Military Writers Society of America Enters The World Of Blog

NEW DIRECTIONS FOR MWSA

I hope all of our MWSA members use this Blogg for their events, newest creative projects, ideas, and things of interest for the other members.

Our society is growing very quickly. We are pushing close to 800 members. This means that we now need to be more organized and become formal.

For those of you who know me or about me - then you may be aware that over the last two years I have been dealing with some major health issues. Now, I have some new medical concerns facing me. Because I want to have this organization to continue to grow and become much more professional - I have decided to step back and allow for new leadership and creative energy come forward.

Begining January 1, 2007, our new President - Tony Lazzari will be taking over organizational leadership. I will still be doing book reviews, and other labors of love for the group.

In the coming weeks, we will post a bio on Tony and his contact information for members to have. I have lots of confidence in his abilites as he takes this on this two year committment to get this society rolling along.

I hope that all members give Tony the fullest support possible. It is non-paying job and is a lot of work - so, I assume he will be looking for volunteer members for assistance.

I will be posting information on this Blogg from time to time to pass along my ideas and dreams for the direction the MWSA should take. But it is the membership and the new leadership that will decide what needs to be done and how.

I love you and hope to be around at events when I can make it. God bless you all. It has been my pleasure and honor to have served you all for all these years.

Bill

Tony's email address is: tlazzarini@earthlink.net

Great site, Maria. As one of the newest members of MWSA I am enthusiastic about this, and will be adding your link to my numerous blogs.

This is a great idea! It'll give us a quick way to share our info and talk about our military careers and how to support today's service men and woman.

Lori Avocato

Welcome to the world of blogging, all you Military Writers. And thank you for providing this. Because most visitors are writiers, I thought you'd like to know about my newsletter that helps writers promote better and occasionally even write better. It is "Sharing with Writers," an arm of Authors' Coaltion. You can subscribe by sending an e-mail with "subscribe" in the subject line to ****************. Maria likes it. She told me so! (-:

Best, Carolyn http://carolynhoward-johnson.com

Thank you Bill for your leadeship from the beginning of this wonderful site through your illness and health, you are an inspiration to us all and myself especially, you have been so helpful to so many of us and all we can do to repay you is through our respect and our prayers for you, I will be forever grateful for your guidance through my first book and my next one. I have had the privilege of knowing you through our postal careers and our friendship during and afterwards, thank you for being there for us and may God bless and keep you. stay well and keep in touch.

My name is Skip Coryell, and I live in SW Michigan. I'm a former Marine, and have published 4 books. I work at home full time writing and taking care of my 8-month-old son.

Just wondered if there are any other bowhunters out there? Also, we were thinking about moving to Colorado (within 40 minutes of Colorado Springs) and wondered if any of you are from that area. I would appreciate any advice on the area.

Semper Fi

Skip

This is wonderful and I among so many others appreciate and thank Bill and Maria for their constant sevice and help to all us members. I am proud again to say I was a member of the US Army and served as needed. MWSA has provided a rescue to many of us and allowed us to face the world again and promote our stories. I shall watch this blog close now and watch it grow and strengthen our wonderful country and military members both current and past.

Outstanding idea Bill and Maria

Good job

Steve Newton

On behalf of Pat McGrath Avery:

I think this blog is a great idea and will certainly allow greater communication if we take advantage of it.

I want to tell about some of our members who were in Branson for Veterans Week. Lloyd King, Eddie Beesley, Joyce Faulkner and I were here for the week.

Paul Holton came in on Saturday and stayed until Monday evening. During that time he addressed 500+ people on the Branson Showboat (designated the Troop Boat Show for this event). The next day he was interviewed for a future cable TV program and for the Library of Congress Veterans History Project.

Tracy Sloat arrived Tuesday evening. Wednesday - by being in the right place at the right time - she was asked to perform for the Gold Star/Blue Star Mothers' Brunch. They loved her film, and her personally.

Jason Robertson arrived late Tuesday night. Wednesday he was part of Vietnam Day at the America's Presidency Museum and we interviewed him for the cable TV program. There is a lot of interest in him and his story.

Ken Kreckel arrived in time for our private authors' dinner on Wednesday, signed books Thursday and launched his book on Friday.

