MWSA Interview with Megan Michelle Falk

Date of interview: 30 October 2024

Megan Michelle holds a Masters degree in clinical psychology and a PhD in palliative care. She designed and tested a counseling intervention for parentally bereaved children.

She relies heavily on her knowledge of clinical psychology especially regarding trauma, grief, and personality to write engaging, realistic, and relatable characters.

Megan grew up in the San Francisco Bay area, spent thirteen years living in Sweden, and is now living in Virginia Beach, VA where she writes and publishes her novels.

When she's not writing, Megan is at yoga, kickboxing, or volunteering with an equine therapy program that helps military veterans, first responders, and special needs kids.

MWSA: How did you find out about MWSA?

Megan Michelle Falk: I was speaking with another author, exchanging ideas on how to grow our audience and where we can get support and she suggested I find a writer's association for my genre. I had no idea such a thing existed. Within seconds of googling, she found MWSA. I joined immediately!

MWSA: What was your inspiration for your book Skylark?

Megan Michelle Falk: During October 2022 I was recovering from open heart surgery, lying in bed, and the story of Skylark popped into my head! I couldn't do much else, so I just stayed in bed imagining what these characters would do, where their story would go, what their back story was. Before I knew it, I had a first draft. As I got better, I started researching to see if what I'd dreamed up made any sense or was remotely accurate (somehow, a lot of it was!)

This book is really the book I've always wanted to read- military romance meets spy thriller. I need a little spice with my action and a heaping dose of plot and character development.

MWSA: What writing projects are you working on these days?

Megan Michelle Falk: Book 2 of the SEAL Saga series has already been through two rounds of developmental editing and I hope to publish it in June 2025. It follows the same characters as Skylark and picks up more or less where we left them at the end of book 1! Don't worry, book 3 is also in the works.

MWSA: Now that you've finished writing and publishing Skylark, what do you know now that you wish you had known before you started?

Megan Michelle Falk: So many things! This has been such a steep learning curve. The most important lesson was definitely to trust my editor. She recommended cutting several scenes that I pushed back on (a lot) but eventually conceded weren't relevant to the plot. Now I get to offer them as bonus chapters.

MWSA: What is Skylark about?

Megan Michelle Falk: Skylark is a story of friendship, love, and perseverance. It follows Rachel Ryker, call sign Skylark, the first female Navy SEAL as she leads her team on a series of missions throughout the Middle East. It takes a big tragedy hitting her team for her to realize that she's in love with her best friend and second in command, Christopher Williams.

This story highlights what it's like to be a woman in the military and in the Middle East in a relatable and fun way. I've tried to incorporate my academic knowledge of grief and trauma to flesh out the characters and relied on my research skills to fill in the more military technical and strategic parts.

MWSA: What is your connection to the military?

Megan Michelle Falk: My father is a Viet Nam veteran. Some of my earliest memories are from following along with my brother's boy scout troop on outings to visit the patients at the VA and play checkers. I was so young I had no idea how to play, but I had a great time talking to the patients anyway.

Most of my family is military. I have an aunt and uncle who met in the Air Force, an uncle who was in the Army, and both of my grandfathers served as well. I would have if I didn't have medical disqualifications. Since I couldn't serve, I volunteer with non-profits that give back to the military community instead.

MWSA Interview with Kathy Kasunich

Date of interview: 23 September 2024

Kathy Kasunich, originally hailing from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, now calls Williamsburg, Virginia, home. Her debut novel, Always Remembering, is a heartfelt historical fiction romance set against the backdrop of World War II. This captivating work, inspired by her father's service as a medic during the war, seeks to honor the everyday heroes of the Greatest Generation and has earned acclaim, including a finalist nomination for a medal from the Military Writers Society of America (MWSA).

Kathy's short fiction is featured in the recently released anthology Christmas on the Bay. She was also honored as a finalist in the 2023 Golden Nib Awards for her poetry. Currently, she is crafting a new novel set in 18th-century Williamsburg, fueled by her love for historical contexts and the vibrant history of her surroundings.

As a dedicated member of the Chesapeake Bay Writers and the Writers Guild of Virginia, Kathy actively engages with the literary community to promote creativity and collaboration. In her spare time, she finds inspiration in photography, nature, and music, weaving these elements into her creative endeavors. To discover more about Kathy and her work, visit her website at kathykasunich.us2.authorhomepage.com.

MWSA: How did you find out about MWSA?

Kathy Kasunich: At a World War II event where I was selling my book, a patron praised the Military Writers Society of America (MWSA) and encouraged me to join the organization.

MWSA: What was your inspiration for Always Remembering?

Kathy Kasunich: The inspiration for my book comes from my parents, particularly my father, who served as a medic during the war. After they passed, I found myself surrounded by a war diary, letters, and cherished memorabilia—precious pieces of their history and love. These items, coupled with the stories they shared, motivated and inspired me to tell their story, not just to honor them, but to pay tribute to all who served during that time. Their courage, along with the sacrifices of thousands, deeply moved me.

In today’s world, it’s almost unimaginable to think of being in a war, separated from your loved ones, with only letters to bridge the gap—letters that took days, sometimes weeks, to arrive. The waiting, the uncertainty, the longing—it’s a pain most of us can hardly fathom. Yet, these men and women endured it all, facing unimaginable challenges both on the front lines and at home.

I wanted to capture that experience, the heartache and the resilience, to ensure that the sacrifices they made are never forgotten. My hope is that through their story, we can all remember the profound cost of freedom and the strength of the human spirit in the face of adversity.

MWSA: How did you decide on the title of the book?

Kathy Kasunich: In my book, Always Remembering, I included letters my father wrote to my mother during the war. He often signed them, "Always Remembering, Never Forgetting, Loving you forever." The phrase "Always Remembering" struck me deeply, inspiring the book's title. These words are more than a touching sentiment, it’s a testament to the strength of their love. In a time of unimaginable uncertainty, they had to always hold on to the memory of the person they fell in love with, clinging to that hope as a lifeline, believing they would see each other again.

MWSA: Is your book a love story or a war story?

Kathy Kasunich: My book is both a love and war story. It tells the tale of love during war and the enduring consequences. But it is also about the war, following the trials and tribulations of the 42nd Rainbow division as they battle through France and Germany, ultimately liberating Dachau Concentration Camp. The novel is told through both of their perspectives. It chronicles my father’s experience as a medic during this time, giving his assessment of the events. The narrative also reflects my mother’s struggles on the home front.

The book is much deeper than a love story, it explores the sacrifices, brutal realities of war, the life of a medic, and the challenges faced back home and overseas. Extensive research went into capturing the battles and historical context, blending these with deeply personal stories. Although classified as historical romance fiction—due to the need to fill in gaps and create dialogue—the book is rooted in the true story of an ordinary couple facing the extraordinary trials of war.

MWSA: Have you received any comments from your readers?

Kathy Kasunich: Yes. Some of the comments I have received state that the story transported them back in time and gave them a glimpse into what life may have been like for their great-grandfather, grandfather or father who served during World War II. It often prompts them to tell me the stories they know about their family and I encourage them to tell their story because we need to keep these stories alive, especially since most of the World War II veterans are gone. Others say their family member never talked about the war and they enjoyed learning about life during WWII. One young woman commented she didn't know much about World War II and through the book she learned a lot about the era and World War II. "It was like learning about history without reading a boring textbook with fact after fact. It was more personable." If the book educates someone, encourages dialogue or causes one to contemplate about the times, than I know the veterans and their families are honored and remembered.

MWSA: Do you plan to write more World War II related stories?

Kathy Kasunich: I would love to tell more stories from that era, but I am currently working on a historical fiction book that is set during the 18th century in Williamsburg. Hopefully after I finish this book that was inspired by my surroundings, living right outside colonial Williamsburg, I will revisit this time period.

MWSA Interview with John Winn Miller

Interview date: 31 May 2023

John Winn Miller is an award-winning investigative reporter, foreign correspondent, newspaper editor and publisher, screenwriter, movie producer, and novelist.

As a reporter at the Lexington (KY) Herald-Leader, Miller was part of a team of reporters that wrote a series that helped trigger educational reform in Kentucky. It was a Pulitzer Prize finalist and won the Society of Professional Journalists’1990 public service award, top honors from Investigative Reporters and Editors, and the first $25,000 Selden Ring award.

He also was a reporter at the Associated Press and the Wall Street Journal/Europe; executive editor of the Centre Daily Times in State College, PA, and the Tallahassee (FL) Democrat as well as the publisher at The Olympian in Olympia, WA, and the Concord (NH) Monitor.

In 2012, he was elected to The Associated Press board of directors and selected as a juror for the Pulitzer Prize for the second year in a row.

Miller, a Lexington, KY native, has also produced four films, including Band of Robbers, written and directed by Adam and Aaron Nee (who recently wrote and directed The Lost City). He and his wife, Margo, live in Lexington. Their daughter Allison Miller is an actress-screenwriter-director currently starring in the ABC series A Million Little Things.

MWSA: How long have you been associated with MWSA?

Since April 2023

MWSA: Why did you choose to write a World War II maritime thriller?

Strangely, the inspiration for the novel was a dream. When my daughter Allison was young, we watched a really bad action-adventure film together–I don’t remember which one–and I kept telling myself I could write a better screenplay. That night I had a dream and when I woke up, I knew the first scene and the last scene and the name of the ship Peggy C. That was all. So, like Michelangelo used to say, I knew there was a figure in that block of stone – in my case, a story -- and all I had to do was spend years trying to chisel it free.

MWSA: Do you have any experience on ships?

I’ve never been on a tramp steamer or a U-boat, and I have no naval background. That meant I had to do a lot more research. But I also love classic naval novels like "Sea Wolf" and "Lord Jim" (but not "Moby Dick") because they combine adventure, exotic locations and fascinating characters.

MWSA: Since you had no naval experience, what was your research process like?

Books, books, books, documentaries, and endless web searches on such sites as www.uboat.net. Thank goodness for e-books that allowed me to take lots of notes quickly. I watched "Das Boot" years ago but didn’t review it recently because I wanted to avoid copying scenes from it. One research problem was finding myself going down rabbit holes for hours in pursuit of one more interesting fact, leading to yet more searches. I also use footnotes to go back and verify everything. My book involves a lot of nautical and technical details as well as obscure historical facts, so I had to be extra careful.

For example, in my relentless pursuit for accuracy, I found a website that had the daily logs of all U-boats that let me accurately report the phases of the moon on each day of the Peggy C’s journey. I had the novel fact-checked by a Ph.D. student at The Department of War Studies at King’s College London, and a novelist who was a former U.S. Navy petty officer who served on a submarine.

MWSA: Are the characters in your novel based on real historical figures?

The commander of the U-boat, Oberleutnant Viktor Brauer, is an amalgamation of several real U-boat captains. I cherry-picked the worst characteristics and actions of those captains, of course, but also tried to make Brauer more human and not a cliché Nazi. Captain Jake Rogers, our hero, is largely my creation, but some of his backstory comes from the lives of James Fenimore Cooper and my father. The other characters are my creations.

MWSA: Who is your favorite character?

Miriam, the eldest daughter of the Jewish family being rescued, is my favorite character. She’s much more than just a love interest. She’s smart, tough, and compassionate, and constantly challenges Captain Jake Rogers to change his mercenary ways. Her strength turns out to be the key to everyone’s survival, giving the lie to the myth that Jews never fought back.I'd like to add another question & answer

MWSA: You've had lots of experience as a journalist. Did that play a role in your writing?

The funny thing is that I became a journalist because I wanted to be a novelist. But I realized at the time I didn’t know how to write. Plus, I had no exciting experiences to write about. Journalism seemed like the best way to remedy those deficiencies. I loved that career but the newspaper industry collapsed. When I retired for the first time, I decided that I was going to learn how to write screenplays because I still didn’t feel confident that I could write a novel. The Peggy C was my first screenplay. I actually had some luck getting it into big production companies in Hollywood to pitch it. It won an award and accolades on such sites as The Black List, but nobody bought it. When I was stuck at home during the pandemic, I decided it was time to try my hand at turning it into a novel.I'd like to add another question & answer

MWSA: Did you hide any surprises in it for true history buffs?

