Get Published Now!

Coronado Adult EducationSpring 2017

First – and Essential - StepsJanuary 24, 2017

Recap of What We Covered Last Week

Why Write?

• History is what writers say it is• Picking your medium• A building block approach• Due diligence the easy way

Let’s Complete Week One

Frank’s Comment on Fake News• “How to Make a Masterpiece in Fake News”• Scott Shane – New York Times, January 19, 2017• https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/18/us/fake-

news-hillary-clinton-cameron-harris.html?_r=0

Judith’s Question on Point of View"The main choice of course is between the third and first person, between a disembodied voice and 'I' (in nonfiction synonymous with the author). For some, the choice is made before sitting down to write. Some writers feel obliged to use the third person, by tradition the voice of objectivity, the disinterested mode of address appropriate for the newspaper or for history. Other writers, by contrast, seem to adopt the first person as a reflex, even if they are not writing autobiographically. But choosing a point of view really is a choice, fundamental to the construction of nonfiction narratives and carrying serious consequences. No moral superiority inheres in the first or third person, in their many varieties, but the wrong choice can deaden a story or distort it enough to turn it into a lie, sometimes a lie composed of facts."

Tracy Kidder and Richard Todd, Good Prose: The Art of Nonfiction

This Week:First - and Essential - Steps

“Writing takes deliberation and thought, craft and commitment. If you’re serious about writing, burn the journal and get to work.”

Robert MaselloRobert’s Rules of Writing

First - and Essential - Steps

• Creating content and placing it to win:– Content-hungry media– Repurposing and building content– Building relationships with editors – a win-win for both

parties– Solo or with a wingman? The pros and cons of

collaboration• Ensuring what you produce is embraced & accepted:– Avoiding the slush pile – tilting the board in your favor– Getting paid and getting invitations to reduce speculation

A Strategic Pause…

Why Not Just Swing for the Fences First?

• There are cases of self-published books taking off• But those compete against major publishing houses:– Thorough review of treatment and narrative outline– Editorial comments/vectors on in-progress manuscript– Detailed editorial review of completed manuscript– Additional editorial review of updated manuscript– Copy-editor’s review and comments on manuscript– In house editor’s final review and layout of book– Publisher’s distribution network and placement

So while we’re still thinking about swinging for the fences…

…why not test the waters by writing content and seeing it in print

Creating Content and Placing It To Win

• Publications can’t exist without content!• Editors embrace anyone who can:– Create interesting content that meets their needs– Deliver quality content they don’t have to fiddle with– Deliver on time – or early– Accept editorial changes with ease

“The pace of my stories sometimes suffers while I take the reader by the throat and stuff him with great gobbets of what I consider should interest him, at the same time shaking him furiously and shouting, ‘Like this, damn you!’”

Ian Fleming 1962

So What Should You Write About?

• Whatever you are passionate about• “You’re in a bar with your friends”• What my first agent always asked:– What are you really passionate about?– What do I wish I had more time for?– How would I spend year as a “professional dilettante?”– What do I think about when I’m alone?– What do I worry about and what issues concern me most?– What have I done that people seem curious about?– Is there a topic where friends turn to me for advice?

“Writing has to have a purpose; it’s meant to communicate something to someone. If you’re not ready to write for the general public, then try writing for a very specific audience, one you know will be happy to hear from you.”

Robert Masello Robert’s Rules of Writing

How Do You Get Started?

• Write for magazines and journals you read• Write for the ones first that don’t pay for content• Move on to magazines and journals you subscribe to

– If you subscribe to the magazine you’re paying yourself– There is a reason they call it an “honorarium”

• Follow their editorial guidelines– These are typically not a mystery (USNIP example)– Your article should follow accordingly

• Type of content• Length• Citations – yes or no• Grade level

• The old adage: “Something familiar but something new”

How Do You Submit?

• Read the front matter of the magazine or journal• If necessary, cold call to get an e-mail address• Write a compelling, detailed draft e-mail• Put it aside:– Go back and edit it – share it with a friend– Then make it as short and punchy as possible

• Lots of work, yes, but this is your audition

An Example (I)

Dear Mr. JohnsonI have been an avid reader of Sail for many years and receiving my monthly

magazine in the mail each month helps remind me why I love sailing so much.Over the course of the many years I’ve enjoyed Sail, I’ve noticed you

periodically feature articles about cruising the Caribbean. These articles have all been terrific and they speak to me. Here’s why.

