November 2026 Meeting Information

 

Join us Saturday, October 17, 2026, 11am

La Hacienda Ranch Restaurant in Colleyville for

Robin Henry presenting

 

How to Prepare Effective Query Packages

Overview

This presentation provides actionable, step-by-step guidance for authors preparing to query literary agents and publishers. It outlines the core components of a successful submission package, practical strategies for crafting effective materials, submission etiquette, and key industry resources to track and target queries.

Key points include:

• What to Prepare (The Query Package)
• How to Create Effective Submission Materials
• Do's and Don'ts
• Submission Strategies & Industry Resources

* * * * *

Robin Henry holds an MLS (Library Science) and MA in Humanities. She is a librarian, adjunct professor of Humanities and Library Science and an independent editor, specializing in Historical Fiction, Book Club, and Literary Fiction. She is an Author Accelerator Certified Book Coach. She has over twenty years of experience working with books and authors, as a reviewer, book award committee member, writing teacher and coach.

A favorite pastime is gathering friends for an animated book discussion and afternoon tea. Life is too short to read (or write) bad books!

 

September 2026 Program Info

 

Join us Saturday, September 19, 2026, 11am

La Hacienda Ranch Restaurant in Colleyville for

Andra Dunn presenting

 

Newsletter Tune-Up:

Creating Emails People Actually Want to Read

In an inbox crowded with promotions, automation, spam, and AI-generated content, simply sending a newsletter isn't enough. This interactive session explores ways writers can make email feel personal again and turn their subscriber lists into engaged communities.

We'll look at what's working in email marketing now, which metrics can help you identify what's connecting with readers, and simple ways to create more conversation and interaction through your emails. We'll also explore email automations that strengthen reader relationships and practical ways to use AI for brainstorming, editing, and strategy without losing your individual voice.

Bring your ideas, creativity, and even a recent newsletter, and get ready to give your email marketing a tune-up.

* * * * *

Andra Dunn is a digital marketing strategist, content creator, and entrepreneur with more than 20 years of experience helping businesses and organizations connect with their audiences online. Her work spans website development, SEO, content strategy, email marketing, and digital communications, with a focus on practical strategies that build genuine engagement. As a business owner herself, Andra brings a hands-on perspective to marketing—testing, adapting, and using the same tools and strategies she recommends to her clients.

 

August 2026 Program Information

 

Image courtesy of IMGBIN.com.

Join us Saturday, August 15, 2026 at 11am

at La Hacienda Ranch Restaurant in Colleyville for

Jen FitzGerald

AI for Writers

Separating Fear from Fact

A year ago we dipped our toes into the world of artificial intelligence.

This year, we'll take a look at what actually happens when you paste your words into ChatGPT, Gemini, or Claude, demystify the technology behind it, and explore where the real ethical questions live.

Whether you've been experimenting with AI tools or haven't touched them yet, this program will give you a practical framework for making informed decisions.

 

July 2026 Meeting Information

 

 

Join us Saturday, July 18, 2026, 11am

La Hacienda Ranch Restaurant in Colleyville to

Gather and Say So Long

Our July meeting will be a combination of a farewell party for Celia and a mid-year follow up on the goal sheets we created in January.

Celia and her husband are moving to Albuquerque at the end of July. She will remain a member of NT but this will be her last in person meeting.

Time to pull out your goal sheets and share what you have accomplished and what you are still working on with the group. We may even have time for some brainstorming!

 

June 2026 Meeting Information

 

Join us Saturday, June 20, 2026, 11am

La Hacienda Ranch Restaurant in Colleyville for

for LeAnn Robinson presenting

Visualizing Your World

What can you do to make your work more vivid and detailed?

We all want to create vivid descriptions in our writing. We want our readers to "see" the scene we're laying out. But how well are we succeeding? More importantly, how can we get better? New studies have revealed a surprising secret about why it's so hard. We will discuss ways to overcome our blocks so we can create settings, characters, and worlds that pop off the page.

