Annual Meeting and Board Elections
2025-01-18 13:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Centreville Regional Library, 14200 Saint Germain Dr., Centreville, VA, 20121, United States
All officer and volunteer positions are open and will be elected.

Worldbuilding Workshop with Author and Teacher Tara Campbell
2025-02-15 13:00 - 15:00 | Thomas Jefferson Library, 7415 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church, VA, 22042, United States
Writing New Worlds through Contemporary Sculpture
The term “worldbuilding” is most often used in conjunction with speculative fiction, but authors of all genres create worlds every time they write. Come exercise your worldbuilding skills in this ekphrastic workshop inspired by work by contemporary women artists. Author and teacher Tara Campbell will guide us through worldbuilding prompts inspired by work from Afro-Brazilian artist Sonia Gomes and American sculptor Chakaia Booker.
Tara Campbell is a writer, teacher, Kimbilio Fellow, and fiction co-editor at Barrelhouse Magazine. She teaches flash fiction and speculative fiction, and is the author of a novel, two hybrid collections of poetry and prose, and two short story collections. Her sixth book, City of Dancing Gargoyles (SFWP), was one of Reactor Magazine’s “Best Books of 2024.” Find out more at www.taracampbell.com

March 2025 Meeting: Toby Dorr on Expanding Your Reach as an Author
2025-03-22 13:00 - 15:00 | Dolley Madison Library, 1244 Oak Ridge Ave., McLean, VA, 22101, United States
Beyond the Book: Expanding Your Reach as an Author
Your book is written—but your journey as an author is just beginning.
In this engaging session, NVWC member Toby Dorr will explore the many ways to expand the reach of your book beyond traditional sales. From guest spots on podcasts to leveraging Substack, from creating social media stories to developing courses and workbooks, you’ll discover a toolkit of strategies to build your audience, share your message, and maximize your book’s impact.
Whether launching your first book or looking to breathe new life into an existing one, this session will help you unlock new opportunities and think beyond the page.
Join us and learn how to turn your book into a lasting movement, message, or mission.
Toby Dorr is a transformational speaker, author, and advocate who inspires individuals to embrace their full potential, no matter their past. With a powerful story of resilience, courage, and reinvention, Toby has overcome the unthinkable—serving time in prison for a felony conviction—and emerged with a message of hope, healing, and fierce grace.
Through her speaking engagements, Toby empowers audiences to rise above their circumstances, break free from shame, and reclaim their stories. As the founder of Fierce Grace Movement and the author of “Living With Conviction”, Toby encourages others to move forward in life with strength, authenticity, and empowered self-discovery.
Whether she’s sharing her personal journey or leading workshops on leadership, resilience, or personal transformation, Toby’s message is clear: It’s never too late to rewrite your story, to step into your own fierceness, and to live fully.

NVWC @ Fredericksburg Spring Arts & Crafts Festival
2025-04-05 - 2025-04-06 | DC
Contact Events Coordinator Dave Wessel at dkwessel@gmail.com for a spot at the NVWC table or stop by to support your fellow club members!

April 2025 Meeting: Readings by 2024 Golden Nib Winners
2025-04-26 13:00 - 15:00 | Mary Riley Styles Public Library, 120 N Virginia Ave, Falls Church, VA, United States
Learn about the Golden Nib awards and hear from some of NVWC’s 2024 Golden Nib winners, who will read their works and discuss their inspiration and writing journey.
NVWC
Fiction
1st place – “Bloom” by Roger Hammons
2nd place – “Daytona Beach” by Kay Summers
3rd place – “The Rock Snake” by Craig Lipman
Poetry
1st place – “Less of Me” by Kay Summers
2nd place – “EAT CAKE” by Kevin Connor
3rd place – “Extasie” by Philip Stephens
Virginia Writers Club (state level)
Fiction
3rd place: “Bloom” by Roger Hammons
Non-Fiction
1st place – “If the Tree Could Speak” by Caroline Crocker