For over twenty years I was skipper of a Pearson ’32 based in St. Thomas, USVI taking visitors on cruises throughout both the U.S. and British Virgin Islands.

I don’t mind telling you it was a lucrative business and one that I was passionate about. Cruising News did an article focused on my business in 2010. One way I expressed this passion was my service as editor of our Virgin Island Sailing monthly newsletter.

An Example (II)

I have read several articles in Sail that talk about cruising in the USVI in a general way, but none that get deep into specifics. I lived this adventure for over two decades and believe there is so much more to tell.

One of the things that kept customers coming back to my business was the “secret coves” in the U.S. and British Virgin Islands. Most of these coves could only be reached by small boat.

I believe an article, “The Ten Secret Coves of the Virgin Islands” would be of interest to your informed readership. I can have a 1,500-word article to you on this subject in short order. Additionally, I have attached a JPG file of a photo of one of my favorite coves, “Crescent Cove,” on the southern shore of St. John. Should you decide to publish this article, I have a large collection of illustrations of various Virgin Island coves I’m happy to share.

I look forward to hearing from you and look forward to continuing the dialogue.

Yours in sailing,

“Deconstructing” An Example (I)

Dear Mr. JohnsonI have been an avid reader of Sail for many years and receiving my monthly

magazine in the mail each month helps remind me why I love sailing so much.Over the course of years I’ve enjoyed Sail, I’ve noticed you periodically

feature articles about cruising the Caribbean. These articles have all been terrific and they speak to me. Here’s why.

For over twenty years I was skipper of a Pearson ’32 based in St. Thomas, USVI taking visitors on cruises throughout both the U.S. and British Virgin Islands.

I don’t mind telling you it was a lucrative business and one that I was passionate about. Cruising News did an article focused on my business in 2010. One way I expressed this passion was my service as editor of our Virgin Island Sailing monthly newsletter.

“Deconstructing” An Example (II)

I have read several articles in Sail that talk about cruising in the USVI in a general way, but none that get deep into specifics. I lived this adventure for over two decades and believe there is so much more to tell.

One of the things that kept customers coming back to my business was the “secret coves” in the U.S. and British Virgin Islands. Most of these coves could only be reached by small boat.

I believe an article, “The Ten Secret Coves of the Virgin Islands” would be of interest to your informed readership. I can have a 1,500-word article to you on this subject in short order. Additionally, I have attached a JPG file of a photo of one of my favorite coves, “Crescent Cove,” on the southern shore of St. John. Should you decide to publish this article I have a large collection of illustrations of various Virgin Island coves I’m happy to share.

I look forward to hearing from you and look forward to continuing the dialogue.

Yours in sailing,

Deconstructing Our Homework Examples

• We have pairings of writers and editors• Editors: Read the letter and offer your thoughts:– Did the letter grab your attention?– Did the subject matter hold your interest?– What “trepidation” do you have if you ask for the article?– What do you wish the writer had told you?

Writers (left) and Editors (right)

• Beate• Frank• Judith• Kelly• Nika

• Les• Cinders• Emily• John• Beate

Reader’s DigestDear EditorI am drafting a short story about my parents’ quest to leave Germany after World War II and traveling to America to start a new life. Their opportunity was found from a note in the pocket of a coat inside an American Red Cross package. My father was searching for a better way of life and this note was his chance. My story will describe the obstacles they overcame and if they found a better life or not.This is a story many of your readers will relate to and find fascinating. Once my story is completed, I ask your consideration to publish it in the Reader’s Digest. You have the customer base for just such a story. I will submit a finished copy to you this June. Thank you!Sincerely,Beate M. Boyd

To fiction@newyorker.com

Global Warming is threatening mankind as we know it. The current administration is bent on eliminating 20 years of progress in favor of the coal, oil, and gas industry. The proposed story will be a parody on that. Trump is the troll who protects the poachers (oil and gas companies) against magical creatures who are born in the northern lights (people with the foresight to believe action is necessary). The hero is the High Tundra Drifter - real nickname of current chair of biological sciences at Florida International University. The drifter is also a well-respected global warming researcher. Note that FIU hosted the Miss Universe contest in 2015 – Trump exploited the university to the detriment of women.The troll tries to foil every move by the Drifter to protect the magical creatures making them easy prey for the poachers. The Drifter’s prime directive is to maintain the transcendental ectoplasmic torsion index to nominal limits. We all know that ectoplasm is that substance that allows ghosts and magical creatures to interact with the real world – once a respected field of science.

