NORTHWEST INDEPENDENT WRITER'S ASSOCIATION
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    • SEARCH BY AUTHOR >
      • A >
        • J.M.M. Adams
        • Heather Ames
        • Josh Amos
        • Shari Lyn Anderson
        • Judith Ashley
        • Stephen Atkins
      • B >
        • E. A. Bagby
        • Pam Bainbridge-Cowan
        • Maya Bairey
        • Melissa Gowdy Baldwin
        • Hollis Barkhaus
        • Rebecca J. Bastian
        • Barry L. Becker
        • Elizabeth Beechwood
        • Doug Beisley
        • B. Elizabeth Bell
        • Michael Bershay
        • David R Beshears
        • JP Biddlecome
        • J. A. Bierman
        • Diana Blackstone
        • Kerry Blaisdell
        • Lynn Bohart
        • Byrum K. Bolerjack
        • D Dean Boom
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        • Anna Brentwood
        • David Bruce
        • Kami Bryant
        • Andy R. Bunch
      • C >
        • Linda Caradine
        • R Lindsay Carter
        • Baer Charlton
        • Emma E. Chavez
        • Mike Chinakos
        • Kate Cody
        • Randal Collins
        • William J Cook
        • Adam Copeland
        • Brendan Corbett
        • Kelly Coston
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        • J. M. Crist
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        • Deb Cushman
      • D >
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        • Rebecca M. Douglass
      • E - F - G >
        • Jonathan Eaton
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        • August Evans
        • Susan K Field
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        • Cay Fletcher
        • Lana M Fox
        • Gus Frederick
        • Ava M. Gale
        • James L. Gillaspy
        • Judy Glenney
        • Kc Gloer
        • Angela D. Goldsmith
        • Thomas Gondolfi
        • Patty Grasher
        • J C Graves
        • Tag Gregory
      • H >
        • T K Hall
        • J M Halloran
        • Van Haney
        • E B Harding
        • J. R. R. R. (jim) Hardison
        • Skelly Harrington
        • Christopher J Harris
        • Dianne Hartsock
        • Kathy Haynes
        • Craig Allen Heath
        • Rhett Heath
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        • Heather Hobson
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        • James H. Horton
        • Kathy Hoxworth
        • A. M. Huff
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      • I - J - K >
        • Frances Lu-Pai Ippolito
        • Maquel A. Jacob
        • Ellen Jacobson
        • Paty Jager
        • Maggie Jaimeson
        • F. L. Journey
        • Flo Journey
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      • L >
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        • Tristram Lowe
        • KD Lumsden
        • Pat Luther
        • Maggie Lynch
      • M >
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        • Tim Maddox
        • Carly Major
        • Sulima Malzin
        • Amy Maroney
        • Amy Marsh
        • Steven Mayfield
        • tom r. mcconnell
        • Nikki McCormack
        • James M. McCracken
        • Sharon A McDonell
        • Donald McEwing
        • Agathon McGeachy
        • Marvin McKenzie
        • Joyce Labelle McNair
        • Minnette Meador
        • Erick Mertz
        • Michael J. Metroke
        • Russell Mickler
        • K Z Miller
        • Rory Miller
        • Ruth A Milligan
        • Jeff Monday
        • Sonja S Mongar
        • L. M. Montes
        • J. Moody
        • Barbara J Moritsch
        • S. K. Mueller
      • N - O - P >
        • Konrad Nau
        • Shelly M Neinast
        • D G Nelson
        • NIWA
        • Neil Orint
        • Ann Ornie
        • Tammy Owen
        • Susan Patterson
        • Julie Pershing
        • Jenny Plumb
        • L. Wade Powers
        • E M Prazeman
        • Shelly Pulse
      • Q - R >
        • Shannon L Reagan
        • Shawna Reppert
        • Winry Willow Rose
        • P. K. Ross
        • Jean Rover
        • R Roderick Rowe
        • E. J. Russell
        • Echo Ryan
      • S - T - U >
        • Andretta Schellinger
        • DJ Schneider
        • Bonnie Schroeder
        • B. J. Scott
        • James Scott
        • Rolf Semprebon
        • Andrey Sid
        • Ann Simas
        • Susie Slanina
        • M.A. Smith
        • Kay Smith-Blum
        • D. L. Solum
        • Jon Spoelstra
        • Deni Starr
        • Thomas Stimson
        • Susanna Strom
        • Fia Sylvan
        • Brian Tashima
        • Charles Thomas
        • Patrick Timm
        • Contessa Timmerman
        • Rene Tyson
      • V- W- X - Y - Z >
        • Elka Eastly Vera
        • Cody Voeller
        • Denita Wallace
        • Larry Walton
        • C M Weaver
        • Christina Weaver
        • Brad Wheeler
        • Andrea Weilgart
        • Matt Whitaker
        • Skeet Will
        • James Ross Wilks
        • Suzi Wiser
        • Steve Zell
  • Members
    • Anthology >
      • Anthologies - Member Discount
      • Anthology Launch Party
    • Add My Book
    • EVENTS >
      • Annual Events Calendar
      • Event Roles and Responsibilities
      • PAST EVENT STATS
      • HOW TO SIGN UP FOR EVENTS
      • REGISTER YOUR BOOKS FOR EVENTS
      • 2025 EVENTS >
        • 07 Robin Hood 25
        • 07 NW Book Fair 25
        • 07 Portland Pride 25
        • 07 1ST City
        • 08 OC Festival Arts
        • 08 MULTNOMAH DAYS
        • 09 Mt Angel Oktoberfest 25
        • 09 FG Oktoberfest 25
    • NEWSBITS BLOG
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    • RESOURCES >
      • Advertise Your Book
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      • Cover Designers
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      • Grammar
      • Indie Friendly Bookstores
      • ISBNs, COPYRIGHTS, AND LCCNs >
        • Understanding your ISBN
      • Legacy Planning
      • Printers
      • Publishing
      • Add A Member Tool
    • Storage >
      • Storage Policy
      • Storage Inventory
    • Update My Membership Info
    • Update My Author Page
    • ZOOM Videos >
      • Audiobooks 11-8-22
      • Book Covers
      • Editing
      • Self Editing & Proofreading
      • Writing Resources
      • Reviews and Why We Need Them
      • 2022 in Review
      • Pinterest - 1-10-23
      • Book Signings - 2-14-23
      • Genres - 3-14-23
      • Blurbs, Taglines, Pitches - 4-11-23
      • AI in Publishing - 5-9-23
      • Professional Ethics - 6-13-23
      • Newsletters - 7-11-23
      • How to work with Editors - 8-8-23
      • Events - 9-12-23
      • Marketing with Joe Marich- 11-4-24
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Our History