It is loaded with historical details that truly surprised me – and I have read a ton of World War II histories and biographies. Here's just one that plays a key role in my plot. BAM-100 was a big surprise. Turns out that one of the reasons the English won the Battle of Britain, besides the bravery of the crews and the quality of the planes, was the fuel known as British Air Ministry 100 octane. It was developed by Standard Oil after Dunkirk and allowed British planes to fly faster and climb quicker than German planes. It took a while for the surprised Nazis to figure out what had changed, but there was nothing they could do about it. Their planes ran on fuel from coal gasification, which could only reach 80 octane.

MWSA: You adapted the novel from a screenplay. What challenges did that present?

A screenplay is more like a haiku. It only contains what the viewer can see and hear. There is no interior monologue, no insight into behaviors, and no background information. That meant I had to flesh out the characters and their backstories. I also had to go into great detail about the operations of the ship and the U-boat and the duties of their crews. Each location had to be described not just by sight and sound but by smell and feelings, and history.

MWSA Interview with Karin Tramm

Date of interview: 18 May 2023

Karin Tramm is a navy wife, DoDEA teacher, and mother of two BRATs. She attended Tusculum University in Greeneville, Tennessee, earning a B.A. in Elementary Education. She holds a M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education from Peabody College of Education and Human Development at Vanderbilt University, and an additional M.HR. from the University of Oklahoma.

Karin began her overseas teaching career in 1983 on the beautiful island of Guam. In 1986 she joined the Department of Defense Dependents Schools (DoDDS) now Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA), which took her to Kalayaan Elementary School at Subic Bay Naval Station in the Philippines. There she met her future husband, Gene, a naval meteorologist. She transferred to Bamberg, Germany to teach at Strullendorf Elementary School and then to Naples, Italy to teach at Naples Elementary School.

The Tramms relocated to Naval Post Graduate School in Monterey, California, where their two sons were born. They went on to Naval Air Station Keflavik, Iceland, where Karin started a photography business. Karin's photographs have been featured in shows, newspapers and magazines, as well as presented to the White House. Karin also wrote for the base newspaper, The White Falcon, The USO News, and Iceland Explorer. From there they transferred to Virginia Beach and then rotated back overseas to Rota, Spain, where Karin re-entered DoDEA to continue her teaching career.

Upon Gene’s retirement from the Navy in 2006, they moved to Vicenza, Italy, where they lived and worked for 16 years. The Tramms both recently retired from DoDEA and now reside in Parrish, Florida.

Karin's short stories, There’s a Cobra on the Slide, and The Agriturismo Bolzano Vicentino, are included in the anthologies, Schooling with Uncle Sam, and Host Nation Hospitality, published by the Museum of the American Military Family. 100 Days Smart is her first book.

MWSA: How did you find out about MWSA?

Karin Tramm: Elva Resa Publishing, an independent publisher specializing in resources by, for, and about military families, holds a zoom meeting once a month for their current authors and illustrators. During the conversation, MWSA was mentioned as a resource for military connected writers. This being my first book, I’m always excited to network and learn from others on the same path. I look forward to being a part of MWSA.

MWSA: What compelled you to write 100 Days Smart, a book about military connected students during the pandemic?

Karin Tramm: So many Americans are unaware of DoDEA Schools to start with and our military connected kids were on the frontline of the European outbreak, two or three weeks ahead of the states.

On the 100th day of kindergarten, I put my kids on the bus, waved to them, and said, “See you on Monday!” Little did I know that would be the last day I saw them. With the first COVID-19 death (in Italy) just miles down the road, school was closed. At first it was just for two days, then a week, then until Spring Break, and finally for the rest of the school year.

Teachers jumped in with online instruction within that first week and forged on, building the plane while flying. I woke up one morning and realized the significance of what was happening and asked myself who would ever write about his. Someone needed to document what was happening within the American military community in Italy, and especially how it was affecting the kids. I wanted to show how tough they could be in almost any situation, even during a pandemic. They were my heroes.

Even though we continued school online, we never really had a proper good-bye as a class. That’s important for the kids, but it’s also important for the teachers. As I continued to write, it helped me process my situation and brought a lot of closure.

MWSA: How do DoDEA schools compare with stateside schools from a teacher’s perspective?

Karin Tramm: I’ve been fortunate to make teaching with the DoDEA system a career and to have my sons attend and graduate from DoDEA schools. The school culture is a reflection of the high value military families put on education, creating an integrated organization between teachers, parents, and communities. Large numbers of parents support the school, both as volunteers and as employees. Commands support parents by allowing time off for conferences and volunteering. Other programs such as the Military Family Life Counselors, MWR, SKIESUnlimited, the art center, and youth sports, partner with the schools in a variety of ways to enrich student success. Overseas travel gives an expanded worldview and rounds out DoDEA students.

The most important aspect, in my opinion, is that every student has an employed parent, health care, and a place to live. Having those basic needs met gives everyone a step up in an educational setting. Not to say there aren’t challenges. Living overseas, TDY, deployments, and the high turnover rate of families, are all factors that come into play in an educational setting. To counter that, DoDEA shines with many plans and people in place to meet the individual needs of each student, both overseas and stateside. I can’t say enough positive things about the teachers, families, communities, and students, that make up the DODEA partnership. I’m proud to have been a part of that.

MWSA: What impact has overseas life had on your worldview?

Karin Tramm: Anyone who has been stationed overseas has learned to be more tolerant and understanding of differences, both cultural and personal. I’ve learned that different isn’t better or worse, just different. I try not to be judgmental and to embrace diversity and opposing views because that’s how we learn about others and ourselves.

I’d like to think I’ve become more patient, observant, and flexible! I’m the kind of person who needs routine and predictability so striving to just roll with things was one of my hardest challenges. I know that everyone connected with the military learns to do this early on, whether they’re overseas or not. I always try to expect the unexpected; to adapt, regroup, and move forward.

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Often, I’ve been asked which location was my favorite and I can only say it has to be where I’m currently at. Every place is a balance of joy and difficulty and many times the joy comes later, out of the difficulty. I always try to look for the positives and take advantage of my time and place. I love to try new food and check out local events. I botch up the language, but keep my sense of humor even when things might not be so funny at the time--I’m sure I’ve given the locals a few good stories to share at the table.

MWSA: When the lockdown occurred, in what ways did you have to reinvent yourself as an educator?

Karin Tramm: I’d like to share a quote from my book:

“Reinvention is what military spouses do best. In my past lives I’ve been a teacher, a stay-at-home mom, a travel writer, a bartender, a grad student, a photographer, and finally, a teacher again. Every time our family moved to a new duty station it required a restart. New home, new friends, new job, new life, and so it goes for a Navy wife. Now this job would require a restart as well. As much as I didn’t embrace change, I had plenty of experience with it.”

I had to become a Robo-Teacher and with that technology became my biggest challenge. Children get a lot of screen time at home and I firmly believe my kindergartners deserve face to face instruction at school. For that reason, I wasn’t up on the latest and greatest tech components of the curriculum. I was proud that I knew how to write electronic parent newsletters and that was about it. Thank goodness for my aide, who was on it, and helped me before I even knew I needed help. She was a champ at finding online resources, using google classroom, and cleaning up my tech messes, which most times she was kind enough not to point out.

I had to learn to involve parents in a new and interactive way. They were the “home teachers” and we were partners in learning now more than ever. I had to design lessons that allowed them to assist students with hands on learning at home. I also needed to construct a process for students to share their learning with classmates in an easy and meaningful way, all done on line in a simple fashion that a kindergartner could understand.

The most important thing I did, however, was to give myself permission to fail. I’m a planner and I like for everything to go as planned; kindergarten is definitely not the place to wing it. When things fell apart, and trust me they did, I learned to take a big breath and try Plan B. I think we all can agree our “big breath” moments make us stronger and better.

MWSA: Were there any changes that took place during the pandemic that turned out to be for the better?

Karin Tramm: In the classroom I did learn to be more tech savvy and that helped when we went back to school face to face in the fall. We relied heavily on online resources and tools and I was in a much better place to handle that after my experience with virtual teaching. Having those skills in my pocket also helped me navigate this new world of being an author. I’ve learned how to use social media more effectively and even built my own website.

The pandemic helped me refocus my family priorities as well. I was plagued with mom guilt for not being there for my sons when the pandemic hit. I was completely helpless when they were in limbo in the states and couldn’t come home to Italy. I was scared for my parents in Florida as I watched things go from bad to worse in Italy, knowing they were just weeks away from the coming storm. I was fortunate to have enough years in with DoDEA and decided to retire from teaching in 2022. I do miss my friends and my Italian life, but I’m so happy to be sharing laughs and special times with my family.

As a society, we’re still frayed around the edges from this experience. Loved ones lost, financial turmoil, as well as social and political and upheavals are scars we’ll bear far into the future. I hope as we continue to move forward, we can look beyond ourselves and approach life with a bit more compassion and respect for others and rebuild our sense of community.

MWSA: Do you think your story will encourage others to open up about their own pandemic experiences?

Karin Tramm: Everyone has their own pandemic story, unique to time and place. Many of those stories are still inside waiting, waiting, waiting, most times needing, to come out. As I’ve talked about my book, I notice people are initially hesitant to join in the discussion, the pandemic still being a bit raw and sometimes even divisive. Once the door opens, however, young and old alike have a lot to share. I’d like to think this book gives people some validation, a springboard to begin their own conversations, and some healing. The whole world needs a bit of that.

MWSA Interview with Lynn Doxon

Interview date: 10 October 2022

Like many of her generation, Lynn Doxon knew her father served in the army during World War II, but he seldom talked about it. As she began to research genealogy and family stories she wanted to know more. What she learned led her to write this novel. Although it is a work of fiction, it generally follows her father's experience in the early years of the war. This, and the two books to follow, tell the story of many of that generation, now known as the Greatest Generation.
After years of nonfiction writing, including books, newspaper and magazine articles, and scholarly publications this is Lynn's first full-length novel, although she has several other works planned to follow this one.

Lynn lives in the midst of an urban food forest in Albuquerque, NM with her husband, her 98-year-old mother, the three youngest of her six children, and a large collection of animals.

How did you find out about MWSA?

I first learned of the MWSA when I joined the Southwest Writers Association in 2019. They were in the midst of a joint conference with the MWSA. Unfortunately, I joined just a few days too late to attend the conference. Had I been able to attend I am sure it would have shortened the learning curve involved in writing the book.

What was your inspiration for Ninety Day Wonder?

It is based on my father's experience in World War II. The timeline deviates somewhat from his actual experience because he spent much more time in the United States training AAA units before going to the Pacific, he was an antiaircraft artillery officer, he was very interested in the development of radar and at least part of the time he was Executive Officer of his battery. In reality, his assignments and even his battalion changed over time, but I did not include those changes in the novel because it could get confusing. In the novel, he meets Sarah Gale. Many people have asked me if Sarah Gale is my mother. She is not. My parents did not meet until 1948.

The book includes some realistic hallucinations Gene has. What is that all about?

It is a way to get a bit more family history in the book without talking about the long history of military men in the family. I think Major General Arthur St. Clair is one of my more interesting ancestors and I have him appear in Gene's hallucinations. In each case, Gene learns something that is useful to him in his 1940s experience, and I get to highlight a bit of the Revolutionary war, too.

What is a Ninety Day Wonder?

At the beginning of World War II, the US army was much too small to fight a war on two fronts, let alone on the numerous islands of the Pacific. They quickly drafted large numbers of men and needed officers to lead them. They selected men, generally somewhat more mature and generally with a college education and sent them to a ninety-day training session, commissioning them as second lieutenants at the end of that training. These were the ninety-day wonders. Often experienced sergeants would be placed under these new, briefly trained lieutenants. In the best case, they worked together to effectively lead the troops. In the worst case, there was resentment and a lack of respect. As the series continues I try to show both sides.

You have mentioned a series. What do the next books cover?

At this time I am working on the second book, which will cover Gene's experience of island hopping across the Pacific and fighting for control of different islands. By the end of that book, most of the Japanese warplanes have been destroyed, the US army has landed in the Philippines and there is much less need for antiaircraft artillery. The final book in the series takes place in the Philippines and Japan as Gene becomes the commander of a company of MPs, repatriates POWs, and takes part in the occupation.

