Tag Archive | Military Writers Society of America

Military Mom Talk Radio with Sandra Beck and Robin Boyd feature author Janet Rebhan, Brenda Garth of Semper Fi Sisters, and Shelly Sellers and Danny Dubose of Visalus, April 1st

Janet Rebhan was born and raised in a west Texas oil and military town, where she also volunteered one summer at the local Veterans Administration hospital. When she was sixteen, her family moved to Los Angeles, where she studied creative writing at UCLA and Moorpark College. She currently resides in Agoura Hills, California. Finding Tranquility Base is her first novel. You can learn more about Janet Rebhan at http://www.janetrebhan.com

BrendaGarth is President and Co-Founder of Semper Fi Sisters, a non-profit organization serving women who stand beside and behind our men and women in the uniforms that serve our nation. Brenda is also President of Forgotten Coast Warrior Weekend, a non-profit honoring combat injured war heroes annually in Gulf County. Both are 100% volunteer based organizations.

An always faithful sisterhood, open to women who have a family member who has served or is serving in ALL BRANCHES of the U. S. Armed Forces. We offer support to each other and military family members as well as to individuals that are active duty or having served or are now a veteran. Our goal is to promote and provide moral support, assistance and empowerment by promoting communication, exchange of information and resources to help one another and individual military members and veterans.

Annually each October we host a Semper Fi Sisters Beach Blast in Gulf Country, FL for our female members. We offer seminars that are educational in nature and support materials. Registration & donations are made by attendees and we receive public donations for shipping the “boxes of love from the home front” care/comfort packages plus purchasing items not received as a contribution to this program. In 2009 our first year, we shipped 36 boxes, in 2010 we packed over 300 boxes & 2011 over 700 and expect to exceed over 1000 boxes this year (Oct 17-21, 2012).

For more information visit http://www.semperfisisters.com

Shelly Sellers and Danny Dubose represent Body by Vi current 90 days Challenge. This program promotes:

Life: A community, building quality relationships and creating memorable experiences.
Health: A platform, combining the right products, programs and support for lasting personal transformation.
Prosperity: A path, delivering freedom and financial independence through the value we bring to others, while doing our part to give back.
Robin Body and Sandra Beck have not been paid to promote this program, nor have they received any incentives for this segment. Military Mom Talk Radio brings this program to the public for informational purposes only.

Military Mom Talk Radio is co-hosted by Sandra Beck and Robin Boyd, hosted by Toginet Radio and powered by Motherhood Incorporated. Military Mom Talk Radio supports and helps bring information to the families, moms and wives of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard and is dedicated to serving our friends and family in the Armed Service. We are proud supporters and members of the Military Writers Society of America as well as proud supporters of Operation Gratitude, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), Shining Service Worldwide, Fisher House and the Girl Scouts of the USA and Boy Scouts of America.

Military Mom Talk Radio with Sandra Beck and Robin Boyd feature author Mike Guardia – Shadow Commander, Barbara Allen – Front Toward Enemy, and fitness coach Autumn Arnold, March 25th

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In a career which spanned over thirty years, Donald D. Blackburn was a true hero of the Army Special Forces. Shadow Commander is his story. Amidst the chaos of the American defeat on Bataan in April 1942, Army Captain Donald D. Blackburn escaped to the jungles of North Luzon, raising a remarkably effective guerrilla regiment known as “Blackburn’s Headhunters.” Blackburn’s World War II exploits were but the first in a storied life that took him to the highest echelons of the U.S. military. Shadow Commander follows Blackburn from World War II to his days as a one of the pivotal figures in the development of America’s Special Forces.

Following World War II, Blackburn played a key role in initiating Special Forces operations in Southeast Asia, taking command of the highly classified Studies and Observations Group (SOG), which targeted Communist incursions along the Ho Chi Minh Trail. In the wake of the CIA’s disastrous Leaping Lena reconnaissance program, Blackburn revitalized Special Operations in Vietnam, and later conducted full-scale operations against the NVA and Viet Cong infiltrating the south via Laos. Following his return to the U.S., Blackburn was appointed “Special Assistant for Counterinsurgency and Special Activities,” where he was the architect of the Son Tay Prison Raid, the largest Special Forces operation of the Vietnam War.

