Unbreaking the Circle - Stories of Service by SouthWest Writers, Dan Wetmore (contributor and editor)

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MWSA Review Pending

 

Author's Synopsis

The circle often serves as a symbol of completeness. But military service often breaks circles—of place, time, relationships (with others and with self), and sometimes of life—breaks borne by family members and caregivers as well. Unbreaking the Circle is an anthology of recollections by those three groups, stories which range from pride in service, to the trials of combat and their echoes into civilian life, to sacrifices made, unexpected moments of humor, and life-long bonds formed. Funded by a grant from The New Mexico Arts & The Military program, the anthology was a project to promote healing by the authors, and forge stronger connections with those around them: to re-forge the circle of community broken by silence born of fear, since expressions of their experiences—so deeply seated as to be inseparable from their identities—can only be made at risk of having not only their work... but themselves... misunderstood or rejected.

Format(s) for review: Paper Only
Review genre: Other—Anthology/Collection
Pages/Word count: 365 / 97,000

Disaster and Emergency Preparedness Checklist by Captain Steven J. Craig, USCGR Retired

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MWSA Review

The author stated he was out to write a "practical, easy-to-follow guide that helps individuals, families, and communities prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters." Mission accomplished. The checklists are easy to understand, very comprehensive, and cover practically every situation and category imaginable. The book emphasizes preparedness as key and highlights that a core of common tasks and activities will apply to most disaster situations across the board, saving time and effort. This guide will be useful to individuals, families, business owners and managers, and even first responders and government disaster preparedness professionals.

Review by Terry Lloyd

 

Author's Synopsis

Disaster and Emergency Preparedness is a practical, easy-to-follow guide that helps individuals, families, and communities prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters. Drawing on decades of real-world emergency management experience, the book begins with foundational all-hazards planning, offering step-by-step guidance, checklists, and budget-friendly strategies for building emergency kits, “go bags,” and evacuation plans. It then examines specific hazards—including wildfires, earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, pandemics, and home fires—providing tailored preparedness strategies and lessons learned from past events. Additional chapters address often-overlooked planning needs such as pets, seniors, and other vulnerable populations, along with emerging tools like artificial intelligence in preparedness. The final section focuses on disaster recovery for both households and communities, including insights for Emergency Operations Center personnel and leaders responsible for coordinating response and rebuilding efforts. Throughout the book, practical checklists, planning templates, and real-life stories help readers build resilience and take meaningful steps toward being better prepared before disaster strikes.

Format(s) for review: Paper Only
Review genre: Nonfiction—Reference
Pages/Word count: 62 / 8,940

Wrong Bird: A Humorous Memoir of Misdiagnoses, Corporate Tattoos, and the Art of Being Confidently Wrong by Matthew West-James

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MWSA Review

Wrong Bird by Matthew West-James is a collection of relatable, humorous stories sure to evoke a chuckle or two. The title comes from a tattoo the author desired at the tender age of nineteen. Despite the artist’s suggestions that specific changes be made to the image, the author insisted on the one he chose. Then, in his mid-thirties, author James traveled to Europe. Upon his return home, the aircraft was routed through Helsinki. With plenty of time to kill, James wandered around the terminal looking out of the large windows at airplanes coming and going, when he spotted the symbol he had tattooed on his arm. Japan Airlines had the logo on the tail of every plane in its fleet. The same image, in a different shade, that Matthew James chose at age nineteen. For almost twenty years, Matthew sported the logo of a large company in Japan, free of charge, with no royalties. Now he knew why the artist wanted to tweak the design.

Every story in Wrong Bird is full of self-deprecating humor that makes a reader laugh out loud. But haven’t we all been there to some degree? Live, grow up, and learn. Haven’t we all done something embarrassing or stupid that we look back on with chagrin?

Review by Nancy Panko

 

Author's Synopsis

Wrong Bird: Misdiagnoses and Other Things I Got Completely, Confidently Wrong' is a humorous collection of personal stories about the universal experience of being absolutely certain about something… and being completely wrong.

Through a series of self-deprecating essays, Matthew West-James recounts moments from across his life including childhood misunderstandings, professional miscalculations, travel mishaps, military experiences, and everyday situations that spiraled into embarrassment. Each story explores the gap between confidence and reality, and the strange ways memory, assumptions, and human nature conspire to create mistakes that seem obvious only in hindsight.

Rather than presenting failure as tragedy, 'Wrong Bird' approaches these moments with humor and reflection. The stories show how embarrassment can eventually become perspective, how missteps can become stories, and how the things we most wish we could forget often become the experiences we learn from the most.

Drawing on experiences that include military service, family life, and professional work in technology, the book highlights a simple truth: everyone gets things wrong. The difference is whether we hide those moments or learn to laugh at them.

Ultimately, 'Wrong Bird' is a reminder that being wrong is not the end of the story. Sometimes it is the beginning of the best one.

Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle
Review genre: Other—Humor
Pages/Word count: 118 / 21,657

Scattered, Smothered, and Covered: A Memoir of Resilience by Sandra Tow

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MWSA Review

Scattered, Smothered, and Covered by Sandra Tow is a memoir told in an honest, no-holds-barred manner. As I digested her words, I felt like Sandra Tow was confiding in a trusted friend.

