Thursday, September 26

9:00 AM

3:00 PM

Write Your Story Workshop: Location - Admiral Kidd Catering and Conference Center, Bldg. A-3, Nimitz Room, on Naval Base Point Loma, Harbor Drive Annex.

4:30 PM

 5:30 PM

Board Members Meeting: Board members attending the conference. The Board will discuss membership, organization, finances, old business, and new business. Only MWSA board members are required to attend, but the meeting is open to interested members.

5:30 PM

 6:00 PM

Conference Registration: Location - Foyer outside Loma Vista Terrace.

6:00 PM

 8:00 PM

Kick-Off Reception Buffet: (Cash Bar) Location - In the Loma Vista Terrace.

8:00 PM

      ?

Free Time to Explore San Diego

Friday, September 27

8:00 AM

  9:00 AM

Registration: Location - Foyer outside Harborside Room.

9:00 AM

  9:15 AM

Welcome: President Valerie Ormond welcomes attendees and introduces current and incoming board members. Past President and MWSA Conference Chair Bob Doerr will make administrative remarks regarding the conference and location.

9:20 AM

10:00 AM

Helping a Veteran's Story Get Published: Presented by Bob Doerr (MWSA Past President and MWSA 2013 Author of the Year).
Veterans and their families have frequently reached out for help to get their stories told. Before becoming the Past President of MWSA, Bob spent seven years as Vice President and then President. During that time, he saw a number of requests from veterans or their families asking MWSA for such help. Members of MWSA have traditionally helped out where they could. From June 2022 to December 2023, Bob helped out one such family to get Jack Van Loan's story told. Jack passed away a few years earlier and had left a rough draft of a manuscript. Hear Bob’s story and discuss ideas, thoughts, and lessons learned.

10:15 AM

11:15 AM

A D-Day Presentation in France: Presented by Jack Woodville London (MWSA 2011 Author of the Year (AOY).

Jack Woodville London will talk about his experience this year as a speaker at the 80th Anniversary of D-Day in Normandy, including how he researched and prepared for his talk at the American military cemetery.

11:30 AM

1:00 PM

Lunch: No-host lunch on your own with lots of places to check out and enjoy a walk. Restaurant recommendations are included in your registration packages.

1:15 PM

2:15 PM

Writing Characters: Moderator: Jack London (MWSA 2011 AOY), with panelists: Joe Badal (MWSA 2020 Mike Mullins Memorial Writer of the Year [MMMWOY]) and Raul Herrera an MWSA Ambassador and Author of 2024 MWSA Award Finalist Capturing Skunk Alpha.      
The art of writing characters into your novel. How can you create interesting characters, and what is their role in fiction and non-fiction?                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

2:30 PM

3:30 PM

Converting Inspiration into a Literary Work: Moderator: Joe Badal (MWSA 2020 MMMWOY) with panelists: Kathy Rodgers (Board Member, & MMMWOY 2019 and 2020 Finalist, and MWSA 2020 Founder’s Award Recipient), and Jim Tritten (MWSA 2023 MMMWOY).
A description of sources of inspiration and why people don’t write, while others do. The goal is to show aspiring writers that there are numerous sources of inspiration and that they don’t have to have a personal experience to write in order to become an author. Panelists will go into detail about what inspired them to write.

3:45 PM

4:45 PM

MWSA Membership Meeting: President Valerie Ormond will discuss the status of the organization and key initiatives and request member feedback. Don’t miss this opportunity to let everyone know who you are and what you do - writing, publishing, editing, or other.

5:00 PM

???? PM

Buckaroo Auction: Moderator: Valerie Ormond (MWSA President). Jaime Navarro (Member and past Auctioneer and Banker), and Bob Doerr will serve as your experienced Auctioneer Team. Back by popular demand, come experience a unique MWSA event where you can get to know some of your colleagues better. Now is your chance to spend those “Buckaroos” you’ve earned and find out how to earn more. Grab a drink and come prepared to have fun. Earned Buckaroos will be included in your registration packets. Please see Bob Doerr for any questions before the event.

Saturday, September 28

7:00 AM

7:45 AM

Registration: Location - Foyer outside the Harborside Room.

8:00 AM

9:00 AM

Keeping a Positive Attitude Dealing with Suggested Revisions: Moderator: Kathy Rodgers (Board Member, MMMWOY 2019 and 2020 Finalist, and MWSA 2020 Founder’s Award) with panelists: Buzz Bernard (MWSA 2023 Founder’s Award Winner, MWSA 2024 Award Finalist Author of Down a Dark Road, and Author of 2022 Gold Medal Award Winner When Heroes Flew: The Shangri-La Raiders and MWSA 2020 Gold Medal Award Winner When Heroes Flew) and Julie Tully (MWSA 2023 Silver Medal Award Winner of Dispatches From The Cowgirl: Through The Looking Glass With A Navy Diplomat's Wife).

