Writers Association Hosts Free Reading by Local Authors at Books & Co

KETTERING, OH - The Ohio region is brimming with talented writers from virtually every genre, professional and hobbyist. Everyone's heard of David Baldacci, Stephen King and J.K. Rowling, but there are countless unpublished and self-published authors here at home whose work rarely has the spotlight.

For ninety minutes on Wednesday September 1^st, some of these hopeful Hemingways will take the microphone to entertain audiences with samples of their short works and poetry. Beginning at 7 PM the authors from the Western Ohio Writers Association will present their second Beatnik Café event at Books & Co. in the Town and Country Shopping Center, 350 East Stroop Rd. in Kettering. The event is free and open to a public audience.

The relaxed, informal format of the live reading pays homage to the hole-in-the-wall poetry clubs of the 1960's, but with a more modern style. Reading aloud from original work, each writer will take the stage and dazzle audiences with short stories, poetry or who knows what.

The program is presented by the Western Ohio Writers Association, a non-profit organization based in Greene County that provides support, education and professional resources for writers in southwest central Ohio, eastern Indiana and northern Kentucky. Participating writers attend free monthly critique and educational meetings where they can have their work reviewed by fellow writers and get feedback in nearly all genres. There is no cost to be involved as of yet, but, according to the organizers, that may change in the future.

Gery L. Deer of Jamestown, Ohio is the founder and coordinator of the organization. Deer is a professional freelance journalist, editorial columnist and commercial copywriter writer. A few years ago, he was making a move from periodical content to e-books and longer, creative manuscripts when he found that networking with other writers might help him with the change in writing styles.

Unfortunately, Deer found virtually no avenues for such resources anywhere in the region. "Outside of a college class, there was no support available for writers in the Miami Valley and surrounding areas of Ohio and Indiana," Deer said. "The WOWA was intended to provide critique and networking opportunities to local writers of all genres, both amateur and professional."

"Annual workshops are held all around the country, with two of the most well-known right here in the Miami Valley, but for a writer to thrive, that type of support needs to come on a more regular basis," Deer continued. "Additionally, the cost of these activities is often too high for the average person. Elaborate retreats boasting highly-paid guest speakers are great for hobbyists with disposable cash, but working writers struggling to grow their careers usually don't have that kind of money to throw around."

The Western Ohio Writers Association organizes monthly events through the Meetup.com website sponsored by GLD Enterprises Commercial Writing. Participants are encouraged to bring paper and pen along with samples of their work and their own refreshments. For more information, go online to www.theconciergecopywriter.com and click on the WOWA logo in the upper right corner, or email Gery L. Deer at gery@gerydeer.com.