​NIWA was founded on February 5, 2011 in Vancouver, Washington, the brainchild of independent authors Mike Chinakos and Adam Copeland. Seeking to network resources and work through the challenges unique to independent publishing, they united a far-flung membership under a banner of creativity, collective problem-solving, and a commitment to professionalism. But if you’re a book-lover, you want the real story. So here it is from NIWA’s co-founder, Mike Chinakos:

We had a dream.

Okay, maybe just an idea brought up over dinner and several pints of Pacific Northwest microbrew. As we watched the Steampunk, horror, fantasy, sci-fi and just plain odd costumes pass by our dinner table, I knew that we were in the right place for an idea and dream like NIWA.

The first day of Orycon 32 rocked. As usual, the people putting on the event were great. The con-goers were a blast to talk shop with. Thanks to the organizer of the vendors’ room, Lea, I had the chance to share a table with an author I had never met before. It could’ve been a disaster. Anything could’ve gone wrong. He was a fantasy author. My book was a horror story. We could’ve hated each other at first sight like two gladiators thrown into the arena, only the strongest leaving alive.

Okay, maybe that’s a bit too melodramatic, but you get the point. We had no idea what would happen when we shared a table at the convention to promote our books. As it turned out, Adam Copeland and I hit it off right away. I had brought help, and so had Adam. It didn’t take long for all of us to bond, realizing how lucky we were to meet each other. Call it Kismet, Karma, blind luck, whatever, but all of us got along so well that first day that we ended up sharing dinner in the venue’s restaurant to celebrate a good day of sales—and a fun time in general.

Earlier that day I had a thought rolling around in the back of my mind as I wandered around the vendors’ room talking to a few other independent authors. That night at the dinner table, we talked more in-depth about it. The idea was a simple one: What if we started a writer’s group to help local independent authors network resources? We could share everything from critiques and writing advice to marketing and the pros and cons of independent publishing.

That’s how the Northwest Independent Writers Association came into the world—kind of like a lot of other children, now that I think of all of the beer we drank. Just a lot quicker, without the screaming and all of the pain. After a few days of good sales, fun and hangovers, Adam and I parted ways, but we kept in contact with each other.

One thing I can say about the dynamic duo that we are is that we strongly complement each other’s strengths and weaknesses. Sure I fired off the random idea of NIWA after wandering around a bit, but Adam took the ball and ran like Walter Peyton with it. He kept us on task to gather other like-minded writers for an initial meeting. Booking a restaurant for all of us to meet in, we didn’t know that Adam had just punched the ball in for a touchdown. Just like when we first shared a table at the con together, we had no idea what to expect.

