write here in december 2025
wish list writing prompt, and 45+ bookish and writing events happening in the Greater Cincinnati literary community this month
Happy December, Cincy Writer Friend!
I can’t believe we’re already at the end of the year! I hope this year has been good to you and your writing.
This is a busy season of snowy days and holidays, finishing projects before the end of the year and dreaming up new ones for the next. It’s also a lovely time to curl up cozy with a book or your notebook to spend some time reading and creating beautiful words. I hope you get some good reading and writing time in this season!
In literary events this month, we have over 45 great events to attend around the city, many of which are celebrating the holiday cheer. In this edition of write here in cincinnati, you’ll find open mic nights, poetry readings, writing workshops, author signings, and a celebration of the winter solstice.
I’m sending you all my best wishes for a December that brings you good books, writing that warms you, and a cozy, cheerful holiday season!
As writers, sometimes a little spark is all you need to create something new and unexpected. Whether you write a new piece or enhance your work in progress, and whether you’re writing fiction, nonfiction, poetry, or something in between, I hope this little prompt helps you connect with your words.
Your prompt this month is to write about a wish list. This may be a wish list of physical and tangible things, metaphorical things, philosophical things, or other abstract things. Whether this list is things that you personally want or a fictional character wants, dig into the details around these things. Why are these things important and desired? What’s unique and special about them? What would change if you/they received these things? Who would give these things, or how would these things be earned? Are these things possible, or an out-of-reach dream? What are those greatest wishes?
Weave this into something new, or something you’re already working on. Work it into your stories, your essays, your poems however you see fit.
If something interesting comes from this prompt, write into it with love. And please let me know! I’d love to hear about your words.
Writers Group at the Clermont County Public Library
First Tuesday of each month: Tuesday, December 2 at 6:00 pm at the Clermont County Public Library, Batavia Branch, Batavia Meeting Room, 180 S Third Street, Batavia, Ohio.
Hosted the first Tuesday of every month. Share your writing endeavors, generate ideas, hone your craft, and network with fellow writers.
Write Now! Memoir Group
Tuesday, December 2 from 6:00 to 7:30 pm at the Clermont County Public Library, Union Township Branch, Union Township Small Meeting Room, 4450 Glen Este-Withamsville Road, Cincinnati, Ohio.
This beginning writers’ group provides encouragement and support to help you write your own memoir. We will read examples and practice writing prompts in a safe and welcoming space.
Writers’ Group at the Kenton County Public Library, Erlanger Branch
Tuesday, December 2 from 6:30 to 8:30 pm at the Kenton County Public Library, Erlanger Branch, Kentucky Conference Room, 401 Kenton Lands, Erlanger, Kentucky 41018.
Share your work and give feedback in this group for writers of all genres! New members always welcome!
Poetry at Artifact: Elaine Olund & Ecopoetics & an Open Mic
Tuesday, December 2 at 7:00 pm at Urban Artifact, 1660 Blue Rock Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45223.
I’m thrilled to announce our special lineup for December 2nd! The multi-talented @Elaine Olund has been leading Climate meditations and workshops focused on one of her passions: ecopoetics. On December 2nd, we’ll feature Elaine and some of her “regulars” in these workshops. Our hope is to raise our voices for the mother of us all, Mother Earth!
Come join us at Urban Artifact’s Radio Artifact space and bring a poem (an eco-centered piece, if possible) to share during the open mic.
Dayton Poetry Slam Open Mic
First and Third Sunday at 7:00 pm at Yellow Cab Tavern, 700 E 4th St, Dayton, Ohio 45402.
One of Ohio’s longest-running poetry series at 24 years strong, the Dayton Poetry Slam offers open mic nights, feature poets and musicians, as well as the chance to compete for a little spending money. Come out, show out, and explore the Dayton art scene!
Tales to Tails with Ella
Tuesday, December 2 and 16 from 4:30 to 5:30 pm at the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library, North Central Branch, 11109 Hamilton Ave., Cincinnati, Ohio 45231.
Practice your reading skills in a calm, relaxed environment by reading a story to our furry friend Ella, a certified therapy dog.
No registration required. Children of all reading levels welcome.
Quills & Queers Writers Group
Every Tuesday at 6:00 pm at Roebling Books & Coffee, Newport Location, 601 Overton Street, Newport, Kentucky 41071.
Come share your words or listen to local authors share theirs!
Kids Silent Reading Club
Wednesday, December 3, 10, and 17 from 2:15 to 3:30 pm at the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library, Westwood Branch, 3345 Epworth Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45211.
Read with a librarian and other kids after school. Candy is promised for every silent reader!
What We Inherit: An Evening with Robert A. Flischel and Michael Wilson
Wednesday, December 3 at 6:00 pm at The Mercantile Library, 414 Walnut St #1100, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202. Registration required.
