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 (America/New_York) | 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
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!

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.

Frightful Fridays @ Barnes & Noble Fair Lakes
2025-10-03 17:00 - 20:00, 2025-10-10 17:00 - 20:00, 2025-10-17 17:00 - 20:00, 2025-10-24 17:00 - 20:00, 2025-10-31 17:00 - 20:00 | Barnes and Noble Fair Lakes, 12193 Fair Lakes Promenade Dr., Fairfax, 22033, United States
Click image to enlarge.
October Frightful Friday evenings from 5-8 pm features the following NVWC authors:

10/3 – Scott Frost
10/10 – Allistar Nelson
10/17 – Darius Jones
10/24 – Bryan Nowak
10/31 – Ricky Ginsburg

Scary Saturdays @ Barnes & Noble Gainesville
2025-10-04 12:00 - 15:00, 2025-10-11 12:00 - 15:00, 2025-10-18 12:00 - 15:00, 2025-10-25 12:00 - 15:00 | Barnes and Noble Gainesville, 8139 Stonewall Shops Square Suite 405-B, Gainesville, VA, 20155, United States
Click image to enlarge.
October Scary Saturdays from 12-3 pm features the following NVWC authors:

10/4 – Allistar Nelson
10/11 – Bryn Grover
10/18 – Darius Jones
10/25 – Atlas Creed

NVWC @ Fredericksburg Fall Festival
2025-10-11 - 2025-10-12 | Fredericksburg Convention Center, 2371 Carl D. Silver Parkway, Fredericksburg, VA, 22401, United States

Alexandria Book & Craft Festival
2025-10-18 10:00 - 16:00 | Made in ALX, 415 King Street, Alexandria, VA, 22314, United States
Join 25 authors (including NVWC members) and 15 artists in the square behind Made in ALX, 415 King Street in the heart of Old Town Alexandria, for this first-ever book and craft festival, co-hosted by Elaine’s Literary Salon.

October 2025 Meeting: Laura DiFranco on Building a Platform
2025-10-18 13:00 - 15:00 | St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 7426 Idylwood Road, Falls Church, VA, 22043, United States
Three Powerful Ways to Build a Platform for Your Business
Laura DiFranco of Brave Healer Publishing will discuss how to use storytelling to sell books and build business and brand. As a business owner, we reach prospective clients and readers in many ways. Your platform as an author or business owner is two things: Your email list subscribers and your social media followers. Participants will enjoy a workshop-style presentation to address three of the most powerful strategies to add email list subscribers, social platform numbers, and raving fans who want what you have to offer:

Your email opt-in or call to action
Your social content (how to build know-love-trust)
Your speaking strategy (move your audience into action)

. . . and how the right strategy will help you grow your platform.
Laura Di Franco is the CEO of Brave Healer Productions, a 14-time award-winning publisher for holistic health, wellness, and business professionals with a mission to help the world experience what’s possible. She, like you, started with zero people on her email list. She’s excited to share how she got past the 10,000 mark over the last few years.

November 2025 Meeting: Painting the Pages Workshop with Dr. Oliver Reid
2025-11-15 13:00 - 15:00 | St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 7426 Idylwood Road, Falls Church, VA, 22043, United States
Bring your laptop or notebook and be prepared to work on your latest piece or start something new in this workshop led by Dr. Oliver Reid of The Writing Coach.
Dr. Oliver T. Reid is an international multi-bestselling and award-winning author, motivational speaker, and the founder and president of I Am a Solution Consulting Firm, LLC, a human development organization providing specialized relationship, business consulting, counseling, and coaching services. Known as “The Writing Coach,” he uses cutting-edge writing coaching techniques to help Entrepreneurs, Speakers, and Coaches while leading them to live to their highest potential.
In addition, he is the creator of the revolutionary interactive card game for singles and couples, The InnerView™. Within the past seven years, Dr. Reid has published 30 bestselling books, contributed to 17 anthologies, and has won multiple awards for his literary work, including the 2016 IALA Distinction of Excellence Legendary Honoree and NAACP 2016-2017 Black Men Image Award , and Marquis Who’s Who Honoree List 2025 Award. Dr. Oliver T. Reid has had the distinct honor of speaking to millions around the world and coaching individuals on four continents. Dr. Reid has been featured on HuffPost, Black Enterprise, ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, Roku TV, and other international media outlets.