Brainstorm & Brew: Member Happy Hour at Godfrey's Bakery & Cafe
2025-05-14 17:00 - 19:00 | Godfrey’s Bakery & Cafe, 421 W. Broad St., Falls Church, VA, 22046, United States
Join members at an informal meetup at Godfrey’s Bakery and Cafe! Look for our social media manager Allie Nelson and our president Carolyn McBride. RSVP below so we can save enough space!
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May 2025 Meeting: Toward Authentic Expression - Liberate the Writer in You with Rosslyn Chay
2025-05-17 13:00 - 15:00 | St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 7426 Idylwood Road, Falls Church, VA, 22043, United States
“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.”
—Maya Angelou
What does it take to write?
Pen and paper, and a willingness to sit with ourselves including all that is happening with us.
Your imaginations and ideas; your criticisms and praises; your dreams and declarations; your rambles and stutters, and more, are all welcome.
Will you allow yourself to write them? Will you allow what is within to be seen by you?
It is the act of writing that births the writer, not the other way round.
Discover your blocks, clear away any thoughts that are limiting your flow, and let the frozen stories in you come to life.
Rosslyn will guide members through exercises to help writers release their (preconceived) notions about writing. Begin again by putting pen to paper.
Rosslyn Chay is many things, relaxing and expanding as a Poet, Author, Healer, Integral Coach, Knitter, Designer, and (omg), so much more! A series of punctuations: she is a still point; a living question; a radiant…pulsating…being…of light…. At her core, she is an Inquirer—an eternal mystery unfolding, ripening into her ongoing question of Who and What sits as the intersection point.
Author of The Weight of My Soul: Uncovering My Significance, and her weekly newsletter, The Dandelion Notes. Through writing, she invites you on an adventure with her to discover and truly know: You…are…so…much…more…. For more information, visit https://www.thespacetobe.co/.

Barnes & Noble Manassas: Book Signing with David Wessel
2025-05-24 | Barnes and Noble Manassas, 8117 Sudley Rd, Manassas, VA, 20109, United States
Stop in for a signed copy of NVWC member David Wessel’s book.

Barnes & Noble Loudoun: Book Signing with Bill Knowles
2025-05-24 | Barnes and Noble One Loudoun, 20427 Exchange St., Ashburn, VA, 20147, United States
Stop in for signed books from NVWC member Bill Knowles.

Barnes & Noble Gainesville: Book Signing with Carolyn Crocker
2025-05-24 | Barnes and Noble Gainesville, 8139 Stonewall Shops Square Suite 405-B, Gainesville, VA, 20155, United States

NVWC @ ViVa! Vienna
2025-05-25 - 2025-05-26 | DC

Brainstorm & Brew: Busboys & Poets Open Mic Night (Shirlington)
2025-06-02 | Busboys & Poets, 4251 S. Campbell Avenue, Arlington, 22206, United States
Meet up with other NVWC members as KaNikki Jakarta, Alexandria’s first African American Poet Laureate, hosts two hours of diverse voices, maybe even yours. KaNikki will be our featured speaker at our January 2026 meeting. Make sure you buy tickets in advance and arrive early so we can try to be seated together (we can’t hold seats): https://www.busboysandpoets.com/events/th-evt-43902304/#

NVWC @ Occoquan Riverfest
2025-06-07 - 2025-06-08 | DC

Barnes & Noble Manassas: Book Signing with Dennis Seiler
2025-06-07 | Barnes and Noble Manassas, 8117 Sudley Rd, Manassas, VA, 20109, United States
Stop in for signed books from NVWC member Dennis Seiler.

Barnes & Noble Gainesville: Book Signing with Turner Grant
2025-06-07 | Barnes and Noble Gainesville, 8139 Stonewall Shops Square Suite 405-B, Gainesville, VA, 20155, United States
Stop in for signed books from NVWC member Turner Grant.

Barnes & Noble Gainesville: Book Signing with Paula Weiss
2025-06-14 | Barnes and Noble Gainesville, 8139 Stonewall Shops Square Suite 405-B, Gainesville, VA, 20155, United States
Stop in for signed books from NVWC member Paula Weiss.

Barnes & Noble One Loudoun: Book Signing with Patricia DiVeccio
2025-06-21 | Barnes and Noble One Loudoun, 20427 Exchange St., Ashburn, VA, 20147, United States
Stop in for signed books from NVWC member Patricia DiVeccio.

