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Category: WordSowers Events & Happenings

Wordsowers’ Christmas Gathering
Coffee and Fellowship

Saturday, December 7th from 10:00 a.m. – Until We’re Ready to Leave
(Zoom will not be provided.)

Location:
Coffee Alley-Callejon del Cafe
7310 Harrison Street
Ralston, NE 68127
(North end of the strip mall)

You’re invited to join us for a time of coffee and fellowship at Coffee Alley in Ralston on Saturday, December 7th. We’ll meet at 10:00 a.m. and hang together until we’re ready to leave. Each person will be responsible for purchasing their own drinks and pastries. (We’ll provide a gf alternative for those who can’t eat gluten.)

It’s quite simple to attend the gathering.  Just show up. Don’t purchase a crazy gift. Don’t prepare any food to bring. Do come and enjoy a time of Christian friendship. (For a few minutes though, we will clue you in on the Mystery of Christmas.)

We do ask that you RSVP. Text or call Debbie Crom at 402-238-2188. Or you can respond to this email. Thank you.

The WS Leadership Team does apologize for the last-minute changes. We hope this doesn’t inconvenience anyone.

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“The Christmas Mystery”
Annual Wordsowers’ Christmas Party

Saturday, December 7th from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
(Zoom will not be provided.)

Location:
*Omaha Christian Center
4215 N. 92nd Street
Omaha, NE 68138

You and one guest are invited to join us in discovering “The Christmas Mystery” at our annual Wordsowers’ Christmas party. We’ll enjoy a potluck brunch, short devotional, a mystery game and a “Mystery Gift Exchange.” There will be door prizes.

For the potluck brunch, egg and potato dishes will be provided. You’re asked to bring a side dish to compliment the meal such as fruit, finger foods, and pastries. (Gluten-free options will be available.)

If you’d like to participate in the “Mystery Gift Exhange,” please don’t get too serious with your gift (the funnier the better). We challenge you to find that “perfect” gift from a local thrift store. Please keep the gifts under $10.00.

We need to hear from you. Be sure to email your RSVP to Debbie Crom by Monday, December 2nd, at debbie_crom@yahoo.com or text her at 402-238-2188. Let her know if you’re bringing a guest and what dish you’ll provide for the brunch. (Or you can RSVP to the newsletter’s email.)

Have a Blessed Thanksgiving.
Give thanks to the Lord for He is good.


What are you thankful for this year?

There are no regular monthly meetings in November and December. WS Critique group will meet in November but not in December. Be sure and check out the Christmas Mystery Party details for December 7th. (Posted separately from this post.) Regular monthly meetings will resume in January on the fourth Thursday.

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Lee Warren: Expand Your Social Media Reach


Lee Warren at the Papillion Book Fest Author Expo on 9/21/24.

Thursday, October 24th at 7:00 p.m.

Meeting location:
*Omaha Christian Center
4215 N. 92nd Avenue
Omaha, NE 68134
(Zoom is also available. See details below.)

Join us for an engaging writing workshop that focuses on how authors can maximize social media exposure to grow their audience and promote their work. We’ll cover key strategies to enhance your online presence while staying true to your creative vision. Plus, we’ll touch on the benefits of participating in NaNoWriMo to push your writing even further.

Lee writes contemplative essay books, devotional books, and inspirational character-driven fiction. He’s also a freelance editor and journalist who has written hundreds of articles for various newspapers and magazines. When he’s not writing or editing, he’s a fan of NASCAR, baseball, tennis, books, movies and coffee shops.

To contact Lee about his editing service or to check out his books, go to his website at Lee Warren (leewarrenbooks.com).

Highlight this date on your calendar. Not only will you be encouraged by what Lee will share, it’ll be the last regular monthly meeting of the year. We won’t meet in November since the fourth Thursday is Thanksgiving. The Wordsowers Christmas Party will be on December 7th. Our next meeting after that will be in January 2025.

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Please note: There are five Thursdays in October. We always meet on the fourth Thursday, not necessarily the last Thursday.