What have you learned from writing this novel that you wish you had known when you started?

I discovered that it is much harder to write fiction than it is to write nonfiction. In my nonfiction and memoir books, I simply had to write what I knew. Fiction is about creating characters and a setting that will grab the reader's interest and weaving them into a story that pulls the reader along. On top of that, in historical fiction, you have to make the history as accurate as possible. I had to add points of conflict that did not really exist in my father's life, leave out things that would only be of interest to me or my family, and keep everything moving forward. Years of research went into the book, and the research continues as I write the second one.

MWSA Interview with Xavier Poe Kane

Interview date: 25 May 2022

Not yet a best-selling author, Xavier is a former door gunner on the International Space Station. When not making the galaxy safe for democracy, he writes whatever weirdness comes to mind. He currently lives in the woods with his wife, Morticia, in a state of mutual weirdness with their dogs Chuck Norris and the three-legged Jabba the Hutt. Thanks to the GI Bill, he has a MFA in Popular Fiction Writing & Publishing from Emerson College.
He is currently working on his second publication, a collection of short stories tentatively titled: Broken Hearts and Other Horrors.

MWSA: How long have you been associated with MWSA?

I first joined MWSA in 2020; however due to some personal issues in 2021 and the COVID pandemic my membership was interrupted. I re-joined in 2022.

MWSA: What was your inspiration for your book The Hidden Lives of Dick & Mary?

I had these amazing characters that overshadowed the protagonist and antagonist in another project. I wanted to explore them further and so I began a side project where I used them to explore the history and hauntings of the Air National Guard Station I retired out of. It's the oldest continuously active military installation west of the Mississippi and as such has many ghost stories.
I'm also intrigued by the UFO phenomenon and wanted to explore the question of "what if there really are aliens visiting the Earth and studying humanity?"

MWSA: What are you working on now? I'm working on a collection of interconnected short stories inspired by Edgar Allan Poe's short story "The Conversation of Eiros and Charmion". About two souls who find each other after the apocalypse, it's one of those stories that resonated with me.
I had all of these short stories centered around telling tales about lonely people who are searching for something that's missing in their lives. They're just told against the backdrop of various monsters and other paranormal things that go bump in the night.
These first two books are my way of learning the ropes of being an indie author both from the artistic and publishing perspectives. I get to demonstrate my range of what I can write so I'm not "typecast" into a specific subgenre of horror.

MWSA: Why did you choose to write in the horror genre?

I always imagined I'd be a sci-fi writer. While I grew-up reading Stephen King, I was much more of a Star Wars fan. Space operas really resonate with me. However, horror is more artistically and therapeutically satisfying. I can explore a character during the worst day of their lives as everything crumbles around them. In my own life I've found that these are the times a person's true self is revealed along with their strengths and weaknesses.
Artistically, I'm interested in the human condition and asking "what if" questions: what if ghosts are real? What if aliens are experimenting on us? What if civilization crumbled around us? This not only lets me explore the best and worst of specific characters; but as humanity as a whole.
Therapeutically, it helps me work through my own personal struggles. There is a lot of me reflected in some of my characters. Horror provides a release, a context that allows me to distance myself from trauma that I've experienced and put myself in a fictional high stakes environment to analyze things and explore life paths not taken.

MWSA: What have you learned publishing your first book?

I have learned several things:
1) Having a good editor is essential.
2) Learn as much as you can and read about processes you're agreeing to--even if you're working with experts. They're people too and can make mistakes. At the end of the day, the indie author is the one approving proofs and paying the bills. The cost of any mistake will be on you.
3) Think about how you're going to market your book. Ebooks and Print on Demand (POD) have democratized the publishing business. There are some very skilled authors putting out high quality material. BUT there are also a lot of talented amateurs who will crowd you out. It's essential to find away to your readers so they know you exist. I'm experimenting with book trailers and YouTube marketing. We'll see how that goes.
Beyond that: find your tribe(s). Thanks to the GI Bill I was able to get a MFA in Popular Fiction Writing and Publishing. There I was able to network with peers and found my editor and book designer. So that's one tribe--but I'm blessed by two tribes. I also have my veteran tribe. While we have our fun interservice rivalries; at the end of the day we are there for one another.

MWSA: Will you be attending the 2022 MWSA Convention?

Yes.

MWSA Interview with Del Staecker

Interview date: 1 May 2022

Del Staecker is an American writer of novels, novellas, short stories, and non-fiction in a number of genres, including suspense, crime, philosophical fiction, satire, and memoir. He has received numerous writing awards and is a Life Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts(London) and Knight of Honor, Order of St. John (Malta). He was educated at The Citadel, WheatonCollege, and The University of Puget Sound. He is a veteran, having served on active duty in the US Army 1972-1976.

MWSA: How long have you been associated with MWSA?

I joined MWSA in 2009, immediately after my first non-fiction WWII book, THE LADY GANGSTER: A SAILOR’S MEMOIR was published.

MWSA: What was the inspiration for your book, TARD?

After six crime novels being published, I wanted to stretch the genre. TARD is a mix of fantasy, crime, philosophy, and theology. It is gritty, realistic, even cruel. But it is also filled with friendship, redeeming love, and the search for that something which is beyond all of us. The format includes changing points of view and can be best described as a novella wrapped around several short stories-which are the work of the main character. Also, I wanted the primary characters to be very different from anything found in crime or mystery stories. TARD's primary character, and namesake, has Down Syndrome. The principal narrator is mentally disabled. I think I succeeded. TARD is different.

MWSA: TARD may well be a "touchy" title. Why did you select it?

Right from the beginning I knew the title had to be TARD. There is no disrespect intended. Quite the opposite is obvious in the treatment of Matthias, the main character, as well as with Richard, the narrator. Several publishers passed on TARD due to its name, but as I said, I wanted the book to be a stretch. The title, as well as the entire book, is meant to challenge perceptions.

MWSA: How has TARD been received?

The reception has been tremendous. Readers love it, and TARD has yet to receive a negative review. The one I am most proud of is from UNDERRATED READS. The initial process of being reviewed by UR is selective. Once "in the mix" the reviewers are encouraged to dump anything they are not impressed with. TARD was selected, reviewed and received UR's highest rating of "five bookmarks." TARD was also honored by being named one of UR's "Our Best." The goal of UNDERRATED READS is "Discovering Literary Gems" and I am immensely grateful for their confidence and support for TARD by stating, "TARD is a unique novel and one of those literary gems that is hard to come by. A must-read!"

MWSA: What are you working on now?

Several years ago, I signed on with a publisher to do a crime trilogy set in Chicago's Southside, where I grew up. Sadly, after the second work was completed, the publisher went belly up. Currently, I am completing the trilogy, and hope to see the three related works in print as a single volume. Again, the format is a bit of a stretch. TALES FROM THE SOUTHSIDE is a trilogy comprised of a multitude of short stories based upon a quirky police detective and an array of his equally unusual friends. All of the tales are based on actual cases and/or my personal experiences. This project is important to me as an author because it began as an effort to expand my writing skills. The short story which began the entire collection was penned in response to a call for first person short stories intended to be published in an anthology sponsored by the International Association of Crime Writers. My effort was selected, but again the uncertainties of the publishing world cancelled that project.

MWSA: What are you reading now?

I'm a believer that writers should be readers and I always have several books going. I have just finished C.S. Lewis' TILL WE HAVE FACES, his last book, and his own favorite. It is extremely well-written and, as is the case with Lewis, a work that delves into the most important issues of human existence. Also, I've regrettably finished MONUMENTS, the latest Willie Black tale by Howard Owen. I cannot get enough of that series. If you want action, wit, and great observations on current life in America, you must read about the demise of journalism, all told by Willie as he solves some of the most engaging mysteries around.

MWSA: What advice would you share with other writers, especially new ones?

First, write as much and as often as you can. In my opinion, it is the finest way to improve your skills. Second, read a wide array of formats and styles. Others have met and mastered the same obstacles that you face. They are our mentors. Third, get into groups such as MWSA. Writing is a solitary life. Get outside yourself and mingle with other writers. You will be amazed at the world such organizations will open to you. In 2012, I was selected to be a US Navy Writer On Deck through my association with MWSA. It was an amazing experience to be invited to tour several bases in the Mediterranean and share my experiences writing about WWII. Fellow MWSA member Jack London was also selected, and I am certain he will echo my feelings. I am also a member of IACW, the International Association of Crime Writers, and have been involved four times in selecting the Dashiell Hammett Prize recipient. There is no excuse for being a lonely writer.

MWSA interview with Joseph R. Tedeschi

Interview date: 31 March 2022

Joe Tedeschi's first book recounts how his 1966 combat tour in Vietnam was cut short by a violent airplane crash, chronicles this near-death experience, then leads to reflecting for fifty-five years on the ultimate question, “Why am I (still) here?”
Joe Tedeschi began his college education at St. Lawrence University in Canton, New York, before initiating his army career at West Point, graduating in 1957. Eventually earning his army-sponsored Master of Science degree in physics from Iowa State University (1963), he went on to fill army assignments in nuclear, biological, and chemical operations and materiel acquisition.
Upon retiring from military service as a regular army colonel, he worked fourteen years in the defense industry developing a counter-battery radar for three European nations. He then transitioned to a higher calling as he entered the deaconate program in his Catholic Diocese of Trenton, New Jersey, where he served for eighteen years, retiring in 2020.

MWSA: How long have you been associated with MWSA?

I recently joined MWSA in February 2022.

What was your inspiration for your book "A Rock in the Clouds"?

My answer is best expressed in the beginning of my book. After establishing the fact that I was a survivor of an horrific airplane crash in Vietnam, I go on to explain my purpose and inspiration for writing this book. Excerpt from my book:
"All airplane crashes are tragedies, but under wartime conditions, the resulting chaos is magnified. The tempo of war demands that all the pieces be put together quickly, and the brisk pace of war continues. But for the survivors involved in the crash, the pace of the war suddenly stops, and they have the remainder of their lives to reflect and ponder numerous unanswered questions.
It has taken fifty-five years for me to piece together a more complete account of the crash. The details evolved in bits and pieces over the years and involved many people who helped me. I was able to obtain photos and accounts of the crash from others who survived or who were witnesses on the scene. This information and my own recollections allowed me to develop and document a comprehensive account of the crash details.
As I worked on this account, it began to evolve into much more than just a description of an airplane crash. In the evolution, I began to realize it was becoming a very human story of the people involved and the impact it had on their lives and families after the crash. Not a day goes by since the crash that I do not reflect on that shattering instant of my life.
In a moment of forced reflection as I lay in a hospital bed recovering from my injuries, I solemnly resolved to find some meaning and purpose to what had suddenly happened to me. My immediate resolve that day was a renewed commitment to my family, the sustaining foundation of my life. My family will always provide sufficient meaning and purpose for all things, including surviving the crash. But I needed something more to fully satisfy my resolve.
Judeo-Christian principles of faith have informed and sustained me all my life, guiding me where to seek my answers. I began to search out the roots of that faith to find these answers. My spiritual life since the beginning has been one of continual conversion, and my search forced me to look back at my life both before and after the crash.
I began to realize that many of my spiritual life experiences before the crash were part of a path that led me to that fateful day. I was thirty-two years old when the crash occurred, and, writing this at eighty-six, I can look back on a life marked by numerous and various shifts and changes; but at each stage when decision and risk were involved, I was guided by something bigger and outside of myself.
I unabashedly thank God for his steadying hand at every turn. A war never ends until the last story is told. Mine is certainly not the last story to be told of the Vietnam War, but I sincerely hope it will be one of the last."

How long did it take you to write this book?

It all began in 1987, 21 years after the airplane crash when I wrote my first account of the crash as a vignette of my Vietnam experience to leave to my grandkids. My initial attempts were basically just descriptive of the crash and the ensuing rescue based on the limited sources and materials available to me when I first put pen to paper. Since I was medevaced right after the crash in 1966, I knew very little about the details of the crash or the other people involved. Over time, I was given opportunities to speak and write about the crash. Those opportunities jogged my memory and the written account I started began to blossom into a more formal memoir. I was inspired by all of those opportunities to learn as much as I could about the crash and compelled me to seek out more sources of information.
At just about the same time, I discovered the power of the internet search engines which were just evolving, and I began to gather a considerable amount of new information about the crash and the personnel involved. As I gathered this information, the memoir began to evolve into much more than just a description of an airplane crash. It was becoming a very human story of the other people involved in the crash, and I realized I had a story to tell. The Covid lock downs in 2020-21 gave me just the right opportunity to pull it all together and write my book.