“Eight years ago, I overheard a comment that sparked the inspiration for this book: “Everyone in this country gets the same opportunities. Some people choose to use them, and others don’t.”
I think the comment got my full attention because it contrasts so starkly with my own experience.
I’ve spent years as a social worker and photojournalist working with impoverished people. I’ve also heard many stories from my wife and daughter, both teachers in poor neighborhoods. Perhaps most compellingly, I’ve witnessed family members and friends struggle with addiction, mental illness, family disintegration, disease, and spousal abuse—all of which, of course, can quickly lead to poverty or make poverty almost impossible to escape.
I wanted to create a photographic documentation of poverty in Southern Ohio, Southern Indiana, Kentucky and West Virginia from the year 1900 to the present to show the reality of what people must overcome from one generation to the next—before they can begin to take advantage of the “opportunities” many of us take for granted.” — From the introduction by Robert A. Flischel
6 pm reception/6:30 pm program
Free & open to the public. Registration required.
Copies of What We Inherit will be available for sale & signing.
About Robert A. Flischel: Robert A. Flischel graduated from Purcell High School in 1967 and Xavier University in 1972. He studied photography with Kazik Pazovski from 1972-1974. Mr. Flischel is a founding trustee of Radio Reading Service, which assists the visually impaired. He has served on the board of the Regional Chapter of the American Society of Media Photographers and is currently President Emeritus of The Art League, serving Cincinnati Public Schools. Mr. Flischel has taught photography at Northern Kentucky University and lectures frequently on historic preservation.
About Michael Wilson: Michael Wilson was born in 1959 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Discovering a love of photography in college he began work as a freelance photographer in 1987. His work in the music industry is the most recognizable face of his freelance work. Among the artists Michael has photographed are: Lyle Lovett, David Byrne, B.B.King, Emmylou Harris, Bill Frisell, Joshua Redman, Philip Glass, Robert Plant, Doctor John and Doc Watson.
His work has been featured in numerous exhibitions including the The Annenberg Space for Photography (Los Angeles, California), Cincinnati Art Museum, the Contemporary Arts Center (Cincinnati, Ohio), Cleveland Center for Contemporary Art (Cleveland, Ohio) and the J.B. Speed Museum (Louisville, Kentucky).
He is Resident Instructor of photography at Manifest Drawing Center in Cincinnati.
The Art of Spoken Word: Poetry Open Mic Night
Wednesday, December 3 and 17 from 8:00 to 11:00 pm at Somerset Bar, 139 E McMicken Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45202.
The Art of Spoken Curated by Eight Twenty Media
Doors Open 8pm, Show Starts at 9pm
Week 1 - No Features, Open Mic hosted by Nanci Mays
Week 2 - Exotic Poetry Night “Don’t be nice, be Nasty hosted by Ty Victoria
Week 3 - Showcase Night hosted by Nanci Mays
Week 4 - Sip n Paint Open Mic Hosted by Cleöcrt
Early Sign-Up Suggested for open mic, spots are limited
Kids and Teens Silent Reading Club
Wednesday, December 3, 10, and 17 from 2:15 to 3:30 PM at the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library, Westwood Branch, 3345 Epworth Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45211.
Read with a librarian and other kids after school. Candy is promised for every silent reader!
Tales to Tails with Eoin
Thursday, December 4, 11, and 18 from 10:30 to 11:30 am at the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library, Maderia Branch, 7200 Miami Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45243.
Read a story to our furry friend Eoin, a certified therapy dog.
Children of all reading levels welcome, no registration required.
Peregrine Haiku Society with The Mercantile Library
Thursday, December 4 at 12:00 pm at The Mercantile Library, 414 Walnut St #1100, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202. Registration required.
This haiku workshop – named for the peregrine falcons that live in downtown Cincinnati and nest at The Mercantile Library – is open to all aspiring poets.
The workshop begins with a review and discussion of an anthology of classic haiku, revealing that day’s theme. The last part of the session is spent writing haiku prompted by the theme of the day.
Led by Patti Niehoff, who has spent four decades writing, studying, and working on haiku.
Forget 5-7-5, this group is for anyone interested in focusing on those tiny moments of illumination, honing their craft, or just curious about the art form.
Free and open to the public. The in-person session includes lunch. To register or for more information, email Kara Willis.
Silent Book Club with the Kenton County Public Library, Erlanger Branch
Thursday, December 4 from 7:30 to 8:30 pm at the Kenton County Public Library, Erlanger Branch, Mark Twain Room, 401 Kenton Lands, Erlanger, Kentucky 41018.
