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Leah Lore is a woman with short-cropped brown hair. She is sitting on a large boulder in a field of wildflowers.

DATE  |  October 18th, 2025
TIME  |
  • 12:00 pm, Networking
  • 12:15 pm, Introductions & Incentives
  • around 12:30-12:45 pm, Business meeting (we are not sure how long Intro & Incentives will take)
  • 1:30 pm, small group workshopping on your novel or work in progress

LOCATION  | Meeting will be Hybrid via Zoom and Room 1 at the Hilliard Library, 4500 Hickory Chase Way, Hilliard, Ohio

FACILITATOR  | Leah Lore

TOPIC  | Brainstorming/Plotting in Small-Group SessionsJuliette Hyland plots one of herbooks
Come with your book ideas and get ready to brainstorm/plot in small group sessions, Each person has a turn to share where they could use group help brainstorming anything. For example, are you:
  • Stuck somewhere?
  • Got a plot hole that swallowed a bus and want ideas how to drive out of it?
  • Need ideas for events to occur in the plot?
  • Worried about your characters’ wound and whether it’s strong enough to drive the novel?
  • Want a general sounding board?
Then come for the plotting/brainstorming! Being in person is highly recommended. Those on Zoom will perform this exercise in a Zoom room.
Pictured here is Juliette Hyland, outlining her book Falling Again for the Single Dad, using one of the templates that the workshop provided. This was prior to Harlequin offering her the first contract. In September 2025 she will have 25 published Harlequin novels, and is waiting on edits for three more! 

Attending Our Hybrid Meeting

Presentation is free for members and prospective members who have not yet visited for two complimentary meetings.

For those members who cannot join us in person, join us via Zoom. The password will be posted in the Central Ohio Fiction Writers Google Group, and on the Central Ohio Fiction Writers Facebook page.

If you are not a COFW member and wish to attend this presentation via Zoom, email cofwpresident@gmail.com. Please note, the link spans from the moment we open the room to the social half hour through the business meeting and this program.

Per library policy, “Prepared food and non-alcoholic beverages are allowed in meeting rooms.”

About Our Speaker

Leah Lore is our 2025 Programs Chair. Her debut release, To the Stars, is a sci-fi novelette in ebook that has received Amazon best-seller status.

Leah was a finalist in the 2024 NYCMidnight Short Story Challenge and her short stories have been published in several anthologies. Leah writes character-driven adventures with an emphasis on mental health and self-worth. She has a MS in biology from Wright State University. Her education and love of nature have been pivotal elements of creating beautiful yet realistic worlds brimming with magic. Follow Leah’s progress on her newsletter, website, and social media: https://linktr.ee/leahlore

DATE  |  September 13th, 2025

TIME  |

  • 12:00 pm, Networking
  • 12:15 pm, Introductions & Incentives
  • around 12:30-12:45 pm, Business meeting (we are not sure how long Intro & Incentives will take)
  • 1:30 pm, Speaker

LOCATION  |  Meeting will be Hybrid via Zoom and Vandalia branch of the Dayton Metro Library. 330 S Dixie Dr, Vandalia Ohio 45377

SPEAKER  | Jen Greybeal

TOPIC  | Marketing Beyond Social Media

I’m just going to say it… there’s more to marketing than a social media presence. Consistently creating interesting, engaging content takes time and creativity–both are precious commodities for authors. Not to mention the challenge of finding followers. Let’s look beyond social media and ads to tap into other marketing options. We will also explore how to develop a marketing strategy with 3.5 questions and why marketing presents such a big challenge for authors.

About Our Speaker

Jen Graybeal (she/her) is dedicated to empowering authors through encouraging feedback, collaborative problem solving and gently-applied tough love. In ten years of coaching, workshops, and editing projects, she has helped over a thousand authors create stories they are proud of and businesses that align with their individual vision of success. Jen is a Certified Creativity Coach with a degree in English, an ever-expanding TBR pile, and a furball assistant that is usually on her lap. Visit her website for client testimonials at www.jengraybeal.com or follow her on Instagram, Threads, Blue Sky, and TikTok: @JenTheEditor.