December 2025 Meeting: Holiday Social with Publishing Industry Expert Jane Friedman
2025-12-13 13:00 - 15:00 | St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 7426 Idylwood Road, Falls Church, VA, 22043, United States
In lieu of a holiday outing this year, we will be holding another member mixer in our new digs at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. Our featured speaker is industry expert Jane Friedman, who will kick off our event via Zoom to share her insights on The Year in Publishing—and What to Watch for 2026. Even though the publishing industry is often considered slow and not as susceptible to technological change (and print is enjoying robust sales), the business of books is always evolving. Join Jane for a discussion about current book sales and marketing trends in the United States and the ongoing effects of AI. Bring your books for a raffle and holiday treats after Jane’s talk!
If you don’t know who Jane Friedman is, you must be new to publishing. She has spent her entire career working in the publishing industry, with a focus on business reporting and author education. Her book, The Business of Being a Writer, Second Edition is used as a classroom text by many writing and publishing degree programs. Her impact on publishing education spans multiple formats and audiences from speaking engagements and workshops to her newsletters, The Bottom Line and Electric Speed. Jane’s expertise is regularly featured in major media outlets such as The New York Times, The Atlantic, The Today Show, Wired, Fox News, and BBC. She may be the most trusted voice in today’s publishing industry, and we are fortunate to host her as we close out 2025 for the Northern Virginia Writers Club.

January 2026: Annual Meeting & Officer Elections
2026-01-17 13:00 - 15:00 | St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 7426 Idylwood Road, Falls Church, VA, 22043, United States
Cast your vote in our Officer elections for President, Vice President (open), Treasurer, and Secretary (open). We are currently seeking candidates for a one-year term. For more information about the role responsibilities or to nominate yourself, please contact president@northernvirginiawriters.org. We also have a number of coordinator positions for collaboration, website management, critique groups, and events. Please consider making a difference in your writing community.

February 2026 Meeting: Allison K. Williams on Choosing Your Publishing Path
2026-02-21 13:00 - 15:00 | St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 7426 Idylwood Road, Falls Church, VA, 22043, United States
Which Publishing Path Is Right for YOU?
The era of the gatekeepers is over. Authors have more options than ever for self, hybrid, independent, university, and small-press publishing, and can choose their own path based on speed, level of control, amount of guidance, and of course, the time and money they want to invest.
But self-publishing can be tricky and time-consuming, and hybrid presses expensive. Plus, it’s hard to find the honest, value-added publishing services among vanity presses and scammers, especially for first books. For authors planning a series or multiple books, it’s even more important to get a process, editors, designers, and marketing support that serves your mission and your book.
We’ll discuss the pluses and perils of self-publishing, hybrid presses, and small publishers, and most importantly, how to know which path is right for you.
Allison K. Williams is the author of Seven Drafts: Self-Edit Like a Pro From Blank Page to Book. She has edited and coached fiction and nonfiction writers to publishing deals with Penguin Random House, Knopf, Mantle, Spencer Hill, and St. Martin’s Press as well as hybrid and independent presses, and to the New York Times Bestseller List and the USA Today Bestseller List. As the creator and cohost of The Writers Bridge platform and publishing talks, she’s guided writers through audience creation, marketing strategies, and querying (and signing with!) literary agents. She also hosts writing retreats around the world through Rebirth Your Book.
Allison holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Western Michigan University and spent 20 years as a circus aerialist and acrobat before writing and editing full-time.
__________
“Allison K. Williams is GOLDEN. She is so efficient, clear and concise, and such an enjoyable human being. Her generosity and knowledge are boundless!” Amber Jackson
“I believe the cost of your class was one of the best investments I have ever made in my entire writing life. I value the treasure trove of information and resources you shared as well as the clarity, organization, and personal pizzazz of your presentation.” Ruth Sloven
“I don’t have words to thank you for shifting me from inert and stuck to excited and empowered.” Sara Massagee

NVWC First Annual Winter Book Festival
2026-02-28 11:00 - 16:00 | Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library, 717 Queen Street, Alexandria, VA, 22314, United States
Join us for the Northern Virginia Writers Club Book Festival! Meet over 20 local authors and enjoy presentations on writing and publishing at this exclusive event in the heart of Old Town, two blocks north of King Street near the corner of Queen Street and Washington Street. Readers of all ages are welcome to attend! Drop in at any time!

Visit with over 20 local authors to discuss their experiences as writers and their path to publishing, and purchase autographed copies of their books. Genres represented by the mix of authors include children’s and young adult books, biography and memoirs, historical fiction, science fiction, romance and contemporary literature, social and political issues, motivational books, and travel guides.
The event kicks off with a celebration of America’s 250th birthday with a talk by author David Wessel about writing historical fiction! Author talks will be in the Youth Services Area and writer meet and greets will be on the second floor!
Author Talks (times subject to change)
10:30 AM – Can a Magic Ball of Light Really Help You Fulfill Your Dreams? – Margie Hamner
11:15 AM – Writing Historical Fiction – David Wessel
12:00 PM – How Science Influenced My Science Fiction – Tom DeWitt
12:45 PM – The Cost of Living With Conviction – Toby Dorr
1:30 PM – Every Life is Filled with Non-Fiction – Including Yours – Katherine Schweit
2:15 PM – Stories Need Shelves: Finding Your Genre, Audience, and Niche – Sharon Wishnow
3:00 PM – Different Ways to Publish – Which One is Right For You? – Paula Weiss