Zoom: To join the meeting via Zoom, click on the following link: Wordsowers Christian Writers Group Meetups | Facebook. It is a closed group so if you haven’t joined the group yet, click on “Invite.” Answer the questions, agree to the guidelines and an administrator will let you into the group. Please do this by 4:00 p.m. on the day of the meeting.

Parking: Park in the lot on the south side of the church and enter through the main doors. Follow the signs to the fellowship hall.

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*Wordsowers is not affiliated with Omaha Christian Center. They graciously allow us to use their facilities for the meetings.

Kathy Nickerson
Creating Characters Who Come to Life

Thursday, September 26th
7:00 p.m.

Meeting location:
*Omaha Christian Center
4215 N. 92nd Avenue
Omaha, NE 68134
(Zoom is also available. See details below.)

Don’t you love a good book with strong characters who pull you into the story and keep you reading into the wee hours of the morning? You talk about them like they’re real people to the point your family and friends think you’re a little cra-cra? Don’t you wish you could write such a book?

If the answer to the above questions is yes, we have great news for you. Kathy Nickerson, our September guest speaker, will discuss how to create characters who come to life with faith, failure, humor, and hope. Since her many books brim with intriguing folks, she’ll be speaking from her own experiences as a successful writer.

Here’s more great news. Kathy will have books available for sale at the meeting. You can connect with her on her website at Kathy Nickerson | author, speaker, and eternal optimist. Her email address is kathy@kathynick.com.

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Zoom: To join the meeting via Zoom, click on the following link: Wordsowers Christian Writers Group Meetups | Facebook. It is a closed group so if you haven’t joined the group yet, click on “Invite.” Answer the questions, agree to the guidelines and an administrator will let you into the group. Please do this by 4:00 p.m. on the day of the meeting.

Parking: Park in the lot on the south side of the church and enter through the main doors. Follow the signs to the fellowship hall.

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*Wordsowers is not affiliated with Omaha Christian Center. They graciously allow us to use their facilities for the meetings.

Pat Mingarelli: Blending Writing with Life’s Other Passions

Pat Mingarelli
Blending Writing with Life’s Other Passions
Meeting will be hybrid: in-person and zoom

Thursday, August 22nd
7:00 p.m.

Meeting location:
*Omaha Christian Center
4215 N. 92nd Avenue
Omaha, NE 68134

Pat Minagrelli will be our guest speaker at the August meeting. Pat combined his love for God’s Word and His creation, along with his passion for photography, to write a devotional book “Drawing Near: Meeting God in His Creation.” He’ll challenge us to look at our other interests to see if there’s potential for blending them with our desire to write.

You can connect with Pat at his website The Creation Speaks Creation Ministry, or via email at pat@thecreationspeaks.com. His book can be purchased on the website. Many Wordsowers attendees have professional shots thanks to Pat who generously provided his services at a discounted rate at some of the Wordsowers’ conferences.

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Parking: Park in the lot on the south side of the church and enter through the main doors. Follow the signs to the fellowship hall. If you can’t join us in person, Zoom will be available.

To join the meeting via Zoom, click on the following link: Wordsowers Christian Writers Group Meetups | Facebook. It’s a closed group so if you haven’t joined the group yet, click on “Invite.” Answer the questions, agree to the guidelines and an administrator will let you into the group. Please do this by 4:00 p.m. the day of the meeting otherwise we can’t guarantee you’ll be able to join the meeting online.

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Donations are appreciated. Wordsowers has ongoing expenses throughout the year (paid speakers, name domain and hosting expenses, SSL certification, etc.). If you’d like to donate to Wordsowers, please contact Lollie Hofer at lolliehofer@yahoo.com.

*Wordsowers is not affiliated with Omaha Christian Center. They graciously allow us to use their facilities for the meetings.

Kat Crawford and Kelly Haack to Attend Wordsowers Anniversary Party

We’ll start at 6:00 p.m. with a fellowship meal. If you plan to partake of vittles with us, please bring a side dish (fruit, salad, veggie, potato, etc.). The main course, drinks and dessert will be provided. Please RSVP with Debbie Crom by Monday, June 24th.