* * * * *

About LeAnn

LeAnn's writing career began in the fourth grade, when she sold her first book, a hand-drawn, hand-lettered edition, on folded 8 1/2 by 5 1/2" paper for ten cents. Then there was a large lull while she worked a day job and studied the writing craft. Her introduction to romance was an old Georgette Heyer book, but now she enjoys books that are a little steamier!

North Texas Two Step Conference 2026

 

For all the details click here.

Join us Saturday, April 11, 2026,

for an all-day conference featuring

AMANDA ARISTA

 

Amanda will be presenting three workshops, two short and one long:

The WRITE Stuff: Tools for prewriting through editing to the right words (@ 4 hours)

Most writers have had that moment when they realize they made a left in their manuscript ages ago and might have to chunk thousands of words and precious hours. But what if there was a way to help your brain build a train-track before the story really got chugging.

Amanda will teach you focusing tools from pre-writing all the way to editing to make sure that your words are all chugging in the same direction. Using brain patterns and tested methods, she will help you get the right words on the page and them polish them up.

* * * * *

Why These Monkeys: Strengthening Heroines and Villains in Women’s Fiction (1-2 hours)

Readers want real, bruised women who shake it off and get back up. They want situations that are tough but relatable. Readers want stumbling, but the grace to keep on walking. It is a balancing act between traumatized and unscathed, between faking it and making it.

During this workshop, Amanda will walk you through her tried and true tips to help amp up the heroine’s character arc, create a logical character wound, and help define the meatier areas to explore in woman’s fiction heroines. To oppose that, she will take you through the strengths your antagonist will need to have and how to create sympathy in both.

and

Down and Dirty Character Development (@ 1 hour)

Why spend months developing a character only to find that it's the wrong character for the story you want to tell? Using this boiled-down amalgamation of three top screenwriting teachers, Amanda will show you how to create a character that will leap off the page with their own backstory, voice, and deep connection to the story you want to tell.

 

March 2025 Meeting Information

 

Join us Saturday, March 21, 2026, 11am

La Hacienda Ranch Restaurant in Colleyville for

Dawn Alexander presenting

Beyond the Bedroom:

Using Physical and Emotional Intimacy

to Create Authentic Character Relationships

Creating authentic character relationships is essential in every genre—whether you're crafting a swoon-worthy romance, developing a fierce rivalry, or building a deep friendship. In this workshop, we'll explore how to layer both physical and emotional intimacy from first glance to Happily Ever After. You'll leave with a clear guide for developing believable relationships that resonate with readers and intensify the emotional engagement of your story.

* * * * *

Dawn Alexander is a developmental editor and story coach who collaborates with both emerging writers and accomplished authors to strengthen their stories and refine their voices. Her clients have appeared on the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists, as well as the Amazon Top 100.

Leveraging her two decades of experience in education, she designs and teaches writing courses that offer comprehensive insights and practical strategies that can be applied across genres to create compelling plots and authentic characters.

She's been a featured speaker at Inkers Con, Pike’s Peak Writers Conference, and local writing chapters, in addition to providing one-on-one coaching to numerous successful authors.

When she's not analyzing plot structures or crafting characters, you can find her spending time with her two college-age kids or off-roading in her Jeep Wrangler with her husband and their dog, Teddy.

 

February 2026 Meeting Information

 

 

Join us Saturday, February 21, 2026, 11am

at La Hacienda Ranch Restaurant in Colleyville for

Abigail Anderson of Storytellers Bookshop

Abigail Anderson is the owner of Storytellers Bookshop, an independent bookstore dedicated to celebrating Texas authors, special editions, and bookish goods sourced from small businesses and local artisans. She works directly with both independently and traditionally published authors and regularly hosts author signings for local writers, as well as bookish markets that provide opportunities for authors to connect with readers face to face. Abigail holds an undergraduate degree in finance and economics with a minor in music theory, as well as a master’s degree in personal financial planning. After spending nine years in corporate America within the finance industry, she made the decision to leave her career to chase her dreams as an independent bookstore owner and to create a space where writers and creatives are encouraged to chase theirs as well.