DATE  |  August 16th, 2025

TIME  |

  • 12:00 pm, Networking
  • 12:15 pm, Introductions & Incentives
  • around 12:30-12:45 pm, Business meeting (we are not sure how long Intro & Incentives will take)
  • 1:30 pm, Speaker (Zoom)

LOCATION  |  Meeting will be Hybrid via Zoom and Room 2A at the Hilliard Library, 4500 Hickory Chase Way, Hilliard, Ohio.

SPEAKER  | Nat Connors

TOPIC  | Book Marketing as Storytelling: Finding your Neighborhood.

Getting your story to readers starts with the cover and blurb—but authors often struggle to communicate their story elements to their audience. In this session, you’ll learn simple techniques for aligning your story, cover, and blurb, ensuring that readers clearly understand what you’re offering. We’ll use a series of examples from romance, mystery and fantasy, and this material is applicable across all genres.

Key Points:

– Align Your Story with Market Expectations: Learn how to create a cover and blurb that resonate with your target audience while highlighting what makes your book stand out.

– Market Awareness Tools: Discover a set of free resources that will help you stay attuned to trends and shifts in your genre and ‘neighborhood’ of the market.

– Ongoing Market Strategy: Understand how to evolve with your genre and adapt your marketing approach to suit your style and career stage.

Attending Our Hybrid Meeting

Presentation is free for members and prospective members who have not yet visited for two complimentary meetings.

For those members who cannot join us in person, join us via Zoom. The password will be posted in the Central Ohio Fiction Writers Google Group, and on the Central Ohio Fiction Writers Facebook page.

If you are not a COFW member and wish to attend this presentation via Zoom, email cofwpresident@gmail.com.

About Our Speaker

Nat is a small-town romantic comedy writer, (former) medical scientist and (mostly-former) dance teacher, and also makes the Kindletrends newsletter for genre fiction authors. Kindletrends started when Nat got fed up with trying to make sense of the Kindle Store, and wanted a no-nonsense summary of the most important information. He shared it with other authors, and now a bunch of people are getting value from it. Nat works at writing every day, and uses this information to help outline, write and publish – so it has to be focused, relevant and actionable.

DATE  |  July 19th, 2025

TIME  |

  • 12:00 pm, Networking
  • 12:15 pm, Introductions & Incentives
  • around 12:30-12:45 pm, Business meeting (we are not sure how long Intro & Incentives will take)
  • 1:30 pm, Speaker (Zoom)

LOCATION  | Meeting will be Hybrid via Zoom and Vandalia branch of the Dayton Metro Library. 330 S Dixie Dr, Vandalia Ohio 45377

SPEAKER  | Dawn Alexander

TOPIC  | Beyond the Bedroom: Using Physical and Emotional Intimacy to Create Authentic Character Relationships

Intimacy isn’t limited to romance. Authentic character relationships are crucial in all genres, whether you’re telling a love story or building a friendship. This workshop will explore the progression from initial awareness to physical intimacy, as well as the emotional layers accompanying each stage of connection.

Attending Our Hybrid Meeting

Presentation is free for members and prospective members who have not yet visited for two complimentary meetings.

For those members who cannot join us in person, join us via Zoom. The password will be posted in the Central Ohio Fiction Writers Google Group, and on the Central Ohio Fiction Writers Facebook page.

If you are not a COFW member and wish to attend this presentation via Zoom, email cofwpresident@gmail.com.

About Our Speaker

Dawn Alexander is a developmental editor and story coach who collaborates with both emerging writers and accomplished authors to strengthen their stories and refine their voices. Her clients have appeared on the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists, as well as the Amazon Top 100.

Leveraging her two decades of experience in education, she designs and teaches writing courses that offer comprehensive insights and practical strategies that can be applied across genres to create compelling plots and authentic characters. She’s been a featured speaker at Inkers Con, Pike’s Peak Writers Conference, as well as local writing chapters, in addition to providing one-on-one coaching to numerous successful authors. When she’s not analyzing plot structures or crafting characters, you can find her spending time with her two college-age kids or off-roading in her Jeep Wrangler with her husband and their dog, Teddy.

