I'm on the board at The Writers Place in Kansas City, and I've gone and found myself chair of the marketing and membership committee. And guess what? We're having a spring happy hour on Thursday, May 26 from 6-8 pm. Free beer and writers! You know you want to come. I'll be sitting at the door making meaningful eye contact and silently brainwashing you to become a member so you can get reduced prices for workshops, a tax deduction (TWP is a nonprofit) and the pride of knowing you're a member of such a venerable organization.

Here's some background on The Writers Place:

The mission of The Writers Place is to promote writers and their work, to nurture an interest in writing and literature in a large, diverse audience and to contribute to the quality of cultural life in Kansas City and throughout the Midwest.

In addition to the spring happy hour, I'll be putting on a workshop called Writers Can Be Bloggers, Too on Saturday, June 18 from 1-3. It's $30 for nonmembers and $20 for members, and I'll be looking at blogging from an author's point of view -- pros and cons/how to get started and some more advanced social media techniques for authors who already have a blog and/or social media presence.

Hope to see you there! Here's how to sign up if you're a nonmember or a member.

Speaking of writing and books, I'm giving away a $50 Barnes & Noble gift card this month on Surrender, Dorothy: Reviews!