I was both saddened and horrified to read about Tow’s family dynamics. Despite having a mother who doesn’t feel complete without a man, regardless of how he treats her, Sandra loves her mother unconditionally. Sandra assumes the role of her mother’s caregiver each time a relationship ends. To add to her burden, Sandra also has to care for a younger sibling or siblings.

Although a heartbreaking story of poverty and abuse, Scattered, Smothered, and Covered is also a story of grit and survival. Young Sandra is determined to break free of the symbiotic relationship she has with her mother. These pathological family ties threaten teenage Sandra’s mental and physical health.

Author Tow writes: “Anger can be beneficial and a fuel for change, but my unresolved rage, resentment, and misplaced shame began to choke my happiness and settle into the dark recesses of my soul, where it would reside for years, leaking toxic sludge and polluting my thoughts and relationships.”

She dreams of achieving independence, and at the age of eighteen, Sandra enlists in the U.S. Army, where she can make a mark for herself. Scattered, Smothered, and Covered is a gritty, beautiful story of the struggle to overcome poverty and hopelessness. I will remember Sandra Tow’s book long after I finish reading it.

Review by Nancy Panko
 

Author's Synopsis

How do you build a meaningful life when your foundation has cracks from the start?

Amidst the backdrop of rundown motels and trailer parks, the lines between mother and daughter blur, and a young woman bears burdens she never asked for as she tries to survive the chaos of her life. Scattered, Smothered, and Covered is a story about resilience, family bonds, and the battle to be the heroine of your own story.

In this gripping memoir, Sandra Tow explores the extraordinary resilience that can emerge from life-changing obstacles.

Format(s) for review: Paper or Kindle
Review genre: Nonfiction—Memoir/Biography
Pages/Word count: 315 / 85,000

War on the Porch by Travis Davis

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MWSA Review

War on the Porch: A Doughboy’s Interview by Travis Davis is historical fiction about one soldier’s experience in World War I. It is a story of bravery, heroism, perseverance, and sacrifice, as well as post-traumatic stress syndrome experienced by both the interviewer and the interviewee. An old soldier who was blinded during a mission in WWI is interviewed by a reporter who experienced trauma during WWII. Through the days of the interview, the WWI veteran tells a story—in striking detail—that he has kept secret for 50 years because he did not want to burden others with what he had experienced. It is also a story of how servicemen respond to trauma and rehab, as well as the tale of a loving marriage. It is a moving story on many levels.

Review by Nancy Kauffman

 

Author's Synopsis

On a hot July day in 1918, along the banks of the Marne River in Northern France, an incredible tale of heroism, bravery, leadership, selflessness, and perseverance unfolds on a World War I battlefield. A squad of Doughboys is given the secret mission to infiltrate the German lines and gather intelligence before the Second Battle of the Marne. A mission so cloaked in secrecy that it was hidden for fifty years. That is, until a hot July day in 1968, when Patrick King, one of the soldiers on the mission who was blinded in the execution of it, reveals it in vivid detail to a reporter. With his wife, Pauline, by his side on their porch in Bald Knob, Arkansas, Patrick shares his story, which becomes much more than a reporter getting a story: a journey of healing for both him and the reporter, Gordon Grover, a World War II veteran.

Format(s) for review: Paper or Kindle
Review genre: Fiction—Historical Fiction
Pages/Word count: 238 / 61,829

New Mission: Your Career Transition by Walter Nowocin

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MWSA Review

New Mission: Your Career Transition by Walter Nowocin is a well-written workbook for enlisted service members, written by a seasoned Marine Corps Master Sergeant, retired. It is a step-by-step roadmap with well-thought-out charts, checklists, and numerous clear hints. The nine chapters take the reader from a mission overview through preparation and planning, job search or college consideration, cover letters and resumes, how to dress, how to prepare for an interview, negotiating and accepting a job offer, and how to move through the learning period in a new job. He even discusses what questions to consider on where you will locate after you leave. In addition, there are ten appendices that provide further information on federal employment strategies, assistance on cover letters and resumes, and interview questions.

Throughout the chapters there are Target Icons, Drill Instructor Icons (the attention getter), and Mentor Icons to quickly summarize significant points. The author periodically inserts his experiences both in his transition to a civilian job and from his current position as a hiring manager in Human Resources. The specifics of the examples and the charts are very helpful. The author frequently reminds the reader of the value of his or her military experience and explains how to translate that into civilian language.

This is a workbook or instruction manual that contains hints and explanations that would benefit anyone looking for a job as well as the targeted enlisted military audience. Each chapter clearly explains what will be learned, then gives information and examples as well as checklists and charts. Each chapter ends with a summary—a Mission Debrief—which hits the high points of the chapter.

This book should be on offer at every military base. Transitioning to a whole new culture in civilian life is a challenge, and this book offers valuable assistance.

Review by Nancy Kauffman

 

Author's Synopsis

Transitioning from military service to the civilian workforce is one of the most challenging missions a service member will ever face. New Mission: Your Career Transition provides a clear, practical roadmap for navigating this journey with confidence and purpose.

