Monthly Meetings

Meetings feature guest speakers, open mic readings, workshopping, and more. Past speakers have included writers of mainstream fiction, romance, science fiction, historical fiction, poetry, plays, nonfiction books and articles, screenplays, advertising, and children's books. Accountants, editors, publishers, attorneys, agents, and computer experts have also addressed the group. MWA's relaxed, informal meetings give you the opportunity to ask questions of speakers, chat with MWA members, and share news and tips.

Meetings are free to members and first-time guests. Nonmembers who have already attended once are asked to pay $5.00 at the door.

Interested in being a speaker? Like more information about our meetings? Contact us!

Executive Committee Meetings

Meetings of the Executive Committee of the MWA Board are open to all MWA members. The next meeting of the Executive Committee will be Sunday, February 21, 2010 from 3:00-5:00 p.m. at Ukazoo Books, 730 Dulaney Valley Road, in Towson. Please contact Executive Committee President Sonia Linebaugh for more information.

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Tuesday, February 9, 6:30

The Annapolis/Anne Arundel County chapter presents a Valentine's Day theme speaker: suspense/paranormal romance writer Rebecca York. Ms. York is a New York Times, USA Today, and Publisher's Weekly bestselling, award-winning author. She has written over 115 books, and authored or co-authored over 65 romantic thrillers for Harlequin Intrigue's popular 43 Light Street Series, set in Baltimore. Her award-winning novel, Killing Moon, launched her 'moon' series of six paranormal romantic books. She has won numerous awards including two Rita finalist books and two Caesar Achievement awards for Romantic Suspense. Her Peregrine Connection series also won a Lifetime Achievement award for Romantic Suspense. Currently, Rebecca York heads up the Columbia Writers Workshop in Columbia, MD, where she lives with her husband.

At Ahh, Coffee!, 1015 Bay Ridge Ave. in the Eastport Shopping Center, in Annapolis. For directions and parking information, visit the Ahh, Coffee! website or call (410) 990-9111. For more information about MWAA, contact Publicity Chair Joanne Alloway.

Thursday, February 18, 7:00-9:00

The Howard County chapter presents a craft session and Q&A with local literary novelist, poet, Raymond Carver Prize winner and CCBC Associate Professor Kim Jensen. More details coming soon!

At Bon Fresco Coffee Shop, 6945 Oakland Mills Road, in Columbia. For more information, contact chapter secretary Eileen McIntire.

Monday, February 22, 7:00-9:00

The Baltimore Chapter and friends the CityLit Project and the Write Here, Write Now workshops, presents a guided write-in. Participants will be invited to read their work as well. Write-in leader(s) TBA; more details coming soon!

At Cyclops Bookstore, Baltimore City's only independent general bookstore, 30 W. North Ave. at Maryland Avenue, in Baltimore.

Thursday, March 18, 7:00-9:00

The Howard County chapter presents the hilarious Shirl Hayes, a professional freelance writer who, among other things, has adapted 30 novels into scripts for audio theater and writes articles for NASA. More details coming soon!

At Bon Fresco Coffee Shop, 6945 Oakland Mills Road, in Columbia. For more information, contact chapter secretary Eileen McIntire.

Monday, March 22, 7:00-9:00

The Baltimore Chapter and friends the CityLit Project and the Write Here, Write Now workshops, presents Laura Cannon speaking on "Transforming Your Writing Process with Creative Visualization." Writing is a creative process, and while creativity cannot be forced, it can be cultivated. Creative Visualization is a powerful technique you can use to overcome writer's block, discover your writing purpose, open your mind to the ideas inside, and bring greater presence to your work. This workshop will introduce you to the science behind how the brain works to support us in creative tasks when utilized correctly by exploring the power and process of creative visualization. Find out how it works, why it works, and how you can use it to transform your writing process. Then learn how to take your visualization further by creating a "vision board" for your writing project -- a visual roadmap to help inspire you and keep you focused as you write. Please bring: a pair of scissors, a marker or markers, and at least two magazines that speak to the type of story you're working on (for example, women's magazines for a chic lit novel, hunting & fishing magazines if your characters are on a camping trip, etc.) and which contain images that relate somehow to your story.

Laura Cannon is an ordained minister and life-coach for both couples and individuals. She is passionate about sharing transformational tools with others to help them liberate their creative power from within. Integrating her intuitive abilities, training, and healing gifts, Laura has developed a new healing modality called Divine Transformation. In this modality, she works directly with clients to assist them in co-creating a plan of transformation to re-shape their lives. She conducts weddings, individual healing sessions, transformational seminars and workshops throughout the country. Sometimes she even pretends to be a writer. You can follow her blog at www.divinetransformation.com.

At Ukazoo Books, 730 Dulaney Valley Road, in Towson. Ukazoo Books, an independently owned and operated bookstore, features more than 100,000 used and out-of-print titles, and new selections from the New York Times Bestseller List. The Book Buyback program offers competitive pricing for used books and pays with store credit or cash back. Reading rooms are open to the public for events and relaxing with free coffee, tea or wifi. Ukazoo is open Monday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The buyback desk is open Monday to Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. For more information or to see a calendar of events, visit www.ukazoo.com or call (410) 832-BOOK (2665).