2026 Meetings

April 18

Diane E. Tatum will be speaking on maintaining POV (point of view).

Diane Tatum grew up in St. Louis, Missouri, and wrote in elementary school. After earning degrees in accounting, business administration, and teaching language arts, she raised her sons and returned to writing, freelancing for magazines and church curriculum. She later taught middle school language arts for eleven years before retiring to write full-time. Her debut novel, Gold Earrings (2011), was followed by titles across historical fiction, romantic suspense, mystery, and time travel, including Hiding in the Highlands. She has published the Colonial Dream series and Main Street Mysteries and serves as an adjunct English professor at Motlow State Community College.

May 16

Suzie Waltner will be speaking about author websites.

Your website is like the front door to your writing life. Learn how to create a clear, welcoming homepage, write a compelling author bio, showcase your books, and make it easy for readers to connect through your newsletter. We’ll also cover domain ownership, basic compliance pages, and simple ways to present yourself professionally without overwhelm. Whether you’re starting from scratch or refining your site, you’ll leave with a clear, practical roadmap to build an author website that serves both readers and your writing career.

Suzie Waltner is a contemporary romance author, editor, and mentor who helps writers navigate publishing and marketing with clarity and sustainability. Her novel Midnight Blue was a finalist for the Holt Medallion and the Maggie Award and won the Angel Book Award in 2023. When she’s not writing or editing, she travels the country as a digital nomad, gathering story inspiration wherever she lands.

June 20

Stephanie Cardel will be sharing what agents want with a focus on query letters and common writing mistakes.

Stephanie Cardel is the founder of Lighthouse Literary Agency and holds a B.S. in Psychology from Middle Tennessee State University, with minors in English and Social Work. After owning a dance studio for ten years, she homeschooled her three children through high school while teaching a variety of subjects in homeschool tutorials. She and her husband run a log home maintenance business and enjoy time with their five grandchildren. Stephanie writes MG and YA fiction; her debut novel, This Isn’t Shakespeare (2025), released alongside a companion devotional. A former agent with Golden Wheat Literary, she now helps writers pursue publication through Lighthouse Literary.

July 18

August 15

September 19

October 17

November 21

December 5 (note change in Saturday): Annual elections and Christmas party