Looking for some dedicated time to read, but don't want to be told WHAT to read? Try out this Silent Book Club! You bring what you're reading, whether it's for another book club or the door stopper you've been working through for months, and you read for an hour. There will be snacks and drinks. We will meet in the Reading Garden. In case of rain, we will meet instead in the Twain meeting room. Registration not required but if you sign up, you'll get a reminder prior to the event!
Writing Workshop: Craft, Voice, and Momentum
Thursday, December 4 and 18 from 7:15 to 8:45 pm at Tome Books and Novelteas, 6089 Salem Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45230.
Join an immersive writing session focused on developing authentic voice, emotional resonance, and narrative momentum. Whether you’re drafting fiction, memoir, or poetry, this workshop offers guided exercises, group discussion, and constructive feedback to help you refine your craft and push your work to the next level. Bring a notebook, curiosity, and a willingness to experiment.
K P March Book Signing
Friday, December 5 from 5:00 to 6:00 at The Bookery, 3704 Eastern Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45226.
Join us to celebrate the launch of local author K P March’s newest Regency romance, The Wife!
The Cincinnati Review Issue Launch
Friday, December 5 at 6:00 pm at The Mercantile Library, 414 Walnut St #1100, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202.
The Cincinnati Review celebrates the launch of issue 22.2 and its all-new website with an evening of readings and merriment. Light refreshments will be provided.
6 pm reception/6:30 pm program
Free & open to the public. Registration required.
December Reading Party at Northwood Cider Co.
Saturday, December 6 from 1:30 to 4:00 pm at Northwood Cider Co., 2075 Mills Ave, Cincinnati, Ohio 45212.
Grab a warm cider, settle in, and enjoy a little quiet time before the holiday rush kicks in. Glad you made it.
The Make New Friends Table — a welcoming spot for anyone who’d like to meet new people.
In this digital age, we understand the value of reading time, and we’re delighted to provide a cozy space for our book-loving community.
Bring a book, read an hour, and chat with new book friends over a drink about what you just read. Enjoy curated soft music in the reserved reading area. The RSVP is free and will help us prepare appropriate space.
1:30p: Arrive early to settle into your seat, grab a drink or chat
2-3p: Reading time
3-4p: Mingle and chat (or keep reading)
Holiday Open House with Local Authors at The Bookshelf
Saturday, December 6 all day at The Bookshelf, 7754 Camargo Road, (off of the Kroger parking lot), Cincinnati, OH 45243.
Join us! Speak with the authors and have them sign your books!
Refreshments served!
Local Author Spotlight at Joseph-Beth Booksellers
Saturday, December 6 at 1:00 pm at Joseph-Beth Booksellers, 2692 Madison Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45208.
Join us for a special signing with local authors! See below for the local authors being featured at this event:
Michael Hillenmeyer
CM Prince
Elee Rose
O’neil Van Horn
Writer’s Club
Saturday, December 6 from 2:00 to 4:00 pm at the Kenton County Public Library, Covington Branch, 502 Scott Boulevard, Covington, Kentucky 41011.
Come enjoy a community of writers! Learn new techniques and skills that you can use within your own writing projects! Light refreshments will be provided.
Registration is encouraged, but walk-ins are welcome!
Make sure to bring your preferred writing medium (laptop, tablet, notebook and pencil, etc.)
Writer’s Club is 18+
Peripatetic Poets Cincinnati Open Mic at Muse Cafe
Saturday, December 6 from 7:00 to 9:00 pm at Muse Cafe, 3018 Harrison Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45211.
At our chilly December show, we welcome to the stage writer and performing artist T. Lydia McKinney, fiction writer Erinn Sweet, and the artist, speaker and writer Michael Thompson.
After the Featured Readers is the Open Mic –come on out and take the stage!
We’d love to hear your new stuff!
See ya in December 😊
Writing in Community
Monday, December 8 and 22 at 12:00 pm at The Mercantile Library, 414 Walnut St #1100, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202.
Seeking to start or build a consistent writing practice? Join us.
Each gathering begins with a brief prompt to stir creativity, followed by shared quiet time for individual projects. Whether you identify as a writer (any genre) or are simply dabbling, all are welcome.
Drop in and bring whatever writing tools fit your fancy, and turn solitary writing into creative companionship. No registration required.
Contact hillary@mercantilelibrary.com for questions.
Chokepoints: An Evening with Edward Fishman
Monday, December 8 at 6:00 pm at The Mercantile Library, 414 Walnut St #1100, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202. Registration required.
The epic story of how America turned the world economy into a weapon, upending decades of globalization to take on a new authoritarian axis—Russia, China, and Iran.
It used to be that ravaging another country’s economy required blockading its ports and laying siege to its cities. Now all it takes is a statement posted online by the U.S. government.