Barnes & Noble Gainesville: Book Signing with AJ George
2025-06-21 | Barnes and Noble Gainesville, 8139 Stonewall Shops Square Suite 405-B, Gainesville, VA, 20155, United States
Stop in for signed books from NVWC member AJ George.

June 2025 Meeting: Mary Catherine Jones on Audiobooks from Microphone to Marketplace
2025-06-21 13:00 - 15:00 | St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 7426 Idylwood Road, Falls Church, VA, 22043, United States
Audiobooks have enjoyed double-digit growth for the last 12 years with no sign of slowing down. Many independently published authors don’t know where to begin when it comes to creating an audiobook. Members will learn the basics of audiobook production, including:

Narration: Author Voice or Professional Narrator?
Recording Options
Distribution Options
Using Your Audiobook Assets

Mary Catherine Jones will also include options for those wanting to bootstrap the process! Finally, she’ll touch on adapting your book for audio (how to handle quotes, charts, graphs, footnotes, and dialogue), plus plenty of time for questions.
Mary Catherine Jones is the owner and executive producer of The Audiobook Experience at Voice Over Vermont, an award-winning boutique audiobook recording and production studio. She delights in working with authors to bring their stories into the world, either using their voices or finding the perfect narrator for their audiobook. A speaker at the 2025 Women in Publishing Summit, her company has produced many award-winning titles, including club president Carolyn McBride’s audiobooks.

Barnes & Noble Manassas: Book Signing with Ricky Ginsberg
2025-06-28 | Barnes and Noble Manassas, 8117 Sudley Rd, Manassas, VA, 20109, United States
Stop in for signed books from NVWC member Ricky Ginsberg.

Barnes & Noble One Loudoun: Book Signing with Kathleen Goggin
2025-06-28 | Barnes and Noble One Loudoun, 20427 Exchange St., Ashburn, VA, 20147, United States
Stop in for signed books from NVWC member Kathleen Goggin.

Barnes & Noble Gainesville: Book Signing with Carolyn McBride
2025-06-28 | Barnes and Noble Gainesville, 8139 Stonewall Shops Square Suite 405-B, Gainesville, VA, 20155, United States
Stop in for signed books from NVWC member Carolyn McBride.

July 2025 Meeting: Scott Frost on Treading the Self-Publishing Abyss
2025-07-19 13:00 - 15:00 | St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 7426 Idylwood Road, Falls Church, VA, 22043, United States
Member Scott Frost will share his experiences and comprehensive guide to independent publishing: https://bit.ly/selfpubabyss. Scott Frost is an award-winning author who self-published his debut Sci-Fi novel Empyreax: The Rise of Cà Rá in 2025. He created a free no-strings guide for new authors to navigate the daunting steps of self-publishing. It has been viewed over 13,000 times, and he continues to receive appreciation from many authors who have used the guide. He currently lives in Fairfax, Virginia, and is about to publish a collection of shorts while busy at work on Empyreax Books Two and Three. Join his newsletter at https://www.scottfrost.com.

Brainstorm & Brew: Member Meetup @ Elaine's Restaurant (Old Town Alexandria)
2025-07-30 18:30 - 20:30 | Elaine’s Restaurant, 208 Queen St., Alexandria, 22314, United States
(Note: Date and location change!) Join members at an informal meetup at Elaine’s Restaurant Dinner Book Club in Old Town. Look for our social media manager Allie Nelson and our president Carolyn McBride. RSVP below so we can save enough space! It’s time to celebrate author Jeffrey James Higgins and his new novel The Havana Syndrome. Jeff, as owner of Elaine’s, has been a gracious host to so many of our writers, and it’s our turn to enjoy his latest work and give him a proper book club! Buy your copy today and come ready for lively conversation:
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Brainstorm & Brew: Field Trip to VWC Symposium
2025-08-02 09:00 - 16:30 | Randolph-Macon College, 114 College Ave., Ashland, VA, 23005, United States
Carpool with Carolyn McBride, NVWC president, to the Virginia Writers Club Symposium at Randolph-Macon College. Make sure you join VWC and purchase tickets to the symposium in advance (tickets on sale in June).
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NVWC @ Arlington County Fair
2025-08-15 - 2025-08-17 | Thomas Jefferson Community Center, 3501 Second Street South, Arlington, 22204, United States