What type of reader audience do you seek?

What started out as a vignette of the Vietnam war turned into the story of my surviving an airplane crash wrapped around my life faith journey. Hopefully my book will appeal to a faith-based audience as well as all Vietnam era veterans and their families. Also, I’m hoping my book will be of interest to a wide realm of service academy graduates and their families as well.

What goals did you have in mind when you wrote this book?

The story of surviving an airplane crash has potential to hold the interest of an audience of readers curious about what it's like to live through such an experience and survive. It's a worthy goal for a writer to strive for, and I did my best to describe that experience in my book. But I must admit to a deeper goal I had in mind when I wrote the book. I wanted to share my spiritual message to a wide faith-based audience. I felt comfortable that the spiritual message I was trying to impart would be readily recognized and accepted by my family and friends garnered over a lifetime. But, there is such a wide range of spiritual faith and understanding in any potential reading audience, it became my hopeful goal to tell my story of faith both before and after the crash in such a way that it would be reasonable and understandable to a broader reader base.

How long did it take you to write this book?

It all began in 1987, 21 years after the airplane crash when I wrote my first account of the crash as a vignette of my Vietnam experience to leave to my grandkids. My initial attempts were basically just descriptive of the crash and the ensuing rescue based on the limited sources and materials available to me when I first put pen to paper. Since I was medevacked right after the crash in 1966, I knew very little about the details of the crash or the other people involved. Over time, I was given opportunities to speak and write about the crash. Those opportunities jogged my memory and the written account I started began to blossom into a more formal memoir. I was inspired by all of those opportunities to learn as much as I could about the crash and compelled me to seek out more sources of information.
At just about the same time, I discovered the power of the internet search engines which were just evolving, and I began to gather a considerable amount of new information about the crash and the personnel involved. As I gathered this information, the memoir began to evolve into much more than just a description of an airplane crash. It was becoming a very human story of the other people involved in the crash, and I realized I had a story to tell. The Covid lock downs in 2020-21 gave me just the right opportunity to pull it all together and write my book.

MWSA Interview with john Stoeffler

Interview date: 30 March 2022

John R. Stoeffler attended Pennsylvania Military College and graduated in 1963 with a BA. Commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army, Stoeffler spent one year of his two-year active duty in Korea. After active duty he went to work for General Electric and worked on projects in his community, creating 'Kids Who Care", a program which led children in collecting toys, food and clothing for those in need nearby. Stoeffler also organized "Republicare", a program with the local Republican Party and the Salvation Army to collect items for the needy during the Christmas season. After decades as a salesman, Stoeffler retired in 2003 and moved to St. Petersburg, Florida in 2016.
In 1966, Stoeffler married the former Linda Diane Lord of Linwood, New Jersey. They have been married for fifty-four years and had two children: Susan (deceased) and Laura. They have four grandchildren: Haley, Kylie, Kanon and Lexie.
For five years, Stoeffler wrote a weekly commentary column in the St. Louis West News titled "As I See It". He also wrote country music, pitched is songs along Music Row in Nashville, and penned a book of poetry: God, Family, Freedom.

MWSA: What was the inspiration for your book?

In 2008 I awoke one morning thinking about the children of members of our armed forces who are deployed and how sad they must be missing their parent. I had an idea for a pillow with the picture printed on it of their mom or dad. I discussed this with my wife who thought this was a good idea. With this in mind we began making these "Sweet Dreams Pillows". An individual who heard about our program offered to make us a web site and the orders came in. We, my wife and I along with our volunteers who we referred to as our "Pillow Platoon" made and shipped free over 13,000 pillows. Unfortunately, health issues forced us to discontinue this great project. That this made a difference to the children was evident in responses from parents of those children who received their Sweet Dreams Pillows. Responses like, "The monsters are gone" and "The bedwetting has stopped" are just two of hundreds of responses we received. The hardest pillows to make were for children of a parent who was KIA. All-in-all it was the best job my wife and I ever had that didn't pay a cent.

MWSA: Any new writing projects in the offing?

No new writing projects at this time.

MWSA: Can you think of another writing project that would be as rewarding as our Sweet Dreams Pillow Project was?

No.

MWSA: Are the subjects of my book "Lexie's Gift" real?

While the characters in my book are fictitious the names are those of family members.

MWSA: What do you hope children who read this book? will take away from it?

As the story ends Lexie who made a special pillow for her best friend, Susan, are asked by a boy who sees Susan's pillow if Lexie will make one for him and his brother seeing how his daddy, a Marine, is deployed. Lexie asks Susan if she will help to which Susan gleefully agrees. In making pillows for others both learn that it is more rewarding to give than to recieve.

MWSA Interview with Robin Roberts (publishing as R.G. Roberts)

Interview date: 23 February 2021

R.G. Roberts is a veteran of the U.S. Navy, currently living in Connecticut and working as a Manufacturing Manager for a major medical device manufacturer. While an officer in the Navy, she served on three surface ships, taught at the Surface Warfare Officer's School, and graduated from the U.S. Naval War College with a masters degree in Strategic Studies & National Security, with a concentration in leadership. She later earned an M.A. in Writing from Albertus Magnus College.ll.

Would you recommend MWSA membership to other authors?

Absolutely. Finding fellow military-focused authors is hard! Also, as a reader, I like to read authentic military-themed books across multiple genres, and MWSA is a great place to find good reads.

Why write about a war of the submarine when you served on surface ships?

The idea of an underwater-focused World War III came to me while I was at the Naval War College. They always say that World War I was the war of the battleship and World War II was the war of the aircraft carrier. I started wondering...what would World War III be? With satellites and long-range sensors extending both the surface and air warfare pictures, where can you find real stealth? Underwater. I spent enough time trying to find submarines to testify to that.

The last real frontier on earth is under the sea. Eventually, we'll start exploiting resources on the ocean floor. Companies are already building underwater hotels (!) and there's a ton of precious metals and other resources under the seabed. But a lot of those resources are in international waters, and countries' exclusive economic zones frequently overlap. That's a recipe for conflict.

From there, I started looking at the diplomatic and military relations of nations in the Indo-Pacific region. I knew right away that I didn't want to write about US v. China - everyone writing World War III does that. And, frankly, I don't think China wants World War III any more than the US does. No one wants another world war. So, the key was making one happen by accident, with enough countries' national interests involved that the shooting starts and no one can back out until it’s far too late.

I do also write a lot of surface warfare in the books, too. It's like going home, and one of my main characters is a surface warfare officer commanding a destroyer. But as the war moves on, and missiles get used up and surface ships are easier and easier to find, the war will transition more and more to the one medium where true stealth remains possible.

Why place the war in the late 2030s and not now?

There are a couple of reasons for this. The first reason, if I have to be honest, is because I didn't want to accidentally put something classified in the series. By pitching it forward a decade and a half, I can extrapolate new technology that's replaced current day tech, and thus not throw something in that is still lurking around in the back of my brain.

Secondly, because if I want a big war, a "mother-loving Navy war," like it's called in one of my all-time favorite World War II movies, I have to set up a situation where that war can happen, and that means letting the geopolitical situation go from uncomfortable to tense over the next decade and a half.

Lastly, I love the idea of underwater stations, and we're just not there yet on the technological front. We probably *could* make them...but we haven't, so there we are.

What made you start writing?

I can't remember! I've written back as far as I can recall, back to kindergarten when I was given the option to draw pictures or write stories. I gave up on sleep while I was in the Navy to write, sneak time on lunch now to write, and stay up late when inspiration hits. Writing is a part of me, and I'll do it whether anyone reads my work or not.

What books do you have out?

War of the Submarine started as a serial on Kindle Vella (which you can find here: https://amazon.com/War-of-the-Submarine/dp/B09317Z8G4). I post a new episode/chapter weekly while I'm writing. It's in season 2 now, which is also book 2, "The War No One Wanted." Once book 2 is complete on Vella, it will move to paperback/ebook/hardcover 30 days later.

There is also a prequel on Amazon, "Before the Storm," of novella-length (https://amazon.com/dp/B09GMCSXMB). This is a fun story about Alex Coleman in his XO days, chasing undersea pirates with his old college roommate.

I do also have a fantasy serial on Vella with a strong war flavor, as well as an alternate history set in the late Roman Republic focusing on Caesar's wars in Spain (Caesar's Command: https://amazon.com/kindle-vella/story/B09PFBJQ51).

I am a multi-genre writer, but my works always focus on leaders faced with difficult choices, and they always feature wars of one sort or another.

You can find my website at http://www.rgrobertswriter.com I am on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/rgrobertswriter I am on Twitter at https://twitter.com/RGRobertsWriter

Why have so many of your characters graduated from Norwich University?

Probably because I'm a NU grad myself. I remember being very happy when WEB Griffin included a Norwich grad in one of his books - you never see Norwich in military fiction!

Norwich University is the oldest private military college in the United States. Founded in 1819, Norwich breeds creative leaders, and I love honoring my alma mater by letting some of my main characters meet there. For my fellow Wick grads out there, I'm original Charlie Company, class of 2004.

Interview with William Hamilton, Ph.D.

Interview date: 23 January 2022

William A. “Bill” Hamilton, Ph.D. is an American journalist, novelist, military historian, retired military officer, former college professor, and a formerly featured commentator for USA Today. An instrument-rated pilot, he is the co-holder of a world aviation speed record. Hamilton is a laureate of the Oklahoma Military Foundation Hall of Fame, the Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame, and the Nebraska and Colorado Aviation Halls of Fame. Bill and his wife, Penny, co-founded the award-winning Emily Warner Field Aviation Museum at the Granby, Colorado Airport (KGNB. Hamilton served 20 years on active duty as an Army officer, including two combat tours in Vietnam. During the Vietnam War, he served as an infantry company commander and as an operations officer at the battalion and division levels in the famed 1st Air Cavalry Division. Between tours in Vietnam, he was attached to the 19th U.S. Air Force and to Colonel Chuck Yeager's 4th Tactical Fighter Wing, flying as a “guy-in-the-back” in the F-4 Phantom fighter. His military decorations include The Silver Star, the Legion of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross, 20 Air Medals, four Bronze Stars, and the Purple Heart, among others. Bill co-authored with his wife, Penny, four espionage novels. under the pseudonym William Penn. In 2020, Bill was named a Grand County Citizen of the Year. He holds degrees from the University of Oklahoma, the U.S. Army Language School, The George Washington University, U.S. Naval War College, the University of Nebraska, and Harvard University Kennedy School of Government.

MWSA: How did you find out about MWSA?

Readers of the biographies of famous military leaders often read that he or she was "mentioned in dispatches." Of course, most wannabe military heroes want to be "mentioned in dispatches." That set me to wondering who writes those dispatches. In Vietnam, I came to know the late, great Joe Galloway rather well. Now, there was a war correspondent who knew how to write "dispatches." And that led me to www.mwsadispatches.com and to the Military Writers Society of America.

MWSA: What caused you to become a career military officer?

My maternal grandfather was a lawyer and so was my favorite older cousin. I grew up thinking I would go to law school at O.U. and wind up as a small-town lawyer and probably run for the Oklahoma Legislature. In high school, I served a term as a page in the House and the next year I was chief page in the Oklahoma Senate. Just before entering O.U., I was elected Governor of Oklahoma Boys' State.
My sainted Father served in the Navy out in the Pacific during WWII. His brother, my Uncle Edward, was an infantryman poised to take part in the invasion of Japan. My second cousin, Rear Admiral Tommy Hamilton served as air boss on the USS Enterprise during the Battle of Midway. At war's end, Cousin Tommy was skipper of the USS Enterprise. So, on my mother's side, were the Law and politics. On my father's side, was the Military.

