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.**

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*Please note, dates and/or times are subject to change based on workshop presenter’s availability.

 

February 7, 2026

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.

 

April 11, 2026

Topic: TBD
Location: TBD
Time: TBD

 

May 9, 2026 (AGM)

Topic: Dear Reader: A Newsletter Primer
Speaker: Dani Collins
Location: UVic, Engineering & Computer Science Building, Room ECS660, 3800 Finnerty Road, Victoria and via Zoom
Time: TBD

Learn to love your newsletter so your readers will too! Discover how to turn your author newsletter from a dreaded chore into your most powerful (and enjoyable!) marketing tool. In this workshop, you’ll explore simple strategies to connect authentically, grow your list, and make readers look forward to every email you send.

Dani Collins, award-winning and USA Today bestselling author, thrives on giving readers emotional, compelling, heart-soaring romance with laughter and heat thrown in,  just like real life. While she is best known for writing contemporary romance for Harlequin Presents and Tule Publishing, she also writes historical and erotic romance. When she’s not writing—just kidding, she’s always writing. Dani is married to her high school sweetheart. They’re empty-nesters and live in Southern BC, Canada.

 

June 13, 2026

Topic: TBD
Speaker: TBD
Location: TBD
Time: TBD

 

July, 2026

VIRA Summer Picnic
Details to come!

 

August, 2026

No meeting

 

September 12, 2026

Topic: TBD
Speaker: TBD
Location: TBD
Time: TBD

 

October 17, 2026

Topic: TBD
Speaker: TBD
Location: TBD
Time: TBD

 

November 14, 2026

Topic: TBD
Speaker: TBD
Location: TBD
Time: TBD

 

December 2026

No Meeting