August

January

DATE  |  January 17, 2026

The January program will be by our own members. If you have a favorite craft book, and you have a physical copy, bring it with you to the library. You can talk about your e-books, too. If you bring a physical copy, put your name inside it (Post-it Notes work great) or maybe you’ve taken notes in the margins, so you’ll be able to tell it from someone else who loved the same book.

Each person who has a favorite book will get microphone time to talk about it.

Also, if you’re willing, pass it around the room. Apologies to the folks who will zoom in, as they’ll miss that part.

About our Facilitator:

Shari Heinrich is our 2025 and 2026 President. She writes young adult fantasy populated by characters full of sass and heart. She’s querying Queen of Wands, where teen thief Angela makes the unforgivable mistake of falling for her mark and activating the family’s curse to the ancient Egyptian goddess of retribution. If she can’t break the curse, she’ll never know if she really loves him, or if it’s the curse.

Contact Shari: www.ShariHeinrich.com

DATE  |  February 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 (in person)

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

FACILITATOR  | Misty Simon

TOPIC  | Finding Time to Write

Life’s busy. The laundry’s multiplying. And somehow your characters still expect you to finish their story. Sound familiar? In this down-to-earth, laughter-filled session, author Misty Simon shares real strategies for carving out writing time—even when your schedule feels impossible. Learn how to build sustainable habits, set guilt-free goals, and protect your creative time like it’s the last chocolate in the house. Whether you have five minutes or fifty, you can write—and Misty will show you how.

About our Speaker:

Misty Simon always wanted to be a storyteller…preferably behind a Muppet. Animal was number one, followed closely by Sherlock Hemlock… Since that dream didn’t come true, she began writing stories to share her world with readers, one laugh at a time.

Touching people’s hearts and funny bones are two of her favorite things, and she hopes everyone at least snickers in the right places when reading her books. She lives with her husband in Central Pennsylvania where she is hard at work on her next novel or three. She loves to hear from readers so drop her a line at misty@mistysimon.com.

March

DATE  |  March 14th, 2026

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

PANEL | 

• Marisa Dillon, small house publishing, https://marisadillon.com/
• Stacy McKitrick, self-publishing, https://www.stacymckitrick.com/books/
• Ally Scott writing as Poppy Scott, https://www.amazon.com/WUTHERING-HEIGHTS-Gothic-Love-Story-ebook/dp/B0GBLLLRJ8/. You can also find her on Goodreads with her Sudoku and coloring books.
• Tim Smith, traditional publishing for 25 years, https://allauthor.com/author/timsmith/

TOPIC  | State of Publishing Panel

Bring your questions about today’s publishing landscape and helping your books find readers. Our panelists have more than 40 books among them and diverse experiences bringing their books into the world and connecting with readers.

About our Panelists:

• Tim Smith writes crime fiction, mystery, action and adventure, and erotic romance. He is an award-winning bestselling author.
• Marisa Dillon, our Social Media Chair as well as our Programs Chair, has experience publishing her historical romances with a smaller press. Her tales are romantic adventures not for the faint of heart.
• Stacy McKitrick, our Treasurer, writes paranormal romance as well as her newest “Alien Desires,” series where the first aliens come to earth seeking a potential new home.
• Ally Scott, our Secretary, writes as Poppy Scott. She has recently released her version of Wuthering Heights, which is in the public domain. You can also find her on Goodreads with coloring books and Sudoku.

April

DATE  |  April 18th, 2026

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 3 of the Columbus Metro Library, Karl Road Branch, 5590 Karl Rd, Columbus, OH 43229

FACILITATOR  |  Author & Literary Agent Rachel McMillan (via Zoom)

TOPIC  | Self Editing with Rachel

Nothing will replace a beta reader or a developmental editor, and those things are essential especially if you mean to indie publish a book. But, for beginning to query agents, there is a lot you can do to strengthen your manuscript on your own.

This presentation will help you take a look at your own manuscript through the eyes of an editor and pinpoint redundancies, narrative confusion and imagery on your own to impress beta readers, help you self-publish or get your manuscript polished for an agent.

May

DATE  |  May 16th, 2026

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  |  Vandalia Branch of Dayton Metro Library, Community Room, 330 South Dixie Drive, Vandalia, Ohio 45377

PRESENTER  |  Antonio Garcia (In Person)

TOPIC  | Indie Bookstore Insider

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to run an Indie Bookstore?

Independent bookstores have experienced a massive resurgence, with numbers jumping approximately 70% over the past five years, driven by community focus, local curation, and social media trends. Join us when COFW Member and owner of The Cozy Book Nook, Antonio Garcia, gives us the inside story.

About Our Speaker

Antonio Garcia is a self-published author and co-owner of The Cozy Book Nook Bookstore, which he operates alongside his wife. Bringing a rare dual perspective as both an author and bookseller, Antonio shares valuable insight into what independent bookstores look for when selecting and stocking books.

June

DATE  |  June 13th, 2026

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 on Zoom

LOCATION  |  Zoom and Dublin Branch of the Columbus Metropolitan Library, Room 2, 75 North High Street, Dublin, OH 43017

FACILITATOR  |  Juliette Hyland

TOPIC  | Crafting Characters to Root For

Characters are the lifeblood of story. The reason people read stories. Crafting a character people root for—a character readers remember years after the final page turn—comes down to making your character believable. But how? Through flaws, and in romance, through the believable and satisfying redemption arc your characters take on their journey to happily ever afters.

About Our Speaker

Juliette Hyland has written more than twenty-five books for Harlequin/Mills & Boon, Imprints of Harper Collins. She’s given workshops around the country, in person and via Zoom, on writing craft. Her favorite topic of all time is writing tropes – she always finds ways to sneak it into conversations. Her favorite question for authors – why?