Lloyd King had a second book launch at Vietnam Day, signed books throughout the week, performed at a nursing home and attended a VFW breakfast. He was in the Veterans Day Parade.

Eddie Beesley spoke at the opening show and took part in the closing, as well as other appearances throughout the week. He signed books on Vietnam Day and in his own words, had a fantastic week.

I arranged all the author activities for the Branson Veterans Task Force. Joyce prepared all the marketing materials. The local bookstore (we only have a small independent one) featured our authors every day.

It was the Task Force's goal to showcase veterans who are also authors. They certainly gave us loads of exposure and press.

The America's Presidency Museum (owner Stormy Snow) gave us the use of their spacious facility. Justin Flom, a local magician, gave us the use of his cafe. Sharon Robinson, a local entertainer, performed for the launch part on Friday and sang a song especially for Billy Templeton - one he hasn't heard since he was hidden in the jungle of Bataan in 1942.

We launched four books, had programs for Lloyd King and Gary Doss's launches on Vietnam Day and for Billy Templeton and Ken Kreckel's launches on WWII and Korea Day. All authors had the opportunity to speak about their books.

We also hosted two survivors of the Korean War's Sunchon Tunnel Massacre, Ed Slater and Sherman Jones. They and the other six survivors are the subject of a book that Joyce and I are writing.

The museum hosted a reception for two USO ladies who were members of an all-girl band touring the Far East at the end of WWII. They were definitely a hit and are also the subject of a book Joyce and I are working on.

Joyce and I had the great honor of interviewing many of the participants for the cable TV program - all the authors and two of the Tuskogee Airmen - that was a highlight for us.

There were many more events and things that our authors participated in, but this gives you the idea of how well our authors were respected and treated. I loved every minute of it.

I think all of you should consider coming to Branson next year.

Pat McGrath Avery

I guess old dogs like me can learn new tricks...Happy Veterans Day to all Vets

It is time for all old dogs like me to learn new tricks... Doc Pardue

Pat, I agree. Book fairs can be hugely successful. Look how you all utilized the MWSA possiblities and put your heart and soul into it. Any writers looking for a similar opportunity at a fair that attracts more than 130,000 readers, press and lots of movie people to boot, may contact me or Pat for information on participating in our booth and value-added promotion programs for that booth. (-:

Best, Carolyn Howard-Johnson http://carolynhoward-johnson.com

It looks like Branson was a huge sucess and this should raise huge red, white and blue flags that this is a good venue for future events. Thank-you Pat for putting that together!

These kinds of events put on by local members work great for small groups of authors to work together - if anyone is doing something along these lines, feel free to ask us for a MWSA endorsement and contact information for other authors in your area or who might travel to your event.

It is not too late for input for our next MWSA annual event - I have priced some hotels and such in Reno but the door is still wide open to Branson or else where. Tony and the new board will be looking at where they want to host it. So if you have a place in mind - then now is the time to speak up. Give Tony and Maria your ideas and information.

Pat: I was wondering if Tony's DVD was shown there and what the response to it was?

posted on behalf of Tom Zart,

OUR FLAG

Our flag is fabric wove of thread, Carried by heroes live and dead. She stands for justice and courage too, With her colors; red, white and blue.

For all who serve her, there’ll be cheers, For any who die, there’ll be tears, For all who love her, life is swell, For those who harm her, war is hell.

How many moms have cried before, As they sent their children to war. How many dads have not returned, Because our freedom must be earned.

Wars were waged where brave men died As patriots fought side by side. Our flag is still the pearl of earth, Because of those who prove her worth.

Poem by Tom Zart, Author of LOVE WAR AND MORE

posted on behalf of Saul Silas Fathi, Excellent Idea. You have all the material about my book "Full Circle: Escape from Baghdad and the return" (ISBN# 0-9777117-2-2) Please post it with anything you need. Check out my website at www.saulsilasfathi.com

Posted on behalf of Poet Warrior, I love MWSA and kudos to Poet Warrior Project (www.poetwarriorproject.com) author Lloyd King, as well as Carolyn Howard-Johnson!

on behalf of Mike:

A Tribute:

I thank you all for your service to our country and wish all of you contributing to this site much success.

Great idea to have a blog, wishing it the most success possible.

Branson, MO sounds like a great idea for the next MWSA get together.

Has to be warmer than Bedford, PA in November.

