Veterans Breakfast Club (VBC) Hosts Military Writers Society of America (MWSA) on VBC Connects

In continued collaboration with the Veterans Breakfast Club, MWSA Vice President Valerie Ormond and MWSA Past President Bob Doerr spoke with VBC’s Shaun Hall on the organization’s VBC Connects podcast. Topics ranged from MWSA’s history to a discussion of current programs, membership, upcoming programs, and the 2026 conference or Orlando, FL, Oct. 22 – 24.

To tune in, please see this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXZt8KXBN3g

Thank you to VBC for allowing MWSA to share its mission with the VBC membership and audience.

Military Writers Society of America (MWSA) Anthology Wins Award

Military Writers Society of America (MWSA) BookFest Awards Winner

By Valerie Ormond

Congratulations to MWSA, its 31 contributing authors, and volunteer editors, for winning Third Place in the Anthologies category of The BookFest® Awards. The BookFest announced Reflections: Service to our Country as a winner in its Spring 2026 contest during its awards presentation on Sunday, April 12.

Contributors wishing to celebrate their status as either new or seasoned award-winning authors may download this award certificate here.

And authors and poets may download the Award Winner graphic here, to be displayed on websites, social media, or wherever you wish.

Well done, MWSA members, for your professional, winning work!

Pig Fat Soup Author Interview on Veteran’s Breakfast Club

By Rob Lofthouse

Streamed live on December 22, 2025, Todd DePastino, Executive Director of the Veteran’s Breakfast Club (VBC), hosted one of MWSA’s authors, Steven Woelk, in an engaging interview telling the story of one of the USS Pueblo survivors. The essence of that conversation follows below.

One week before the Tet Offensive of 1968, a small, unarmed Navy intelligence ship called the USS Pueblo was attacked and captured by North Korea. The seizure of the Pueblo became its own crisis running parallel to Tet, trapping 83 American sailors in a struggle for survival that lasted nearly a year.

One of those sailors was 19-year-old Steven Woelk from Kansas. On this VBC livestream, Steven shared his remarkable firsthand story, also recounted in full in his memoir, Pig Fat Soup: Surviving My Pueblo Prisoner of War Journey.

Follow the link to the interview:  https://veteransbreakfastclub.org/uss-pueblo-veteran-and-north-korean-pow-steven-woelk/

Pig Fat Soup is one of the books in this year’s MWSA Book Awards contest.

Code Blue Publishing Announces Anthology Opportunity

Code Blue Publishing announced opportunities for Military Writers Society of America (MWSA) to submit to Code Blue Publishing’s upcoming anthology—Shadows from the Frontline. There is no fee to submit. Submissions are not paid, but reprints are authorized. Submissions are due May 31, 2026, with publication in late fall 2026.

 

Please see the submissions guidelines and use this opportunity to have your work published.

  

https://www.codebluepublishing.com/submissions-guidelines

 

MWSA News Blast - February 2026

News

2026 Conference Update and Speaking Proposals

We are all set with the hotel for our MWSA 2026 conference and are continuing our planning for an interesting and informative agenda:

  • When: Thursday through Saturday, October 22-24, 2026

  • City: Orlando, FL

  • Hotel: Rosen Plaza 

If you want to participate in a panel or would like to make a presentation, please let our Events Committee know, using our Event Contact Form or email our Conference Chair, Bob Doerr, directly at events@mwsa.co.

Visit our conference page for further details.

https://www.mwsadispatches.com/events/2026-conference 

2026 Awards Season

Our 2026 season kicked off on January 2, and we’re off to another record-breaking season.Our window will remain open until June 1. As of Jan. 22, due to unprecedented demand for MWSA reviews, we will place all provisional book submissions in an "Awaiting backlog" status until we have assigned reviewers to all our normal submissions. At the moment, we cannot provide an estimate regarding the length of time required to assign reviewers to our first batch of books. To familiarize yourself with our review and awards procedures, please visit our main awards page: https://www.mwsadispatches.com/awards 

As always, remember to “pay it forward” by helping out a fellow MWSA author by becoming a reviewer. If you’re interested, you can sign up here: https://www.mwsadispatches.com/mwsa-reviewer-signup 

Candidates Sought for MWSA Board of Directors

MWSA will be holding elections for the upcoming board of directors this summer. Board members serve two-year terms in the following positions: President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, and four At-Large Directors. The Past President serves in an advisory capacity, and the Founder is a perpetual board member. If you would like to run for the MWSA board of directors, please see these documents for more details, and contact info@mwsa.co. The Nominating Committee will reach out to you to discuss. 

