Meetings
Regular meetings are usually held in-person and on Zoom, on the second Saturday of the month (unless otherwise noted) in January, March, April, May, June, September, October, and November. February is our annual Valentines luncheon and July is when we have our summer picnic. There are no meetings in August or December. Directions for in-person meetings can be found here. Meetings typically consist of a two-hour workshop and may include a brief business meeting and, if needed, a lunch break. Please see workshop descriptions below for times.
**Guests are welcome to attend one or two regular meetings before joining. Please e-mail us for more information.**
*Please note, dates and/or times are subject to change based on workshop presenter’s availability.
November 15, 2025
Topic: Seeing Through the Mediocrity of the Male Gaze: How We Can Write Different with the Female Gaze
Speaker: Amy Z. Chan
Location: UVic, Engineering & Computer Science Building, Room ECS660, 3800 Finnerty Road, Victoria and via Zoom
Time: 10:00 am to 11:00 am
How does invisible misogyny and unspoken patriarchy show up in the stories we tell? This introductory workshop looks at the male gaze and how it subtly shapes the way we tell stories. We’ll explore how a specific type of masculinity has advanced a limited view of gender that harms both women and men, while disregarding the full range of human experiences. We’ll introduce the idea of the female gaze—not just as the opposite of the male gaze, but as a more open, transformative way to approach storytelling. You’ll also see examples of stories that break away from traditional gender roles, creating complex female characters, showing positive masculinity, and telling stories that are more authentic, inclusive, and real. By the end of the workshop, writers will have a better understanding of how gender is portrayed in the media, giving them the tools to create stories that challenge the status quo and offer more inclusive, genuine perspectives.
Amy Z. Chan is an author of romantic comedies and other stories with escapist happily ever afters. A daughter of Chinese immigrants, a feminist, a foodie, and a California girl by way of NY/NJ, Amy is also a member of the Mod Squad at the Kiss and Tell Literary Salon, a monthly in-person romance reading series, at Books Inc. in Alameda, CA. Formerly a successful indie author with several secret pen names, she has presented writing and marketing workshops at Clarion West, Romance Mastermind, Willamette Writers Conference, New England Romance Writers, the Northern Toronto Romance Writers and many more. She is now represented by Hillary Fazzari at Bradford Literary.
January 10, 2026
Topic: Pick Your Poison
Speaker: Dr. JP
Location: UVic, Engineering & Computer Science Building, Room ECS660, 3800 Finnerty Road, Victoria and via Zoom
Time: 11:00 am to 12:00 pm
JP is an ER doctor and toxicologist with a passion for poisons. She loves sharing the absolutely fascinating stories and fun facts she’s discovered while caring for patients and researching toxins. She’s been interviewed as a toxicology expert for television, online, radio, and print media. Her work ranges from cocaine, sports supplements, internal concealment of drugs for smuggling to suicide, and has been recognized both nationally and internationally.
February 7, 2026
Valentine’s Luncheon
March 14, 2026
Topic: Pinterest Power For Authors
Speaker: Melissa Bourbon
Location: UVic, Engineering & Computer Science Building, Room ECS660, 3800 Finnerty Road, Victoria and via Zoom
Time: 11:00 am to 1:00 pm
Melissa Bourbon, also writing as Ivy Cassidy, is the national bestselling author of more than thirty-five novels steeped in mystery and magic. Writing as Ivy Cassidy, her latest venture into the world of magical women’s fiction begins with The House of Spells and Secrets, a story full of ancestral magic, sisterhood, and secrets waiting to be unraveled. Melissa is also the author of the spellbinding Book Magic novels, the cozy-charming Magical Dressmaking Mysteries, and the deliciously pun-filled Bread Shop Mysteries (as Winnie Archer). A former English and creative writing teacher, Melissa now channels her passion for storytelling into WriterSpark Academy, where she helps aspiring authors find their voice, build their worlds, and believe in their stories. She’s fueled by tea, enchanted by folklore, and endlessly inspired by everyday magic—and her three adorable dogs.