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2026: Prepare for another amazing year of COFW Programs
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 (via Zoom)
LOCATION | Meeting will be Hybrid via Zoom and Room 3 at the Karl Road library. 5590 Karl Rd., Columbus, OH 43229
TOPIC | To come
About Our Speaker:
To come
May
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 at Dayton-area library.
SPEAKER | To Come.
About our Speaker:
To Come
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
LOCATION | Meeting will be Hybrid via Zoom and Columbus-area library.
SPEAKER | To Come
TOPIC | To come.
About our Speaker
July
DATE | July 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 (Zoom)
LOCATION | Meeting will be Hybrid via Zoom and Dayton-area Library.
SPEAKER | To come.
TOPIC | To come
About our Speaker:
August
DATE | August 15th, 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 (Zoom)
LOCATION | Meeting will be Hybrid via Zoom and Columbus-area library.
SPEAKER | To come.
TOPIC | To come.
About our Speaker:
To Come
September
DATE | September 19th, 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 a Dayton-area library
SPEAKER | To come.
TOPIC | To come.
About Our Speaker
October
DATE | October 17th, 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 (Zoom)
LOCATION | Meeting will be Hybrid via Zoom and Columbus-area library.
SPEAKER | To come.
TOPIC | To come.
About our Speaker:
To Come
November
DATE | November 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 a Dayton-area library
SPEAKER | To come.
TOPIC | To come.
About Our Speaker
December
DATE | December 5 or 6, 2026, Columbus area location
TIME | 12:00 pm arrive, 12:30 eat.
LOCATION | See Facebook and list serve for holiday gathering details.
TOPIC | To come.
About Our Speaker
January
DATE | January 17, 2026
- 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, Program
LOCATION | Zoom and Vandalia branch of the Dayton Metro Library. 330 S Dixie Dr, Vandalia Ohio 45377.
FACILITATOR | Shari Heinrich
TOPIC | Our Favorite Writing Craft books
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
February
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.