If the TETI index is too low, the magical creatures fall to their doom before they are ready to be born – too high and they are trapped to eternity. A brave baby unicorn miraculously comes to the aide the Drifter when hope seemed all but lost. This last vestige of hope unites the creatures and the Drifter in a battle, if lost, will send mankind back to the stone ages. An epic battle for the destiny of the world between the troll and the Drifter – want more? Cheers,Frank Hafner608 H Ave, Coronado CA 92118 619-548-5257 fscotthafner@gmail.com

Mr. Mark KaufmanEditor in chief Locale Lifestyle Magazine3420 Bristol St. # 517Costa Mesa Ca. 92626A creative idea has bloomed and now is harvested in Costa MesaWhat it used to be storage unit on a back alley is now The Costa Mesa Conceptual Art Center, with already a waiting list of artists wanting to show their art in this space. The third exhibit since the opening ( December 19 2016 ) which it would open on March 20th 2017, titled Juju Holograms ,promises to be Bombastic , Conceptual as well as Interpretative.Alex Knox ,world known professional surfer and an artist on his own right and Daniella Murphy with a Master Degree in Museum Studies and Art History, are the founders of the Center and they have a tremendous transgenerational draw.Alex and Daniella would be available to discuss the exhibit and their role in creating and facilitating the venue for artist of all media.I will be in touch to possibly schedule an interview , look forward to speaking with you.Best regardsJudith Fernandez-Ziegel

January 23, 2017Editor Setje Brinkmann ZareAmerican Bungalow MagazineDelivered via e-mail toeditors@ambungalow.com Dear Ms. Zare,In 1987 Kelly and Jim Purvis bought their first and only home, a three-bedroom, 1910 bungalow in the heart of Coronado, California. Perhaps coincidentally, that same year, John Brinkmann Design Offices, Inc. moved into Twycross House in Sierra Madre, California. The charm and history of their new dwellings, timed with a renewed interest in the history of the bungalow movement in America sparked something in them both. For Brinkmann, it led him to launch American Bungalow magazine in September 1990 and for the Purvis’ it launched a 30-year love-affair with a house that would become a cherished home.Their first subscription of American Bungalow was a gift from friend who owned a small Coronado bungalow and was active in historic preservation issues in their community. American Bungalow quickly became their textbook on the American bungalow, preservation and a valued resource for their restoration and remodeling projects. All 91 issues are safely tucked into the Stickley leaded-glass cabinet in their bedroom, including six issues they had to repurchase on EBay for a small fortune after their daughters decided to use them for a collage project.

I’m proposing a year-long series (four stories), on the Purvis Family Bungalow and their unique experiences over the last 30 years while living in and loving a bungalow. I have outlined the stories to be written chronologically starting with the purchase and early years in the home. The second and third installments would share their extensive remodel project accomplished in 2002-2003. The final installment would share the last ten years in the home, including the owner co-sponsoring a local ballot initiative to save historic homes in the community and being named the 2007 San Diego County Save Our Heritage Organization (SOHO) Preservationist of the Year. The house made her do it! Most importantly, from the beginning the family has enjoyed their bungalow lifestyle, raising three children and three pugs, and hosting family and friends while marking major milestones in life. It also will reveal the owner’s plans for the future. This includes the filing of the paperwork to historically designate the home and apply for the Mills Act to insure that the home will be preserved. (As a side note Senator Jim Mills is a resident of Coronado.) The preparation to downsize and sell the property to someone who will care for this special home and their next steps to begin anew with the building of a custom smaller bungalow with a view and some property to embark on the next chapter of life.This is a story I have always wanted to write but wasn’t quite ready – I was waiting to see how it would end. I have had only one story published in the local weekly newspaper’s Coronado Eagle Journal 125th Anniversary Commemorative Magazine. However, I have read every story in American Bungalow and am finally ready to write my own. I’ll share with you that this letter was originally a homework assignment to write a story pitch letter to an editor for a Coronado Adult Education course but the assignment was illuminating. I truly believe your readers would be inspired by this story and I would be honored to share it. There are great photo opportunities here, both of the home and the family, as we documented the remodel process thoroughly and I have historic records and photographs for the historic designation process. Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing from you. I hope to share my family’s story with readers who value the bungalow lifestyle and seek to learn more about this uniquely American phenomenon.Sincerely,Kelly Purvis