Mike Guardia is an Armor Officer in the United States Army. He holds a BA and MA in American History from the University of Houston. As an author, his interests include the history of guerrilla warfare, armored warfare, and World War II in the Pacific. He is the author of the critically-acclaimed book American Guerrilla: The Forgotten Heroics of Russell W. Volckmann by Casemate Publishers, and the forthcoming US Army and Marine Corps MRAPs, scheduled for release this November from Osprey Publishing. He is currently stationed at Fort Bliss, Texas.

Barbara Allen is the widow of 1LT Louis Allen, who was killed in Iraq in June of 2005. Her award-winning book, “Front Toward Enemy” chronicles the personal and factual accounts of her husband’s murder at the hands of a fellow soldier, and the subsequent acquittal of his killer. How can American soldiers be at risk among their fellow soldiers? How could these murders have been prevented, and how could this government allow a killer to go free?
Front Toward Enemy is the personal and factual account behind the scenes of a case that is to the military judicial system what the O.J. Simpson case is to the civilian judicial system.

Barbara is currently at work on her second book, expected to be published in 2014. In addition to her work as an author and a freelance writer, Barbara is co-founder of Bold Biographies, a business dedicated to writing personal biographies for her clients to pass down in their families.

Barbara received a Masters degree in Criminal Justice from American Military University, and actively reaches out to other families grappling with the military judicial system. She continues to pursue the Purple Heart for her husband, as the government has thus far refused to classify Lou’s death as “Hostile.” She resides in NY with her four boys.

Autumn Arnold is a single mom of two small children, and was looking for some serious help. Plagued with depression, fatigue, heartburn, and high blood pressure, she found a nutrition program that after only two weeks of starting the program, saw a great imporvement in her heartburn and high blood pressure and her energy shot through the roof. But the best part, she says, is that she has lost 33 pounds and gone from a size 20 to a size 14 and still going.

Autumn is helping us find the healthy approach to the new year and how we can set realistic goals for ourselves and our families. She feels empowered to change lives with health and wants you to be empowered, too!!

Military Mom Talk Radio with Sandra Beck and Robin Boyd feature three books, Searching For Lincoln’s Ghost, A Passel of Hate, and Forever Growing – A Journey of Trust on March 18th

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Peppered with Lincoln folklore, Searching for Lincoln’s Ghost offers an authentic look at coming of age during the tumultuous 1960s, exploring such disturbing topics as personal isolation, fear and depression, bullying, social and racial intolerance.

It is 1966, and Castalia Indiana, like most cities of that time, is grappling with social and cultural change. Meanwhile, rumors have long swirled around Castalia’s Lincoln Elementary School. Over its long history, the school has produced two sixth graders who claim to have seen Lincoln’s ghost in the school’s auditorium. When Andi prays on her dead mother’s rosary to be the next sixth grader to encounter Lincoln’s ghost as “living” proof of an afterlife, a complex chain of events is set into motion, including the appearance of a new boy at school who harbors an explosive secret, and mysterious moaning emanating from the dark stage after school. While Andi desperately seeks answers to life’s most difficult questions, an unlikely new friend emerges—a mystical bait shop owner named Ezra who seems to have all the answers she’s searching for.

In spite of substantive themes, Andi’s search for meaning is a captivating journey that will both delight and pierce the heart. It’s a timeless tale about the power of love, empathy, and how the actions of one person can profoundly impact another.

For more information visit www.barbarajdzikowski.com.

Brutal in its depiction of the harrowing nature of war and the price paid by our revolutionary ancestors, A Passel of Hate and its breakneck pacing forge a relentless adventure full of bravery, horrific violence, and first-rate historical-action entertainment.The fact-based novel vividly describes the tribulations and heartbreak of a frontier family with sons fighting on both sides in the struggle for American independence.

Emotions are split and bitter among the Godley brothers as the British led Loyalist army invades western North Carolina in September, 1780. The farms and homes of residents rebelling against the king are plundered and homes burned. Supporters of freedom are murdered or beaten. The area is about evenly divided in allegiances, but most people want no part of either side. This is a vicious civil war of neighbor fighting neighbor, brother fighting brother.

Outraged by the brutality by some Tory partisans, Jacob Godley and his youngest brother joined the Liberty Men while their three brothers and many neighbors take up arms to fight with the Loyalist militia.

Reinforced with frontier militia from ‘over the mountains,’ the Patriots chase the Loyalists eastward, catching them Kings Mountain. The Patriots decisively defeat the Loyalists in a brutal one-hour battle, thereby turning the tide of the war. However, it is a bittersweet victory that results in much anguish for the Godley family.