DATE  |  June 14th, 2025

TIME  |

  • 12:00 pm, Networking
  • 12:15 pm, Introductions & Incentives
  • around 12:30-12:45 pm, Business meeting (we are not sure how long Intro & Incentives will take)
  • 1:30 pm, Speaker

LOCATION  |  Meeting will be Hybrid via Zoom and Room 2A at the Hilliard Library, 4500 Hickory Chase Way, Hilliard, Ohio

SPEAKER  | Ava Cuvay

TOPIC  | Building Believable Worlds for All Genres

It’s not just a Sci-fi thing. Worldbuilding is a crucial aspect of any story in any genre. Award winning, bestselling author Ava Cuvay outlines why, how, and what to avoid to enhance your worldbuilding thought processes for a truly engaging story. (There might be a few Star Wars references 😉)

Attending Our Hybrid Meeting

Presentation is free for members and prospective members who have not yet visited for two complimentary meetings.

For those members who cannot join us in person, join us via Zoom. The password will be posted in the Central Ohio Fiction Writers Google Group, and on the Central Ohio Fiction Writers Facebook page.

If you are not a COFW member and wish to attend this presentation via Zoom, email cofwpresident@gmail.com.

About Our Speaker

Ava Cuvay is an award-winning bestselling author of out of this world Sci-fi and Paranormal Romance featuring sassy heroines, gutsy heroes, passion, adventure… and the word “moist”.

She resides in central Indiana with her own scruffy-looking nerfherder and teen kiddos who think her “Rizz” is “cringe” but she “passes the vibe check” and her books “hit different.” No cap.

She believes life is too short to bother with negative people, everything is better with Champagne, and Han Solo shot first. Star Wars references are her love language.

Social Media & Other Links
Website – https://avacuvay.com/
Author Facebook – https://facebook.com/AvaCuvayAuthor/
Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15051407.Ava_Cuvay
Amazon – https://www.amazon.com/Ava-Cuvay/e/B01E5OIZ0I/
Bookbub – https://www.bookbub.com/profile/ava-cuvay
Instagram – https://instagram.com/avacuvay/
Newsletter – https://drinkingthestarspressllc.eo.page/v8296

Leah Lore is a woman with short-cropped brown hair. She is sitting on a large boulder in a field of wildflowers.

DATE  |  May 17th, 2025
TIME  |
  • 12:00 pm, Networking
  • 12:15 pm, Introductions & Incentives
  • around 12:30-12:45 pm, Business meeting (we are not sure how long Intro & Incentives will take)
  • 1:30 pm, small group workshopping on your novel or work in progress

LOCATION  | Meeting will be Hybrid via Zoom and Vandalia branch of the Dayton Metro Library. 330 S Dixie Dr, Vandalia Ohio 45377

FACILITATOR  | Leah Lore

TOPIC  | Brainstorming/Plotting in Small-Group SessionsJuliette Hyland plots one of herbooks
Come with your book ideas and get ready to brainstorm/plot in small group sessions, Each person has a turn to share where they could use group help brainstorming anything. For example, are you:
  • Stuck somewhere?
  • Got a plot hole that swallowed a bus and want ideas how to drive out of it?
  • Need ideas for events to occur in the plot?
  • Worried about your characters’ wound and whether it’s strong enough to drive the novel?
  • Want a general sounding board?
Then come for the plotting/brainstorming! Being in person is highly recommended. Those on Zoom will perform this exercise in a Zoom room.
Pictured here is Juliette Hyland, outlining her book Falling Again for the Single Dad, using one of the templates that the workshop provided. This was prior to Harlequin offering her the first contract. In February 2025 she will have 23 published Harlequin novels. 

Attending Our Hybrid Meeting

Presentation is free for members and prospective members who have not yet visited for two complimentary meetings.

For those members who cannot join us in person, join us via Zoom. The password will be posted in the Central Ohio Fiction Writers Google Group, and on the Central Ohio Fiction Writers Facebook page.

If you are not a COFW member and wish to attend this presentation via Zoom, email cofwpresident@gmail.com.

About Our Speaker

Leah Lore is our 2025 Programs Chair. Her debut release, To the Stars, is a sci-fi novelette in ebook that has received Amazon best-seller status. She was a finalist in the 2024 NYCMidnight Short Story Challenge and her short stories have been published in several anthologies.