Written by retired Marine Corps Master Sergeant and former Senior Engineering Manager at Medtronic, Walter Nowocin brings more than four decades of combined military, corporate, and academic leadership to this comprehensive guide. Drawing from real-world hiring experience and firsthand transition lessons, he addresses the unique challenges faced by enlisted service members and non-commissioned officers—an audience often under-served by traditional career resources.

This book walks readers step by step through every phase of the transition process, from early preparation and mission planning to job searching, resume and cover letter development, interview preparation, salary negotiation, and succeeding in the first months of a new civilian role. Practical tools such as checklists, self-assessments, sample questions, and military-to-civilian language guidance help readers translate their service experience into skills employers value.

Unlike generic career advice, New Mission: Your Career Transition is written in a mission-based framework familiar to veterans, transforming uncertainty into an achievable plan. The book is enriched with real-life examples and insights from fellow veterans and corporate leaders, offering clarity, credibility, and reassurance throughout the process.

Empowering, structured, and action-oriented, this guide equips service members with the knowledge and confidence to turn military excellence into civilian career success. Whether preparing months in advance or actively navigating the job market, readers will find this book an essential field guide for their next mission.

Format(s) for review: Paper or Kindle
Review genre: Nonfiction—How to/Business
Pages/Word count: 213 / 54,912

The Colonel's Way- The Secret Diaries of a POW: Philippines 1941-1945 by Heather P. Shreve

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MWSA Review

The Colonel’s Way: The Secret Diaries of a POW: Philippines 1941-1945 by Heather P. Shreve honors the author’s grandfather, Colonel Arthur Lee Shreve, Jr., a U.S. Army pilot. Author Shreve shares with the reading public her grandfather’s innermost thoughts and feelings as he is held a prisoner of war by the Japanese. We read how he places the well-being of his fellow prisoners above his own. In desperate times, the colonel provides them with food to eat, as well as food for the soul in encouragement and demonstrations of his own bravery under duress.

Colonel Shreve leaves a legacy for his family in his own writings, and Author Shreve knits together a timeline complete with visual evidence of her grandfather’s time as a POW. History buffs will appreciate Heather Shreve’s efforts and Colonel Shreve’s incredible tenacious bravery.

Review by Nancy Panko

 

Author's Synopsis

A Commemorative Special Edition for America-250, Honoring a US Army officer with a military career that bridges five decades -- a titanic story of survival from a compassionate leader who had unsurpassed integrity.

When COL Arthur Lee Shreve, Jr. (U.S. Army pilot, WWI) becomes a POW of the Japanese, his life turns into an unforgettable tale of grit, American ingenuity, and raw bravery. After the fall of the Philippines, he survives the Bataan Death March, cares for his men, and leverages a secret intelligence operation for humanitarian purposes. Working with the Filipino Resistance, he smuggles in his own checkbook to buy food for his men—unthinkable acts of courage under the direst circumstances, risking execution, saving lives, and forging a legacy of leadership and purpose that defines a true hero: The Colonel’s Way.

These are his diaries, unabridged, transcribed by the War Department and his brother, COL L. G. Shreve from the originals written in Filipino composition schoolbooks and hidden from the Japanese while a POW. Not only an unmatched account of the Fall of Bataan and the teamwork that followed among his brothers, but submittable evidence in the 1946-48 International War Crimes Trials.

Format(s) for review: Paper Only
Review genre: Nonfiction—Memoir/Biography
Pages/Word count: 308 / 60,000

Betrayed Valor: A Veteran's Story of Service, Sacrifices and Systemic Neglect by Dr. Sammie Lee Young

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MWSA Review

Dr. Sammie Young begins his memoir with a summary of his life in Mississippi before he joined the Navy and his Naval career. I wish he’d written more about both topics. The rest of the book is about the challenges he faced after his discharge from the Navy. The author doesn’t describe the accident at sea that caused him to be discharged with a service-connected disability or the disability itself.

Dr. Young was surprised by the lack of support to help him with his transition to civilian life. He was unemployed for a year before finding what he thought was his dream job at the VA. Things went well in the beginning and he was promoted several times.

The rest of the memoir highlights the author’s struggle with discriminatory treatment and the failure of the bureaucracy to address such mistreatment. He tried his best to keep a low profile so he could continue to do the work he loved, but he continued to be targeted. When his request for accommodation during Covid was denied, he realized his life depended on fighting back.

This book is inspirational for those who find themselves mistreated at work and need the motivation to stand up for themselves. One of my favorite parts of the book is the recommendations Dr. Young makes in the last chapter to address some of the failures of the systems designed to protect people who have been mistreated. One of the reforms he suggests is the creation of a Veterans Claims Surge Corps, a temporary, trained workforce whose only job is to clear the backlog of claims. I worked for a year on such a team back in the early 1980s with the Board for Correction of Naval Records. We eliminated a three-year backlog in claims related to military discharges.

I admire Dr. Young’s courage in writing about his experiences to inspire others to address similar challenges. I hope he continues to advocate for the reforms he suggests.

