͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌    ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­

NIWA NEWSLETTER SEPTEMBER 2026 Supporting Independently Published Authors in the Pacific Northwest WORDS ON WORDS “The scariest moment is always just before you start.” — Stephen King NIWA is recruiting new board members!  We’re filling three key roles: Communications Director, Education Director, and Events Director. If you’re ready to support our writing community in a meaningful way, head to the NIWA website to learn more. Have someone in mind? Nominate them at [email protected]. Bonus: Board members get FREE book display space at all NIWA events. NEW RELEASES (select cover to review or purchase) ANGELA KERN This month’s Member Spotlight shines on Angela Kern. Angela Kern has been writing and editing for over two decades. Currently, she contracts with independent authors to provide book coaching and editing services. Ms. Kern is the author of the Antigone D’Angelo urban fantasy series and Triggered: One Woman's Life Journey in Poetry. She is staunchly anti-AI. Angela considers herself a pop-culture nerd and constantly makes bad puns. For fun, she hikes, kayaks, paints, and reads, mostly in the Pacific Northwest, where she lives with her cat, Tang. NIWA: First, please tell us something about yourself that most people don’t know. ANGELA: I once worked as an oyster picker in the Puget Sound. Hardest, dirtiest, and most bad-ass job I ever had. I have the utmost respect for all the people who produce food and manage waste, in every capacity. NIWA: Would you rather achieve fame or fortune? Why? Angela: I'd prefer to have fortune without the fame. As an introvert by nature, the idea of being recognized makes me anxious. Honestly, the idea of fortune also makes me a little anxious, but I like to think I'd do good things with my millions, like becoming a patron for other struggling artists and authors. NIWA: What deep dark secret about yourself did you discover through your writing? Angela: Writing has always been my therapy. It's how I've processed childhood trauma, grief, PTSD, chronic pain, and lifelong depression. While it hasn't revealed any dark secrets, it has helped me to uncover hidden strengths and discover a deep reservoir of self-love. NIWA: When did you know you were a writer? Angela: I wrote and illustrated my first book when I was in the second grade. It was about a girl with a pet lion named Oro. So I always knew that I WANTED to be a writer, but I didn't truly consider myself one until I published my first novel, Cecaelians & Secrets. Find out more about Angela Kern on her NIWA Author Page. Like to be spotlighted in the monthly NIWA Newsletter? It’s easy! Just answer three random questions from our quirky list, and we do all the rest. Interested? Go to the NIWA Website Members Only page and click on Newsletter Author Spotlight Application, then fill in the form. Newsletters come out the 15th of every month. Spotlight authors are chosen on a first come, first served basis. Lea Sevey is hosting a one‑day writing workshop, Write Curiously – The Writer’s Life, in Yachats, Oregon on October 24, 2026. It’s a full day of writing, reflection, and creative renewal and is open to writers at any stage. To learn more or pre‑register, contact Lea at [email protected]. Paula Dunham, LCSW, has been awarded an International Impact Book Award for her children’s book I’m Stressed… I’m Worried… What Can I Do? The book received recognition for Outstanding Literary Achievement in the Children - Emotional & Feelings category. Paula’s book helps children understand and manage big emotions while building resilience and is an important resource for families, educators, and caregivers. Paty Jager has had a busy season. She just wrapped up selling books at the Oregon State Fair, where she connected with fellow authors and new writers. Paty is now heading to Hells Canyon Mule Days to gather research for her next Gabriel Hawke mystery. 366 Days of One-Hit Wonders Genre: Music History/Pop Culture by Matt Whitaker            Have you ever wondered what happened to the bands and artists known as one-hit wonders and where they disappeared to after they had their moment of fame? Or why their spark of popularity was destined to fizzle out? Well, in 366 Days of One-Hit Wonders, Matt Whitaker reveals all about these ephemeral smash hits. In 366 Days of One-Hit Wonders, Matt Whitaker evaluates a year's worth of one-hit wonders, ordering them by the day in history where they reached their peak on the Billboard Hot 100. He shows how even songs which pioneered a musical movement such as Jive Bunny and the Mastermixer's "Swing the Mood," which anticipated the remix insurgence in the 1990s, were unable to cling onto their initial momentum, and fade from existence. From band-breakups to falling public interest, there are a plethora of reasons why the bands and artists responsible for these popular songs were not able to replicate their success. Matt Whitaker gives an in-depth contextualization to these unexpected downfalls. To learn more about Matt Whitaker or to purchase this book, visit his NIWA author page. OCTOBER ZOOM MEETING NOTES FROM SEPTEMBER ZOOM September’s Second Tuesday Zoom featured Kim Fielding, who presented an informative session on writing accurate police procedurals. She outlined common mistakes in books and television and shared how writers can learn to avoid them. The presentation was well‑attended and well‑received. 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] 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. IDEA FOR A PRESENTATION? [email protected] NIWA MEMBER? TO ATTEND use this Zoom link VISIT NIWA BOOKSTORE Find a great book? Leave a great review! NOTES TO NIWA MEMBERS FROM THE NEWSLETTER TEAM 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. 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