Northern Virginia Writers Club

January 2025 Meeting Minutes

1/18/2025            1:00 PM

1. Call to order – Club Pres. Michelle McBeth [2024].
2. Roll call
3. In Person:
   1. Michelle McBeth (Science Fiction), VP Carolyn McBride (Women’s fiction), Toby Dorr (Memoir, Self Help). Julie Boland (Thriller), Treasurer AJ George (Mystery-Thriller, Horror), Sec. Darius Jones (Horror, Dark Fantasy), Social Media Coordinator Traci Carter (Hist. Romance), John Wren (Thrillers, Mystery, Sci-Fi) and partner Lois Wren (Events Coordinator), Bob Scates (Sci-Fi), Elizabeth Merck (Women’s Fiction), Isabel Missud (Urban Fantasy), Scott Frost (Sci Fi Horror), Elizabeth McCray (Writing Teacher, Nonfiction), Dennis Seiler (Children’s Books), Kevin Connor (short fiction), Kelly Brown (Sci-Fi, Fantasy), Casie White, Patricia DiVechio (Non-fiction), Toby Dorr (Memoir).
   2. On Zoom: Hope Gaskins (Publisher of Women’s Lit), Sharon Wishnow (Women’s fiction), Erin Patterson (Fantasy), Erika Meyers (Literary Fiction), Catherine Schwight (True Crime), Tom DeWitt (Sci-Fi), Ben East (Satire), Jason Maddux (Sci-Fi, Fantasy), R K Price (Hist. Fiction), Valerie Johnson (Children Picture Books), Suha Kudsieh (poetry), Ericka Meyers (Literary Fiction), Dominique Hoffman (new author).
4. Triumphs and failures
   1. Darius Jones: Will appear at St. Elmo’s on Mt. Vernon Alexandria, VA open mic Poetry Night on Feb. 7 at 7 p.m.
   2. J.: Received another five-star review on Barnes and Noble for his novel.
   3. Traci Carter: She just graduated from Emory University’s Creative Writing program.
   4. Valerie Johnson: Friend in Norfolk, VA will give talk on impact beyond classroom. Valerie will speak to cohort of teachers.
   5. John Wren: Speaking at Cloye’s Café to talk to local book club about his book.
   6. Frost: Published book Jan. 2, received two 5-Star reviews so far.
   7. Sharon: Talking Jan. 29 in Washington D.C., at “Generation Women” event.
   8. Toby: Speaking at Women in Publishing Summit (virtual) Mar. 5-8
5. Approval of minutes from last meeting
   1. AJ Moved, Isabel seconded.
   2. All in favor, no opposed.
   3. Minutes approved.
6. Officer’s Reports
7. President
   1. Upcoming meeting topics
      1. Feb 15 – Tara Campbell will talk to us about writing “craft.”
      2. March 15 – Golden Nib winners (2024) will read their works and give a talk.
   2. Virginia Writers Club Journal
      1. https://virginiawritersclub.org/VWC-Journal-Guidelines
      2. 3/31= Deadline for fiction, nonfiction, poems, and Flash.
      3. You must be member of the state organization to submit.
   3. College of William and Mary
      1. Looking for VA Writers in Residence. $50K stipend is offered.
      2. Deadline = Feb. 1
      3. For more see: https://libraries.wm.edu/writer.

8. Vice President
   1. No report.
9. Treasurer
   5678. YTD Ending Cash = $5678.85
10. Secretary
    1. No report.
    2. Darius: Thanks to officers for their support over the years. This will be my last meeting as secretary
11. Old Business
12. Upcoming writing resources/contests:
    1. Open submission: Cohesion Press for Sci-Fi Military.
       1. https://www.cohesionpress.com/submissions
    2. AuthorCon: Convention for Horror Writers and charity “Scares that Care.”
       1. March 28-30 in Williamsburg, VA.
       2. For more: https://scaresthatcare.org/authorcon-v
    3. Business from the floor.
       1. AJ: Memberships renewals are due end of February. Get them in!
       2. Missud: Website updating needs.
          1. Discussion about updating, especially for Club members.
          2. Could we improve the site with a Club news section by highlighting our authors’ achievements?
       3. Toby: We could set up an Amazon affiliate account for the Club and sell Members’ books through that account.
       4. Group discussion: New speakers for 2025 (potential).
          1. Robin might (again) be a good candidate. Others: Karen Cantwell, Joe Merrich, Letovsky on marketing a book.
          2. Other ideas: Patricia: Talk on how to publish in magazines; Dominique: Get someone in on Memoir Writing; Missud: Have NVWC Members talk about how they got published; Toby Dorr could give a talk on Women in publishing, Memoir writing, Podcast to promote your book, etc.; AJ: Art Taylor on the craft of writing; Erika: Tanya James (author associated with George Mason) could be a good speaker. Erika will reach out; Isabel: Get a writing coach in to talk craft. David of “Write by Night.”; Carolyn: Guest on writing a query letter could be helpful.

• Outcome: Michelle McBeth will send Carolyn McBride past (and prospective) speakers to consider booking for later this year.

14. Election for 2025 officers.
15. 1. Isabel nominates, AJ seconds Carolyn for President.
    2. Carolyn accepts the nomination.
    3. Vote: Unanimously approved (in room and online).
16. Vice President
    1. Michelle: Nominates Casie White. Isabel seconds.
    2. Vote: Unanimously approved (in room and online).
17. 1. AJ is running.
    2. Michelle nominates. Isabel seconds.
    3. Unanimously approved.
18. 1. AJ nominates Kevin Connor. Darius seconds.
    2. Unanimously approved.
19. Other roles (not officers, so no vote required per Club rules):
    1. Traci is stepping down as Social media Coordinator.
       1. Ally Nelson should be stepping up.
       2. Vee James and Virginia Garboczi have also volunteered to help
    2. Isabel Missud continuing as Membership Coordinator.
    3. Lois Wren continuing as Events Coordinator.
       1. Dave Wessel may also be able to help w/certain events.
    4. Website coordinator: We’re still looking for.
       1. Toby might be able to help.
    5. Snack purveyor.
       1. Patricia DiVechio volunteers (with help from Casey W).
    6. Adjournment at 2:30—Club Past President McBeth.