Having a blog is such a great idea, especially for those of us who have to hawk our books by word of mouth, etc.

My first novel, 95 Bravo, will be published by Capri Publishing, www.capripublishing.net, on January 12th. Copies can be paid for in advance by going to the site.

I hope you will enjoy my book.

A blog on this site is a fine idea, but I don't understand the drop-down menu concerning commenting anonymously, etc. I am an old WWII infantryman and wonder if there are others like me here.

I will be a guest on the Andrea Shea King Radio Program at 10:05 PM on Sunday, November 19th. I you are in Central Florida this weekend, please listen. If you know anyone who lives in Central Florida, please tell them to listen. Or, if you are nowhere close to Central Florida, please visit Andrea's website at http://www.askshow.com/

Dick,

Whatever you did, you did it right. It's good to hear from you!

I'm sure there are some out there who find this somewhat confusing. To be honest, I have one of our members who is a war-time blogger helping me behind the scenes. I guess that makes me a student blogger.

Together, we will figure this all out and make it work.

Feel free to jump in and introduce yourself and your book. Leave your website too so anyone interested will check it out.

For everyone else: Dick wrote a book called "Normandy 1944 - A young Rifleman's War." MWSA says this about it "...movies can hardly capture it; and books and articles rarely get that real feel and sense of battle that can only come from those Army grunts humping along in the midst of a death zone."

You can read more about it in our book review section on our website www.militarywriters.com

Just wanted to drop in and thank everyone for the great time in San Diego and to encourage veterans to visit Branson during Veterans Week. It would be a wonderful place to get together for the MWSA conferences too.

This past Veteran's Week, we had a wonderful time. My writing partner,Pat McGrath Avery, and I interviewed some wonderful folks for a potential cable TV program sponsored by Branson.com including Paul Holton (author & Iraqi Freedom Veteran) Jason Robertson (author & Vietnamese orphan), Lloyd King(Vietnam Veteran and author), Sherman Jones (Survivor of Sunchon Tunnel Massacre), Ed Slater (Survivor of Sunchon Tunnel Massacre), Havery Bayless (Tuskeegee Airman), Judge Robert Decatur (Tuskeegee Airman)and Billy Templeton (author & survivor of Bataan Death March). It was an enormous honor to work with these wonderful people.

I want to remind other members of the MWSA to send me articles, book announcements, book reviews and the like for our Yarnspinners & Wordweavers Newsletter (Y&W). November Y&W will feature an article about Tracy Sloat. Also, be sure and remember us for Salute!-- a newsletter for and about veterans. The October Salute! featured Lloyd King, Tony Lazzarini, Tracy Sloat, Jason Robertson, Pat McGrath Avery and Joyce Faulkner (me).

Joyce Faulkner

I read many comments about our current quagmire, and wonder if people realize what war fighting does to our troops.

I served as a marine rifleman in Viet Nam, 1968-69. I’ve read much Viet Nam war literature and published a collection of war poetry, On The Way to Khe Sanh, (three of which appeared in The Iowa Review, Spring 2005), and a memoir, Nam Au Go Go - Falling for the Vietnamese Goddess of War.

Nam Au Go Go is different. It talks about something no one I can find has written about - what violence does to war fighters. How, if combat soldiers and marines see too much, do too much, they can cross a threshold into an adaptation to violence and become addicted to it. When your emotional self is killed off by the insanity of war, survivors of this addiction have a hard time re-connecting with society. Combat is a one-way door. Once you go through, you cannot go back. You are changed.

For a glimpse go to www.johnakins.net

Find Nam Au Go Go on booksellers’ websites. e: jacolesdad@comcast.net

Blog looks good and will improve over time. I'll check it often.

Thanks to your Society and thanks to iUniverse for telling me about it. You have already been invaluable.

Great idea and site, I like it! Bill McDonald did a foreword for me on my manuscript. It is in the process of being edited again (polished) Please check out some excerpts from it at "dukesbrokendreams.com" Looking for feedback

I am new to this and do not get any traffic yet but I read many other blogs. I want to tell everyone that I hope each and everyone of you has a productive and happy 2007. This year has been filled with new experiences and the attempt to grasp a dream and turn it into reality. That alone has made it a memorable year for me. Good wishes to all from Mike "Moon" Mullins