Review by Eva Nevarez St John
 

Author's Synopsis

Betrayed Valor is the true story of Navy Chief Sammie Young, a combat veteran whose four decades of service were defined by leadership, duty, and an unwavering commitment to the creed “No Man Left Behind.” From the sands of Iraq to senior leadership roles within the federal system, Young dedicated his life to serving both his country and his fellow service members.

Yet his most difficult battle did not take place overseas.

When Chief Young sought help within the very institution designed to support veterans, he found himself facing retaliation, professional isolation, and systemic failure. What began as a request for assistance evolved into a deeply personal confrontation with bureaucracy, discrimination, and the human cost of speaking truth within a closed system.

Through candid reflection and documented experience, Betrayed Valor examines the often-unseen struggles veterans encounter after their uniforms are folded away. It explores the emotional and financial toll of institutional retaliation, the fragility of due process, and the moral responsibility owed to those who have served.

At its core, this is a story about integrity under pressure. It is about what happens when the creed “No Man Left Behind” collides with institutional self-preservation. It is about resilience in the face of isolation — and the courage required to stand alone.

More than a memoir, Betrayed Valor is both testimony and call for accountability. It invites readers to consider not only the sacrifices made in combat, but the promises that must be honored long after the battlefield is quiet.

Format(s) for review: Paper or Kindle
Review genre: Nonfiction—Memoir/Biography
Pages/Word count: 65 / 13,232

Redfish by A. Michael Hibner

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MWSA Review Pending

 

Author's Synopsis

Arthur Francis Hibner, a high school senior from a small town in northern New Mexico, is drafted into the Navy during WWII. He goes to San Diego Naval Training Center for boot camp, then to BESS (Basic Enlisted Submarine School) in Groton, Connecticut, where he learns the basics for survival on submarines, then becomes a plank holder on the newly constructed Balao class submarine, Redfish, USS SS-395.

Though Redfish and crew spent only six months in hostile waters surrounding Japan and the Philippines, they made the most of their time and wreaked havoc on the Imperial Japanese Navy and Japanese supply shipping.

Third Class Torpedoman’s Mate Hibner relates the two epic patrols of Redfish, and its harrowing escape from the fury of three escorting destroyers after the sinking of the aircraft carrier Unryu.

Format(s) for review: Paper Only
Review genre: Nonfiction—Memoir/Biography
Pages/Word count: 159 / 67,500

The Haunted Assassin by Allen Wittenborn

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MWSA Review

The Haunted Assassin by Allen Wittenborn provides an in-depth look at life in North Korea from the vantage point of a mid-level official’s daughter who was identified during her first year of life as a unique child. She was sent to special schools during the week at first, but was then required to spend more and more time away from her family. By age seven, she lived away from home full time, cutting ties to family and relatives. She was gifted in languages and trained in several martial arts with extensive training so that she was quite capable of killing with her hands. She learned to use firearms and drive cars and tanks. Most significantly, she was thoroughly indoctrinated to love only the Great Leader and his son, the Dear Leader. She followed orders without question.

The effect of that indoctrination is clearly shown throughout the story. As she begins to doubt some of the actions carried out by North Koreans, she is restrained by never having been allowed to make decisions. How can she possibly question decisions made by the Great Leader. She has been taught that procreation is only to create children for the state—there is no room for love. Of course, she meets someone for whom she develops feelings, but she could be executed for talking with a foreigner.

The foreigner is a middle man or broker for businesses in Asia. He believes that he can broker the export of magnesium from North Korea for smaller companies, but he unwisely agrees to try to provide intelligence to the CIA. In his attempts to meet people who can give him access to the right people in North Korea, he meets Yeong Hwa, who is the NK’s ambassador in Burma. Their relationship is entwined in Yeoung Hwa’s gradual emergence from her robot-like life.

As Yeoung Hwa experiences loss after loss, she begins to learn more about herself and who she could be. She does meet caring people along her journey, but ultimately, she is aware of North Korea’s view of anyone who tries to leave. Her strength shows through repeatedly in the story.

Review by Nancy Kauffman

 

Author's Synopsis

Kim Yeong Hwa has been raised since birth by the state apparatus, the Democratic People’s Republic of North Korea, to produce a human instrument, a supremo agent who willingly follows every command without question, a human robot. Her lifelong indoctrination is insidious and relentless, a constant psychological drumbeat even to the point that the Party and its leaders supplant her true biological family.
Kim reaches the pinnacle of success by bombing an airplane in flight killing all aboard, an event that has little impact on her moral fiber. But as she continues to obey orders, she faces a series of tragedies that threaten to shake her deepest convictions. Ingrained beliefs wear thin until a cathartic jolt reveals to her how she’s been molded and used. Her discovery compels her to face a dilemma she never expected to happen—to fight the grip on her mind and escape from who and what she is: a haunted assassin.

