Author Galen d. Peterson

Galen d. Peterson is a West Pointer who went on to lead a tank platoon in combat in Iraq and later commanded a tank company.  The M1A2 Abrams tank became his warrior’s chariot and leading soldiers his passion.  During two deployments to Iraq he was involved in some of the heaviest fighting of the war in Sadr City in 2008.  In 2009, Galen was invited back to West Point as a guest lecturer to General Frank’s Battle Command and Officership class.  Suffering from the effects of a brain injury sustained in Iraq, he was medically retired.  He finds inner peace by spending time with his family, fishing, camping, biking, and model railroading.

Not ready to give up on serving, Galen started a new career as a police officer in Colorado, serving in patrol, traffic, and SWAT. During his career, Galen received the Valor Award, Colorado State Patrol’s highest award. After a total of twenty years in uniform, Galen settled down and now works for a municipal water department and lives in the Boulder area.

Galen’s first release, his combat memoir of Iraq, Strike Hard and Expect No Mercy, came out in 2021 and is one of the few published glimpses into the world of tanks in urban combat. Galen’s Global Response Force series, debuting in 2024 with REDCON ONE and Lightning Six, harnesses combat experience to weave a battlefield thriller of global peer-competition conflict.

Galen is currently working on his next release, continuing the Global Response Force series. He believes a good thriller should be more than just a good story. It should offer insights into the subject matter. As such, Galen’s artistic aim is to craft a tapestry that is so realistic, visiting the location is like returning to a familiar scene. Action is rooted in the constraints of technology, distance and time, and cultivated with the possibilities of the human element.

Great authors who influence Galen include Tom Clancy, Harold Coyle, Anton Myrer, Ernest Hemingway, James D. Hornfischer, W.E.B. Griffin, Charles Dickens, and Michael Shaara. If Galen had to choose his favorite books, Once an Eagle would head the list, followed by Team Yankee and Red Storm Rising.

An active member of the Military Writers Society of America, Galen finds inspiration in fellow authors. Encouraging veterans of all ages to put pen to their experiences is a cause Galen champions. Knowledge of those experiences is vital for our democracy to follow its moral compass. The therapy writing provides is invaluable and the joy of sharing a good story with friends is priceless.

“To craft a great story requires more than one person. A quality editor is obvious. Beta readers are less so, but just as vital. I’m blessed with a cohort of friends and family that provide honest and insightful feedback. Thank you Pat, Katie, and Dave for the invaluable efforts you provide.” – Galen

Knight Books is Galen d. Peterson’s imprint. While the first edition of Strike Hard and Expect No Mercy was published by Koehler Books, Galen chose to start his own imprint for publishing his line of thrillers, utilizing Amazon’s KDP services. Strike Hard and Expect No Mercy is now available on Amazon through Knight Books. Knight Books allows Galen ultimate flexibility in selecting quality editors, cover artists, and timelines. It also allows Galen to be able to provide flexibility in payment options when customers purchase books directly from Galen.

Knight Books traces its name from when Galen was Knight Six, company commander of Company D, 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment at Fort Carson. While the company was eliminated in later Army reorganization, the legacy of the Knights lives on. Knight Books’s logo traces its heritage from Galen’s family crest. The emperor of Austria granted the shield of blue and white and authorized it for all future decedents.

Knight Books assists local authors in navigating the publishing process, without providing paid publishing services. Veterans especially need to get their stories out to the public. It is our duty to continue defending our country. We do this by informing the public what it is they ask the military to do.