DATE  |  April 19th, 2025

TIME  |

  • 12:00 pm, Networking
  • 12:15 pm, Introductions & Incentives
  • around 12:30-12:45 pm, Business meeting (we are not sure how long Intro & Incentives will take)
  • 1:30 pm, Speaker (via Zoom)

LOCATION  |  Meeting will be Hybrid via Zoom and South High Library, 3540 South High Street Columbus

SPEAKER  | Kathleen Donnelly

TOPIC  | Incorporating Four-Legged Detectives Into Your Books

From Lassie to Rin Tin Tin, canine characters have captured our hearts. The intrigue of a dog finding a lost person, buried body, drugs, bombs, or risking its life to protect a handler, has long been a source of fascination. Working dogs are showing up in crime fiction more than ever, but what is the real world of working dogs like? Discover everything from how a handler chooses their dog to training to real life scenarios searching with a K-9.

Attending Our Hybrid Meeting

Presentation is free for members and prospective members who have not yet visited for two complimentary meetings.

For those members who cannot join us in person, join us via Zoom. The password will be posted in the Central Ohio Fiction Writers Google Group, and on the Central Ohio Fiction Writers Facebook page.

If you are not a COFW member and wish to attend this presentation via Zoom, email cofwpresident@gmail.com.

About Our Speaker

Award-winning author Kathleen Donnelly is a retired K-9 handler. She worked K-9s for a private company for 19 years. Her debut novel, Chasing Justice, won a Best Book Award from the American Book Fest, a PenCraft Award and was a 2023 Silver Falchion finalist in the Suspense category and Readers’ Choice Award. Her second book, Hunting The Truth, was the 2024 Pencraft Book of the Year, a Silver Falchion finalist and a Colorado Authors League finalist in the mystery category. She lives near the Colorado foothills with her husband and four-legged friends. Visit Kathleen’s website and sign up for her newsletter at www.kathleendonnelly.com, or find her on Facebook at Facebook.com/authorkathleendonnelly, and Instagram @authorkathleendonnelly.

DATE  |  March 15th, 2025

TIME  |

  • 12:00 pm, Networking
  • 12:15 pm, Introductions & Incentives
  • around 12:30-12:45 pm, Business meeting (we are not sure how long Intro & Incentives will take)
  • 1:30 pm, Speaker

LOCATION  |  Meeting will be Hybrid via Zoom and Vandalia branch of the Dayton Metro Library. 330 S Dixie Dr, Vandalia Ohio 45377

FACILITATOR  | Rochelle Bradley

TOPIC  | Independent Publishing 101

Ever wonder what it takes to be a successful indie author?

In this class, local author Rochelle Bradley will lead us through the basics of what it takes to publish independently – from editing to formatting to marketing. This is your chance to get an overview and ask specific questions!

Attending Our Hybrid Meeting

Presentation is free for members and prospective members who have not yet visited for two complimentary meetings.

For those members who cannot join us in person, join us via Zoom. The password will be posted in the Central Ohio Fiction Writers Google Group, and on the Central Ohio Fiction Writers Facebook page.

If you are not a COFW member and wish to attend this presentation via Zoom, email cofwpresident@gmail.com.

About Our Speaker

Rochelle is an award-winning and Amazon best-selling author. She writes romance with sass and shenanigans because the world needs more laughter and love.

She co-hosts (with author CJ Warrant) Wednesday Coffee & Books an Instagram Live show where they interview romance authors.

Born and raised in Cincinnati Ohio, Rochelle developed a love of nature and art. She is a Bearcat, a Buckeye, an interior decorator, and fluent in sarcasm. She currently shares her home with a black cat, a leash trained orange tabby, and her Prince.

Leah Lore is a woman with short-cropped brown hair. She is sitting on a large boulder in a field of wildflowers.

DATE  |  February 15th, 2025
TIME  |
  • 12:00 pm, Networking
  • 12:15 pm, Introductions & Incentives
  • around 12:30-12:45 pm, Business meeting (we are not sure how long Intro & Incentives will take)
  • 1:30 pm, small group workshopping on your novel or work in progress

LOCATION  | Zoom and Karl Road branch of Columbus Public Library, Meeting Room 3. 5590 Karl Rd., Columbus, OH 43229.

