Our November 2025 monthly meeting will start at 1:00 P.M. with a workshop titled “Finish Lines and Final Pages: A Cozy Year-End Planning Workshop,” presented by Audrey Hughey, which will be followed by our general business and social meeting. Not a NERW member but want to attend the workshop? Join NERW now and receive access to our monthly workshops, private email forum, and Facebook group!    Workshop Description: Before you turn the page into a new year, join Audrey Hughey for a cozy, practical session designed to help you close out 2025 so you can step into 2026 with clarity and purpose. During this hands-on workshop, you’ll identify what matters most to finish the year strong, organize the admin side of your author business, and create a streamlined roadmap for 2026 that supports your writing goals while making space for the rest of your life. You’ll leave with:

• A completed year-end admin checklist
• Reflection prompts to capture your wins and lessons
• A working 12-month author plan for the year ahead
• A guided workbook to walk you through your review and planning process

Bring your favorite notebook, a warm drink, and be ready to plan with intention and joy.  

Our October 2025 monthly meeting will start at 1:00 P.M. with a workshop titled “Beyond the Bestseller List,” presented by Michael Evans, which will be followed by our general business and social meeting. Not a NERW member but want to attend the workshop? Join NERW now and receive access to our monthly workshops, private email forum, and Facebook group!    Workshop Description: What if writing wasn’t just an art, but also an experiment? In Beyond the Bestseller List, Michael Evans reveals how the most successful authors today use data not to replace creativity, but to amplify it. You’ll learn how to validate your story before you write it, sell smarter, and turn casual readers into lifelong fans. From uncovering “Story Gaps” in the market to piloting your book like a YouTube creator, this talk blends storytelling, psychology, and analytics to help you build a profitable, data-powered publishing business, without losing your creative soul.

Our August 2025 monthly meeting will start at 1:00 P.M. with a workshop titled “Beyond Writing: How Authors Can Use AI to Work Smarter,” presented by Elizabeth Ann West, which will be followed by our general business and social meeting. Not a NERW member but want to attend the workshop? Join NERW now and receive access to our monthly workshops, private email forum, and Facebook group!    Workshop Description: AI isn’t just for drafting chapters—it’s a powerful tool that can help authors save time, stay organized, and connect with readers in fresh ways. In this 45-minute session, we’ll explore practical, non-intimidating ways to use AI for research, brainstorming, marketing, reader engagement, and streamlining your publishing workflow—without replacing your unique voice. Whether you’re traditionally published, indie, or somewhere in between, you’ll leave with clear examples of what’s possible (and what’s not), plus ideas you can start experimenting with right away. No tech background required—just bring your curio

Bio: Elizabeth Ann West is the CEO of Future Fiction Academy, where she helps authors harness emerging technology to work smarter and publish faster—without losing their creative spark. An indie author of 25+ novels and novellas, Elizabeth has guided over 15,000 students through workshops and programs designed to make tech approachable for authors of all backgrounds. Known for blending down-to-earth teaching with real-world experience, she bridges the gap between storytelling and the tools that make it easier.

Our June, 2025 monthly meeting will start at 1:00 P.M. with a workshop titled “Accurately Portraying People with Disabilities,” presented by Kari Lemor, which will be followed by our general business and social meeting. Not a NERW member but want to attend the workshop? Join NERW now and receive access to our monthly workshops, private email forum, and Facebook group!    Workshop Description: Realistic representation is so important for diversity and inclusion in literature. In this workshop, writers will learn about the multitude of disabilities that are under-represented in today’s literature. They will discern which words should not be used to describe those with different abilities and words that should be used. They will determine the proper course of action when gathering information about a specific diagnosis in order to accurately portray a character with said diagnosis. They will delve into the emotional and psychological perspectives of those with disabilities as well as the technical realities and legal standpoints regarding medicine, education, and the environment.

Bio: Kari Lemor has written 30 small town romance and romantic suspense novels. She didn’t start writing until much later in life but now finds her muse won’t leave her alone. She’s won both the Golden Rose Award and the National Excellence in Romance Fiction Award for several books. She hails from New England but has found a new home in beautiful St. Augustine.

Our March, 2025 monthly meeting will start at 1:00 P.M. with a workshop titled “Writing Distinctive Voices in First Person with Dual POV,” presented by Penny Reid, which will be followed by our general business and social meeting. Not a NERW member but want to attend the workshop? Join NERW now and receive access to our monthly workshops, private email forum, and Facebook group!    Workshop Description:  An approach to writing distinctive dual points of view in first person. Penny will review what factors she take into consideration when developing her characters before, during, and after the preliminary draft.

Bio:  Penny Reid is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of the Winston Brothers and Knitting in the City series. Penny also manages the #OwnVoices-focused mentorship incubator / publishing imprint, Smartypants Romance.

Our March, 2025 monthly meeting will start at 1:00 P.M. with a workshop titled “Preventing Your Lane from Becoming Rut,” presented by Beth Bolden, which will be followed by our general business and social meeting. Not a NERW member but want to attend the workshop? Join NERW now and receive access to our monthly workshops, private email forum, and Facebook group!    Workshop Description: Conventional advice over the last few years has been to stay in your proscribed “lane” AKA your brand when it comes to books, tone, tropes and so much more. But what happens when we can’t stay in our lane anymore? How do we widen our lane without losing readers? How can we strategically widen the lane without taking too much risk? Beth will discuss learning to comfortably and confidently move around in your lane and more.