In Chokepoints, Edward Fishman, a former top State Department sanctions official, takes us deep into the back rooms of power to reveal the untold history of the last two decades of U.S. foreign policy, in which America renounced the gospel of globalization and waged a new kind of economic war. As Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, and Ayatollah Khamenei wreaked havoc on the world stage, mavericks within the U.S. government built a fearsome new arsenal of economic weapons, exploiting America’s dominance in global finance and technology. Successive U.S. presidents have relied on these unconventional weapons to address the most pressing national-security threats, for good and for ill.
Chokepoints provides a thrilling account of one of the most critical geopolitical developments of our time, demystifying the complex strategies the U.S. government uses to harness the power of Wall Street, Silicon Valley, and Big Oil against America’s enemies. At the center of the narrative is an eclectic group of policy innovators: the diplomats, lawyers, and financial whizzes who’ve masterminded America’s escalating economic wars against Russia, China, and Iran.
Economic warfare has become the primary way the United States confronts international crises and counters rivals. Sometimes it has achieved spectacular success; other times, bitter failure. The result we live with today is a new world order: an economic arms race among great powers and a fracturing global economy. Chokepoints is the definitive account of how America pioneered this new, hard-hitting style of economic war—and how it’s changing the world.
6 pm reception/6:30 pm program
Free & open to the public.
Registration required.
Copies of Chokepoints will be available for sale & signing courtesy of Joseph-Beth Cincinnati.
About Edward Fishman: Edward Fishman teaches at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs and is a senior research scholar at the Center on Global Energy Policy. He is the New York Times–bestselling author of Chokepoints: American Power in the Age of Economic Warfare, which has been called “masterful” by the Financial Times and “a compelling and dramatic narrative about the new shape of geopolitics” by the Wall Street Journal. He previously served at the U.S. State Department on the Secretary of State’s Policy Planning Staff and as the Russia and Europe Sanctions Lead, at the Pentagon as an advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and at the U.S. Treasury Department as special assistant to the Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence. His writing and analysis have appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Foreign Affairs, Politico, and on NPR.
Meet and Photo with Christine Brown Woolley, author of Sister Wife
Monday, December 8 at 7:00 pm at Joseph-Beth Booksellers, 2692 Madison Rd, Cincinnati, Ohio 45208. Book = Ticket.
Please join us for a chance to meet and get a photo with Christine Brown Woolley, author of Sister Wife. This event is book = ticket. Purchase the book via the website to attend the event. Books will be signed and ready for pick up at the event. At the event, attendees will have the chance to meet and get a photo with Christine.
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
From TLC’s Sister Wives star Christine Brown Woolley, a groundbreaking and heartfelt memoir about living in a family like no other and finding the strength to leave Mormonism—and the only life she’s known—behind.
Christine Brown Woolley had always dreamed of having a picture-perfect family—beautiful children, an adoring husband, and of course, a sisterhood of wives to share him with. Raised in Utah by practicing polygamists, Christine knew her life was less than normal, but that didn’t stop her from loving the full house of her childhood any less.
Becoming Kody Brown’s third wife in 1994, Christine finally found the big, happy family she had hoped for. When TLC’s hit show Sister Wives premiered in 2010, Christine knew it was her chance to shine a light on the brighter side of polygamy—the helping hands, the lively discussions, and their unmatched devotion to each other. But the cameras also revealed a much darker truth.
Now, in this candid tell-all, Christine shares for the first time the journey that led her away from polygamy and the bold path she is carving to live apart from all she has ever known. Moving, genuine, and insightful, this is a uniquely powerful tour de force of Christine’s journey toward and beyond her time in the spotlight as a sister wife.
Christine Brown Woolley rose to fame as a star of the hit TLC reality show Sister Wives. She has six children, and lives happily in Utah with her husband.
Silent Book Club
Second Monday of each month: December 8 from 7:00 to 8:30 pm at Joseph-Beth Booksellers, 2692 Madison Rd, Cincinnati, Ohio 45208.
Silent Book Club is a global community of readers and introverts, with more than 500 chapters in 50 countries around the world. SBC members gather in public at bars, cafes, bookstores, libraries, and online to read together in quiet camaraderie.
Virtual Author Talk: Smithsonian Curator Paula J. Johnson
Tuesday, December 9 from 2:00 to 3:00 pm virtually through the Campbell County Public Library. Registration required.
Paula J. Johnson, author and Smithsonian curator, discusses the legacy of Julia Child’s kitchen.
Join us for a conversation that is sure to warm your heart and make your stomach rumble. Paula J. Johnson, author and Smithsonian curator, will dive into the legacy of cooking icon Julia Child. Johnson’s literally wrote the book on this infamous chef, Julia Child’s Kitchen: The Design, Tools, Stories, and Legacy of an Iconic Space. The book includes interviews with chefs who knew Julia well, commentary on her favorite culinary tools/ kitchen gadgets and a stunning array of photos.