FACILITATOR  | Leah Lore

TOPIC  | Brainstorming/Plotting in Small-Group SessionsJuliette Hyland plots one of herbooks
Come with your book ideas and get ready to brainstorm/plot in small group sessions, Each person has a turn to share where they could use group help brainstorming anything. For example, are you:
  • Stuck somewhere?
  • Got a plot hole that swallowed a bus and want ideas how to drive out of it?
  • Need ideas for events to occur in the plot?
  • Worried about your characters’ wound and whether it’s strong enough to drive the novel?
  • Want a general sounding board?
Then come for the plotting/brainstorming! Being in person is highly recommended. Those on Zoom will perform this exercise in a Zoom room.
Pictured here is Juliette Hyland, outlining her book Falling Again for the Single Dad, using one of the templates that the workshop provided. This was prior to Harlequin offering her the first contract. In February 2025 she will have 23 published Harlequin novels. 

Attending Our Hybrid Meeting

Presentation is free for members and prospective members who have not yet visited for two complimentary meetings.

For those members who cannot join us in person, join us via Zoom. The password will be posted in the Central Ohio Fiction Writers Google Group, and on the Central Ohio Fiction Writers Facebook page.

If you are not a COFW member and wish to attend this presentation via Zoom, email cofwpresident@gmail.com.

About Our Speaker

Leah Lore is our 2025 Programs Chair. Her debut release, To the Stars, is a sci-fi novelette in ebook that has received Amazon best-seller status.

Leah was a finalist in the 2024 NYCMidnight Short Story Challenge and her short stories have been published in several anthologies. Leah writes character-driven adventures with an emphasis on mental health and self-worth. She has a MS in biology from Wright State University. Her education and love of nature have been pivotal elements of creating beautiful yet realistic worlds brimming with magic. Follow Leah’s progress on her newsletter, website, and social media: https://linktr.ee/leahlore

DATE  |  January 18th, 2024

TIME  |
  • 12:00 pm, Networking
  • 12:15 pm, Introductions & Incentives
  • around 12:30-12:45 pm, Business meeting (we are not sure how long Intro & Incentives will take)
  • 1:30 pm, Speaker


LOCATION   |   Meeting will be Hybrid via Zoom and Community Room at the Burkhardt Library, 4704 Burkhardt Ave., Dayton, OH 45403. This is in the Dayton Metro Library System. See below for further instructions.
TOPIC   | Rene Gutteridge & The Writer’s Identity. Presenting via Zoom.

The Writer’s Identity

One of the biggest moments we can experience as writer is to use the word to describe ourselves: I am a writer! But if we’re not careful, this can become a slippery slope of our core identity. Why is it so unhealthy to tie our identity into writing? It seems logical that we are, in fact, writers. Weren’t we born to write?

In this class, Rene will explore how to keep your identity strong and protected while navigating the extremely tumultuous world of rejection and rebound called the writing life. Learning to separate your identity from your occupation can be the single most important move in keeping you emotionally strong for the long haul.

 

Attending Our Hybrid Meeting

Presentation is free for members and prospective members who have not yet visited for two complimentary meetings.

For those members who cannot join us in person, join us via Zoom. The password will be posted in the Central Ohio Fiction Writers Google Group, and on the Central Ohio Fiction Writers Facebook page.

If you are not a COFW member and wish to attend this presentation via Zoom, email cofwpresident@gmail.com.

Dayton Public Libraries do allow food and drinks.

 

About Our SpeakerRene Gutteridge is a white woman with shoulder-length straight brown hair. This is a headshot in front of a slightly blurred green background.

Rene Gutteridge has been writing professionally for over twenty years, with expertise in fiction, non-fiction, comedy sketches, novelizations and screenwriting. She is the multi-genre author of 24 novels plus several non-fiction titles. Her indie film SKID won deadCenter’s Best Oklahoma Feature, and her novel My Life as a Doormat was adapted into the Hallmark movie Love’s Complicated. She is co-writer on the feature film Family Camp, a Movieguide award winner and a Dove Award nominee for 2023. She is also a Screencraft finalist in true crime. Rene is co-director of WriterCon in Oklahoma City, senior contributor at Writing Momentum and is the head writer at Skit Guys Studios.

Contact Rene at her website. She’s got a page for Tips for Writers, too.