 

What She'll Share With Us

Ready to be inspired? Drawing on her unique vantage point as independent bookstore owner who regularly works with both authors and book lovers, Abigail will speak to us about the importance of writers and the role we play in our community and in the world.

 

January 2026 Meeting Information

 

Image courtesy IMGBIN.

 

Join us Saturday, January 17, 2026, 11am at

La Hacienda Ranch Restaurant Colleyville

for

New Year, New Goals, & Planning Activities

Start the year with intention and momentum. The January program will be focused on helping each other clarify our writing goals for the year and turn big ideas into achievable plans. We'll guide each other through goal-setting and simple planning activities, break down what you want to accomplish, identify priorities, and map out next steps that feel motivating. Whether you’re in the drafting, revising, or publishing phase, we'll help you begin the new year with focus, confidence, and a clear path forward.

 

December 2025 Meeting Information

 

Image courtesy IMGBIN.

 

Join us Saturday, December 13, 2025

at La Hacienda Ranch Restaurant in Colleyville for our

ANNUAL HOLIDAY GATHERING

Bring a wrapped ornament ($10 or less) and join us for

FUN, FOOD, and FRIVOLITY!

Festivities begin at 11AM.

 

November 2025 Meeting Information

 

Image courtesy of IMGBIN.com

Join us Saturday, November 15, 2025 at 11am

at La Hacienda Ranch Restaurant in Colleyville for

A WRITE IN

Bring your laptops and earbuds/headphones if needed.

If you need connectivity, make sure to bring a hotspot of your own as Laha is in a bit of a Wi-Fi desert.

 

October 2025 Meeting Information

 

Image courtesy of IMGBIN.com.

Join us Saturday, October 18, 2025 at 11am

at La Hacienda Ranch Restaurant in Colleyville for

LeAnn Robinson

Facebook Ads

 

September 2025 Meeting Information

 

Image courtesy of www.depositphotos.com.

You are cordially invited to the

2025-2026 Fiscal Year Kickoff Meeting!

Join us Saturday, September 20, 2025 at 11 AM

at La Hacienda. Yes, we're in person!

Gather with your NTRW writer peeps as we look ahead to what's in store for 

NT for the upcoming fiscal year.

* * * * *

And if you missed July's AI presentation, we'll be holding an encore of sorts.

Jen will fire up the browser and we'll chat with

Chet, Claude, Pilar, and Gemma.

(aka ChatGPT, Claude, Co-Pilot, and Gemini)

Bring your questions--any questions--from recipe help to 

whether or not your fur baby is secretly judging your prose.

See you there!!

August 2025 Meeting Information

 

Lori Freeland -- ILL / CANCELED

Join us Saturday, August 16, 2025 at 11 AM

at La Hacienda Ranch Restaurant in Colleyville for

Writing Sprints and Brainstorming

Bring your laptop and/or your plot problems!

 

July 2025 Meeting Information

 

Image courtesy of IMGBIN.com.

Join us Saturday, July 19, 2025 at 11am

at La Hacienda Ranch Restaurant in Colleyville for

Audra Lewandowski and Jen FitzGerald

Using AI for Writing & Research

(And Other Fun Things)

Yes, your mileage may vary on using AI when writing, but the fact is, AI is here to stay...

Our intrepid president, Audra Lewandowski will share what the ramifications of using it in the present might be as well as what may come in the future and talk about where AI could be headed.

NT's own Jen FitzGerald will discuss various AI platforms, how they work, how to use them, and what to use them for. She'll also share some examples of her own interactions with ChatGPT.

 

June 2025 Meeting Information

 

Join us Saturday, June 21, 2025 at 11am

at La Hacienda Ranch Restaurant in Colleyville for

Carolyn Williamson

Luring Readers into Living Your Story

Through Deep Viewpoint

Learn how to write the story from a main character's viewpoint, showing thoughts and action and how to blend narrative into the story without a lot of description that may bog down the story. Learn how to change viewpoints so the reader immediately knows whose viewpoint is being followed and will worry about the character's chances of achieving his or her goal.

