I’m an author and military historian. This is my personal website. You can learn more about me and my book projects here.
I have an MA in Military History with Distinction from the University of Birmingham Centre for War Studies. My military history interests include World Wars I & II, the Vietnam War, and all things “war” in general!
I’ve published more than 10 works of fiction and nonfiction. My main focus is military history. Learn more about my war history books here. You can view all of my available books on Amazon.
I am fluent in German and enjoy researching historical documents and photographs.
I sometimes write books using the pen name “Zita Steele” that I created a long time ago. The name “Steele” is a wordplay on steel metal. According to the Chinese zodiac and Five Elements system, my element is Metal. While I do not believe in astrology or horoscopes, I find this pretty cool.
BRIEF BIOGRAPHY
Zita Ballinger Fletcher, sometimes known by her pen name Zita Steele, is an award-winning author and military historian. She is a graduate of the Honors College at the University of South Florida and earned her Master’s Degree in Military History with Distinction from the University of Birmingham (UK) Centre for War Studies. She has written over 10 books, including both fiction and nonfiction, and over 100 military history articles. She is fluent in German.
Zita was previously the first female editor of Military History Quarterly (MHQ) and Vietnam magazines. She has given numerous presentations about her military history research. After receiving her BA she became the author of the first published collection of Field Marshal Rommel’s wartime photography. She has done research about war history across the US and internationally, visiting many key historic war-related sites including The Museum of Military History in Vienna, Austria; The Documentation Center Nazi Party Rally Grounds in Nuremberg; The Munich Stadtmuseum, and many more places.
Originally from Los Angeles, California, Zita was named after Empress Zita of Austria, the wife of the last Habsburg emperor, Karl I of Austria. Both Karl and his wife Zita have been inspirations to her. Zita’s earliest goal was to be an author and she always loved soldiers and heroes. You can read more about her enthusiasm for military history in her Author Interview with the Military Writers Society of America:
“One of the main reasons I love military history is because it is filled with courage, leadership and self-sacrifice. I like to learn about feats of bravery and strength. There is also a lot of warmth and humor among soldiers. I admire stories of brotherhood and great commanders who bonded with their troops.”
Apart from her military history research and writing, she enjoys traveling, music, a wide variety of sports/physical activities and being outdoors.
Awards & Honors
Master of Arts in Military History with Distinction, University of Birmingham Centre for War Studies, December 2024
2nd Place for Editing – National Federation of Press Women – 2022 – For Editing the article, “Raw Courage: How Clerks, Cooks and Mechanics Repelled A Sapper Attack,” for Vietnam magazine
1st Place for Special Interest Video – National Federation of Press Women – 2021
2nd Place for Articles, History – National Federation of Press Women – 2020 – for “Monty Crosses the Rhine: How Field Marshal Montgomery Bridged Germany’s Toughest River, Liberated a Concentration Camp and Forced a Decisive Surrender,” World War II Quarterly magazine
Silver Medal for History, Nonfiction – Military Writers Society of America – 2020 – for “Bernard Montgomery’s Art of War“
Bronze Medal for Historical Fiction – Military Writers Society of America – 2020 – for “The Hidden Sphinx: A Tale of World War II Egypt”
Magna Cum Laude – College of Arts & Sciences – University of South Florida – 2013
Honors College Graduate – University of South Florida – 2013
Speaker at USF World Languages Colloquium – Represented German Department & gave presentation on Third Reich research – 2012
Commended Student – National Merit Scholarship Corporation – 2009
SAT Top Scores – Placed in Top 3% of 1.5 million students in the USA in English Critical Reading – 2007
Spelling Bee Champion – 2004
3rd Place – New Mexico Arts & Crafts Fair Youth Exhibit (statewide) – 1996