Format(s) for review: Paper or Kindle
Review genre: Fiction—Historical Fiction
Pages/Word count: 402 / 114,075

One Death Too Far by Dennis Koller

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MWSA Review

One Death Too Far by Dennis Koller is a gripping thriller, akin to a wild roller coaster ride with crazy twists and hairpin turns. Ken “Mac” McArthur is called home from a mission with the Red Squadron when his father, Special Agent Walt McArthur, is killed in a fiery plane explosion. Mac vows revenge for his father’s death. The story takes off like a rocket as Mac investigates the bombing of the aircraft his father was on, which leads him to a cartel boss. As a reader, I was invested and along for the ride.

Victor Serna, a ruthless cartel boss, knows that the younger McArthur will want to avenge his father’s murder, so he orders a hit on the son. The attempts to kill Mac fail, but succeed in strengthening Mac’s resolve to find answers to an unraveling puzzle in his hunt for Serna.

While working for the DEA on a mission to dismantle the cartels, Mac uncovers a deadly deception within the agency that puts him in the crosshairs of traitors.

One Death Too Far is a fast-paced book, hard to put down.

Review by Nancy Panko

 

Author's Synopsis

When DEA Special Agent Walt McArthur is assassinated in a fiery plane explosion orchestrated by a ruthless Mexican drug cartel, his son, Ken "Mac" McArthur—a recently retired Navy SEAL and leader of the elite Red Squadron Security Agency—returns home to bury his father…and unleash hell.

Fueled by grief and vengeance, Mac reactivates his covert team of operatives to hunt down those responsible. But cartel boss Victor Serna, a man known for silencing threats before they rise, issues a kill order on Mac—knowing full well that blood ties ignite vendettas.

Mac accepts a shadowy DEA mission—Operation Snow Plow—a sweeping plan to dismantle the cartels once and for all. But as the body count rises, he begins to question who’s really pulling the strings.
What starts as a black ops mission spirals into something far darker. Mac uncovers a treacherous conspiracy within the very agency he’s working for—one that reaches into the heart of Washington power and puts his entire team in the crosshairs.

Now hunted by both the cartel and those he thought were allies, Mac must navigate a deadly web of deception, betrayal, and moral ambiguity…before he becomes the next casualty in a war where no one is clean—and nothing is as it seems.

Format(s) for review: Paper or Kindle
Review genre: Fiction—Mystery/Thriller/Crime
Pages/Word count: 319 / 73,000

The Art of Leadership by David Ocheltree

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MWSA Review Pending

 

Author's Synopsis

Have you ever been told you will be a leader, but no one actually gave you the training? You may have reviewed different websites, watched podcasts or even consulted with other people on leadership. Your search is finally over. "The Art of Leadership" gives you the tools to deal with some of the most complex issues that leaders face on a daily basis. Some of those issues like: How to Have a Difficult Conversation; The Difference Between Manipulation and Leadership; Why Is Humility the Cornerstone in Leadership; and many, many more. If you are a leader now, or maybe you wish to be one in the future, this book is for you. If you are a stay-at-home mom or a successful business owner–here is something for everyone. The key is if you want personal and professional growth! This book will help you on your journey. Don’t take my word for it. This is what other people have said:

“This is the kind of work that belongs on the desks and bookshelves of those who lead—whether in uniform, in business, or in the community. It reminds us not just how to lead, but why we lead.” -Bobby Baker, Captain, U.S. Navy (Retired)

“'In The Art of Leadership,' David matches stories to core qualities of bravery, morality, intuition and faith. It is my honor to help bring to the American public these cherished values so skillfully designed in the course work.” -Cindy McGrew, Founder and CEO of Operation Second Chance, Inc. (illus. Masthof Press, 2026.)

Format(s) for review: Paper Only
Review genre: Nonfiction—How to/Business
Pages/Word count: 352 / 75,246

A Walk Among Heroes by James McDevitt

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MWSA Review

A Walk Among Heroes tells an absorbing, intimate tale spanning two world wars. First-person accounts by two combat veterans (one from each conflict) relate the enduring toll their wartime experiences imposed on themselves and their loved ones. The predominant storyline traces a young man’s coming of age as a US Army enlistee in the years before, during, and after WWII. Much of this narrative is devoted to the friendships formed in the period leading up to his unit’s baptism by fire on D-Day. Courage and devotion to his comrades are subsequently tested in battles fought in Europe up to V-E Day. His homecoming after the war is marked by further challenges as he fights survivor's guilt and his abiding obsession with “the girl who got away”—his first and only love.

The story arc moves between the viewpoints of the two warriors, gradually filling in personal details and relationships to reveal how their lives have been intertwined. Occasional dialogs with two female characters fill in other specifics of the warriors’ histories. Intertwined relationships between the characters are revealed slowly through the story and its timeline.  The narrative moves forward and back in time freely within chapters, often without warning or guidance. This can leave the reader briefly confused about whether the narrator is experiencing a scene or imagining it. Scenes are satisfyingly descriptive of surroundings, environment, and situations. Battle action accounts are in-depth and detailed, but readers who are sticklers for historical authenticity will question some incidental references.

The final few chapters quickly tie together the generational and romantic threads that were hinted at throughout the storyline. A few of these connections may strain some readers’ credibility, but all’s fair in fiction. Nonetheless, A Walk Among Heroes delivers an engaging and complex experience that engages readers from the outset and carries them through to a satisfying finish.