Call for 2026 MWSA Writer of the Year Candidates

Each year, MWSA recognizes one of our members as the Mike Mullins Memorial Writer of the Year. This award is a great honor and a way to recognize your fellow members’ writing. Please submit your candidates by May 31, 2026. Please see the criteria and instructions here:https://www.mwsadispatches.com/mike-mullins-woy.

Writers, Editors, Poets - Passing the Torch

Veterans’ Voices Writing Project (VVWP) Calls for New Editorial Leadership: Shaping the Future of Veterans’ Literature

For over seventy years, the Veterans’ Voices Writing Project (VVWP) has stood shoulder-to-shoulder with those who served. United by a singular mission, we provide a vital platform for the powerful, lived experiences of our nation’s veterans—helping them craft poetry and prose and, most importantly, seeing their work through to publication.

Veterans’ Voices Magazine has been the "Point of the Spear" for veteran storytelling since the Korean War. For many veterans, seeing their story in print is a transformative milestone, and our program of small monetary awards provides an extra incentive to keep the ink flowing.

A Strategic Partnership for the Future. The Military Writers Society of America (MWSA) is proud to partner with VVWP. Our missions are deeply aligned, and we are now at a pivotal moment in our shared history. VVWP’s long-time Poetry and Prose editors are preparing to step back, offering a rare opportunity for "new blood" to take the helm.

We are looking for dedicated volunteers to help manage this transition and continue the vital work of mentoring veteran writers. If you have an eye for prose, a heart for poetry, and a steadfast commitment to the veteran community, we invite you to help us build the next chapter of this legacy.

Your Commitment. This is a volunteer opportunity requiring just a few hours a month. By joining the VVWP editorial team, you ensure that the voices of those who served are never silenced.

Take Action. Reach out to MWSA board member Rob Lofthouse (rob.lofthouse@storytellerpublishing.us) for more information and a personal introduction to the leadership at VVWP.

Benefit Spotlight

Writers Education

Have you taken advantage of the many educational resources available via our former Writers Education programs? Peruse our offerings to learn more about the basic tools every author should have in his or her toolbox. See these programs here: https://www.mwsadispatches.com/writers-education.

Thank you to past volunteer leaders Jack London and Jim Tritten for managing this program for the past five years. MWSA is seeking a new Writers Education Committee Chair, a position that requires only a few hours per month. If you are interested in taking on this important duty, please contact MWSA Vice President Valerie Ormond at vp@mwsa.co.

Friendly Reminders

MWSA Merch Store 

Are you a proud MWSA award-winning author and want to show your support for MWSA by wearing an MWSA hat, t-shirt, or sweater? Now you can!

You’ll find the link to the store under the “Resources” tab on our website at MERCH STORE. The link to the store–which is operated by an outside vendor–is also located at the bottom of our website’s main or index page https://www.mwsadispatches.com/ 

Part of the profits from your purchases will go to MWSA.

Show your MWSA pride!



Opportunities with Girls Write Now - Update - Deadline Extended!

Girls Write Now, a nationally award-winning writing and mentoring nonprofit, media incubator, and multi-generational community of writers and leaders, is accepting applications for the Spring Cycle, March - May, 2026. We harness the power of stories to shape culture, impact industries, and bridge divides. Mentors are aged 25+ and Mentees ages 14-24.  Please note that the previous deadline of Dec. 31, 2025, has now been extended to Jan. 15, 2026!

Girls Write Now has a high demand for Journey Mentors. As a Mentor, you will not only change the trajectory of a young writer's life and career, your life will change too. Mentors also benefit by:

· Networking with Girls Write Now’s talented, multigenerational community

· Connecting with peers in unique community experiences

· Accessing a wide selection of publishing and writing opportunities, as well as creative and professional skill building

· Rebooting, starting, or committing to a writing/creative practice

· Gaining insight into the publishing industry, and making connections

Select a Journey at girlswritenow.org/journeys and apply by January 15, 2026! If you have any questions, please email communty@girlswritenow.org.

Winter 2026 Issue of Dispatches

The winter 2026 edition of MWSA's Dispatches magazine is now available on our website. Here's wishing all MWSA members and families a happy new year!

Click here or the cover above to read this or any past issue of our magazine.

If the above links don't work, you can paste the following into your web browser: 

https://www.mwsadispatches.com/dispatches/winter-2026

Your MWSA Communications Team

Click here to contact the Dispatches editorial staff

Opportunities with Girls Write Now

Girls Write Now, a nationally award-winning writing and mentoring nonprofit, media incubator, and multi-generational community of writers and leaders, is accepting applications for the Spring Cycle, March - May, 2026. We harness the power of stories to shape culture, impact industries, and bridge divides. Mentors are aged 25+ and Mentees ages 14-24.  

We currently have a high demand for Journey Mentors. As a Mentor, you will not only change the trajectory of a young writer's life and career, your life will change too. Mentors also benefit by:

· Networking with Girls Write Now’s talented, multigenerational community

· Connecting with peers in unique community experiences

· Accessing a wide selection of publishing and writing opportunities, as well as creative and professional skill building

· Rebooting, starting, or committing to a writing/creative practice

· Gaining insight into the publishing industry, and making connections

Select a Journey at girlswritenow.org/journeys and apply by December 31, 2025! If you have any questions, please email communty@girlswritenow.org.

November 2025 MWSA eBlast

News

2026 Conference Update

We continue to make progress in setting up our 2026 conference. Although we don’t yet have a contract with the hotel, we are confident in sharing the following details so everyone can mark their calendars:

●       When: Thursday through Saturday, October 22-24, 2026

●       City: Orlando, FL

●       Tentative Hotel: Rosen Plaza

Visit our conference page for details.

https://www.mwsadispatches.com/events/2026-conference

2026 Awards Season

Our 2026 season will kick off on January 2. If you’re planning on submitting your book next season, you can expect the submission form to be available on that date. As usual, our window will remain open until June 1. To familiarize yourself with our review and awards procedures, please visit our main awards page: https://www.mwsadispatches.com/awards

As always, remember to “pay it forward” by helping out a fellow MWSA author by becoming a reviewer. If you’re interested, you can sign up here: https://www.mwsadispatches.com/mwsa-reviewer-signup

Author Interview Videos

In case you missed them, we now have two video interviews available on our website. Take a few minutes to hear what our 2024 MWSA Writer of the Year, Kathleen Rodgers, had to say. Our most recent interview was with MWSA best-selling author, James Bultema. You’ll find both interviews here: https://www.mwsadispatches.com/author-interviews#videos

Meet “Ask MWSA”—your new 24/7 help on all things MWSA

We’ve added a new way to get quick answers from the Military Writers Society of America. Ask MWSA is a site-wide chatbot that helps members and authors find what they need at any time of day.

What it does

Answers common questions about membership, awards, events, and all things MWSA

Points you to forms, deadlines, and page links on our website

Explains how to order extra medals or stickers

Helps prospective reviewers and authors find the right next step

If it doesn’t know, it will route you to the proper contact or form

Where to find it

Look for the floating “Ask MWSA” bubble at the bottom-right corner of any page on our website [mwsadispatches.com]. Click it to start a conversation (no login required).

Try asking:

“How do I join MWSA?”

“Where do I submit my book for awards?”

“When are the next events?”

“How do I volunteer to become a reviewer?”

“How do I register for this year’s conference?”

A note on privacy & accuracy

Ask MWSA only knows what’s on our public pages and the information you share in the chat. It won’t access your private data. For questions about your membership record or an individual submission, we'll direct you to a human so we can assist you securely.

We want your feedback

This is a living tool—we’ll keep training it based on real questions from members. If you spot a wrong answer or want the bot to learn a new topic, please tell us via the site’s Contact page or email president@mwsa.co.

Give it a try today—click Ask MWSA on any page and get instant answers. If the bot doesn’t have the answer, or you prefer the human touch, visit our main contact page and find the email or form you need.

Dispatches Magazine

For those who may have missed it, we released the fall issue of Dispatches magazine in October. See highlights from our 2025 conference as well as award winners and other MWSA news here.

The deadline for articles and advertisements for the winter issue remains Dec. 15.

 

Benefit Spotlight

Tips and Tricks

In case you haven’t found this valuable resource, visit the Tips and Tricks section of our website. We’ve recently revamped this page, grouping the articles by topic to make them easier to find.

https://www.mwsadispatches.com/tips-tricks-1

If you’ve got any tips and/or tricks to share with your fellow MWSA members, please let us know. Just email us at info@mwsa.co.

Friendly Reminders

And finally, a happy Thanksgiving to all our members and their families!

Author Interview with James Bultema

In this episode, we sit down with award-winning author and MWSA member James Bultema—a military veteran and retired LAPD officer whose career has spanned both combat zones and city streets. His experiences lend authenticity and power to his writing, from his Sea of Red thriller series to his police histories such as The Protectors and Guardians of Angels. A six-time award-winning novelist, James combines real-world insight with gripping storytelling to explore patriotism, duty, and the challenges faced by those who serve.

Join us as James talks about his path from service to storytelling, the research and discipline behind his novels, and the role MWSA has played in his writing journey.

Meet “Ask MWSA”—your new 24/7 help on all things MWSA

We’ve added a new way to get quick answers from the Military Writers Society of America. Ask MWSA is a site-wide chatbot that helps members and authors find what they need at any time of day.

What it does

  • Answers common questions about membership, awards, events, and all things MWSA

  • Points you to forms, deadlines, and page links on our website

  • Explains how to order extra medals or stickers

  • Helps prospective reviewers and authors find the right next step

  • If it doesn’t know, it will route you to the proper contact or form

Where to find it
Look for the floating “Ask MWSA” bubble at the bottom-right corner of any page on our website [mwsadispatches.com]. Click it to start a conversation (no login required).

Try asking:

  • “How do I join MWSA?”

  • “Where do I submit my book for awards?”

  • “When are the next events?”

  • “How do I volunteer to become a reviewer?”

  • “How do I register for this year’s conference?”

A note on privacy & accuracy
Ask MWSA only knows what’s on our public pages and the information you share in the chat. It won’t access your private data. For questions about your membership record or an individual submission, we'll direct you to a human so we can assist you securely.

We want your feedback
This is a living tool—we’ll keep training it based on real questions from members. If you spot a wrong answer or want the bot to learn a new topic, please tell us via the site’s Contact page or email president@mwsa.co.

Give it a try today—click Ask MWSA on any page and get instant answers. If the bot doesn’t have the answer, or you prefer the human touch, visit our main contact page and find the email or form you need.

Military Writers Society of America 2025 Anthology Press Release - Member Announcement

As a service to our members, the Military Writers Society of America (MWSA) offers the following press release template to help writers spread the word about their work being published in the 2025 MWSA anthology. Simply fill in the [brackets] and share with your local media, online outlets, social media, and wherever you would like to tell your story.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media contact: [Name]

[Email]

[Phone]

[Attach anthology book cover and author head shot if possible]

 

[Member Name] Published in Military Anthology

[Member Name] of [city, state] was recently published in the Military Writers Society of America (MWSA) anthology Reflections: Service to our Country. [His/her] story was titled [X] and discussed [X].

MWSA publishes an anthology every two years with member submissions. Stories include fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and artwork. Reflections: Service to our Country currently sits at an Amazon a five-star rating!

The anthology is available in paperback and eBook at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FBS26BXK.

Proceeds support MWSA’s missions of helping the military, veterans, and their families to tell their stories.

 

About [Member Name]

[50-word biography]

About the Military Writers Society of America (MWSA)

MWSA’s tagline is “Saving history one story at a time,” and its mission is to help military, veterans, and their families tell their stories. The 501(c)3 non-profit encourages writing and provides writing opportunities through programs include book awards and reviews, writers education, publishing venues, and in-person and virtual events. For more information, please visit https://www.mwsadispatches.com/.

 

Write Your Story Workshop 2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact: Bob Doerr, writeyourstory@mwsa.co | 210-827-1309

Write Your Story Workshop

On September 25, 2025, members of the Military Writers Society of America (MWSA) will host a free Write Your Story workshop for local military, veterans, and their families in Kansas City, MO. This workshop is geared to storytelling, whether attendees may be working on a novel, a memoir, a short story, a poem, or an article, both fiction and nonfiction.

MWSA will hold the event at the Westin Kansas City Crown Center, Washington Park 1, 1 East Pershing Road, Kansas City, MO. It will take place from 9:30 AM – 3:30 PM.

Award-winning writers from MWSA have conducted these veteran-focused workshops coast-to-coast since 2015. When asked at last year’s event, “What was the most valuable part of the workshop?” attendees said:

o   Each one was important

o   All of it, since I’m not a writer but would like to be

o   All valuable!

o   Meeting other veteran writers

o   Being with other writers

o   Exercises

o   Story arc

This event is geared toward newer writers who want to tell their stories and may not know where to begin, but the sessions have also proven beneficial for more seasoned writers who share in the camaraderie with other veterans and families. Please email writeyourstory@mwsa.co if interested. Registration is required by Sep. 15, and MWSA will provide a free lunch to all attendees. MWSA hopes you will join this event to help tell your story.

###

MWSA News Blast -- August 12, 2025

2025 Conference–Time’s Running Out

There is still time to make reservations for this year's conference in Kansas City, September 25-28. For this year, we have three registration options:

  • Full conference–$275

  • Half conference–$205

  • Awards banquet only–$145

Rates for non-members are $25 higher than the prices listed above. However, as an added incentive to join MWSA as a full member, those registering for full or half conference attendance will become full members (a 50% discount on the regular cost of a one-year membership).