Bio:A lifelong Oregonian, Beth Bolden recently moved to North Carolina with her supportive husband and their sweet kitten, Earl Grey. Beth still believes in Keeping Portland Weird, and intends to be just as weird in Raleigh. Beth has been writing practically since she learned the alphabet. Unfortunately, her first foray into novel writing, titled Big Bear with Sparkly Earrings, wasn’t a bestseller, but hope springs eternal. She’s published forty-five novels and ten novellas.

Our February, 2025 monthly meeting will start at 1:00 P.M. with a workshop titled “Who ARE All These People? Secondary Characters in Romance,” presented by Jenifer Safrey, which will be followed by our general business and social meeting. Not a NERW member but want to attend the workshop? Join NERW now and receive access to our monthly workshops, private email forum, and Facebook group!    Workshop Description: We’re falling in love with the main characters, so why do we need secondary characters in romance? What roles do they play? What are the do’s and don’ts of secondary characters? Author Jennifer Safrey discusses how to use secondary characters in a story where the main focus is on the main characters’ relationship.

Bio: Jennifer Safrey is the author of five traditionally published romances. Her new book, After Happily Ever: An Epic Novel of Midlife Rebellion, will be a June 2025 release. She lives just south of Boston.

Our January, 2025 monthly meeting will start at 1:00 P.M. with a Ouworkshop titled “Branding for Authors: A Workshop to Grow Your Author Brand,” presented by Kelly Utt, which will be followed by our general business and social meeting. Not a NERW member but want to attend the workshop? Join NERW now and receive access to our monthly workshops, private email forum, and Facebook group!    Workshop Description:Learn how to create a strong, memorable brand that will resonate with readers and set you apart in the crowded author market. This workshop covers the essentials of building your author brand—from defining your mission and story to crafting a visual identity and strategic marketing plan. You’ll leave with actionable strategies to boost your visibility, build a loyal reader base, and stand out as an author. What You’ll Learn: How to define and refine your author brand Creating a consistent and professional brand identity Effective strategies for marketing your books and engaging readers How to make your brand resonate with your target audience Join us for this focused session and start building a brand that helps your books get noticed and grow your readership.

Bio: Kelly Utt is a creative strategist, author of over 25 books, and the founder of Blum Creative. With a background in psychology and interactive media, Kelly specializes in helping authors and small businesses elevate their brands through strategic storytelling, design, and marketing. Drawing from her experience as both a business consultant and novelist, she offers a unique, hands-on approach that combines creative vision with business strategy. Kelly’s passion for storytelling and brand development drives her to help clients create memorable brands that resonate and grow. She is based in Nashville, Tennessee.

Our October, 2024 monthly meeting will start at 1:00 P.M. with a workshop on transforming your author website, presented by Nate Hoffhelder, which will be followed by our general business and social meeting. Not a NERW member but want to attend the workshop? Join NERW now and receive access to our monthly workshops, private email forum, and Facebook group!    Workshop Description: An author’s website is their online office and storefront, but it doesn’t have to be a stodgy one. In this session, you will learn how, with just a little work, you can rapidly transform your author website from blah to boss. A good website doesn’t have to cost thousands of dollars; your site can be as simple as a single page and still present a professional face to reviewers and help you connect with fans. It all starts with knowing what you want to do, and why. Note: This session will have time for a Q&A, so please bring your questions.

Bio: Nate has been helping people fix broken tech since 2010. He turns broken down WordPress sites into sites which convert visitors into superfans, also builds sites from scratch, and helps authors with their social media and newsletters. When he’s not working with authors, Nate volunteers on the board of the Florida Writers Foundation and with several SF cons. When he is not volunteering, he writes bad jokes on Twitter and creates memes and graphics. In his spare time, Nate hand-raises budgies and maintains three Little Free Libraries.

Our September, 2024 monthly meeting will start at 1:00 P.M. with a workshop entitled “AI Presentation” presented by Neil Plakcy, which will be followed by our general business and social meeting. Not a NERW member but want to attend the workshop? Join NERW now and receive access to our monthly workshops, private email forum, and Facebook group!    Workshop Description: The field of artificial intelligence is changing dramatically almost from week to week as new tools are released and new concerns arise. How can writers benefit from these tools while maintaining integrity and staying within boundaries established by vendors and promo organizers?

Award-winning author Neil Plakcy will identify three ways authors can use these new tools to help create, edit and market manuscripts while retaining your own voice. He’ll demonstrate how you can overcome writer’s block and streamline your idea generation process – useful for both pantsers and plotters. Once you have a finished draft of your story, chapter or complete manuscript, AI tools can act as a junior editor, pointing out areas where you can improve plotting, pacing, character development, description and more. One of the hardest tasks for an author is writing marketing materials, whether for an agent, editor, or Amazon description. AI tools understand tropes and the kind of marketing language we’re often reluctant to use on our own work. You can create the outline or summary an agent or editor requests, or generate pithy descriptions that will help your books move off the real or virtual shelves. Even if you’re familiar with AI tools, Plakcy’s presentation can help you find new ways to use them to maximize your creative output. Bio: Neil Plakcy is the author of over 60 novels in mystery, romance and adventure. Former president of the Florida chapter of Mystery Writers of America, he recently retired after 20 years as a professor of English at Broward College in South Florida. His background in technology helped him innovate online teaching there, and he continues his integration of writing and technology with a new passion for how artificial intelligence can help writers be more productive. His website is www.mahubooks.com.