Review by Peter Young

 

Author's Synopsis

Through TJ and Smitty — a World War I aviator scarred by his past — the novel weaves a sweeping story of two wars, two men, and one enduring love that binds generations. It is a deeply moving reflection on duty, sacrifice, and the price paid by those who return home forever changed.

An incredible story of two wars that seamlessly come together through the eyes of two veterans.

Format(s) for review: Paper or Kindle
Review genre: Fiction—Historical Fiction
Pages/Word count: 370 / 77,000

Dances with Arrows by Steve Stratton

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MWSA Review

Set in a post-EMP World War III Wyoming, this military thriller follows the Wyoming Army of Resistance as it wages guerrilla warfare against occupying Russian and Chinese forces while racing to secure critical nuclear assets before they can be used. The story delivers a high-stakes narrative grounded in tactical realism, with a clear focus on operational planning, combat execution, and the pressures of asymmetric warfare in a collapsed infrastructure environment. Action sequences are a particular strength, offering clarity, momentum, and immediacy that keep the story moving at a strong pace.

The novel will appeal to readers who enjoy military fiction centered on special operations, resistance movements, and strategic conflict scenarios. With a large ensemble cast of characters and a steadily escalating conflict, it builds a cohesive and continuously evolving storyline that supports the broader Mongol Moon Universe.

Review by Bob Ritchie

 

Author's Synopsis

The Russians and Chinese need our crops. They believe America is broken and attack.

In Wyoming, they will find out what unbreakable means. Brigadier General Lance Bear Wolf and his team form the Wyoming Army of Resistance. The very survival of America is at stake… and Wolf will not let it die.

From the wind-swept plains with their ICBM silos to the blood-soaked snow of occupied Cheyenne, Wolf ignites a rebellion that spreads across the Rockies. Every strike risks annihilation. Every decision is a fight between his principles and a primeval need to avenge the staggering losses America has suffered.

Written in the Mark Sibley Mongol Moon universe—where World War III is not a nightmare but a brutal reality—Dances With Arrows is a raw, relentless story of sacrifice and resistance in America’s darkest hour.

Format(s) for review: Paper or Kindle
Review genre: Fiction—Mystery/Thriller/Crime
Pages/Word count: 328 / 91,000

Kick the Tires and Light the Fires: My Life as a Naval Aviator, FAA Test Pilot & Aviation Consultant by David Paul West with Ron Martz

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MWSA Review

Kick the Tires and Light the Fires is an in-depth account of a lifetime devoted to aviation. The story chronicles the author’s pursuit of his aspirations while being guided by the tenets of personal integrity and unwavering adherence to principles.

This memoir covers the author’s life from early childhood through his time as a combat naval aviator and his career as a civilian test pilot. Undaunted by a childhood injury that could easily have kept him from pursuing any number of occupation paths, the author decided early on that he wanted to become a professional aviator. This initial hurdle offered the first of many examples of his determination to overcome obstacles that could have easily derailed his quest to achieve his personal and professional goals.

The first-person narrative style is clear and forthright and is easily followed when the author is describing his personal experiences and observations. He does not gloss over his own mistakes and faults and does not shy away from assessing the shortcomings of some of his associates and higher-ups.

The account is exceptionally well documented. A basic set of military and technical terms and acronyms are defined in a glossary, and many more are embedded throughout the narrative. These elements can occasionally dominate the story. This may discourage all but the most dedicated readers.

Kick the Tires and Light the Fires could easily be overlooked as just one of the many published memoirs offered up by former U.S. naval aviators. What sets this account apart is the author’s singular career as a non-military test pilot after leaving naval service. Highlights for the reader are the many instances of the author’s courage to stand by his convictions: “Doing what I believed was the right thing at the right time was the only way to do it, even if it meant the possibility of losing my job.”

Review by Peter Young

Author's Synopsis

This memoir covers the author's life from his childhood in the 1940s and 1950s in Ironwood, Michigan; his education at the U.S. Naval Academy and subsequent training as a carrier pilot; tour of duty during the Vietnam War; attending the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School; serving as a test pilot for Northrop Aviation and the Federal Aviation Administration, where he served on the team that developed the TCAS II; and completing his career in aviation as a Designated Engineering Representative and aviation consultant.

Format(s) for review: Paper Only
Review genre: Nonfiction—Memoir/Biography
Pages/Word count: 298 / 74,500

Platonic Surrealism: A Modern Framework for Meaning Beyond Science and Religion : Underpinnings of Personal Transcendence by Kevin Cann

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Author's Synopsis

You’re not a soul on a journey. You’re the power that creates souls.

Featured in The National Law Review and taught at Esalen Institute, Platonic Surrealism is the modern metaphysical framework introduced by Kevin Cann and praised by leading scholars of consciousness and religion.

Dr. Jeffrey J. Kripal calls it “a treasure of a book… ontologically profound,” while Dr. Anya Foxen describes it as “simple in the way all truly transformative things must be.”

A modern framework for awakening, afterlife inquiry, and inner wholeness—without religion, dogma, or woo‑woo.

“You” exist at multiple layers at once.
Not as a single fragile soul, but as something vastly deeper:

POTENTIALITY — the boundless field beneath all existence
AWARENESS — the luminous mirror that makes experience possible
Primordial Consciousness — the first “I” before time
Fractured Consciousness — the human perspective, local but not lesser
The Monad — your enduring, creative spark
The Soul — a temporary interface woven for each world you enter
The Pain Self — the conditioned mask you can learn to outgrow
This is not a belief system — it is a clear, experiential map of what you are across life, death, and all the Movies of existence.

A Practical System for Becoming Whole

Platonic Surrealism teaches ten simple, non‑religious practices used by thousands of readers and workshop participants to:

calm the nervous system
reunite fractured layers of identity
integrate painful experiences into stability through shadow work and inner child healing.
activate deep nonverbal awareness
experience “ascend‑in‑place” states
build a stable inner interface capable of genuine transformation
These practices are neuroscience‑aligned, accessible to atheists and mystics alike, and safe for those recovering from religion.

For Seekers of the Afterlife, Awakening, Consciousness Studies, and High Strangeness

Whether you’ve had a near‑death experience, a moment of high strangeness, a profound synchronicity, or simply feel larger than your personality, Platonic Surrealism offers a grounded way to understand your experience without superstition or self‑delusion.

Readers who loved works by Jeffrey Kripal, Bernardo Kastrup, Michael Newton, or Rupert Spira will find here a fresh, practical, and non‑dogmatic framework.

Endorsements from Scholars, Thinkers, and Explorers

“A treasure of a book… Platonic Surrealism is profound and practical.”
—Jeffrey J. Kripal, Rice University

“Self‑aware, unpretentious, non‑dogmatic… deceptively simple and deeply transformative.”
—Dr. Anya Foxen, Cal Poly

“Revolutionarily insightful. Open your heart and you’ll find peace.”
—Joshua Cutchin, Ecology of Souls

“Bridges ancient tradition and modern spirituality… It’s time to fly, Neo.”
—Miguel Conner, Aeon Byte Gnostic Radio

“Kevin has innovated a metaphysical framework for the modern age.”
—Mike Fiorito, National Book Award Runner‑Up

A clear, contemporary path to wholeness, transcendence, and the deeper layers of what you truly are.
No dogma. No fear. No hierarchy. Just clarity.

Format: Soft cover, Kindle
Genre(s): Religious/Spiritual

Platonic Surrealism: The Front Porch Dialogues by Kevin Cann

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MWSA Review Pending

 

Author's Synopsis

Learn to Feel Free and Content with Who You Really Are

Jeb is tired. Not just "long day at work" tired, but "soul-bruised and white-knuckling through life" tired. He’s spent years bracing for impact, scanning the horizon for catastrophes that never arrive, and losing the war with the "Internal Raccoons" in his head.

He isn’t broken—he’s just compressed by a world that feels too loud and a past that won't stop whispering.

Enter Kev.
A retired Navy nuclear engineer, Kev prefers his back porch to a pulpit and "emotional support pie" to spiritual clichés. What follows is not a series of mystical lectures, but a sequence of real, gritty, and often hilarious conversations over coffee and sunlit grass.

“Inspiration: 1/3 Douglas Adams' wit, 1/3 Richard Bach’s soul-searching, and 1/3 Plato’s timeless wisdom.”

Through the "Joyous Fiction" of Jeb and Kev, you will witness a functional demonstration of Platonic Surrealism (PS)—a framework that treats reality not as a cold machine, but as a symbolic, co-authored conversation.

Format(s) for review: Kindle or Paper
Review genre: Fiction—Literary Fiction
Pages/Word count: 140 / 24,586

The Long Blue Shadow by Heather P. Shreve

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MWSA Review Pending

 

Author's Synopsis

Three wars. Two hearts. One unforgettable couple.

A love forged in the army’s shadow…

he aspired to stardust; she fought to be steel. 

His service and her secret would take them to the edge of both.  

A breathtaking saga begins…when a young pilot, LT Arthur Lee Shreve, becomes torn between family and reenlisting after the Great War, he defaults to the army, convinced that good men serve conspicuously ‘in the sun’―a path that will lead to the exciting but complex love of his life.  

In Hawaii, he meets Julia who challenges all former beliefs about sex, service, and even love itself.  Cast in stardust, theirs is tested by the grit and glamour of the Interwar years which shakes and tests their romance as they move from pillar to post―from Hawaii to Fort Leavenworth―and beyond.

Where Arthur finds passion and purpose, compelled to rise with the iridescent era, his wife is fiercely driven by demons and a former female lover―secrets she conceals in the relentless shadow of the army. 

Through the challenges and paradoxes of military life, they battle between duty and identity To arrive and celebrate Arthur’s 20 years of service, leaving Julia wondering whether her contributions matter at all, or even if love itself is enough …and careens towards personal crisis. 

As the world drifts toward war, they enjoy the last halcyon days with supportive family and loyal officers Uncertain of what lies ahead and whether they will have to find their heroic impulse once again. 

