AWOL in Gibraltar
It’s 1971, and U.S. Marine Corporal Grady Patrick O’Ryan is fed up with all the harassment. After his leave is canceled for failing an inspection due to sabotage, he goes AWOL. His goal is to drink a few beers and then return to his ship to accept his punishment, but his simple plan quickly turns into an unforgettable adventure when he meets a beautiful woman—a lieutenant in the Royal Air Force stationed in the British territory of Gibraltar with the unique name of Coffee.
​
Their fling begins as a few days of reckless freedom but turns into something much bigger. As Grady and Coffee explore the mysterious caves and tunnels of the Rock—dodging ghosts, fighting knife-wielding locals, and being stalked by her obsessive ex-boyfriend—they discover a kind of love neither of them expected. They fight, they laugh, and in between the chaos, they discover a bond that could change everything.
​
Could Coffee be the one Grady will risk everything for? With time running out, he must unlock her secrets and return to his ship before it leaves port, so he can face the music for his deeds. AWOL in Gibraltar is an action-adventure full of grit, humor, and the kind of love forged in conflict.
AWOL, out of control, and falling in love. Welcome to Gibraltar.
My Works
The Journey
Drawn from Benson Sullivan’s own time as a U.S. Marine, AWOL in Gibraltar blends lived experience with vivid imagination, capturing the wild heartbeat of freedom, rebellion, and unexpected love.
The Characters
Grady and Coffee are more than fictional—they’re stitched together from real people, real places, and the kind of intense moments that stay with you long after the war stories fade.
The Themes
At its core, this story wrestles with duty and desire, faith and freedom, and what it means to choose love in the middle of chaos.
The Writing Process
Benson writes the way he grills: slow, deliberate, and full of flavor. Each scene is seasoned with humor, heart, and the grit of a man who’s seen both the battlefield and the beauty of second chances.
The Impact
More than just an adventure, AWOL in Gibraltar is a love letter to redemption, rooted in truth and told with the soul of a Marine and the spirit of an Irish storyteller.