Thankfully, the fellow Founding Members of NIWA—Andy Bunch, Mark Kellar, Mary Saunders and Brad Wheeler—turned out to be a great group who believed in our vision of the newly created writer’s group. We all shared a certain sarcastic sense of humor, a love of writing, a need to bond with fellow authors and a sense of purpose that surprised us all. And did I mention the beer?

Since then, we’ve been joined by a fantastic cast of characters, all dedicated to writing, and all hardworking people I’m proud to call friends. I’m glad you’ve joined us here at NIWA.
PRIVACY POLICY

© COPYRIGHT 2024
Northwest Independent Writers Association.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Artists, Crafters, and Tradesman Insurance ACT Seal
Contact us at:
Mailing Address:   Northwest Independent Writers Association
                                            P.O. Box 1171
                                            Redmond, OR  97756

Email:  [email protected]
             [email protected]

  • HOME
  • ABOUT US
    • Our Authors
    • Our Board of Directors
    • OUR HISTORY
    • Donate
    • Become a Member >
      • Membership Policy
  • BOOKSTORE
    • Book Review Submission
    • Featured Reviews
    • 2025 New Releases
    • Action & Adventure
    • Children's
    • Comedy
    • Contemporary
    • Crime & Mystery
    • Fantasy
    • Graphic Novel
    • Historical
    • Horror
    • LGBTQ+
    • Non-Fiction
    • Poetry
    • Romance
    • Sci-Fi
    • Short Stories
    • Women's Lit
    • Young Adult
    • SEARCH BY AUTHOR >
      • A >
        • J.M.M. Adams
        • Heather Ames
        • Josh Amos
        • Shari Lyn Anderson
        • Judith Ashley
        • Stephen Atkins
      • B >
        • E. A. Bagby
        • Pam Bainbridge-Cowan
        • Maya Bairey
        • Melissa Gowdy Baldwin
        • Hollis Barkhaus
        • Rebecca J. Bastian
        • Barry L. Becker
        • Elizabeth Beechwood
        • Doug Beisley
        • B. Elizabeth Bell
        • Michael Bershay
        • David R Beshears
        • JP Biddlecome
        • J. A. Bierman
        • Diana Blackstone
        • Kerry Blaisdell
        • Lynn Bohart
        • Byrum K. Bolerjack
        • D Dean Boom
        • A. K. Brauneis
        • Anna Brentwood
        • David Bruce
        • Kami Bryant
        • Andy R. Bunch
      • C >
        • Linda Caradine
        • R Lindsay Carter
        • Baer Charlton
        • Emma E. Chavez
        • Mike Chinakos
        • Kate Cody
        • Randal Collins
        • William J Cook
        • Adam Copeland
        • Brendan Corbett
        • Kelly Coston
        • Pamela Cowan
        • Mary Cox
        • Kathryn Crabtree
        • J. M. Crist
        • Joshua Crosson
        • Deb Cushman
      • D >
        • Disa Dawn
        • Sheila Deeth
        • C. Quinn DeMar
        • Raven J. Demers
        • Tiffany Dickinson
        • Rebecca M. Douglass
      • E - F - G >
        • Jonathan Eaton
        • Jonathan Michael Erickson
        • Veronica Esagui
        • August Evans
        • Susan K Field
        • Kim Fielding
        • Cay Fletcher
        • Lana M Fox
        • Gus Frederick
        • Ava M. Gale
        • James L. Gillaspy
        • Judy Glenney
        • Kc Gloer
        • Angela D. Goldsmith
        • Thomas Gondolfi
        • Patty Grasher
        • J C Graves
        • Tag Gregory
      • H >
        • T K Hall
        • J M Halloran
        • Van Haney
        • E B Harding
        • J. R. R. R. (jim) Hardison
        • Skelly Harrington
        • Christopher J Harris
        • Dianne Hartsock
        • Kathy Haynes
        • Craig Allen Heath
        • Rhett Heath
        • Nelle Heran
        • Jonno Heyne
        • Angela Highland
        • Heather Hobson
        • Lana W. Holden
        • M. P. Hopcroft
        • James H. Horton
        • Kathy Hoxworth
        • A. M. Huff
        • Mollie Hunt
      • I - J - K >
        • Frances Lu-Pai Ippolito
        • Maquel A. Jacob
        • Ellen Jacobson
        • Paty Jager
        • Maggie Jaimeson
        • F. L. Journey
        • Flo Journey
        • Kimila Kay
        • Shaun C. Kennedy
        • Mark Shelley Kenzer