Fans of the Nightingale and The Great Alone by Kristin Hanna will enjoy the emotional depth of The Long Blue Shadow―love tested by global conflict and history―while readers of The Paris Wife by Paula McClain will love the same atmospheric 1920s and tension between identity and partnership. Fans of Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway will love the human cost of duty, love, and history–all a good preview for Book II that will ring true with fans of The Women, also by Hanna.  

Format(s) for review: Paper or Kindle
Review genre: Fiction—Historical Fiction
Pages/Word count: 315 / 88,000

When Heroes Flew: Black Thursday by H. W. "Buzz" Bernard

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MWSA Review

When Heroes Flew: Black Thursday by H.W. “Buzz” Bernard is a gripping novel set in Europe during World War II in 1943. The U.S. 8th Air Force is trying to stop Nazi aggression by hitting targets in Germany that will halt production of their machines of war.

Having flown missions and crash-landed twice, Colonel Matt Barrington is older and is now commanding a desk, planning bombing raids into Germany for other pilots. When many bombers—each with a crew of ten— are lost, Matt is deeply affected by the rising body count. Washington and the powers that be are discussing “acceptable and incidental loss” necessary to achieve a mission. Matt can’t sleep at night because he sees the faces of these men and their grieving families instead of numbers. He is plagued by headaches and occasional shortness of breath from the stress of sending men into battle, who he knows may not return.

Deciding to visit a base during a pre-raid briefing, Matt hopes his presence will show the bomber pilots and crews that they are supported by the planners. On his way to the base, Matt stops at a bakery shop for something to eat. He meets the owner Charlie, short for Charlotte, and sparks fly. A lovely romantic relationship begins. Matt finds peace and love in Charlie’s arms. Charlie, a war widow, is relieved that Matt is behind a desk and no longer flying. That is, until Matt decides to join a dangerous mission to show the men that he won’t ask them to do something that he won’t do himself.

I was drawn to each of these characters. Author Bernard uses all the richness of the five senses to draw a reader into the story. I was angry with the brass in the Pentagon, gasped at the horror of war, and cried at the loss of life. Bernard’s conversational writing is laced with a great sense of humor. Oh, yeah, the ending left me absolutely stunned.

Buzz Bernard creates a beautiful tapestry, weaving real history and people with fictional characters into a story featuring many unsung heroes of World War II.

Review by Nancy Panko
 

Author's Synopsis

Colonel Matt Barrington knows the cold calculus of WWII strategic bombing. As one of the masterminds behind the US 8th Air Force's daring raids into Nazi Germany, he's accustomed to making decisions that send men to their deaths. But when a mission goes terribly wrong, resulting in the loss of 60 bombers, the weight of command threatens to crush him.

Seeking solace from his guilt-ridden insomnia, Matt finds unexpected comfort in the arms of Charlotte, an English widow, who understands the true cost of the war. Their budding romance offers a glimmer of hope amidst the chaos of conflict. But as the casualties mount, Matt realizes he can no longer lead from behind a desk. Determined to share in the risks his men face, Matt volunteers for a dangerous bombing raid, returning to the skies alongside the soldiers he sends into battle. But surviving one mission only deepens the weight of his guilt.

Haunted by loss and driven by an unyielding sense of duty, Matt defies direct orders and enters the cockpit once more. In a heart-stopping raid high above occupied Europe, he faces not only the lethal forces of the Luftwaffe and their deadly new weapons but also the demons that have long plagued him—and his last chance at a future with Charlotte. As flak bursts around his B-17 and enemy fighters close in, Matt must confront the ultimate question: In the crucible of war, can one man's actions truly make a difference?

Format(s) for review: Paper or Kindle
Review genre: Fiction—Historical Fiction
Pages/Word count: 244 / 70,000

Bastard Soldier, Earnest Medic by Michael Plotkowski

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MWSA Review Pending

 

Author's Synopsis

Bastard Soldier, Earnest Medic is a raw, darkly funny, and unflinchingly honest narrative that follows Joe's unlikely transformation from a wayward teenager into a soldier and army physician assistant forged in the chaos of three deployments.

What begins as a desperate courtroom gamble, spirals into a wild, unpredictable journey through the chaos and cruelty of basic training, the reckless escapades and misadventures of Fort Bliss, and the bizarre, often darkly comic theater of military life. Kosovo awakens Joe's curiosity for the world; medical training initiates him in the crude and intense; Iraq baptizes him in blood, trauma, and loss; and Afghanistan forces him to confront himself amid war's contradictions.

Through black humor, medical grit, and reckless choices, Joe stumbles toward purpose. He learns to laugh at the insanity and carry scars that don't fade. This isn't a flag-waving war story - it's a brutally human one: messy, vulgar, hilarious, and profound.

In the end, Joe doesn't find glory. He finds perspective. Bastard Soldier, Earnest Medic is the unforgettable story of a man who learns to own every absurd, appalling, and incredible piece of his past, findings unexpected purpose in the journey.

Raw, hilarious, and deeply human, Bastard Soldier, Earnest Medic will make you laugh, wince, and rethink everything you thought you knew about life in uniform.

Format(s) for review: Paper or Kindle
Review genre: Nonfiction—Creative Nonfiction
Pages/Word count: 202 / 82,000