Kat Crawford will be out main speaker. Lee Warren and Kelly Haack will share the history of Wordsowers over the past twenty-five years. Kelly is one of the co-founders of Wordsowers Christian Writers Group. We hope you will be able to attend this special evening of celebration. Door prizes will be given away as well.

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June 24th is the last day to RSVP the Fellowship Meal.
(You’re welcome to attend the meeting even if you don’t partake of the vittles.)

Wordsowers’
Anniversary Celebration:
God Has Blessed Us With 25 Years of Friendships

Join us as we celebrate twenty-five years of Wordsowers. Our very own Kat Crawford is the special guest speaker for the evening. Lee Warren, the unofficial Wordsowers’ historian who has hung around Wordsowers since the beginning, will share its history. Several former leaders and members will celebrate with us as well. Door prizes will be given away throughout the evening.


To God be the glory, great things He has done.

The anniversary party isn’t about who is or isn’t writing. It’s about hanging out with some great people whether you used to attend Wordsowers or just recently joined the group.

Dinner will be served at 6:00 p.m. We’re asking you to bring a side dish (fruit, veggie, salad, potato, etc.). The main course, dessert, and beverages will be provided.

Please RSVP the dinner by Monday, June 24th. You can text or call Debbie Crom at 402-238-2188. (Or you can respond to this newsletter’s email.) If you wish only to attend the meeting and not the dinner, plan on arriving around 6:45 p.m.

If you can’t attend but would like to videotape a greeting to others, text your video to Kat Parent at 402-230-0119. Kat is working on a slide show presentation and is looking for pictures from past Wordsowers events as well.

Zoom will not be available for this meeting but will resume at the August meeting.

*Wordsowers is not affiliated with Omaha Christian Center. They graciously allow us to use their facilities for the meetings.

Omaha Wordsowers Critique group will not meet in May since there were no critique submissions. June submissions should be made by Thursday, June 6th. Detailed meeting instructions and guidelines can be found on the Facebook page, Omaha Wordsowers Critique. Email Lollie Hofer if you’re interested in joining the group. Her email address is lolliehofer@yahoo.com.

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May Speaker – Lollie Hofer
Sage Advice
What’s the best writing advice you’ve ever received?


    
May 23rd at 7:00 p.m.
*Omaha Christian Center, Fellowship Hall
4215 N. 92nd Avenue
Omaha, NE 68134


The meeting will be conducted both in-person and zoom. Please be aware that the meeting always takes place on the fourth Thursday of the month, which may not coincide with the last Thursday. (May has five Thursdays.)

Be ready to engage in this interactive meeting. After Lollie Hofer encourages us with some sage writing advice she’s received throughout the years, the spotlight will be turned on you. Come prepared to share the finest and funniest writing advice others have offered you. Expect a laid-back gathering sprinkled with laughs.

Although Lollie’s favorite genre is children’s fiction, most of her success as a writer has been in publishing Christian articles, devotions, and anthologies in numerous magazines, books, and online sites. She enjoys finding those golden nuggets in God’s Word that she can share with others. You can write to Lollie at lolliehofer@yahoo.com or visit her website at lolliehoferauthor.com.

Parking: Park in the lot on the south side of the church and enter through the main doors. Follow the signs to the fellowship hall. If you can’t join us in person, Zoom will be available.

To join the meeting via Zoom, click on the following link: Wordsowers Christian Writers Group Meetups | Facebook. It’s a closed group so if you haven’t joined the group yet, click on “Invite.” Answer the questions, agree to the guidelines and an administrator will let you into the group. Please do this by 4:00 p.m. the day of the meeting.  + + + + + + + + + +If you have someone in mind as a speaker or an agenda idea for the monthly meetings, please contact Kat Parent at pure7peace@gmail.com.