        • James W. Kitson
        • Chloe Kontur
        • Angela Korra'ti
      • L >
        • Cheryl Landes
        • Michael R. Lane
        • Tom Larsen
        • Rowen Lee
        • Mel E Lemon
        • Rachel Levy
        • Cyn Ley
        • Robert Liebertz
        • Eric Little
        • Erin Louis
        • Tristram Lowe
        • KD Lumsden
        • Pat Luther
        • Maggie Lynch
      • M >
        • James D Macon
        • Tim Maddox
        • Carly Major
        • Sulima Malzin
        • Amy Maroney
        • Amy Marsh
        • Steven Mayfield
        • tom r. mcconnell
        • Nikki McCormack
        • James M. McCracken
        • Sharon A McDonell
        • Donald McEwing
        • Agathon McGeachy
        • Marvin McKenzie
        • Joyce Labelle McNair
        • Minnette Meador
        • Erick Mertz
        • Michael J. Metroke
        • Russell Mickler
        • K Z Miller
        • Rory Miller
        • Ruth A Milligan
        • Jeff Monday
        • Sonja S Mongar
        • L. M. Montes
        • J. Moody
        • Barbara J Moritsch
        • S. K. Mueller
      • N - O - P >
        • Konrad Nau
        • Shelly M Neinast
        • D G Nelson
        • NIWA
        • Neil Orint
        • Ann Ornie
        • Tammy Owen
        • Susan Patterson
        • Julie Pershing
        • Jenny Plumb
        • L. Wade Powers
        • E M Prazeman
        • Shelly Pulse
      • Q - R >
        • Shannon L Reagan
        • Shawna Reppert
        • Winry Willow Rose
        • P. K. Ross
        • Jean Rover
        • R Roderick Rowe
        • E. J. Russell
        • Echo Ryan
      • S - T - U >
        • Andretta Schellinger
        • DJ Schneider
        • Bonnie Schroeder
        • B. J. Scott
        • James Scott
        • Rolf Semprebon
        • Andrey Sid
        • Ann Simas
        • Susie Slanina
        • M.A. Smith
        • Kay Smith-Blum
        • D. L. Solum
        • Jon Spoelstra
        • Deni Starr
        • Thomas Stimson
        • Susanna Strom
        • Fia Sylvan
        • Brian Tashima
        • Charles Thomas
        • Patrick Timm
        • Contessa Timmerman
        • Rene Tyson
      • V- W- X - Y - Z >
        • Elka Eastly Vera
        • Cody Voeller
        • Denita Wallace
        • Larry Walton
        • C M Weaver
        • Christina Weaver
        • Brad Wheeler
        • Andrea Weilgart
        • Matt Whitaker
        • Skeet Will
        • James Ross Wilks
        • Suzi Wiser
        • Steve Zell
  • Members
    • Anthology >
      • Anthologies - Member Discount
      • Anthology Launch Party
    • Add My Book
    • EVENTS >
      • Annual Events Calendar
      • Event Roles and Responsibilities
      • PAST EVENT STATS
      • HOW TO SIGN UP FOR EVENTS
      • REGISTER YOUR BOOKS FOR EVENTS
      • 2025 EVENTS >
        • 07 Robin Hood 25
        • 07 NW Book Fair 25
        • 07 Portland Pride 25
        • 07 1ST City
        • 08 OC Festival Arts
        • 08 MULTNOMAH DAYS
        • 09 Mt Angel Oktoberfest 25
        • 09 FG Oktoberfest 25
    • NEWSBITS BLOG
    • Newsletter Author Spotlight Application
    • NSQ
    • Renew My Membership
    • RESOURCES >
      • Advertise Your Book
      • Audio Book
      • Cover Designers
      • Editing & Formatting
      • Grammar
      • Indie Friendly Bookstores
      • ISBNs, COPYRIGHTS, AND LCCNs >
        • Understanding your ISBN
      • Legacy Planning
      • Printers
      • Publishing
      • Add A Member Tool
    • Storage >
      • Storage Policy
      • Storage Inventory
    • Update My Membership Info
    • Update My Author Page
    • ZOOM Videos >
      • Audiobooks 11-8-22
      • Book Covers
      • Editing
      • Self Editing & Proofreading
      • Writing Resources
      • Reviews and Why We Need Them
      • 2022 in Review
      • Pinterest - 1-10-23
      • Book Signings - 2-14-23
      • Genres - 3-14-23
      • Blurbs, Taglines, Pitches - 4-11-23
      • AI in Publishing - 5-9-23
      • Professional Ethics - 6-13-23
      • Newsletters - 7-11-23
      • How to work with Editors - 8-8-23
      • Events - 9-12-23
      • Marketing with Joe Marich- 11-4-24