At O.U., I signed up for four years of Army ROTC, discovering I really liked Military Science more than the Law. Commissioned as an infantry officer, I was halfway through law school when the Chicoms were shelling islands in the Strait of Formosa and President Eisenhower decided the nation needed more infantry lieutenants than it did nascent lawyers.
While serving the obligatory two years on active duty, I discovered a passion for military service. While I could have left the Army and gone back to the Law or taken up any number of lucrative careers, I was like a good number of my colleagues who felt we could make a difference in the life of our nation by being on the front lines of the Cold War. By the end of 20 years, the Cold War and Vietnam were over and the Governor of Nebraska offered me a job as his aide and to be his interpreted during a trade mission to West Germany.

MWSA: How did you get involved in journalism?

As a teenager, I was a paperboy for The Anadarko Daily News, my hometown newspaper which, since 1984, has carried my "Central View," my weekly newspaper column. While on active duty, I wrote several articles for Infantry Magazine and other military publications. After working for Nebraska Governor Charles Thone and heading up a government reorganization task force for him, I left state government. While teaching History at Nebraska Wesleyan University, the publisher of SUN Newspapers hired me to write a weekly column on national and international affairs. Not long after that, my wife and I and some partners where able to buy The Capital Times of Lincoln from the Omaha World Herald. While my wife and I were co-editors of that newspaper, I was hired by USA Today as a featured commentator. When my favorite editor retired, I did as well, ending 19 years of writing in loyal opposition to USA Today editorials. Eventually, we sold our interest in The Capital Times and moved to Colorado where I continue to write "Central View." See: central-view.com. Eventually, I ended up in the Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame. From paperboy to laureate. Go figure.

My Master's thesis at The George Washington University and my doctoral dissertation at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln dealt with the origins and conduct of the Vietnam War. So, after many years of sitting on a shelf, I dusted them off and wrote War During Peace: A Strategy for Defeat.
After moving to Colorado in 1992, my wife and I decided to co-write a series of espionage novels that are largely autobiographical of places and events we experienced in a military career that took us all over the world. See: buckanddolly.com. They are soon to be re-released as a four-novel set.

MWSA: How did you get so involved in aviation?

Mostly, by accident. After my tour as an infantry company commander in Vietnam, the Army assigned me to be a Ground Liaison Officer to the 19th U.S. Air Force, and the 4th Tactical Fighter Wing at Seymour-Johnson AFB in North Carolina. At the time the 4th TFW was commanded by Colonel Chuck Yeager, the Air Force pilot who broke the Sound Barrier.

When I went over to present myself to the 4th TFW, I was unaware of Colonel Yeager's fame as a WWII fighter pilot, of his carrying a wounded navigator on his back over the Pyrenees to escape the Nazis, and unaware of his many high-altitudes speed records. I knew Colonel Yeager broke the Sound Barrier; however, by 1967, F-100s and F-4s routinely flew faster than sound. So, during our first meeting, I only accorded him the same respect I would display toward any Air Force bird colonel. Apparently, he liked that.

He told his deputy, "Assign a locker to this Army officer, Issue him a complete set of flight gear. Get him through the altitude chamber and Martin-Baker ejector seat training. There will be times when he will fly as my guy-in-the back." And I did on several occasions. Also, one of the staff officers at 19th Air Force taught me to fly the T-33 jet trainer (formerly the F-80 fighter) while he sat in back hovering his hands over his control stick. I found flying so interesting and so much fun I joined the Seymour-Johnson AFB Aero Club and earned a private pilot's license. And later, an instrument ticket.

I traveled with Colonel Yeager to South Korea during the USS Pueblo Crisis and went with him and squadrons of the 4th TFW to Turkey, to Greece, and to Norway for NATO exercises. Although a man of few words, Colonel Yeager (later BG) was a kind and considerate commander who really knew how to care for his troops. Of higher headquarters, not so much.

At the time, my wife and I did not realize the impact my learning to fly would have on our post-retirement lives. In 1987, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) was looking for a Regional Representative to serve its members in ND, SD, NE, and KS and I was hired. Later, the region was expanded to include CO, and WY. For 24 years, we worked for AOPA, flying hundreds of accident-free hours. Eventually, much to my surprise and delight, my wife decided to get her pilot's license. A feat that led to her current career as a writer about the history of women in air and space. See: pennyhamilton.com. But it all started with Colonel Yeager.

MWSA: So, what is next?

Some time ago, I published The Wit and Wisdom of William Hamilton: The Sage of Sheepdog Hill. It is mostly a collection of "Central View," newspaper columns; however, as I remember vignettes from my checked past in the military, in state government, in academe, in political consulting, and in the advertising and PR business, I write them down. They could end up in an expanded version of Wit and Wisdom. Or, I might write a memoir of my military career and call it: Some Funny Things Happened On My Way to the Stockade (almost). We'll see.

MWSA:Why did you write War During Peace: A Strategy for Defeat?

I wanted my fellow veterans to understand the origins of the Vietnam War.

MWSA Interview with Penny Rafferty Hamilton, Ph.D.

Date of interview: 13 December 2021

Penny Rafferty Hamilton is an award-winning writer and photographer with over 40 years authoring articles and books. Dr. Hamilton reflects her passions – aviation, Western heritage, and women’s history. A world-record setting aviator, her current focus is aviation and aerospace history. Recently, she authored America’s Amazing Airports, Inspiring Words for Sky and Space Women, and 101 Trailblazing Women of Air and Space. Dr. Hamilton holds degrees from Temple University, Columbia College (Distinguished Alumna Award winner), and the University of Nebraska (Alumni Achievement Award Winner). Her ground-breaking Teaching Women to Fly Research Project findings were published in the Proceedings of the Human Resource Development International, and in the International textbook, Absent Aviators: Gender Issues in Aviation. Hamilton appears with her airplane on that book cover. Hamilton is a Laureate of the Colorado Aviation, Colorado Women’s, and Colorado Author’ Halls of Fame. Her success story was featured on Rocky Mountain Public Television Great Colorado Women, produced in documentary style. Hamilton was named National Association of State Aviation Officials Aviation Journalist winner. She co-holds World & National Aviation Speed Records. She is honored in the Amelia Earhart International Forest of Friendship, ABC-TV Channel 7 Denver Everyday Hero Award Winner, Federal Aviation Administration Central Region Aviation Education Champion, two-time winner of the U.S. Small Business Administration Media Advocate Award, and Eli Lilly International Oncology on Canvas Art Competition winner. Multi-talented, Hamilton is dedicated to sharing the stories of inspiring women and aviation history.

MWSA: How did you find out about MWSA?

Penny Rafferty Hamilton, Ph.D.: My husband of 50 years, Dr. William A. Hamilton, is a long-time writer in the field of military issues and history. Because he was heavily involved in the editing of my recent books, he noticed the large number of women included from military aviation, especially World War II. He suggested MWSA members would be interested in these inspiring stories. After several emails sharing my background, MWSA volunteers encouraged me to join. I did so on December 7, eighty years after Pearl Harbor as my symbolic tribute to those brave WWII military members and their families.

MWSA: Do your books include military aviation history?

Penny Rafferty Hamilton, Ph.D.: Definitely, Yes! Readers enjoy inspiring stories. Adventures in military aviation add another element of challenge to their tales. For example, my America’s Amazing Airports book includes the stories of several military aviation heroes. Because our airports are the centerpieces of our amazing air transportation system, honoring our military aviators is a lasting tribute to their sacrifices and service. Rather than just list airports named after military leaders, I want to share “the rest of their story,” as the late Paul Harvey would say. Also, I often write print and e-zine articles based on research from my books. For example, “Airports Honor Vietnam Military Pilots,” a recent State Aviation Journal article, was based on my original research for my America’s Amazing Airports book. Here is an excerpt:
“Several airports salute the service of stellar Vietnam-era military pilots. Of course, Charleston, West Virginia’s Yeager Airport (KCRW) is named for the legendary General Charles E. “Chuck” Yeager. His Air Force career spanned 30 years and three wars. In Southeast Asia, he commanded a fighter squadron and added another 414 combat hours and 127 missions to his already impressive air exploits. In World War II, in his P-51 Mustang in combat in Europe, he became an “Ace” by downing five enemy aircraft. Officially, at that wars end, he logged 64 combat missions and more official victories to add to his “Ace” credentials. All of these incredible actions were despite having his planes shot down several times, evading the enemy, and heroically carrying a wounded U.S. Air Force navigator on his back over the Pyrenees to escape the enemy. Even with his own combat wounds, he convinced the military leadership that he should keep flying and fighting. After World War II, he was a natural selection for the new military test pilot program. On October 14, 1947, he strapped his compact body into a rocket-powered experimental aircraft. Yeager reached Mach 1 and broke the sound barrier at an altitude of 45,000 feet in his Bell X-1, named “Glamorous Glennis” for his wife. A funny historic tidbit on Yeager is in 1983, he made a cameo appearance in the movie, The Right Stuff, where actor, Sam Shepard, portrayed Yeager. The scene was at Pancho Barnes’ Happy Bottom Riding Club bar in the California Mojave Desert near Edwards AFB. Yeager played “Fred,” a bartender. Yeager joked, “If all the hours were ever totaled, I reckon I spent more time at her place than in a cockpit over those years!” By 1985, his home state renamed the former Kanawha airport in his honor.
Another Vietnam hometown military hero is North Dakota’s Air Force Major General Eldon “Al” Wayne Joersz. He flew the F-105 Thunderchief, supersonic fighter-bomber in Vietnam, and was a Wing Commander. As a decorated combat pilot, Joersz was chosen as a flight instructor for the SR-71, long range, high altitude, strategic reconnaissance aircraft nicknamed “Blackbird” and “Habu.” On July 28, 1976, Joersz jointly set the World Air Speed record making the North Dakota aviator one of the “world’s fastest pilots.” His aviation accomplishments are honored at Mercer County Regional Airport Al Joersz Field (KHZE).

Iowa’s Sioux Gateway Airport Bud Day Field (KSUX) honors military icon, the late George Everette “Bud” Day. Day, a local Iowa veteran Marine aviator, flew in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. Day is considered to be one of the most decorated U.S. Military officers since Douglas MacArthur. He earned the Medal of Honor and Air Force Cross. While a POW in the infamous “Hanoi Hilton,” Day was severely tortured. However, the torture did not stop Bud Day from leading a resistance against the North Vietnamese guards. Colonel Day published several books including, Return with Honor, and Duty, Honor, Country. Bud Day’s military leadership in Vietnam from August 26, 1967 through March 14, 1973 earned the last Medal of Honor awarded prior to the end of United States involvement in the Vietnam War on April 30, 1975.”

MWSA: Are female military aviators in your new book, 101 Trailblazing Women of Air and Space?

Penny Rafferty Hamilton, Ph.D.: Yes. For example, a few from around the world associated with World War II. America’s WASP (Women Airforce Service Pilots), and Russia’s Night Witches of the 588th Night Bomber Regiment. Of course, the WWII civilian women who flew for Britain’s Air Transport Auxiliary. We all need to be reminded of these trailblazers who charted a course for us. Often, their stories are not well known. Several contemporary U.S. Military women aviators are included in the book. Coming from an academic background, I want to encourage readers to “Explore More,” which is what I title my bibliographies. My books are more pictorial history, which is easy to read for a wider age range of readers. The photographs often propel the story. If a young woman can see a pilot, or astronaut, or airport manager, who looks like she does, research shows she is more likely to pursue the field. Psychologists sometimes say, “The me I see is the me I will be.” We even encourage young women interested in aviation to post photographs of themselves near an airplane or inside one so that image is always in front of them. Usually in my “Explore More” chapter I suggest books for ages five to 95.

MWSA: Who was the most inspiring in your book?

Penny Rafferty Hamilton, Ph.D.: Short answer is “ALL,” of course! All the early aviators had a lot to overcome. Women overcame cultural norms. Pioneer aviators flew aircraft literally strung together with piano wire and canvas. Some “aeroplanes” were barely airworthy. Also, the knowledge of aerodynamics was literally “seat-of-your pants.” Everyone had a steep learning curve. Many readers will be familiar with America’s first licensed woman pilot, Harriet Quimby (1911), and Bessie Coleman, the first African American/Native American woman to hold a pilot’s license, and the first Black person to earn an International pilot’s license (1921). But, some might not be as familiar with parachutist, Tiny Broadwick, and Chickasaw stunt pilot, Eula Pearl Carter. Many readers will know about our early women astronauts as Sally Ride and Shannon Lucid,. But, they may not know about the original Mercury 13 women. In my Inspiring Words for Sky and Space Women: Advice from Historic and Contemporary Trailblazers book lesser known vignettes about Native American space engineer, Mary Golda Ross, and NASA Astronaut Kalpana Chawla are told. I believe in the MWSA motto, “Saving History one story at a time.”