Julia Child’s 20’ x 14’ kitchen was a serious workspace and recipe‑testing lab that exuded a sense of mid‑century homey comfort. It has been on display at the National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C. for most of the past 23 years, and museum goers have made it a top destination.
The kitchen contains more than 1000 parts and pieces (e.g., tools, appliances, utensils, furniture, artwork, knick‑knacks, books and bits of whimsy) that reflect Julia’s status as an accomplished chef, gastronome, delightful cooking teacher, television trailblazer, women’s advocate, mentor and generous, jovial friend.
Julia Child’s Kitchen (and this online conversation) is a must‑have for every serious home cook and Julia Child fan. Register now to enter the discussion and learn more about how Julia Child continues to influence food today!
About the Author: Paula J. Johnson is a curator and public historian at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C. She conducts research and collects objects relating to the history and culture of American food and serves as the Director of the Smithsonian’s Food History Project. Johnson was one of the curators who collected Julia Child’s home kitchen in 2001 and led the team that created FOOD: Transforming the American Table, a multi-layered exhibition that explores the major changes in food production, distribution and consumption in the United States since the 1950s. She has shaped and contributed to many public programs on food history and leads the annual “Food History Weekend.” Johnson is the author of many articles and three books, including Julia Child’s Kitchen: The Design, Tools, Stories, and Legacy of an Iconic Space. She received the Smithsonian Distinguished Scholar in the Humanities Award in 2020.
Johnson began her museum career at the Calvert Marine Museum in Solomons, Md., and has worked at the Smithsonian since 1991. She is a member of the Association for the Study of Food and Society and Les Dames d’Escoffier. She serves on the editorial collective for Gastronomica: The Journal for Food Studies.
Tales to Tails with Nanny
Tuesday, December 9 from 5:00 to 5:45 pm at the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library, Harrison Branch, 10398 New Haven Road, Harrison, Ohio 45030.
Drop- in to read a story to our furry friend, Nanny, a certified therapy dog. Nanny is a super sweet dog who loves listening to stories that you can either bring with you or pick off the shelf to share with her.
For youth of all reading levels.
No registration required.
Voices for Truth: Imagining the Future
Wednesday, December 10 at 7:00 pm at the Harriet Beecher Stowe House, 2950 Gilbert Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45206. Zoom participation also available (Series runs second Wednesdays at 7pm). Registration required.
In 2025, the “Voices for Truth” discussion series from Cincinnati’s Harriet Beecher Stowe House continues to focus on moments in American history when eloquent voices arose, often from the margins, to tell truths about social justice issues in our society.
Harriet Beecher Stowe remains our exemplar of a voice for truth. During her eighteen years in Cincinnati (1832-1850), she discovered her voice as a writer and, in 1851, decided to devote it to the anti-slavery cause. Horrified by the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, Stowe wrote to editor Gamaliel Bailey: “Up to this year I have always felt that I had no particular call to meddle with this subject [slavery], and I dreaded to expose even my own mind to the full force of its existing power. But I feel now that the time has come when even a woman or a child who can speak a word for freedom and humanity is bound to speak.”
The result, of course, was Uncle Tom’s Cabin, the blockbuster novel that awakened many Northerners to the horrors of slavery and helped create the change of heart that inspired the Union to stand firm when the South seceded over slavery.
Besides focusing on American authors and the truths they told through literature, we’ll also consider how we can develop our own voices and enlist them in service of our own values.
As 2025 draws to a close, we look to writers of fantasy and science fiction, not for stories of bug-eyed monsters, dazzling special effects, or predictions of the future, but for alternative visions of how our world might be--for better or worse. These stories are sometimes called speculative fiction or even parables because they raise thought-provoking moral questions. Both authors are women in a field formerly dominated by men. Ursula Le Guin is probably the best known of the New Wave of speculative fiction authors who came to prominence in the 1970s and ‘80s, and N. K. Jemison is a widely honored contemporary author whose work is often discussed in connection with Afrofuturism.
Suggested Reading:
Tales to Tails with Winston
Thursday, December 11 from 4:00 to 5:00 pm at the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library, Green Township Branch, 6525 Bridgetown Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45248.
Read a story to our furry friend Winston, a certified therapy dog!
For children of All Ages, no registration required.
Purrfect Tales: Kids Read to Cats
Saturday, December 13 at 9:00 and 10:00 am at The League for Animal Welfare, 4193 Taylor Road, Batavia, Ohio 45103. Registration required.