Dear Editor:

I hope that the New Year is going well for you so far. I am writing you because I have an idea for an article that would inspire the readers of the Catholic magazine.My article is about my husband's grandma, Oma, who as a Dutch young girl living in Indonesia was put in a Japanese concentration camp during WW2. She was in the camp with her mother. Her father was separated from them and placed in another camp. Her story would inspire the readers of the Catholic magazine because Oma's father was an educated minister who never got to preach. However, during their time in the camp, he was called by God 7 times to preach to the camp people to not lose hope. Although Oma was living in terrible conditions and starving with her mother in another camp, they felt protected from the worst camp punishments since her dad had been called by God. This article is a true story and truly describes having faith in God during the hardest times.At your convenience, please let me know if you would be interested in my article. I thank you for your time and consideration.Thank you,Nika Schiazza904-472-4055

Building Relationships With Editors

• A win-win for both parties• Enables you to tilt the board in your favor!• Deconstruct each publication – there are differences• This allows you to adapt your narrative to their needs• Once you have built that relationship:– They could well contact you for a topical publication– You can query them before you write in earnest

Repurposing and Building Content

• So now you’re placed your first article in a journal• Do you get a rush?• Repurpose and build upon it for other publications• Here are some examples:– My realtor friend– A helo ride– Law of the Sea– And there are many more….

A Helo Ride

• “LAMPS Mk III: Carrier Battle Group Synergist?” U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings, August 1986.

• “Turning on LAMPS Mk III,” U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings, October 1986.

• “LAMPS Mk III and Carrier Battle Groups,” Technical Directions, Winter 1986.

• “The SH-60F: New Capabilities for the Fleet,” U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings, February 87.

• “The SH-60F Helicopter,” Rotor Review, May 1987.• “LAMPS Mk III – A View From the Fleet,” Rotor Review, February 1988.• “How to Procure a Winner,” U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings, January

1989.• “Helo Air-to-Surface Missiles,” Rotor Review, Summer 1989.

A Helo Ride

• “Anti-ship Missiles for U.S. Navy Helicopters,” U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings, April 1990.

• “LAMPS Mk III…Battle Group Asset,” Wings of Gold, September 1990.• “Reorganizing our Helo Squadrons,” U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings,

April 1991.• “Strike Force Air Power for the Twenty-First Century,” Rotor Review,

Fall 1981.• “LAMPS Mk III Update,” Rotor Review, Winter 1991.• “LAMPS Mk III and Air Sea Battle Concepts,” Shipmate, May 1992.• “High Tech Trainers for LAMPS Mk III,” Wings of Gold, Winter 1992.• ….

The Law of the Sea

• “U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea: Time for a U.S. Re-evaluation?” Naval Law Review, May 1992 (with James Stavridis).

• “Revisit the Law of the Sea,” Law of the Sea Leider, January 1993.• “Who Needs the Law of the Sea,” U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings,

July 1993.• “Time to Revisit the Law of the Sea,” Ocean Development and

International Law, Fall 1993 (with James Stavridis).• “The United States and the Law of the Sea: Time for a Decision,”

Law of the Sea Leider, December 1993.• U.S. Will Benefit by Signing the Law of the Sea Treaty,” San Diego

Union-Tribune, April 1994.

The Law of the Sea

• “U.S. Accession to the Law of the Sea Convention: The Issue of the Freedom of Navigation Program," Law of the Sea Leider, June 1994.

• “The United States and the Law of the Sea: A Narrow Window of Opportunity,” Naval Institute Proceedings, July 1994.

• The United States and the Law of the Sea: A Decision is Coming Due,” Naval War College Review, Autumn 1994.

• “Time for the U.S. to Hoist Sails, Adopt Law of the Sea Treaty,” San Diego Union-Tribune, December 1994.

• “The United States and the Law of the Sea: A Window of Opportunity for Maritime Leadership,” Ocean Development and International Law, January 1995.

• “The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea: A National Security Perspective,” American Journal of International Law, January 1995.

The Law of the Sea

• “The U.S. and the Law of the Sea – Time for an Immediate Decision,” Ocean and Coastal Management, February 1995.