Gripping, visceral and full of intensity, A Passel of Hate is a recipient of a 2012 Silver Medal from the Military Writers Society of America.

For more information visit www.epleywrites.com

Richelle Rodgers is a respected professional in the museum, insurance and franchising industries. Richelle’s expertise has increased the effectiveness of the following organizations and businesses: Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare, PHICO Medical Malpractice Insurance Company, Pennsylvania National Insurance Company, Boabab Culture Center, Rochester Museum and Science Center. As Collections Manager with the Pennsylvania State Museum she was entrusted with the management of 2 million plus artifacts in Harrisburg, and in 17 historical sites throughout Pennsylvania.

Richelle Rodgers book, Forever Growing—a Journey of Trust is an inspiring testimony to how a relationship with the Lord will guide you through overwhelming events into a life of achievement and fulfillment.

Richelle’s story is a living testimony of how her faith has guided her to emerge victorious and will give a voice to those who are overwhelmed by despair and anger. Her inspirational writing and speaking will encourage those: changing their business or career; reinventing themselves, forced to start over or dealing with illness, domestic violence or hard times. Hope springs eternal in both Richelle’s writing and speaking and she isn’t just talk the talk but has walked the walk. For anyone who is experiencing upheaval or uncertainty, Richelle’s Forever Growing– a Journey of Trust will inspire you to know that you can: “Let Go and Let God!

Richelle is a U.S. Army veteran whose professional accomplishments have benefitted numerous community organizations and are testimony to her skills and talents. The outward accomplishments are only part of the story. Richelle’s relationship with the Lord and commitment to service to him is the foundation of her life story. Surviving a childhood where a terrible act of violence penetrated family life, where poverty and racism could have drowned her, Richelle grew in strength and overcame all obstacles to emerge victorious and a dedicated servant to the Lord.

For more information visit www.richellerodgers.com

Military Mom Talk Radio welcomes Jody Bremer, author Michael Moffett, and Carolyn Howard-Johnson – March 11th

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Dr. Jody Bremer, family therapist, visits again to continue her discussion about being comfortable seeking out a therapist, the benefits of visiting a therapist, and why it may be the best choice for you!

Today we will address managing relationships and how to keep those bonds strong during stress, separation, or even after reintegration.

Jody appreciates all she has in life: “I have experienced a vast array of life’s challenges, including a life-threatening childhood illness, a stint as a Marine Corps wife, mother to two fabulous children who, thankfully, are well into and almost past their teen years, and completing my Master’s Degree a full 20 years after graduating from high school.

For more about Dr. Bremer, visit www.jodybremer.com

A native Granite Stater, Michael Moffett has taught history and management courses on the high school, community college, and university levels. Moffett also served on active duty with the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment from 1983-85. He returned to active duty in 1990 as commanding officer for the Marine Reserve Detachment out of Topsham, Maine, later designated as A-Company of the 1st Battalion, 25th Marines. Captain Moffett led these Marines to the Persian Gulf where they were attached to the 1st Marine Division for Operation Desert Storm and the liberation of Kuwait. Lt Col Moffett again returned to active duty after the 9/11 attacks, serving on General Tommy Franks’ Operations Staff at Central Command.

Lt Col Moffett later served as Director of the Marine Corps Enlisted Commissioning Education Program’s (MECEP) Prep School from 2003-2008. He joined Marine Corps University’s History Division in 2008, where he co-authored a monograph on the history of the Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center with Major General Orlo Steele (USMC, retired). In January 2010, LtCol Moffett received one-year orders to serve as a field historian in Afghanistan. After retiring from the Marine Corps Reserve in 2011, Professor Moffett returned to Concord, N.H., where he teaches at the New Hampshire Technical Institute (NHTI-Concord) and writes a column for the Weirs Times (www.weirs.com).

In 2012 Warriors Publishing Group published the critically-acclaimed “FAHIM SPEAKS: A Warrior-Actor’s Odyssey from Afghanistan to Hollywood and Back,” co-authored by Professor Moffett and Fahim Fazli, an interpreter Moffett met in Afghanistan. The book received the Gold Medal for “Best Military Biography” from the Military Writers Society of America (MWSA) on Sept. 29, 2012.