Brush up on your reading skills by teaming up with a cat friend who loves to hear stories. Participants ages 5-14 will be given a 30-minute session to visit and read to an adoptable cat. We will have books available to read and check out. If you don’t have a library card, you can sign up for one at the event. All kids must be accompanied by an adult during the session. There will be a 15-minute registration and orientation period before spending time with the cats.
Be advised that cats are not hypoallergenic and may cause a reaction in those with allergies. Register as a parent/child pair. Please only register for one session per parent/child pair.
Poet Laureate Office Hours with Richard Hague
Saturday, December 13 from 12:00 to 2:00 pm at The Mercantile Library, 414 Walnut Street #1100, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202. Registration required.
Second Saturday of each month, 12 noon-2pm. We will begin each session with One Poem At A Time, a close reading of a classic, noting matters of form, figures of speech, diction, and other features relevant to both readers and writers of poetry. Then a poetry-writing prompt and discussion, followed by thirty to forty minutes of drafting. Each session will end with a voluntary read-around of drafts, with general pointers for revision. Richard will also entertain questions about any aspect of the poetry game: submitting, publishing, networking, reading, performing. Occasionally, participants can take the opportunity to recite from memory a poem of their choice for the general delight of the group, if they so desire.
iNK Zine Squad
Saturday, December 13 (Second Saturday of the Month) from 1:00 to 3:00 pm at Indie Northern Kentucky, 507 Sixth Avenue, Dayton, Kentucky 41074.
We’ll see you the 2nd saturday of every month to make, talk, and swap zines. read what the cool kids are reading.
Local Author Spotlight at Joseph-Beth Booksellers
Saturday, December 13 at 1:00 pm at Joseph-Beth Booksellers, 2692 Madison Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45208.
Join us for a special signing with local authors! See below for the local authors being featured at this event:
Peter Bronson
Madge Maril
Jenna Beall Mueller
Jane Sojka
Jeff Suess
Creativity & Mindfulness Workshop with Cathy Sacco
Saturday, December 13 from 1:00 to 3:30 pm at Roebling Books & Coffee, Dayton Location, 301 6th Avenue, Dayton, Kentucky 41074.
Join us at our Dayton, KY location (Outsiders) for a workshop and reading where author Cathy Sacco will discuss her book, Time for Wonder, and reveal her creative approach. She will share how she uses mindfulness, meditation, and nature as tools to enhance creativity!
This workshop is free to attend.
MoPoetry Phillips Presents: Hit The Mic Cincy’s “Ugly Sweater” Open Mic
Saturday, December 13 at 7:00 pm at 10142 Springfield Pike, Cincinnati, Ohio 45215.
Get Ready to Hit the Mic with the HTMC Crew! Along with our fabulous host Nanci Mays! On Saturday, December 13, 2025, from 7–10 PM
🎤 Get Ready to Hit the Mic with the HTMC Crew! Along with our fabulous host Nanci Mays! On Saturday, December 13, 2025, from 7–10 PM, join us at Hit the Mic Cincy for a powerful open mic night you won’t want to miss! 🔥
This open mic’s theme is “Ugly Sweater”, so wear your ugliest sweater, with your best gift. Which is you!
Whether you’re a poet, singer, rapper, storyteller, or just love witnessing raw talent, this is YOUR night to vibe, share, and shine. Open to ages 16 and up, the mic is waiting for your voice. 🎶✨
📍 10142 Springfield Pike, Cincinnati, OH 45215 🎟️ Entry: $5 in advance (Cash App: $moneecaphillips | PayPal: 1mopoetry@gmail.com | Venmo: @moneeca-phillips) $10 at the door
Bring your words. Bring your energy. Bring your people. Step up, speak up, and let the city hear you!
🌐 Stay connected, discover future dates, and let your voice find its stage at hitthemiccincy.com.
Young Writers Society
Monday, December 15 from 6:30 to 8:00 pm at the Kenton County Public Library, Covington Branch, 502 Scott Boulevard, Covington, Kentucky 41011.
A social network for teens to share their creative works and learn new writing skills, techniques, and habits!
All skill levels welcomed!
Refreshments will be provided! Registration is encouraged, but not required!
Best for teens ages 11-18!
Make sure to bring your preferred writing medium (laptop, tablet, notebook and pencil, etc.) and any creative works you may want to share!
Mightier than the Sword - Teen Writing Club
Tuesday, December 16 from 4:00 to 5:00 pm at the Dayton Metro Library, Main Library, 215 East Third Street, Dayton, Ohio 45402.
Are you looking to work on your creative writing skills with other teens? Regardless of skill level, this program is for you!
At Mightier Than the Sword, our Teen Librarian will give a short, 1-2 word writing prompt, along with paper and pens (you’re welcome to bring your own notebook, though!). You’ll have 40 minutes of time to write using the prompt, and with the last 20 minutes, we’ll share and workshop what you come up with! Ages 13-18.