August 2025: Member Social
2025-08-16 13:00 - 15:00 | St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 7426 Idylwood Road, Falls Church, VA, 22043, United States
In lieu of a family picnic this year, we will be holding a member mixer in our new digs at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. The meeting will be largely unstructured, with no featured speaker, to allow ample time for networking and sharing our experiences in writing and publishing. More details coming soon regarding food and drinks.

Brainstorm & Brew: Field Trip to National Book Festival
2025-09-06 08:30 - 20:00 | Walter E. Washington Convention Center, 801 Mt Vernon Pl NW, Washington, DC, 20001, United States
Join NVWC President Carolyn McBride at the National Book Festival. Depending on how many members RSVP, we will either carpool or take the Metro to the Washington Convention Center. It will be a full-day outing (until our feet give out!), but you may leave early if you wish. It’s a FREE event, and we can immerse ourselves in books all day long!!
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NVWC @ Falling for Fair Oaks Festival
2025-09-14 12:00 - 17:00 | Fair Oaks Mall, 11750 Fair Oaks Mall, Fairfax, VA, 22033, United States
Contact Events Coordinator Dave Wessel at dkwessel@gmail.com for a spot at the NVWC table or stop by the Authors Alley to support your fellow club members!
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September 2025 Meeting: Maggie Smith on Demystifying Book Marketing
2025-09-20 13:00 - 15:00 | St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 7426 Idylwood Road, Falls Church, VA, 22043, United States
Beyond the Manuscript: Demystifying Book Marketing
Marketing a book is one of the most misunderstood—and frequently frustrating—parts of the publishing journey. This practical, insightful workshop explores what happens after you’ve written the book, diving into the strategies and systems that will help you find your readers. Designed for authors at all stages, the session breaks down the essential components of a successful marketing plan with clarity and realism.
Topics include setting achievable goals, formulating a practical budget, and assembling a team to support your efforts—from agents to fellow writers to book designers and publicists. We’ll explore how to locate your ideal readers and turn casual browsers into engaged fans, and what it really means to develop an author “brand” in today’s crowded market. You’ll learn the basics of crafting a compelling tagline, building a website and newsletter, and using those tools to grow a loyal mailing list.
The session also walks through a 6-month marketing timeline, offering concrete tactics for each time period leading up to (and beyond) your launch. We’ll examine the murky world of advertising—what platforms are worth your time and money, how to measure ROI, and when to walk away. Whether you’re traditionally published, indie-publishing, or hybrid, this workshop offers actionable guidance, honest insights, and a roadmap to transform book marketing from overwhelming to empowering.
In a career that’s included work as a journalist, a psychologist, and the founder of a national art consulting company, Maggie Smith added novelist to her resume with the publication of her debut, Truth and Other Lies, in March 2022. A women’s fiction novel set in Chicago, it won NIEA’s Juror Grand Prize, the Star Award for Debut Fiction from Women’s Fiction Writers Association, Foreword INDIES General Fiction Book of the Year, and was selected for the Women’s Book Association Great Group Reads.
Her second novel, Blindspot, released in May 2024, is a psychological suspense that was named First Place Winner in the Mystery/Suspense category by Pencraft Book Awards, a finalist for CWA’s Book of the Year award for Indie Fiction, and is currently a finalist for the 2024 Silver Falchion Award for General Fiction by Killer Nashville.
Her next book-length project, Once Upon A Family, is a suspenseful family drama set in the wine country north of Santa Barbara and revolves around the kidnapping of a soon-to-be-bride and the reckoning her stepmother must face when a devastating ransom demand tests her values.
In addition to her writing, Maggie hosts the weekly podcast Hear Us Roar (285+ episodes on Apple Podcasts) and is Managing Editor for Chicago Writer’s Association Write City E-Zine.
