THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2025 51 WORDS FS Family Members on Writing Four writers who are FS family members talk about their paths to publication. BY DAVID K. WESSEL David K. Wessel is a retired Foreign Service officer and amateur historian turned novelist. He followed his son into the State Department just before his 60th birthday and served two tours (assistant general services officer in Rome and non-immigrant visa consular officer in Guatemala) before hitting mandatory retirement at 65. His first book, Choosing Sides, was published in March 2024. He can be reached at davidkwesselauthor@gmail.com or through his website: www.davidkwessel.com. FOCUS ON FOREIGN SERVICE AUTHORS Each November The Foreign Service Journal features the recently published literary works of many members of our community. Memoirs, biographies and histories, books on international relations and diplomacy, adult novels and children’s books, poetry collections, and guidebooks highlight the creative talents, mental energy, and writing skills that so many FS community members possess. In this article, four current and former eligible family members (EFMs) share their experiences as authors and how their writing journeys have been influenced by living the life of a “trailing spouse.” Matthew Algeo is a history writer, radio show host, and the spouse of a recently retired Foreign Service officer (FSO). Matthew Becker is an EFM currently living in Nicaragua and the author of a three-novel thriller series. Derek Corsino is a culinary artist, educator, and the spouse of a first-tour FSO stationed in Shanghai. And Tomoko Horie, a former television journalist, is currently based in Hong Kong with her secondtour FS spouse.
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