• “Battle Lines are Drawn for the Law of the Sea Debate,” Law of the Sea Leider, February 1995.

• “The U.S. Freedom of Navigation Program: Preserving the Law of the Sea,” Ocean and Coastal Management, June 1995.

• “Progress Toward Senate Consideration of the 1982 United Nations Law of the Sea Convention,” Law of the Sea Professional Newsletter, October 1995.

• “A Chance to Codify the Law of the Sea,” San Diego Union-Tribune, November 1995.

• “The U.S. and the Law of the Sea: A Strategic Window of Opportunity,” Strategic Review, Fall 1995.

The Law of the Sea

• “Time to Ratify the Law of the Sea Treaty,” Christian Science Monitor, April 1996.

• “Law of the Sea is Vital to Our Interests,” Wall Street Journal, May 1996.• “The United States Freedom of Navigation Program: A Bridge to

Compliance with UNCLOS III,” Ocean Development and International Law, Fall 1996.

• “Law of the Sea at the Crossroads,” Law of the Sea Professional Newsletter, Fall 1996.

• ….• “China and the South China Sea: It’s Time to Stop China’s Creeping

Jurisdiction,” U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings, April 2011 (with Caitlyn Antrim).

Where Else Might These Articles Lead?

• Recognition as an expert in a field• Invitations to present at conferences & symposia• Invitations to teach• Invitations to collaborate• A portion of a book on the subject• Your own book on the subject (My example 67 = 1)

All of this contributes to building your brand

Solo or with a Wingman? The Pros and Cons of Collaboration

• Does someone share your passion?• Does working solo work best for you?• Does working with a partner work best…or not?• Start solo – and partner up later is one approach

OK, so now you have a plan to produce riveting copy for the

journal of your choice…

…are they going to like it?

Ensuring What You Produce Is Embraced & Accepted

Ensuring What You Produce Is Embraced & Accepted

• Editors don’t have time to block and tackle• You don’t have to be Tolstoy – but can’t turn in junk• Have some friends in your corner:– Exploit Microsoft Word!– Give yourself time to review– We all learned tricks of the trade in school….– Build your own reference library….

“Give them something old and familiar as well as new and exciting.”

Jeff Edwards

Build Your Own Reference Library

• Pocket dictionary• Pocket thesaurus• William Strunk: The Elements of Style• Jacques Barzun: Simple and Direct• The Great Courses: The Art of Reading• The Great Courses: Building Great Sentences

Valuable Local Resources

• Coronado Cultural Arts Commission• Coronado Public Library• San Diego Writer’s Ink• San Diego Public Library

And finally….

“All good writing is swimming under water and holding your breath.”

F. Scott Fitzgerald

Slides Posted:http://www.georgegaldorisi.com/

Next Week

Non-Fiction - The Hungry Market

• Being - or becoming - the expert?• Pursuing a subject - or letting life happen?• Scratching itches - or entertaining?• How much to tell and what’s next?

Optional Homework Assignmentfor Next Week

• We’re mindful the non-fiction book market is vastly easier to enter than the fiction market

• Let’s assume there is an area you are passionate about and have some street creds

• Assume someone you’ve met while engaging in this passion is going to compile a book on the subject

• Write a short e-mail to him or her and explain why the book would rock if you wrote one chapter

• Send it to me no later than Sunday, and I’ll roll it into Tuesday’s power point slides

Looking Ahead

Class on February 21 – Change to:- First choice: Feb 20- Second choice: Feb 23

“You write your first draft with your heart and you re-write with your head. The first key to writing is to write, not to think.”

Sean Connery

Backups

Dear Coronado Eagle and Journal Editor,

As you know California is undergoing a drought and people are doing their best to save water - and I’m sure many are interested in learning how to save more. As a Landscape Designer I’d like to propose I write an article for your paper, which could be extended in to a series, where I would interview Coronado residents who have implemented drought saving measures at their homes and share their successes.