To learn more about this year’s conference or to register for both the conference and the hotel, visit the conference page on our website:

https://www.mwsadispatches.com/events/2025-conference 

If you've been to prior conferences, you know they are easy-going affairs. We need volunteers to help work the registration table, serve as timekeepers, and assist with other tasks. If you would like to volunteer, you can let us know via the volunteer form on our conference page (link above) or email the conference organizers at events@mwsa.co.

If you’ve never joined us for a conference in the past and would like to get a feel for what you can expect, you might want to have a look at our past conferences. On each conference’s page, you’ll find photos of the "action" and the agenda of activities during each of our prior member get-togethers. Here’s a link to our past conferences page:

https://www.mwsadispatches.com/events-past-and-future#conferences 

We're looking forward to another successful and enjoyable conference this year. 

Kansas City, here we come!

 

It’s Buckaroo Auction Time Again!

MWSA’s Buckaroo Auction at our Annual Conference is a way for us to recognize our volunteers by providing “Buckaroos” for their services performed for the organization throughout the year. Below is a list of Buckaroo earnings for work performed. 

We are currently seeking items members may want to donate (services, books, electronics, or unique items) in addition to the “secret items” we have already secured. Please let the Buckaroo Auction Chair know via email at vp@mwsa.co. Thank you in advance for your help!

 

Speaking of Donations

Are you aware that you or organizations you are involved with can make tax-deductible donations to MWSA at any time to help military, veterans, and their families tell their stories? MWSA is a 501(c)3 non-profit, and donations can be made via our website at our new donation page: https://www.mwsadispatches.com/donation

 

MWSA Anthology Making the News

Thank you to our MWSA members who have been sharing the word about the 2025 anthology, Reflections: Service to our Country. News of our story has been shared on Penny Rafferty Hamilton’s Substack, the e-Quipsblog, the SouthWest Writers website, the Anadrako Daily Newspaper News, and has shown up in websites in Denmark, France, and New Zealand. And that is just what we are aware of! 

We currently have a 5-star review rating on Amazon but could certainly use our members’ support. If you can find time to pen a sentence or two to help fellow writers and our organization, please drop a review here: https://www.amazon.com/product-reviews/B0FBS26BXK/.

As a reminder, MWSA published this anthology as the Military Writers Society of America imprint, so all profits go toward continuing MWSA’s programs to help tell veterans and their families' stories.

 

Dispatches Magazine

The fall issue of Dispatches will be published after our annual conference. As usual, we’ll focus this issue on our season's medal winners and a wrap-up of the conference. We ask that conference attendees submit photos via the Dispatches submission form on the Dispatches Submissions web page or here: Submit Files - Dropbox.

 

Editor Wanted

Our Vice President, Val Ormond, stepped in to fill the void when our last Dispatches Editor resigned, and she agreed to take on the duty for one year. That year is up in September! If any of our members may want to take on this duty, please reach out to Val at vp@mwsa.co for details. She is retired Navy, so the passdown will be thorough with checklists and all.  

 

Benefit Spotlight

MWSA Member Resource Directory




If you haven’t checked it out yet, now’s a great time to take a look at our Member Resource Directory. It’s a growing collection of services and resources offered by members for members. Whether you’re looking for an editor, cover designer, marketer, or just someone who understands the publishing world, we’ve got listings that can help you take your writing to the next level.

Sometimes it’s even better to give than receive. If you offer services yourself, you can add your name to the list. It’s a great way to connect with fellow MWSA members and support each other’s creative journeys.

Here’s what you can do:

  • Browse the directory for help with your next project

  • Submit your own listing if you’ve got a service to offer

  • Come back periodically to see if we’ve updated anything

This is just one of the ways we’re working to make MWSA more useful and connected for all of us. Take a look and see how you might benefit—or contribute!

Check it out here:
mwsadispatches.com/member-resource-directory

  Friendly Reminders

MWSA’s Writers Education Series 

MWSA will host the fourth installment of our Writing Your Story educational webinars on Sunday, Aug. 17, 2025, at 5:00 PM Eastern, 4:00 PM Central, 3:00 PM Mountain, and 2:00 PM Pacific. This edition will be presented by Jim Tritten and is titled: Plot and Story Arc.

Visit our Writers Education page to see more details, get the Zoom link to join our session, watch our prior sessions, and/or see what’s on tap for future episodes:

https://www.mwsadispatches.com/writers-education#wys 

Ready To Join MWSA or Learn More?

Learn About Membership