom Falck, former military,
be my protagonist. Tom Falck is a thinking, living human
being, with a background that allows him to see things a
little bit differently than the rest of us. Tom represents
mine (and the readers’) window to the story, and all
the books are closely linked with reality. Whoever reads
the books will, because of this, get a good insight in themes
that are important today but were never meant to reach the
public’s ears. Many people will disapprove that such
things are spoken of, but from my opinion (and Tom’s),
it is about time we take away the conception of Norway as
an innocent and peace loving actor in world affairs. We
are the world’s sixth largest weapon’s provider,
and achieve, in many controversial ways in the world conflicts.
It is no secret that I use many of my own experiences in
the books. I have not seen or heared half of what Tom has,
but it is not difficult for me to engage in the emotional
aspects of being shot at, stalked or subjected to threats,
let down or being under surveillance. All of these things
I have experienced in one way or the other. But grief, longing,
joy and love are also important aspects in my books, and
are emotions we all have experienced at times and can relate
to. I am only trying to describe all of this in an exciting
and entertaining way. And perhaps the reader will gain useful
knowledge and an epiphany in the bargain?
Endgame was a confrontation with the West’s
engagements in Iraq. I questioned whether it really was
Saddam Hussein who was captured and killed down there. I
also questioned where Saddam’s 20 billion dollars
went and, last but not least, who was really behind the
sentenced Norwegian grand spy; Arne Treholt. In Endgame,
I provide the answers.
The research for Endgame gave me information about
things that happened in Balkan and in Kosovo. The NATO
bombing of Kosovo was illegal warfare. Our Prime Minister
called this a humanitarian intervention. Politicians’
language like this irritates me. Through my work with Endgame,
I gained access to loads of secret information that involved
German, French, English and American governments. I quickly
discovered that the material deserved a book. The Norwegian
role in the Balkans is also very controversial. In Fastball,
coming this October, I explain why.
The narration is in London, the summer of 2006. Tom Falck
is hired as liasison for a new British “FBI”,
a bureau called Serious Organized Crime Agency. SOCA surveys
three former Norwegian soldiers who are meant to be behind
trafficking of women to England in trade with a load of
weapons from a hidden IRA-depot to Kosovo. What nobody knows
is that the women are not to be prostitutes, and that the
weapons are only there to cover up for something far more
dangerous.
Some times the cliché proves itself right; reality
surpasses fiction. The research for Fastball has
uncovered things that will be seen as news flashes this
year.
About the author:
Knut Arnljot Braa (b. 1962) is educated engineer and economist,
and has worked in the commercial business for about 20 years.
He has served as UN soldier in Lebanon for two periodes.
I 2006 he won the case against the Norwegian Ministry of
Defence, advocating for compensation to veterans for injuries
caused during service. Braa has prior to the novels published
the auto biography The Long Way Home – a
book that caused discussion and debate in the Norwegian
military. The issues regarding veterans has been important
to Braa for many years, and the books about Tom Falck reflect
this. Braa lives in Trondheim with his partner and their
daughter. He has written three thrillers, two published
by former Damm and Cappelen, and one by Piratforlaget. This
autumn, his fourth thriller Fastball will appear.
Everything Braa writes reflect an active engagement in
society, where exciting and controversial plots are closely
bound to today’s and tomorrow’s international
happenings, but at the same time anchored in the destinies
of individuals.
About Endgame:
“International thriller of high class … Definitely
his best thriller at this point … the characterisations
are this time given depth and nuance to the extent that
they are interesting beyond their physical achievements.”
Terje Stemland, “Aftenposten”
The Long Way Home – 2001
Delete – 2003
Dreamland.com – 2004
Endgame – 2008
Fastball – ultimo October 2009
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