If this were to be an ongoing series I can imagine covering everything from front yards and median strips to rain barrels and plant selection. I could submit photographs to go along with the articles. Please let me know if you are interested and I would be happy to submit a piece for your review. Thank you, Jackie Handly

Dear Editor at ECoronado.com, In the recent years, Coronado has established itself as a center for culture and the arts. From its inaugural Coronado Film Festival, to the Wizard of Oz Festival, the Writer's Workshop, Art Walk, and a host of other annual events that celebrate art in all its forms. Local residents and tourists are thrilled with the latest additions to the island's cultural repertoire. I have a proposal for you to consider, that will promote both Coronado's literary art, and perhaps increase readership of your ECoronado website. I have written a historical fiction novel called The Crown City by the Sea about the founding of Coronado in 1886. What I would like to offer you is the book, in its entirety, for your readers to enjoy. Perhaps you can place each new chapter in a weekly installment as a downloadable link on your website.

The ability to share the unique history of Coronado, while promoting the arts would be very gratifying for me as a resident. Attached is the first chapter for your review. If you'd like to read the entire novel, I'd be happy to provide it for you at your request. Kind regards,Jennifer M. FranksCoronado Resident

Kate Carinder(319) 330-3996katecarinder@yahoo.comJanuary 21, 2016 Dear Rotarian Magazine,

As a member of San Diego’s Rotary Club 33, I am fully aware of the wonderful things Rotarians do. Before moving to San Diego I was a member of the Maquoketa, IA Rotary Club and that’s why I’m getting in touch with you today.

I’d welcome the opportunity to submit an article for publication in the Rotarian. The article is about a fellow Rotarian, Asher Schroeder, from the Maquoketa club who is a former WWII POW. In 2005 he provided seed money to help start a community foundation in Molln, Germany. I’ve written articles about Asher before. I wrote a piece for regional publication in 2001, a photo copy is attached.

In 1996 my family hosted Rotary youth exchange student, Marcel DuMoulin from Molln, Germany. Asher (whom never shared with us that he was a WWII veteran or POW) actively took Marcel to Rotary events, civic events and even to a TV station on Christmas Eve so Marcel (who is a gifted singer) could sing Silent Night in German on an evening news cast. We didn't learn of his POW story until 1998 when Asher enrolled in an internet technology course that I was teaching.

When Asher Schroeder was captured and imprisoned in a German prison camp during WWII, helping to start a community foundation in Germany was probably the furthest thing on his mind.

“The feeling that one is facing impending death alternates between terror that literally makes the hair stand up on the back of one’s neck, to resignation – “thy will be done,” Asher said.

As a 17 year-old Army private serving in 1944 as a replacement in the 4th Infantry division, Asher endured months of starvation, cruelty, terrible cold and tremendous human loss. And, loss in his own family back home in Iowa. Asher was liberated on April 4, 1945. By this time his 6'4" frame had lost 74 pounds. The very same day back in Iowa, his 43 year old father, (an attorney and mayor of Maquoketa) died of cancer. What was the happiest day of Asher’s life turned out to be bittersweet. Asher came home, went to college on the GI bill and served as an attorney in Iowa until his retirement. We’ve all kept in touch with our exchange student and in 2005 while Marcel was visiting the United States he was talking about starting a community foundation. Asher was the first to step up and offer to make a contribution. The foundation came to fruition in 2013.Please let me know if you’re interested in an article and if so, the length that you prefer. I have a photo of Asher presenting money to Marcel. I also have photos of Asher during WWII, Red Cross letters, his MIA letter to his parents, Western Union telegrams and other items that could be used for visuals. Asher is going strong at 90 and is still an active Rotarian. My contact information is at the top.

Dear Editor: The New Yorker Magazine provides a vital forum for readers on a variety of domestic and global matters that influence our lives. One such topic is the increasing role that women play as members of the uniformed services. My article, “The Plight of Uniformed Muslim Women,” explores how centuries-long prejudices against Muslim women are gradually fading in Middle Eastern countries. I feature three separate case studies in my piece: a female F-16 fighter pilot in the United Arab Emirates (UAE); Peshmerga women defending Kurdish tribes in Northern Iraq; and finally, the first group of females to graduate from the Iraqi Police Academy. In an effort to present a sense of balance, I also examine the place of Muslim women currently serving in the U.S. military.

My article should appeal not only to readers that follow military affairs, but also to those who wish to learn more about the modern day challenges faced by Muslim women. “The Plight of Uniformed Muslim Women ” is approximately five thousand words in length. I have also composed an abridged version of roughly one-half the word count. Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to contributing to your fine periodical. Sincerely, Larry CarelloEmail: larrycarello@gmail.comPhone: (734) 678-8182 www.larrycarello.com