MWSA: What is next?

Penny Rafferty Hamilton, Ph.D.: 2022 will be a year filled with more inspiring tales. Right now I am researching and writing several manuscripts. MWSA members will probably be interested in Athena’s Daughters: Women Warriors of the Sky. It will be packed with real life stories of military sky stars as U.S. Navy test pilot and NASA astronaut. Suni Williams. Williams is a U.S. Naval Academy graduate. She was selected for U.S. Naval Flight School. As a stellar student, Suni began Sea Knight H-46 Rotary Wing Training. The Sea Knight is a medium-lift tandem-rotor transport helicopter.Williams joined U.S. Naval Squadrons in support of several military operations. Her overseas deployments were in the Mediterranean, Red Sea, and Persian Gulf for Operation Desert Shield. In January, 1993, Suni was selected for U.S. Naval Test Pilot School. After graduation, she was the Project Officer for H-46. She was the Squadron Safety Officer. She flew test flights on multiple rotary wing assets.

In 1995, Suni earned a Master’s degree in engineering at Florida Institute of Technology. In December, 1995, she went back to the Naval Test Pilot School as an instructor in the Rotary Wing Department, and as the school's Safety Officer. There she instructed in the UH-60 Sikorsky Black Hawk, OH-6 Hughes Cayuse, and the OH-58 Bell Kiowa. After that assignment, Williams was deployed on the USS Saipan, an amphibious assault ship. She was the Aircraft Handler and Assistant Air Boss when her selection for NASA Astronaut training was announced. In 1998, Suni had logged more than 3,000 flight hours in more than 30 aircraft types. In June, 1998, Suni began her NASA astronaut training. Suni’s first space flight was in December, 2006. She launched with the crew of STS-116, docking with the International Space Station on December 11. As a member of the Expedition 14 crew, Suni was a Flight Engineer. While onboard, Williams established a world record for women with four spacewalks totaling 29 hours and 17 minutes. In June 2007, Suni returned to Earth with the STS-117 crew, landing at Edwards Air Force Base. In 2012, she returned to space and the International Space Station. In November, 2012, after 127 days in space, Suni returned to Earth, landing in Kazakhstan. Suni Williams explained her path from air to space, “Understanding how things work and being an engineer led me to become a helicopter pilot, and eventually to NASA. The path doesn’t necessarily have to be straight, but don’t limit yourself to what you know. Go out and try new things.” Also, I will include Suni’s inspiring journey in another book titled, Astronauts of the World: Women in Space, because many countries have female space trailblazers today. We want to tell their stories to the world.

Of course, all these books need grant support, sponsors, or interested publishers who understand the passion in our industry. Whatever life brings, I know it will be inspiring and motivating. Thank you MWSA for allowing me to share my passion for these true stories. Learn more about the author at www.PennyHamilton.com

MWSA: What are a few favorite quotes from your books?

Penny Rafferty Hamilton, Ph.D.: General Chuck Yeager, “Rules are made for people who aren’t willing to make up their own.”

Martha McSally, U.S.A.F. Colonel (retired), “Before I became a fighter pilot, everyone said that women didn’t have the strength. Well, I had just completed the Hawaii Ironman Triathlon.”

Jessica Cox, “Never let fear stand in the way of an opportunity.” From her inspirational book, Disarm Your Limits: The Flight Formula to Lift You to Success and Propel You to the Next Horizon. This young woman is the world’s first licensed armless pilot. Because of a rare birth defect, Jessica was born without arms. She learned to use her feet as hands.

Aviation and Aerospace history are exciting. Writing about achievers is inspiring and a blessing for me every day. MWSA members know what a gift it is to write about stellar individuals who energize you to do your best.

MWSA Interview with Annette Langlois Grunseth

Annette Langlois Grunseth graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Madison in Communication Arts: Radio/TV/Film during the turbulent anti-war protest years of the Vietnam War. Following a 40-year career in marketing and public relations in healthcare, she has focused on writing poetry publishing widely in journals and anthologies such as "Dispatches" (MWSA), "Midwest Prairie Review," "Bramble," "The Poetry Box," and "Poets to Come" (Walt Whitman anthology). Grunseth has received awards for her poetry with "Wisconsin Academy Review," "Wisconsin People & Ideas," and the Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets. Her poem “On Behalf of a Grateful Nation” was a finalist in The Mill, a Place for Writers, Poetry Prize. She was a Pushcart Prize nominee for her book, “Becoming Trans-Parent: One Family’s Journey of Gender Transition” (Finishing Line Press.) Her most recent book, "Combat and Campus: Writing Through War," is a hybrid featuring a collection of her journalist-brother’s letters written from Vietnam, historical non-fiction, and poetry.

MWSA: How did you find out about MWSA?

Annette Langlois Grunseth: MWSA member, Ruth Crocker, encouraged me to join MWSA. How we connected is a story in itself. Her husband, Capt. David R. Crocker, was the commanding officer in my brother’s Unit in Dau Tieng, Vietnam. While working on my brother’s letters from Vietnam, planning the book, out of curiosity I "googled" Capt. David Crocker and when I did, Ruth Crocker’s name came up. What synchronicity! She is an author, a book publisher, and ultimately published my book, “Combat and Campus: Writing Through War.” (Elm Grove Press, 2021.) I have participated in nearly every MWSA educational class via Zoom during our sheltered-in months of 2020-2021, meeting many amazing writers.

MWSA: Why did you decide to publish your brother’s letters from Vietnam?

Annette Langlois Grunseth: After returning home from Vietnam in 1969, my brother experienced PTSD, but it was not yet identified as a war-related illness. Then, my brother passed away in 2004 from an Agent Orange cancer after being in medical treatment for 15 difficult years. I published the book to remember and honor him along with thousands of other soldiers who died as a result of the Vietnam war. Along with most Vietnam soldiers, he was not given a welcome home. It is my hope the work of this book will help others heal, feel recognized, and honored. For everyone, it is important history to be documented and remembered. It needs to be part of high school and college history classes.

MWSA: What makes this book unique?

Annette Langlois Grunseth: My brother, Peter R. Langlois, was a recent graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in journalism. In his well-written letters, he chronicles the smells, sights, and sounds during some of the darkest days of the Vietnam war from 1968 - '69. He returned home to a nation still protesting the war in which I, his younger sister, had walked to class behind National Guardsmen marching across the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus. What makes the book unique is our correspondence and my documentary poetry in response to the war in Vietnam and social change happening at home. Between his combat and my campus experiences plus the aftermath of both, we share what was learned and what was lost.

MWSA: What else would you like readers to know about the book?

Annette Langlois Grunseth: My brother was a skilled photographer and took excellent photos with a 35mm camera he purchased at the PX in Vietnam. He would take photos then mail home the canisters of film. When he returned, he compiled an extensive photo album where he captioned the photos with locations and names of his fellow soldiers. Not only are his letters an accurate recording of history, he illustrated his experiences as a good journalist would do. Many of his photos are included in the book. An interesting fact: Our parents kept these 36 letters in a safe deposit box as they knew they were an important record of Vietnam war history. It was the dying wishes of my parents that his letters be published to help others and preserve this history.

MWSA: Where can people get the book?

Annette Langlois Grunseth: “Combat and Campus: Writing Through War” is available on my website:
https://www.annettegrunseth.com/ and also from the publisher, Elm Grove Press, https://www.elmgrovepress.org/bookstore/ as well as on Amazon. Reviews and excerpts from the book are also on my website.

MWSA: Have you received mail or comments from your readers?

Annette Langlois Grunseth: Yes, since the book launched on May 17, 2021, I have received letters from many veterans and others. Through Ruth Crocker, I was able to connect with some of the soldiers who were in my brother’s unit. One veteran wrote saying, “The writings in the book mean more to me than you will ever realize. For over 50 years myself and many others in A Co. 2/22 Inf. have looked for closure about events that took place so long ago and your writing has given some closure to me.” Another reader emailed to say, ”I love the raw emotion and perspective of Peter’s letters. Your poetry woven with his letters is masterful. Such good transitions quotes pulled out as chapter headers, photos, and the emotional tension is perfectly paced. I cried several times. I was transported in time— much more so than the few other memoirs of the war I’ve read. Peter didn’t revise, soften or adjust his story with his later perspectives. I felt like he was writing the letters to me, as if I knew him.”

MWSA Interview with Rona Simmons

Interview Date: 28 April 2021

Rona Simmons is an Atlanta-area author of historical fiction and nonfiction. After co-authoring Images from World War II in 2016 celebrating the art of WWII veteran and artist Jack Smith, Simmons again turned to the Second World War for The Other Veterans of World War II: Stories from Behind the Front Lines released by Kent State University Press in 2020. Her next book, a work in progress, combines her passion for history and research to tell another story with a unique perspective on the war.

Simmons has written for literary journals, magazines, and newspapers and is active in her local writing community. She is active in her local writing community and local veterans organizations (as a member of the Atlanta World War II Roundtable, the North Georgia Veterans Group, and Stories Behind the Stars, a group that is documenting the stories of all 400,000 fallen of WWII). She is also a contributing author and book reviewer for DODReads.org, an organization dedicated to reading and lifelong learning.

Simmons graduated from Tulane University and received her post-graduate degree from Georgia State University. Prior to launching her writing career, she spent thirty years in business, ending with a period with IBM as a business consultant.

MWSA: How long have you been associated with MWSA?

Rona Simmons: Having embarked on my third book on WWII and contemplating a fourth, I decided it was time to make the commitment to the discipline of writing on military matters and engaging with a community of like-minded writers for mutual benefit.

MWSA: Can you share a bit about why you chose to write about history, the military, and WWII in particular?

Rona Simmons: I come by an interest in the military “honestly,” as they say. My father served in World War II as P-38 fighter pilot, flying bomber escort for B-17s into southern Europe. He remained in the military after the war, so I grew up in a military family, in and out of foreign countries and in dozens of homes and air stations across the country.

My parents were avid readers and believers in education; and we had a wall of books in our home. I chose The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich from those shelves—no Harry Potter or Chronicles of Narnia (well, I’ll admit, maybe there was a Nancy Drew or Agatha Christie tome as well). Regardless, that book stayed with me and spawned a love for seminal events in our history.

Years, make that decades, after the war, I finally encouraged my father to talk about his service during the war. It was not that he did not want to speak about his experiences—it was just that no one had bothered to ask. What I thought would be a two or three hour conversation turned into weeks of delving into his now faded records and talking and taping. At the end I produced a mini memoir for the family. I was hooked.

MWSA: Now, please, tell us a bit about your recent book, The Other Veterans of World War II.

Rona Simmons: In 2016, I met, quite by chance, WWII veteran, Jack Smith. We immediately hit it off and soon were collaborating to bring together his incredibly detailed paintings of iconic scenes of WWII into a book to preserve the story of his and his brother’s service and to help educate readers about the war. In the attending research, I learned the story of another WWII veteran—this time not someone on the deck of a ship under attack by Japanese dive bombers, nor someone slogging through the jungles in the Pacific, but a humble and determined army sergeant who served behind the lines. He was a member of the Quartermaster Corps’ graves registration unit—a unit and a job I had never known of, nor could I imagine the horrific responsibility he shouldered. The encounter made me realize that although the dramatic stories of WWII soldiers have been the stuff of memoirs, novels, documentaries, and feature films, the men and women who served in less visible roles, never engaging in physical combat, had received scant attention.

Convinced their frequent depiction as pencil pushers, grease monkeys, or cowards was far from the truth, I set out to discover their real story. I talked to veterans, read their letters, perused their photos and journals, and touched their mementos. With their stories in hand, I decided to compile them not just into a collection of tales, but into a telling of the history of the war through their eyes.