Born and raised in Kabul, Afghanistan, Fahim Fazli enjoyed a relatively privileged childhood until the Russians invaded his country. As a young adult he supported the resistance and when he and his family got the opportunity they fled first to Pakistan and then eventually to the United States (in 1985). Forced to support his family, Fahim was not able to pursue his passion of acting right away. Eventually, though, he found work as a Hollywood extra in 1987. Sixteen years later he finally earned a Screen Actors Guild (SAG) card which positioned him for speaking roles. Since 2003 Fahim has appeared in numerous movie and television productions, and has also served as a cultural/technical advisor for several movie productions. Most recently, he played an Iranian militant in Ben Affleck’s film “Argo,” which was released on Oct. 12. Fahim currently lives in Orange County, California, and continues his work in television and movies. His memoir, Fahim Speaks, was released in March of 2012.

Carolyn Howard-Johnson’s first novel, This Is the Place, won eight awards. Her second book, Harkening: A Collection of Stories Remembered, creative nonfiction, won three. An instructor for UCLA Extension’s world-renown Writers’ Program, her book The Frugal Book Promoter: How to Do What Your Publisher Won’t is recommended reading for her classes, was named USA Book News’ Best Professional Book, and was given the Irwin Award. Her second book in the How To Do It Frugally series for writers is The Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward to Avoid Humiliation and Ensure Success. It won USA Book News and Reader Views Literary Awards and the campaign for it won New Generations Marketing Award. Her chapbook of poetry Tracings, was named to the Compulsive Reader’s Ten Best Reads list and was given the Military Writers’ Society of America’s Silver Award of Excellence. She is also the author of a series of chapbooks in the Celebration Series. They were coauthored with Magdalena Ball and include Cherished Pulse, Imagining the Future and She Wore Emerald Then: Reflections on Motherhood. She is the recipient of the California Legislature’s Woman of the Year in Arts and Entertainment Award; her community’s Character and Ethics Committee awarded her work promoting tolerance with her writing. She was also named to Pasadena Weekly’s list of 14 “San Gabriel Valley women who make life happen.” She blogs at Writer’s Digest 101 Best Website pick, www.sharingwithwriters.blogspot.com.

Military Mom Talk Radio with Sandra Beck and Robin Boyd feature Dr. Suzanne Phillips and veteran correspondent, Stephen Boyd, March 4th

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Suzanne B. Phillips, ABPP, CGP, FAGPA is a licensed Psychologist, Psychoanalyst, Diplomat in Group Psychology, Certified Group Therapist and Fellow in the American Group Psychotherapy Association. She is Adjunct Full Professor of Clinical Psychology at the CW Post Campus of Long Island University, N.Y. since 1991 and Postdoctoral Faculty of the Derner Institute of Adelphi University. She on the Board of Directors and is Co-Chair of Outreach for the American Group Psychotherapy Association. She has worked, published and presented nationally and internationally on trauma, couple s, uniformed services, bereavement, relationship addiction, etc.

This week we’ll take a look at Just How Much We Worry – Strategies for Winding it Down. We all worry, we all have stress. Suzanne helps us face it, identify it, and keep from being overwhelmed by it.

Suzanne is author of three books and over twenty articles. Most recently she co-authored, Healing Together: A Couple’s Guide to Coping with Trauma and Post-Traumatic Stress. She has appeared on national TV as well as Radio. She blogs weekly on Psych Central (Healing Together for Couples) and Healthywomen.com. Her blogs have also appeared on Huffington Press and PBS This Emotional Life. In 2012 She was chosen as Psychologist of the Year for the Suffolk County Psychological Association. She has a private practice in Northport, N.Y. where she lives with her husband. She has two grown sons.

Stephen Boyd served on active duty in the US Army from 1967 to 1970. He served in Korea in 1968 and Viet Nam from 1969 to 1970. He has numerous awards and decorations for his military service.

Steve received his Associates degree in Biology , recently returned to receive his Bachelor of Science degree in 2007 and currently is finalizing his PMP certification. You’re never too old for education, he says.

His new experience dealing with the VA came about because of a layoff in 2010. Being without medical coverage, Steve’s wife prompted him into investigating the benefits the VA could offer. What a pleasant surprise he had in discovering a wealth of support at the Manchester, NH VA facility.

He will be featured on Military Mom Talk Radio periodically to discuss veteran resources and VA benefits.