Donations are appreciated. Wordsowers has ongoing expenses throughout the year (paid speakers, name domain and hosting expenses, SSL certification, etc.). If you’d like to donate to Wordsowers, especially for those who join us on zoom, checks can be sent to Lollie Hofer at 12927 Chandler Street Omaha, NE 68138. Please make the checks payable to Eleanor Hofer (that’s her legal name). Since Wordsowers isn’t incorporated as a nonprofit or business, we can’t open an account in its name.*Wordsowers is not affiliated with Omaha Christian Center. They graciously allow us to use their facilities for our meetings.

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April 25th Speaker – Lee Warren
The AI Advantage: The Power of AI


    
This will be an in-person and zoom meeting.

Thursday, April 25th at 7:00 p.m.
*Omaha Christian Center, Fellowship Hall
4215 N. 92nd Avenue
Omaha, NE 68134


The subject of Artificial Intelligence has been in the news a lot recently. Lee Warren will offer insight into unlocking the potential of AI for research, editing, brainstorming, and beyond at our April meeting. Learn practical strategies to leverage cutting-edge AI tools and techniques to enhance your productivity and creativity in your writing. Be sure to bring your questions and concerns regarding this hot topic.

Lee writes contemplative essay books, devotional books, and inspirational character-driven fiction. He’s also a freelance editor and journalist who has written hundreds of articles for various newspapers and magazines. When he’s not writing or editing, he’s a fan of NASCAR, baseball, tennis, books, movies and coffee shops.

To contact Lee about his editing service or to check out his books, go to his website at Lee Warren (leewarrenbooks.com).

There will be a time of food and fellowship after the meeting.

Parking: Park in the lot on the south side of the church and enter through the main doors. Follow the signs to the fellowship hall. If you can’t join us in person, Zoom will be available.

To join the meeting via Zoom, click on the following link: Wordsowers Christian Writers Group Meetups | Facebook. It’s a closed group so if you haven’t joined the group yet, click on “Invite.” Answer the questions, agree to the guidelines and an administrator will let you into the group. Please do this by 4:00 p.m. the day of the meeting.

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Kathy Nickerson Is Our Guest Speaker



       
Two Topics:  Developing Strong Characters and Using Humor

Thursday, March 28th at 7:00 p.m.
Omaha Christian Center, Fellowship Hall
4215 N. 92nd Avenue
Omaha, NE 68134

Don’t you love a good book that keeps you chuckling throughout? Better yet, one where you gasp with laughter while tears run down your face? Or a book where strong characters pull you into the story and keep you reading into the wee hours of the morning? And you talk about them like they’re real people to the point your family and friends think you’re a little cra-cra? Don’t you wish you could write such a book?

If the answer to the above questions is yes, we have great news for you. Kathy Nickerson is our guest speaker for the March meeting. She will discuss two important topics that can make a good book even better: building strong characters and using humor. Since her books are slathered with both, she’ll be able to share with us from her hands-on writing experiences.

Kathy is an author, speaker, and eternal optimist. It was once said about her, “Kathy loves to find God’s silver lining in a cloudy world.” She’s married with four adult children and a plethora of grandchildren. You can learn more about Kathy or get in touch with her through her website at Kathy Nickerson | author, speaker, and eternal optimist. You can connect with her on social media at Facebook and Kathy Nickerson (@KathyNick_) / X (twitter.com)   .

Kathy’s books are available on Amazon or her website. For Amazon orders, go to Amazon.com: Kathy Nickerson: books, biography, latest update. (Maybe we can talk her into bringing a few books to the meeting. Be sure and bring some extra cash with you.)

There will be a time of food and fellowship after the meeting.

Parking: Park in the lot on the south side of the church and enter through the main doors. Follow the signs to the fellowship hall. If you can’t join us in person, Zoom will be available.

To join the meeting via Zoom, click on the following link: Wordsowers Christian Writers Group Meetups | Facebook. It’s a closed group so if you haven’t joined the group yet, click on “Invite.” Answer the questions, agree to the guidelines and an administrator will let you into the group. Please do this by 4:00 p.m. the day of the meeting.

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