​Registration Deadline: Midnight April 13, 2026
Space is limited, so register early!

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April  18, 2026

Join GRW for A Day with Vanessa Riley on April 18. Vanessa Riley is an award-winning author of over twenty-nine novels like Island Queen (a GMA buzz pick), Queen of Exiles (ABC’s The Views Lit Pic), and the Lady Worthing Mystery Series (winning the 2024 Georgia Author of the Year for Mystery).

With a doctorate from Stanford University and other engineering degrees from Penn State, Vanessa brings a research-oriented approach to her inclusive storytelling which spotlights hidden narratives of Black women and women of color, emphasizing power, sisterhoods, and family sagas across historical fiction, romance, and mystery genres.

To attend the April All-Day Workshop with Vanessa Riley, fill out the form below.

If you attend in person, we have three Panera boxed lunch choices available to you for $15 each.

Selections include a full sandwich, chips, and a chocolate chip cookie.

• Tomato Basil BLT
  Applewood smoked bacon with crisp mixed greens, vine-ripened tomatoes, mayo, salt, and pepper on our Tomato Basil Miche.

• Mediterranean Veggie
  Zesty sweet peppers, feta, sliced cucumbers, crisp mixed greens, vine-ripened tomatoes, red onions, hummus, with salt and pepper on our Tomato Basil Miche.

• Turkey and Cheese
  Oven-roasted turkey breast, aged white cheddar, crisp mixed greens, vine-ripened tomatoes, red onions, mayo, salt, and pepper on our Country Rustic Sourdough.

We will have complimentary drinks and snacks available for the day, and you are also welcome to bring your own lunch.

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Don’t miss this dynamic, information-filled day!​

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Workshop Schedule

In person at Decatur Public Library and via Zoom

 

9:00–12:00

Claiming Your Story – How to Journal to Write the Book of Your Heart
A generative, hands-on session designed to help writers identify the story only they can tell. Through guided journaling, we’ll explore emotional truth, voice, and clarity—helping writers move past fear, hesitation, or self-doubt and into meaningful forward motion.

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12:00–1:00
Break for Lunch

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1:00–3:45

The Hybrid Author’s Path – Designing a Career That Fits Your Goals
An overview of traditional and independent publishing models and how they can work together. This session outlines five key considerations authors should weigh when designing a publishing path aligned with their creative, financial, and personal priorities.

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Fees

• Registration fee (prices are the same whether you're in-person or via Zoom):

  • $30 for current GRW members

  • $40 for non-members

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Questions?

Contact the VP of Programs here.