The book follows the men and women as they report for service, complete their training, and ship out to stations far from home. I tell of their dreams to see combat and their disappointment. Ultimately, however, I found the noncombat veterans had far more in common with front line soldiers than differences. And, I believe the book provides a more complete picture of the war, bringing long-overdue appreciation for the men and women whose everyday tasks, unexpected acts of sacrifice, and faith and humor contributed mightily to the outcome of the war.

MWSA: Can you share what you are working on now?

Rona Simons: 2020, being the seventy-fifth anniversary of the end of the Second World War, was a fortuitous time for the release of my most recent book, The Other Veterans of World War II: Stories from Behind the Lines. Stories of the war rose to the top of our consciousness. My book offered a unique perspective on the war—the untold stories of men and women who worked far from the spotlight yet served their country honorably and with courage. A Gathering of Men, the working title of my new book, takes that same premise, that is, of telling an untold story, this time of soldiers in the air and on the ground during the allied bombing campaign in Europe. It’s fiction this time, but, like my earlier work, the protagonist is not the hero portrayed in numerous books in the genre. It again takes a different perspective on the war. And more than a work of historical fiction, the book interweaves exhaustively researched, little known details of the war into the story. So much so, that I prefer to think of the book as a “nonfiction novel.” I look forward to being able to share more soon.

MWSA: Having written both fiction and nonfiction, how would compare the two and which do you prefer?

Rona Simmons: That’s a hard question to answer. Both offer so much—not just to the reader but to the writer. To me as long as a book is based on a true story or an actual event or perhaps a turning point in a person’s life, it offers a chance for the reader to learn something. I am a big proponent of lifelong learning and devour books with these elements. As a writer I also believe both forms can challenge me—they require me to dig deep into history, artifacts, and stories behind the stories to find the nuggets that make a compelling new read.

MWSA: Finally, what advice can you offer to those starting out on their writing career particularly in military writing?

Rona Simmons: I suppose the age old piece of advice is to read and read widely in your chosen field. To be successful I believe you have to bring something new to the table and the only way to do that is to know what has already been said about your topic. Then, of course, you have to do the research to bring up the little details that make the story come alive. And maybe, too, it is necessary to know when to stop researching, when to stop writing, and when to stop editing and share your work.

MWSA Interview with Christian Warren Freed

Interview date: 23 February 2021

Christian W. Freed was born in Buffalo, N.Y. more years ago than he would like to remember. After spending more than 20 years in the active-duty US Army he has turned his talents to writing. Since retiring, he has gone on to publish over 25 military fantasy and science fiction novels, as well as his memoirs from his time in Iraq and Afghanistan, a children's book, and a pair of how to books focused on indie authors and the decision making process for writing a book and what happens after it is published.

His first published book (Hammers in the Wind) has been the #1 free book on Kindle 4 times and he holds a fancy certificate from the L Ron Hubbard Writers of the Future Contest. Ok, so it was for 4th place in one quarter, but it's still recognition from the largest fiction writing contest in the world. And no, he's not a scientologist.

Passionate about history, he combines his knowledge of the past with modern military tactics to create an engaging, quasi-realistic world for the readers. He graduated from Campbell University with a degree in history and a Masters of Arts degree in Digital Communications from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

He currently lives outside of Raleigh, N.C. and devotes his time to writing, his family, and their two Bernese Mountain Dogs. If you drive by you might just find him on the porch with a cigar in one hand and a pen in the other. You can find out more about his work by following him on social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChristianFreed
Twitter: @ChristianWFreed
Instagram: www.instagram.com/christianwarrenfreed/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8137590.Christian_Warren_Freed
Website: https://christianwfreed.com/

MWSA: How did you find out about MWSA?

Christian Freed: I was recommended through a friend and fellow veteran.

MWSA: What was your inspiration for writing?

Christian Freed: It has always come naturally. I started with goofy comic books as a kid, wrote a terrible horror novel in high school, and decided to bang out a book during each of my 3 deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. It was a stress release measure that turned into 27 books, my own publishing imprint, and growing.

MWSA: What do you write about?

Christian Freed: I take a Masters in military history, a love for the Crusades era, my own 20 yr career (5 of which were in different war zones), and combine it all into a military fantasy and sci-fi setting.

MWSA: What do you want readers to take away from your books?

Christian Freed: I try to provide a kick-ass ride that leaves you spent at the end. In my worlds, good guys die, because that's life. There are no 18 yr olds capable of saving the world or making good decisions and the older you get the better you are.

MWSA: What projects do you have in the works?

Christian Freed: I am currently completing book 5 of my Forgotten Gods series, publishing a pair of how to write and publish books, releasing my sci-fi noir The Lazarus Men, and working on a book of what my dogs taught me about transitioning to the civilian world.

MWSA: What's next?

Christian Freed: I am in the process of developing a writing course for colleges and veterans to help express creativity and clear out some of those jumbled thoughts we all have in our heads. Follow any of my links for more details.

MWSA Interview with Gary L. Wilhelm

Interview date: 7 October 2020

Gary Wilhelm is a retired engineer with a master’s degree from South Dakota State University, who did research and development work in America, Asia, and Europe for consumer, commercial, and military products, during a career of several decades. In addition to being a civilian engineer embedded with the Marines during the Vietnam War in 1968 and 1969, he worked developing products ranging from EF Johnson citizens band radio, and the Texas Instruments home computer, communications technology for use within buildings, and with medical devices implanted within the body, to the Howitzer Improvement Program (HIP) for army artillery on the battlefield. He was also a representative on a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) committee. He hosted the USA meeting of the committee at Honeywell.

MWSA: Would you recommend MWSA membership to other authors?

I would highly recommend MWSA to any military writers for the community and learning opportunities.

MWSA: What was your inspiration for your book, Good Afternoon Vietnam, a Civilian in the Vietnam War?

Watching the Ken Burns Vietnam War series, I realized my story was unique. I wanted to write it for friends and family.

MWSA: How does your book begin?

PBS in Minnesota has a Vietnam Story Wall at MNVietnam.org and I wrote my first story for the wall. I was pleased to have the opportunity to share my story in this way. Then, I felt I wanted to write more about my time there in 1968 and 1969.

MWSA: Where does the book take place?

I was based in DaNang, and for security reasons, traveled to several countries in SE Asia to communicate.

MWSA: Why were you a civilian in the Vietnam War?

The Marine Airwing wanted civilian engineering support for their electronic intelligence (ELINT) program.

MWSA: Where is your book available, and in what formats?

The paperback and eBook is available on Amazon. It is also in several libraries.

MWSA Interview with Travis Klempan

Date of Interview: 7 October 2020

Travis Klempan served in the Navy for twelve years, deploying three times. He earned a degree in English literature from the US Naval Academy and master's degrees in creative writing from the Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics and ethics from the University of Colorado Law School. His fiction and poetry have appeared in Ash & Bones, Windmill, and Bombay Gin, among others, and his short stories have received recognition from the Veterans Writing Project, Line of Advance, and Flyway Journal.

MWSA: What do you think are the main benefits of being an MWSA member?

One of the most common answers to "What was your favorite part of being in the military" is "The people I served with." Now, having been out of uniform, I'm always looking for ways to stay connected with a community of like-minded but diverse people. MWSA seems like an organization with a common mission and a broad base of support. Knowing that other military writers face the same troubles and celebrate the same triumphs means that I'm not doing this alone.

MWSA: What do you hope readers "take away" from your novel Have Snakes, Need Birds?

Everyone is going to come to my book with their own life experiences and for their own reasons. I would love for people - especially military readers - to walk away from it with a sense of seeing something of themselves in it. HSNB has a huge cast of characters (and that's even after editing many storylines out or combining characters), so hopefully, they get a sense of how quirky men and women in the military can be, and how hard it should be to stereotype them. I also want people to respond in a deeper way since this isn't the "typical" war story. Sure, there are firefights and convoys, but there's a spiritual and mystical element at work that should unnerve people and make them think after they've put the book down. My biggest hope, though, is that they enjoy reading it and recommend it to a friend.

MWSA: What was the hardest part of writing Have Snakes, Need Birds?

More than the mechanics of getting a story onto the page, and editing it and cleaning it up so that it's sharp and tight and fluid and all those things, one of the hardest things to do - and still makes me pause each time I reread it - was to say goodbye to any character. It's a war story, but there's so much loss that it's hard to end a storyline or know that two characters will never get to reunite or meet and that people, even with fictional lives, have such an impact on everyone they meet.

MWSA: What's your next writing adventure?

Without giving away too much of the plot of HSNB, the main character Mack falls in love with a woman Sera (that much you can learn from the back cover). He loses Sera, though, in a way that he'll never get her back. However, Sera's best friend Mo - whose life continues on outside the events of HSNB - re-encounters Mack after he's left the military. Mo becomes the main character of her own story, and Mack is an important part of her journey. It's been tough to write and I really want to "get it right," but I hope to have a "follow-on" book (not a sequel) out next year or the year after, with a third and final follow-on after that.

MWSA: Any advice for new writers, or those who want to try their hand at writing?

Figure out who you're writing for and why. If you're writing for yourself, that's absolutely legitimate and no one should say otherwise. If you're writing for others, there are additional demands on what you write and how you broadcast it. Once you've released your writing into the world, it's not totally yours any longer. More practical advice: read, a lot. Join a writing group (even a virtual one) or take writing classes (Lighthouse Writers in Denver is just one example). Read some more. Don't be afraid to edit, edit, edit, and while you should take your work and your craft seriously, try not to take yourself too seriously.

MWSA: How has your military experience influenced you as a writer, and how did it influence your book Have Snakes, Need Birds?

I'll answer that second question first. To start, HSNB follows an Army sergeant deployed to a combat zone. I was an officer in the Navy, and while I was enlisted before that and while I deployed to Iraq, Mack's experiences were, by definition, very different from mine. However, I used the "improvise, adapt, and overcome" mentality that seems so useful and ubiquitous in the military to figure out what parts I needed to get "right" (language, ranks, dialogue), what parts I could "fudge" (the battalion Mack deploys with, the 33rd Infantry Regiment, hasn't been activated since the Korean War, which allowed me some latitude and flexibility), and what was the "most" important (the feel, the heat, the grit, the day-to-day and the big picture, along with the impending but delayed sense of doom). Generally speaking, I'm not quite as disciplined now in my personal life as I was in the military, but I still try to write or think about writing every day. I keep notes on my phone and computer and in a notebook, and I'm not joking when I say I do a lot of my writing in my head...it's just a gamble if I can get it out of there before I lose it.

MWSA Interview with David Tunno

Click image to contact the author

Date of interview: 14 July 2020

David Tunno graduated cum laude from the University of Portland (OR) with a B.A. in theater and an M.A. in communications. His career path passed through high school teaching, TV news cinematography/writing for Oregon State University, radio news writing & broadcasting and corporate communications and video production for a large utility company before he left Oregon for southern California and found a new career in trial consulting with a national firm.

Four years later, he left the firm to form Tunno & Associates Trial Consulting, a practice he recently retired from, but not before penning a non-fiction critique of the American jury system entitled, Fixing the Engine of Justice: Diagnosis and Repair of Our Jury System. The book and his trial consulting career are detailed on his website, www.tunno.com. During the course of his career, he consulted his attorney clients in many high-profile cases throughout the U.S. and was a television and newspaper commentator for trials, including; the O.J. Simpson, Rodney King, Unibomber and Michael Jackson cases. He was a guest lecturer at the Anderson School of Business (UCLA), many bar associations throughout the U.S. and the American Bar Association’s annual litigation conference, which also published a condensed version of his training manual of expert witnesses, previously published by Lawyers & Judges Publishing.

Going back as far as high school, continuing through college and many years thereafter, David was an actor with stage, TV and film experience and is a member of the Screen Actors Guild.
In 2006, he wrote a screenplay, Constitution, about a fictional adventure involving that ship (“Old Ironsides”) in modern times. He has since adapted that screenplay into the novel, Intrepid Spirit, and is currently engaged in seeking both agency representation and publication by an independent publisher.

Author Email

MWSA: How did you find out about MWSA?

David Tunno: In conducting research connected with my manuscript for Intrepid Spirit, I purposely sought out associations of agents, publishers and writing contests. I was delighted to find MWSA. The “mission” of MWSA couldn’t target my goals for my novel any more closely and I’m hoping my connection with other writers in this genre will be rewarding. On that score, I also hope to offer tips from my own experience that might be helpful to others.