* * * * *

Carolyn Williamson writes romantic suspense as Carolyn Rae. In her stories, bullets fly, people die, and lovers resist attraction until they can escape the danger following them.

She is the author of multiple series and has given talks on Finding Time for Your Dream, and How to Eat Healthy and Enjoy It. Her travel articles have appeared in the Dallas Morning News, the Fort Worth Star Telegram, Romance Writer’s Report, and other newspapers and magazines.

Carolyn Williamson has a master’s degree in home economics and is the co-author of There IS Life After Lettuce, a cookbook for heart patients and diabetics. She has taught home economics, family living, and English, as well as supervised ironwork, painting, and carpentry inmates at a federal prison. She has also worked as a paralegal.

 

March 2025 Meeting Information

 

Join us Saturday, March 15, 2025 at 11am

at La Hacienda Ranch Restaurant in Colleyville for

Sarah Gamez Hamilton

Finding Your Niche

Being an author is a lot like throwing spaghetti at a wall and trying to figure out what sticks. You've published but where are the readers? In this interactive class, we'll talk about discovering your writing lane, getting to readers with "fan potential" and leveraging your strengths as a writer. We'll also address things like tricks learned from big publishing houses, social media - is it really worth it? - and the biggest missteps you might be making with readers. Best of all, let's get your books in the right hands!

* * * * *

Sarah Gamez is a writer, podcaster, and romantic optimist at heart. While working carving out her own writing path, she created "Romancing the Story" a writer and reader geared podcast where she interviews storytellers about their highs, lows, and things they've learned along the way, featuring everyone from local authors to NYT bestsellers to a movie producer! Her passion for creating detailed plots has resulted in taking far too long to complete a novel, but she's working to remedy that!

 

February 2025 Meeting Information

 

Join us Saturday, February 15, 2025 at 11am
at La Hacienda Ranch Restaurant in Colleyville for

What Can You Accomplish in 100 Days

with Amy Kelly from

Lone Star Literary Life

Are you someone who:

--Feels like for every step toward your goal, you take three back?

--Has a pile of planners, notes, and charts that you’ve dedicated to reaching your goals—all piled up in the back of your closet?

--Doesn’t set goals anymore—because, well, why bother?

Then you’re in good company!

Join us to discover new ways to look at setting - and accomplishing! - the goals you set.

* * * * *

A fixture in the North Texas literary scene, Amy Kelly is dedicated to supporting fellow writers. As owner and CEO of Lone Star Literary Life, she provides a range of marketing opportunities for Texas’ literary community, from free to paid, and teaches workshops on building an author brand.

Amy hosts The Lone Star Literary Podcast, interviewing Texas authors, indie bookstore owners, publishers, agents, and other industry professionals. She also co-hosts the podcast Time to Write with author Emily Roberson, offering practical tips and mindset tools to help authors achieve their goals. Amy holds a bachelor’s degree in French and History from Texas A&M University and lives in Texas with her husband and occasionally her two college-aged children.

January 2025 Meeting Information

 

Image courtesy of IMGBIN.

 

Join us Saturday, January 25, 2025 at 11am

at La Hacienda Ranch Restaurant in Colleyville for

*Date Has Changed*

Writing Goals, Brainstorming, & Accountability

 

Since our usual 3rd Saturday of the month is during a holiday weekend and many members were unable to make the original date, we have moved the meeting to Sat, Jan 25th. It is still IN-PERSON.

New Year, New Goals!

Join us to help set some professional and personal goals, an opportunity for brainstorming and any other help you may need, as well as some tips on how to help each other stay accountable for those new shiny, sparkly goals!

We hope to see you!

 

December 2024 Meeting Information

 

Image courtesy of IMGBIN.

 

Join us Saturday, December 14, 2024

at La Hacienda Ranch Restaurant in Colleyville for our

ANNUAL HOLIDAY GATHERING

Bring a wrapped ornament ($10 or less) and join us for

FUN, FOOD, and FRIVOLITY!

Festivities begin at 11AM.