Tributaria: An Evening with Richard Hague, Sherry Cook Stanforth & Michael Thompson
Wednesday, December 17 at 6:00 pm at The Mercantile Library, 414 Walnut St #1100, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202. Registration required.
The contributions of poetry, prose, visual art, and photography in this collection form a creative tribute (using one meaning of the word) to one of the largest river systems in North America. The Ohio River Basin’s scenic and historic tributaries—rivers, streams, creeks, and rills—are flowing through nearly 204,000 square miles of territory, impacting more than 25 million people living in areas of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia, Indiana, Illinois, Tennessee, New York, Virginia, Maryland, Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama, and North Carolina. Nearly five million people drink water from the Ohio River itself, and millions more depend on the commerce, recreation, and transportation provided by its connected watersheds. The lovely living gift of the ohi:yó sustains us, body and soul.
And yet this precious lifeline, this vast and beautiful ecosystem, is being sickened by pollution, rewritten in the specialized, expressive language of dioxins, furans, PCBs, mercury, VOCs, phthalates, POPs, phenols, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, HAB dead zones, E. coli contamination, on and on and on. In 2023, the American Rivers conservation group listed the Ohio River as the second most endangered waterway in the country. This diagnosis came well ahead of the February 3, 2024, Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, that dumped at least five different toxic chemicals into a cradle holding people, flora and fauna, forests, fields, farms, parklands, yards—and of course, ever-moving water sources. And so Tributaria sings an elegy for irrevocable damage to the living world, even as it celebrates its sacred beauty.
Former US Poet Laureate Joy Harjo witnesses for us all the practice of intentional connection, of learning to claim (and reclaim) what exists beyond our immediate senses: “When I began to listen to poetry, it’s when I began to listen to the stones, and I began to hear what the clouds had to say, and I began to listen to others.” May these words and images invite that accountable, curious tuning. Tributaria offers only a glimpse into the complex heart of Ohio River country’s flowing waters, riparian margins, diverse life forms, geological features, and industrial properties. The living energy of nature and culture cannot be contained by simple designs and functions. Our stories of water will move throughout time, while we remain bound to the unfolding plots and diverse settings that shape our essential well-being within all of creation.
6 pm reception/6:30 pm program
Free & open to the public.
Registration required.
Light Refreshments Provided
Copies of Tributaria will be available for sale & signing
About Richard Hague: Richard Hague is editor or author of 23 volumes, most recently the prose collection Earnest Occupations: Teaching, Writing, Gardening, & Other Local Work (Bottom Dog Press, 2018) and the poetry collection Continued Cases (Dos Madres Press, 2023). During The Recent Extinctions: New & Selected Poems 1984-2012 was winner of the 2012 Weatherford Award in Poetry. Alive in Hard Country won the 2003 Appalachian Writers Association’s Poetry Book of the Year, and Milltown Natural: Essays & Stories from a Life, was a National Book Award nominee. He is 2025-27 Poet Laureate of Cincinnati & the Mercantile Library.
About Sherry Cook Stanforth: Sherry Cook Stanforth serves as artist-in-residence for the Carnegie Center of Columbia Tusculum and managing editor of Pine Mountain Sand & Gravel. She founded Originary Arts Initiative to provide diverse communities with creative opportunities and place-based inspiration. She publishes in various creative genres—her poetry collection Drone String (Bottom Dog Press, 2015) reflects the storytelling and music traditions of her Appalachian heritage. She plays in the band Tangled Roots, studies native plants, and works very hard to keep bees alive.
About Michael Thompson: Michael Thompson is an artist, writer, and speaker based in Cincinnati, Ohio. His work focuses on ecology and space, connecting the human spirit to their environment. Working across painting, installation, and text, he blends the surreal with the familiar, utilizing interdisciplinary storytelling to create immersive spaces. His practice is largely built around social and public works, collaborating with museums, universities, and non-profits on exhibitions, residencies, and educational programming. His artistic and community work has been recognized by Forbes, the Urban League, & the Ohio Arts Council amongst others.
Open Mic Night: December
Thursday, December 18 at 5:30 pm at the Harriet Beecher Stowe House, 2950 Gilbert Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45206. Tickets required.
The world needs your words! Join new and experienced poets in a space that honors world-changing words and rooted community.
Bring a poem or song to share in the relaxed and welcoming historic Edgemont Inn tavern space at the Harriet Beecher Stowe House museum.
Hosted by poet and storyteller Zeda Stew. Light refreshments included.
Community Book Swap at Free Parking
Sunday, December 21 from 3:00 to 6:00 pm at Free Parking, 6200 Hamilton Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45224.
