September 5, 2026-Speaker Layne Goode. Topic: Mental Health
October 3, 2026-Speaker Sarah Westill. Topic: World-building focused
November, 2026-No Meeting – Members only writers retreat
December 5, 2026-Speaker Michael Buzzelli. Topic: Charm Your Readers with Humor Tips on Writing RomComs.
January 2, 2027- Carla Swafford, Topic: Self-Publishing Basics
Bring an excerpt and questions you have about your current or future writing projects and members can critique and offer each other help with writing projects.
If you can, bring school supplies to donate.
Coming in the next months…
September 5, 2026
Guest Speaker Layne Goode (Mississippi Licensed Certified Social Worker), will speak about Mental Health. In person
October 3, 2026
Guest Speaker Sarah Stillwell will discuss World-building focused (what goes into creating an unfamiliar setting and making it familiar). In person.
November 2026–NO MEETING (Writers retreat for members)
December 5, 2026
Guest Speaker Michael Buzzelli will speak with our group about humor tips and about his holiday romance, All I Want for Christmas. His article, ‘How to Charm Your Readers with Humor Tips on Writing RomComs’ was featured on the RWA website. He will present his topic in person.
June’s speaker will be Jodie Cain Smith. She is the founder of the Mobile Literary Festival, which is a big event every year at the Mobile downtown library and she is the event planner for the Haunted Book Shop. To be presented through Zoom.
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Heads up: There will not be a meeting in July. Because it’s July the 4th. Happy 250 years to the USA.
Per Southern Magic’s VP Debbie McDonald: Not Another Swipe is her book that was published in 2025. It’s romantic suspense. She may talk about her other historical and contemporary works but I asked her to talk about her Truepair series which is romantic suspense.
Speaker: Paula Webb is a writer, historian, and librarian whose work bridges fact and fiction with Southern charm and emotional depth. She is the author of both historical biographies and contemporary novels, including the TruePair Series. When she’s not writing, Paula champions the arts and literacy through her work at the University of South Alabama and community initiatives. Not Another Swipe is the first novel in her romantic suspense series exploring love, identity, and the power of unexpected connections.
Critique Time
Luck has nothing to do with it! Writers work hard to get their thoughts on paper. Bring an excerpt and questions you have about your current or future writing projects and members can critique and offer each other help with writing projects.
Presentation: Author Wellness by Carita Holman.
Per our vice president, Debbie McDonald,
1)Collect for toy drive–Police Chaplain will collect toy donations and speak for a few minutes.
2)General meeting.
3)Guest speaker, Cynthia Eden, will speak about how to write a holiday romance. Here is her bio:
Cynthia Eden is a New York Times, USA Today, Digital Book World, and IndieReader bestselling author of romantic suspense, contemporary romance, and paranormal romance. She’s a prolific author who lives along the Alabama Gulf Coast. Each year, Cynthia has a tradition of releasing one new holiday romance for her readers. She loves the magic of the Christmas season and can’t wait to share tips on crafting both holiday novellas and full-length books. In addition to an analysis of writing holiday romances, she will discuss ways to market these tales not just during November and December, but throughout the year.
4)Literary Santa (Southern Magic’s version of Dirty/Naughty Santa. Gifts with literary themes, no more than $15).
North Shelby Library address is 5521 Cahaba Valley Rd, Birmingham, AL 35242
RWA Chapter 178 