What if agents or publishers show serious interest in your manuscript? But before they offer you a contract, they recommend you put it through one more round of revisions? Or your critique group or trusted beta readers say they love your story, but it needs more work? Do you fly off the handle and spout to yourself that it’s YOUR story, and they don’t know what they’re talking about? Or do you settle down, think about their comments and suggestions, and then look for ways to improve your story?

9:15 AM

10:15 AM

Writing & Editing: Moderator: Jim Tritten (Board Member, MWSA 2023 MMMWOY and MWSA 2024 Award Finalist Editor and Contributing Author of Holes in Our Hearts: An Anthology of New Mexican Military Related Stories and Poetry) with panelists: Joe Badal (MWSA 2020 MMMWOY and MWSA 2024 Award Finalist Editor and Contributing Author of Holes in Our Hearts: An Anthology of New Mexican Military Related Stories and Poetry) and Butch Maki (MWSA 2024 Award Finalist Author of Bikini Beach).
Have you ever wondered if you need help in crafting your golden words into an award-winning book? Most of us do, and it is ok to ask for help. Join these experienced authors as they examine the pros and cons of hiring a writing coach, bringing on a professional editor, and getting technical advisors to assist your own transition from a writer to a professional author. Or, as in the case of Holes in Our Hearts, recruiting first-time and disadvantaged veterans and their spouses to write for the first time. The answer may not be as obvious as you think.

10:30 AM

11:30 AM

Outlines: Moderator: Bob Doerr (MWSA Past President, MWSA 2013 AOY) with panelists: Terese Schlachter (MWSA Ambassador and MWSA 2024 Award Finalist Author of Finding Waypoints: A Warrior’s Journey Towards Peace and Purpose) and Lisa Firmin Carrington (MWSA Member and MWSA 2023 Silver Medal Award Winner of Stories From the Front: Pain, Betrayal and Resilience on the MST Battlefield and Latina Warrior).  
Are you a “pantser or a plotter.” Famous authors have gone both ways. Let’s focus on plotters and the use of outlines. What is the purpose of using an outline? What are the types and the software tools you can use? Is AI an option?

12:00 PM

1:00 PM

Buffet Lunch: Harborside Room

1:15 PM

2:15 PM

The Business Side of Being an Author: Moderator: Valerie Ormond (MWSA President, MWSA Founder’s Award Finalist 2012,  MWSA 2019 President’s Award, MMMWOY Award Finalist 2019 and 2020, and three-time MWSA Gold Medal author of her Believing In Horses book series) with panelist James Rosone (MWSA Member since 2018 and MWSA 2024 Award Finalist Co-author of Monroe Doctrine VIII). James Rosone is author of the Monroe Doctrine, Red Storm, and Rise of the Republic series. He is a 28-time Amazon KDP All-Star Author, ranking among the Top 100 Most Read Authors in Thrillers & Science Fiction with more than 350 Million pages read via Amazon's Kindle Unlimited subscriptions).
Many writers write for self-expression, telling stories that need to be told, or sharing their wit with the world. But what about the business side of writing? Panelists will share experiences, ideas, business models, and resources that can help both first time writers and experienced “authorpreneurs” during this discussion.

2:30 PM

3:30 PM

Future Warfare Fiction Panel: Moderator: Galen Peterson (Author and 2022 MWSA Bronze Medal Award Winner of Strike Hard and Expect No Mercy: A Tank Platoon Leader in Iraq, with panelists: Arun Rey and James Rosone (MWSA Member since 2018 and MWSA 2024 Award Finalist Co-author of Monroe Doctrine VIII. James Rosone is author of the Monroe Doctrine, Red Storm, and Rise of the Republic series. He is a 28-time Amazon KDP All-Star Author, ranking among the Top 100 Most Read Authors in Thrillers & Science Fiction with more than 350 Million pages read via Amazon's Kindle Unlimited subscriptions).
A discussion on harnessing realism in the modern (post war on terror) era, creating an understanding of the future of warfare and resources for identifying and understanding the

changes in our military from the eras and experiences many of us have. Fiction offers an excellent tool for teaching lessons for the future when written from a foundation of realism, allowing authors to influence the next generation of voters, leaders, and warriors. Compare and contrast science fiction vs. realist future fiction.

3:45 PM

4:45 PM

Open Mic: Your Host for this event is MWSA Treasurer Hugh Simpson (Author and 2019 MWSA Bronze Medal Award Winner of Borderline Decision). Five members will get a chance to perform for the audience in some manner for five minutes each.

5:30  PM

6:00 PM  

Registration: (Kathy Taylor) Location - Foyer outside Harborside Room.

6:30 PM

9:30 PM

MWSA Banquet and our Awards Ceremony: (Cash Bar)