It is our final Book Swap of 2025! Come to Free Parking Board Game Bar to play some Reindeer Games while swapping books for yourself or to give as a gift to a loved one for the holidays. While joining in on all the fun grab a cocktail and some food! It is going to be a fun time!
Free Parking is a social gaming venue. In the same vein as board game cafes and other activity based bars, our goal is to create an environment for our customers to try out games from our FP Library while enjoying our food and beverage options.
Solstice in Sound
Sunday, December 21 from 3:00 to 6:00 pm at Household Books, 5854 Hamilton Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45224.
longest night of the year, so celebrate quite literally by coming to 5854 Hamilton Avenue @householdbookscincy with the best around ⋆ 𖤓 ⋆˚࿔
✵ poems from @haileyybishop, John Hicks, @emailchecker, & @sandrariffler ✵
(it doesn’t end there)
✺ music from @grace.eddy, @jakekolesar_music, @bobbyminelli, @evalpatterson, Julian Vanasse, @angiewillcutt, & @pity_xerox ✺
(it doesn’t end there)
✷ photography exhibit curated by @jackcamrey & art show by @heavenisfleeting ✷
(it doesn’t end there)
✴︎ books for sale & food & faces of friends in a half-glowing room ✴︎
it hasn’t even begun and my heart is full .. another solstice to remember is approaching, be there!! 𖠋𖠋𖠋𖠋
Silent Book Club
Tuesday, December 23 from 6:00 to 7:30 pm at the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library, Clifton Branch, 3400 Brookline Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45220.
You’re invited to the Clifton Branch Library’s first Silent Book Club! Spend an evening in quiet company with your book of choice. All readers and book formats are welcome! We’ll have 45 minutes of silent reading and then an optional discussion for the remaining time together. Attendees can come and go as they please throughout the evening. We hope to see you there!
Chris Demeropolis sharing and signing Teddy Lou, Bell Guru
Saturday, December 27 at 10:30 am at Joseph-Beth Booksellers, 2692 Madison Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45208.
Please join us for Chris Demeropolis sharing and signing Teddy Lou, Bell Guru.
With fun rhymes and bell chimes, follow young Teddy Lou as he explores his fascination with bells. When Teddy questions whether bells have strange smells, he must leap to learn more and even work out a scientific solution to ensure his safety. But will our favorite bell explorer find his answer before the bell rings?
Chris Demeropolis likes writing stories about subjects that entertain and amuse her children. With an interest in writing since she could pick up a pen, she earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Ohio University. Chris is a seasoned storyteller, spending the first half of her writing career as a PR professional for well-known brands. She lives in Kentucky with her husband, two sons and cat.
Brandon T. Snider signing The Golden Girls - Love is Golden
Saturday, December 27 at 1:00 pm at Joseph-Beth Booksellers, 2692 Madison Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45208.
Join us for Brandon T. Snider signing The Golden Girls - Love is Golden.
Celebrate the iconic 1980s sitcom with this love-themed book that fans will want to share with the youngest readers on Valentine’s Day and all year round!
It’s almost dinner time and Ma has a surprise. She’s taking Dorothy, Blanche, and Rose to a restaurant! When Dorothy asks if there’s a special reason, Ma simply says, “Because I love you, pussycat.” The girls have a lot of follow-up questions. Does Ma love Dorothy as much as Rose loves animals? As much as Blanche loves being fancy? Ma’s answer is always yes. But how will Dorothy show how much she loves Ma? Luckily, a mishap at dinner gives Dorothy a wonderfully sweet idea!
Illustrated with bright and charming art, full of Easter eggs and nods to memorable show gags—from Fernando the Teddy Bear to Mr. Ha Ha’s Hot Dog Hacienda—Love is Golden will simultaneously delight kids AND adults.
Brandon T. Snider is the bestselling author of the award-winning Dark Knight Manual as well as the Avengers: Infinity War: The Cosmic Quest series and the Reuben Award-winning Rube Goldberg and his Amazing Machines series. Additionally, he’s written books featuring Cartoon Network favorites like Adventure Time and Regular Show, Marvel’s Spider-Man and Black Panther, plus pop culture icons such as Justice League, Star Wars, and The Muppets. Brandon lives in New York City, where he’s a member of the Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA.
This project is a labor of love, one that I truly believe is worthwhile. All of our writing grows when we share in community together and learn from each other. I hope you find this monthly newsletter useful to your practice and your creative writing journey. I hope you attend events that bring joy, inspiration, and commitment to your writing!
If you know of any upcoming events that I should feature, send them my way! Whether you’re hosting it or just know about it, I’d love to include any ways to further support and connect our community. You can email me and/or comment on this post any time!
And if you find this newsletter helpful, feel free to share it with a friend! We all grow when we support each other.
With love and cheer for your writing!
—Rachel