Help a Combat Vet Finish His Book; Lift #VeteranVoices

The book is called The Things They Buried. It’s not a memoir. It’s not a patriotic commercial. It’s a short story collection told through a character named Spades, a fictionalized version of the soldier I used to be—and the ghost I nearly became. These are stories about war, trauma, absurdity, silence, and survival. They’re told in fragments, because that’s how memory works when you’ve been through hell.

My name is David Spaeth. I’m a disabled U.S. Army combat veteran, a single father of two, and a writer trying to finish a book that’s been buried in me since Iraq.

I’ve written four stories so far. There are twelve more to go. The problem? I’m broke. I’m raising my kids on my own. And as much as I believe in this book, I can’t finish it if I’m choosing between food and rent.

Why I’m Asking for $10,000

This fundraiser will give me the time and space to:

Finish the manuscript

Feed my kids and keep us housed while I do it

Format, print, and distribute the first run

Hit the road and read it in the places that need it most—veteran centers, classrooms, libraries, and recovery spaces

Full Budget Breakdown

Item

Estimated Cost

Rent, bills, food for 4–6 months

$6,000–8,000

Book formatting, layout, print setup

$500

ISBNs, distribution, publishing costs

$300

Print run of 200–300 paperbacks

$1,000

Local tour travel and outreach

$1,500

Emergency fund (childcare, meds, breathing room)

$700

Total (Initial Goal):

$10,000

Stretch Goals (If We Raise More)

$12,000 – Audiobook version + professional cover design

$15,000 – Multi-city tour to speak with vets and readers

$18,000 – Second print run + bonus companion essays

$20,000+ – Create a small fund to help another veteran publish their story

Why This Book Matters

I’m not writing to heal—I’m writing so others know they’re not alone.

This isn’t therapy. It’s testimony.

If you’ve ever felt buried by something you couldn’t name… this book is for you.

If you can’t give, please share. If you can give, you’re not just funding a book. You’re giving a veteran a chance to finish the fight on his own terms—and leave something behind that tells the truth.

Thank You

Every dollar. Every share. Every comment. It all matters.

You’re helping me feed my kids. You’re helping me finish something sacred.

And I won’t forget it.

— David Spaeth

San Diego, CA