MWSA: What is Intrepid Spirit about?

David Tunno: In a sentence, it pits the crew of USS Constitution, in a modern-day epic battle against a terrorist group bent on igniting a world-wide jihad.
The story takes place against the backdrop of pending mid-east peace talks. The hero is a navy lieutenant who get into hot water and is unjustly punished for an action seen as jeopardizing those talks. He’s “banished” to command of Constitution, currently in Italy on a goodwill PR tour of the Mediterranean – purgatory, if you will, for a man of action.
That action leads to his redemption when, by chance and circumstances, he, the ship, and its crew are the only fighting force in a position to rescue the US Vice President from a terrorist group bent on lighting the fuse on a world-wide jihad launched by the assignation of the VP.
One of the twists in the story is the fact of Constitution in a battle with the progeny of her historic foes, the Barbary Coast pirates. The hook is that she’s still a commissioned US warship, the oldest in the world. So, we have a battle between the crew of Constitution, with nothing but their antique weaponry, against a well-armed force, requiring a great deal of ingenuity on the part of hero and bravery on the part of the crew.


MWSA: How did you come up with that idea?

David Tunno: It started out as a screenplay idea not long after 9/11. I knew the history of the ship from when I was a kid and read everything I could find about it. Built the model, like a lot of other boys. I knew she was built to fight the Barbary Coast pirates and it occurred to me that, here we are 200-years later at war in the same region with the same enemy. I also knew her status as a commissioned warship and that the navy had just put the ship through an extensive refit and thought those ingredients, together, made for a story. I wrote the screenplay, had an agent for it, and made considerable progress toward selling it, but all that fell through years ago. Not giving up on the story, I decided to turn it into a novel.

MWSA: What has been your experience with the manuscript so far?

David Tunno: I’ve been in the agent search phase for some time. The difficulty with this novel is that it is an upmarket piece, meaning it has been written with considerably more literary qualities than a typical action/adventure military novel. That means it doesn’t fit so neatly into the category that is filled by so many other books in the genre. At this writing, I’m waiting on responses from a good many agents and every once in a while I discover a new one that seems appropriate.

MWSA: What else have you done to market your manuscript?

David Tunno: I’ve also been researching independent publishers that don’t require agents. There are lot of good ones out there. I’ve created a list and have prioritized them for submission. I’m working my way through that list and waiting on them as well. Like the agents, every once in a while I find a new one. Along the way, I have solicited reviews to help in finding either an agent or a publisher and have entered contests. The manuscript has received great reviews and, at this writing, is a semifinalist in the Adventure Writers Competition. I'm hoping to advance to the next round.

MWSA: What is your connection with the military?

David Tunno: My father was a career marine. He enlisted before WWII and, with a private pilot’s license, entered the “flying sergeants” program, was sent to Pensacola and eventually became a Corsair fighter pilot in the south Pacific. He also served in the Korean War and retired after his 21 years. The biplane in the photo was his. I inherited it from him and it was he who taught me how to fly it, my having a private pilot’s license at the time. It’s a US Navy built N3N, the same type he flew at Pensacola. It’s now in the museum at the Great Park in Irvine, California at the former El Toro Marine Base, where my father’s Corsair squadron was commissioned.

MWSA Interview with Daniel L. Berry

Date of interview: 15 June 2020

Daniel L. Berry originally wrote the poem that became his first book, “You Are Always With Me: A Poem for Those at Home When a Loved One Deploys”, as a way to connect with his family while working overseas in support of the military. As a civilian contractor pilot, Daniel had the privilege of flying over 500 combat support missions over 14 deployments during Operations Enduring Freedom and Freedom’s Sentinel. He continues to work as a professional pilot.

Daniel has always been passionate about writing. He earned a bachelor’s degree in English Writing from the University of Colorado, and has completed additional coursework through the UCLA Extension Writer’s Program.

When Daniel isn’t writing or spending quality time with his supportive wife and two rambunctious daughters, he enjoys playing guitar, and is a songwriter, recording artist, and performer. He lives in Fairfax, Virginia.

To find out more about Daniel, visit www.daniel-berry.com

Follow him on Facebook @DanielLBerryAuthor


MWSA: What do you think are the main benefits of being an MWSA member?

Daniel L. Berry: Participation in MWSA’s annual review and awards contest has helped me to get my book in front of my readers through MWSA’s website and social media connections. The review I received from MWSA’s professional reviewer not only provided excellent feedback on my work, but also aided my marketing efforts. Being associated with MWSA’s cadre of authors working to honor the Military has lent additional credibility to my work as well.

MWSA: How did you come up with the idea for your book, “You Are Always With Me: A Poem for Those at Home When a Loved One Deploys”?

Daniel L. Berry: As a deployed defense contractor, I was always looking for ways to connect with my wife and young daughters. For my children especially, I wanted to address the emotions they might be feeling while I was overseas — loneliness, sadness, fear, and even anger — and let them know that they were always in my thoughts. My wife informed me that my oldest daughter kept her copy of the poem close by her bed and would read it often. That’s when I realized the poem could help others connect in a really positive way with their loved ones back home as well.

MWSA: There are several books on the market aimed at families of deployed service members. With that in mind, why did you think it was important to publish another book on this subject?

Daniel L. Berry: Many of the books that address deployment are intended for male soldiers at a time when not only many women deploy, but also many contractors in support roles. In fact, in Iraq and Afghanistan, at times contract personnel outnumbered those in uniform two-to-one. While these personnel do not necessarily face the same dangers as our troops, they do face many of the same hardships — namely, being separated from their loved-ones for long stretches of time. My aim with “You Are Always With Me” was to create a book that can be given by any deployed person to the ones they love, regardless of race, gender, branch of service, sexual orientation, or family formation.

MWSA: How did you go about making the book universally appealing to all of those who deploy?

Daniel L. Berry: I decided to use cartoon rabbits for the main characters of the book — one leaving for deployment, and the other staying home. The two rabbits are physically different from one another, but not of one specific age, race or gender. This allows anyone to relate to the characters. whether they are deployed or staying at home. This did pose some challenges, since military clothing often seems very masculine. However, I think that the illustrator, Brian Azhar, did an amazing job of making the characters universally relatable. Also, the poem that comprises the text of the book was written for a first- or second-grade reading level. So it is easy to understand for all readers, young or old.

MWSA: Since the book has been published, what has been the response, and what plans do you have for the book in the future?

Daniel L. Berry: The book went on sale just last month, and the response has been nothing short of stunning. I have received an outpouring of support not only from friends, but from total strangers. I was contacted by a prominent marriage and family therapist who learned of the project, and who wrote a beautiful editorial review for the book. Most importantly, the book is getting into the hands of my intended readers — those who deploy — and is helping them connect with their families back home. I heard the other day from a high-school friend I hadn’t spoken to in over twenty years, who bought the book for his sister-in-law whose husband deploys. She loved the book.

Ultimately, I would love for everyone who deploys to know about the book as a way to create meaningful connection with their loved-ones during their absence. I have contacted several organizations that provide deployment support for families with the hope of getting the book listed as a resource. I would love to get the book included in programs such as the USO’s United Through Reading. Also, I plan to run a fund drive in the near future to provide copies of the book free of charge to military units currently on deployment around the world.

MWSA: Do you have any advice for other authors contemplating writing a book?

Daniel L. Berry: Do it! Publishing has never been easier or more accessible. There is a wealth of knowledge and support at your fingertips. I knew nothing about the publishing process when I started. And I put off getting started for several years, worried that “I just wasn’t ready”. It felt great when I finally committed to doing it. I hired my own illustrator and editor and, in a matter of a few months, had created a work with the power to change lives for the better. At a time when much in the world can seem dire, and in which so many of us are divided in our beliefs, the most important thing we can do is create something beautiful that brings us together.

MWSA Interview with Patrick Sydor

Date of interview: 21 April 2020

As a graduate of Indiana University with an MS in Education Administration, Patrick Sydor split a long career between teaching in an urban high school and executive business positions in Transportation. He currently lives on the beach in Canoa, Ecuador. He and his wife travel extensively to bring authenticity to his historical fiction writing.

When asked about starting a writing career at the age of sixty-eight, he said, “After surfing at 7:30 a.m. and a breakfast of eggs and bacon, what the hell else am I going to do?”

His debut novel, Cobra Talon, draws from his experience as a Combat Security Policeman at a remote radar site during the Vietnam War. His second book in the Nick Parker series, Liberian Gold, will be available on Amazon in June 2020.


MWSA: What do you think are the main benefits of being an MWSA member?

Patrick Sydor: I joined MWSA in March 2020. My debut novel, Cobra Talon, was posted on Amazon September 2019. After it was published I began researching the best ways to market a novel. I discovered MWSA on-line and instantly related to a website of military writers, many of which were veterans as I. I joined because I wanted to be reviewed by a community of writers within the military genre and not so much by Aunt Molly, neighbor Tom, and friend Jimmy.

I was then impressed by the professionalism of MWSA in their approach and ease of the submission process, step by step directions and automatic links to social media. Diving in deeper I discovered a great library of current authors, author interviews, beta readers, and the quarterly Dispatch articles. Thanks MWSA for all you do to support military related writing and writers.

MWSA: What was your inspiration for your book Cobra Talon?

Patrick Sydor: In 1973, I was a USAF Combat Security Police Sgt stationed at a small radar site in Northeast Thailand. Ko Kha was a satellite tracking and listening site for the USAF, CIA and NSA. The CSP provided the security for the base. My experiences and vivid imagination were weaved into a historical fiction novel, telling an adventure story that male and female readers will relate to and enjoy. I was finally able to finish the novel when I retired from teaching.

MWSA: What writing projects are you working on these days?

Patrick Sydor: Cobra Talon was the first book in the Nick Parker series. I just finished the second book in the series, Liberian Gold. It will be available on Amazon June 2020.
A fictional thriller based on historical events, Liberian Gold is an action-filled tale about a young analyst drawn into the dark world of CIA intelligence and foreign government manipulation.

Nick Parker, after four years, has finally put in the rearview mirror: Vietnam War, drug addiction, firefights, and horrific injuries with long bouts of physical rehabilitation and self-doubt. With his longtime girlfriend, Eliz, and a Master Degree, he vows to live a normal life.

But, the CIA come calling again. An easy non-dangerous assignment. Good money. He agrees. Four factions seek to overthrow the Liberian Government. He’s to analyze the validity of each.

Then an attractive and very complex french NGO talks him into traveling twelve hours into the dense jungle and the forbidden gold mining villages. Against orders. His hunches trigger a trail of death and destruction.
Getting closer to the truth, his enemies multiply. With Liberia in flames and friends' lives at stake, he’ll put his life on the line to make the right call.


MWSA: How did you research this project?

Patrick Sydor: I brought back photos and memories. I wrote twelve chapters of scenes based on my experiences, and the men I served with. Believe me, it was a wealth of information that I wrote soon after returning stateside and would have forgotten most of it if not for that. Some extremely interesting scenes were left out to protect the not-so innocent. The scenes flowed with the info and pictures in front of me.
The actual research was a slow process. I only found two people that I worked with, forty- eight years later. I strived for accuracy so I spent a lot of time on the internet about weapons, radar sites, USAF Bases in Thailand and the Mayaquez incident.
A side story, I applied for disability because of the agent orange that was sprayed on the perimeter where the CSP's patrolled but was denied in early 2000s. The reason sited for the denial was that Ko Kha Air Station never existed. It was finally acknowledged around 2010.

I found out that Ko Kha Air Station was connected to the Secret War, deciphering movement and listening sensors in Laos.

MWSA: What was your motivation to write Cobra Talon?

Patrick Sydor: I just wanted to tell an interesting story that people would enjoy reading.

MWSA: You have two strong females in your book, how did you develop your characters?

Patrick Sydor: Nick Parker is the protagonist, no doubt. He uses his instincts and empathy to make it through a difficult tour of duty. The two female characters, Ott and Eliz, are based on women that are determined, smart, and loving. The women in war and on the home front we're the unsung heroes, and I portrayed them as such.