March 2026 Meeting: Short-Form Success—A Panel on Publishing in Magazines, Journals, & Anthologies
2026-03-21 13:00 - 15:30 | St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 7426 Idylwood Road, Falls Church, VA, 22043, United States
Are you ready to submit your poetry, short stories, and essays but unsure how to navigate the world of literary markets? Publishing short works in magazines, journals, and anthologies is a vital step for any writer looking to build credentials, find a readership, and refine their craft.
Join us for an insightful panel discussion featuring three members of the writing community with deep and diverse experiences in the short-form publishing landscape.
In this dynamic session, our panelists will share practical advice on:

Finding the right market: How to efficiently research and target magazines and journals that match your genre and style.
Understanding submission guidelines: Essential tips for crafting cover letters, formatting manuscripts, and avoiding common rejection pitfalls.
Leveraging anthologies: Exploring the submission process for themed anthologies and what editors look for in these curated collections.
Transitioning from hobbyist to professional: Strategies for building a portfolio of published works to advance your writing career.

Whether you write genre fiction, literary essays, or poetry, this panel will provide the actionable knowledge you need to take your short works from manuscript to publication.

Speaker Bios
Darius Jones
NVWC Board Member & Award-Winning Author
Darius is a highly active member of the speculative fiction community and an NVWC Board Member. He specializes in Cosmic Horror, Weird Fiction, and Dark Fantasy. His short stories and poems have appeared in respected markets such as Strange Horizons, The No Sleep Podcast, and Star*Line Magazine. He is a member of the Horror Writers Association (HWA), Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA), and the Science Fiction Poetry Association (SFPA), giving him extensive insight into professional short-form genre publishing. His first book, The Books of Hours, a collection of 24 Dark Cosmic poems, was published in 2025 by Alien Buddha Press.
Allie Nelson
NVWC Social Media Coordinator & Pushcart Prize-Nominated Author
Allie is a multiple Pushcart Prize-nominated author and the NVWC Social Media Coordinator. Her work has appeared in a wide array of publications, including The British Fantasy Society, Apex Magazine, ILLUMEN, Eternal Haunted Summer, and various others. Her writing has been translated internationally into Polish and Spanish, curated by notable figures like Kevin J. Anderson, and appeared in anthologies alongside authors such as Graham Masterson and Jane Yolen.
Heidi Hess
Florida Writer, Paranormal Author, and Festival Organizer
Heidi Hess is a paranormal fiction author and an organizer of the Read It Write It Book and Writing Festival. Her short stories have appeared in her own collections, including Chronicles of Chaos and The Short End of Madness. As both a published author and a successful event organizer, Heidi brings a valuable perspective on not only submitting to publications but also the process of creating and compiling original short-story anthologies.

NVWC @ Fredericksburg Spring Arts & Crafts Festival
2026-04-11 - 2026-04-12 | Fredericksburg Convention Center, 2371 Carl D. Silver Parkway, Fredericksburg, VA, 22401, United States
Visit the booth for the Northern Virginia Writers Club, pick up signed copies of members’ books, and learn more about the club.

April 2026 Meeting: ML Brei on AI & Authors
2026-04-18 13:00 - 15:00 | St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 7426 Idylwood Road, Falls Church, VA, 22043, United States
At the April 2026 monthly meeting, ML Brei, a computer scientist and author of Conversing with AI: A Handbook for Writers will lead a workshop on AI & Authors. As an author, educator, and prompt engineering consultant, she is passionate about empowering others at the intersection of language and technology.
Are you curious about how AI, like ChatGPT or Claude, can support your writing process?
We are writers—lovers of language and the art of storytelling. As AI becomes increasingly integrated into the writing process, many of us are asking: What is the right way for writers to use AI?
Join us for an engaging workshop that explores how writers can ethically and effectively use AI as a creative assistant, not a replacement.
ML Brei is the founder of Meripoint Books LLC, an independent press dedicated to thoughtful, purpose-driven literature. Her diverse portfolio includes fiction, nonfiction, and educational materials, with titles such as Conversing with AI: A Handbook for Writers, A Different Type of Soul (2022) and The Christian Symbols of the Twelve Days of Christmas (2022). Known for her practical wisdom and visionary insight, ML Brei helps writers, military personnel, and educators harness the power of AI through structured prompting and ethical guidance.
