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NIWA NEWSLETTER MARCH 2026 Supporting Independently Published Authors in the Pacific Northwest WORDS ON WORDS “You can always edit a bad page. You can’t edit a blank page.” ― Jodi Picoult SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTOR NEEDED Love social media? NIWA is looking for a Social Media Director to help keep our Facebook, Instagram, and Bluesky feeds lively and up to date. If you enjoy spotlighting authors, sharing news, and building community, this might be your perfect fit. Contact [email protected] Rachel Carter and Betty Simon, On Friday, March 6th, gave an author talk at Inza R. Wood Middle School in Wilsonville, Oregon. The two authors spoke to a group of around 20 middle schoolers, discussing how to write a book and ways to publish. The kids were highly engaged and asked a multitude of great questions throughout the two-hour talk. It was wonderful to see young minds get involved in the writing community! Emma Chavez editor of her high school’s magazine, is happy to announce that the new issue is officially out. She says putting it together was an amazing experience, from learning layout, teaming up with other student writers to produce the articles, and working with the support of the school staff. Pat Luther NIWA’s YouTube interview host and the force behind our video channel—invites members who’d like to be interviewed to email [email protected] to schedule an interview. Priority goes to authors with new releases, and the current wait time is 2–3 months. NEW RELEASES (select cover to review or purchase) THIS MONTH’S SPOTLIGHT SHINES ON … E.R. Cook E. R. Cook is an author and artist living in Northwest OR. Cook writes mostly sci-fi and fantasy novels and short stories but loves bending genres and creating characters and events that grab the reader's attention. Cook also creates all of her own book covers and advertising art. NIWA: First, please tell us something about yourself that most people don’t know. E.R.: I compete with my partner David in a sport called Observed Motorcycle Trials. (navigating an obstacle course on specially designed dirt bikes) I never rode a motorcycle before the age of 30. NIWA: What’s your favorite element? E.R.: Fire. I have always been obsessed with the idea of the Phoenix and with the destruction/creation properties of fire. It appealed to my dual personality as a Gemini, something that could be both blessing and curse, the cleansing power of fire, and in some ways inspired the plot for my second novel. NIWA: When did you know you were a writer? E.R.: I have been reading and writing for as long as I can remember, and in elementary school I did a project which was a self-illustrated book called "Bugtown." I've always had super vivid dreams and stories in my head; I just had to put them down on paper. No matter where I've gone and what I've done, I've always been writing and coming up with stories. Any project I ever had to do for school I somehow related it to a book I was currently writing. Any job I had, I had to redo the out-of-date manuals (the technical writer in me). Even though writing wasn't a 'career' when I first went out into the world, I never gave up. Then one day, after my 40th birthday, I just finally said "that's it, I'm finishing a book." I finished my first novel and published it. NIWA: What’s your favorite flavor of ice cream? E.R.: Right now it would be a tie between Tillamook Mudslide or Sea Salt and Honeycomb Toffee, depending on my mood. Find out more about E. R. Cook on her NIWA Author Page. BOOK OF THE MONTH BELOW THE BELT BELOW THE BELT The Sean O’Connor & Cindy Matasar Boxer Series Mysteries Book 1 by Deni Star Sean O'Connor, retired boxer, is asked by Maybelle Preacher to check out the boxing gym her grandson joined. Doing a quick check, Sean agrees that the place feels wrong. To help him find out exactly what, he contacts the professional private investigator, Cindy Matasar, who helped him with his car accident. While they begin their investigation together, quickly developing a romantic interest, they soon learn that their efforts are not appreciated by well placed political figures. When boxers from he and his friend's gym end up murdered, Sean and Cindy find themselves targets of a well-organized criminal enterprise with political clout. Just when they think they know who is behind it all, they find their prime suspect has been dead for years. Now it is a race against time to uncover the killer before he strikes any closer to home. To learn more about Deni Starr or to purchase this book, visit her NIWA author page. APRIL ZOOM NOTE: A link to the Zoom is usually sent to the email you used when you signed up to become a member. If you have changed your email, contact: [email protected] MARCH ZOOM For March’s Second Tuesday Zoom, Pat Luther delivered an in‑depth presentation titled “Self-Publishing Checklist.” He walked attendees through the many parts of self‑publishing, breaking down the complicated process into clear, manageable steps. Members said they enjoyed the presentation and came away with practical insights they could put to use. Thanks Pat! NIWA Zoom chats are held the second Tuesday of the month from 7-8 PM. They are NOT recorded so please attend as they will not be available for later viewing. The theme and a link to the meeting can be found under the events tab on the NIWA Facebook Page. HAVE AN IDEA FOR A PRESENTATION? Contact. [email protected] NIWA MEMBER? To attend use this link. VISIT NIWA BOOKSTORE Find a great book? Leave a great review! NIWA MERCHANDISE Check out NIWA Merchandise. From totes to t-shirts. NOTES TO NIWA MEMBERS FROM THE NEWSLETTER TEAM SPOTLIGHT AUTHOR: Like to be a NIWA Spotlight Author? Go to the NIWA website Members Only Page and fill out the Newsletter Author Spotlight Application. Pick three random questions to answer and click submit. Our newsletter goes out the 15th of every month. Spotlight authors are chosen on a first-come, first-served basis. ZOOM CHATS: Have an idea for a Zoom chat? Contact [email protected] IT’S A WRITER’S LIFE This newest feature provides a place for members to let others know what is going on in their writing life. This includes but is not limited to the books you’re working on, the conferences you’ve attended, classes you’ve taught, and any honors or awards your work has received. Send all to [email protected] NEW RELEASES: If you have a new release, please send via the contact form on the NIWA website for inclusion in the NIWA online catalog and in the newsletter. STORAGE: To keep books in the storage unit for delivery to events you must sign up for at least six events per year and store only those titles you are currently promoting. To learn more, login to the NIWA website to find and read the storage policy. CONTACT US: To post content on the newsletter email [email protected]. The Northwest Independent Writers Association (NIWA) helps Pacific Northwest writers find a community of independent authors, achieve professional writing and publishing standards, and discover marketing opportunities. To learn more, find us on our website or on social media. Copyright © 2026 Northwest Independent Writers Association. All rights reserved. NIWA PO Box 1171 Redmond, OR 97756 https://niwawriters.com Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe