Webinar: Using Highly Motivated Characters to Drive Stronger Stories
Jane Friedman’s Online Class Series, $25
Wednesday, January 28, 2026, 1:00 p.m. EST
Authors at the Columbus Metropolitan Library Series: Thrity Umrigar in Conversation with Jessica Strawser
Main Library Auditorium, free & open to public
February 1, 2026, 2:00 p.m. EST
Tasting with Friends: Authors, Spirits, & Small Bites: via Washington-Centerville Library
Benham’s Grove Event Center, Centerville, OH
February 26, 2026, 6:30 p.m. EST
Career Authors Annual Writing Retreat (faculty)
Registration now open; early-bird discounts available.
MIT Endicott House, Dedham, MA
April 17-19, 2026
The Quitters Club is coming to booksellers everywhere May 26, 2026! Check back soon for details on events surrounding the book release, to be updated on a rolling basis.
PREVIOUS 2025 EVENTS
Springboro History Museum: Reading Between the Wines
Wednesday, January 22, 2025, 7 p.m. EST
Ticketed Event
WFWA Workshop: Mastering the Art of the Synopsis
Monday, April 21, 2025, 7 p.m. EST
Paid registration opens March 18
Career Authors Writers’ Retreat 2025
MIT Endicott House, Dedham, MA
May 2-4, 2025
Symmetry 2025: Women’s Executive Luncheon
Little Miami River Chamber Alliance
Keynote Address
June 12, 2025
Webinar: Mastering the Art of the Synopsis
Jane Friedman’s Virtual Class Series, $25
September 10, 2025, 1 p.m. EST
International Thriller Writers Online Thriller School
Move It Along! Pacing, Velocity, and Suspense
Tess Gerritsen with Jessica Strawser
Tuesday, October 21, 2 p.m. EST
Writer’s Digest University Webinar: Setting Up a Great Novel Premise
November 6, 2025, 1:00 p.m. EST (virtual only)
*Paid registration required
Books by the Banks 2025
Saturday, November 15, 2025, 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Cincinnati Public Library (Downtown), OH
Free and open to the public.
Webinar: Make Your Query Letter & First Page Stand Out
Jane Friedman’s Online Class Series, $25
Wednesday, November 19, 2025, 1:00 p.m. EST
2024 EVENTS
THE LAST CARETAKER is an instant USA Today Bestseller!
Erma Bombeck Writers Workshop (faculty)
April 4-6, 2024
University of Dayton, Ohio
Authors in Conversation: Jessica Strawser & Jacquelyn Mitchard
Q&A & Signing: The Last Caretaker and A Very Inconvenient Scandal
*Free & open to the public: No advance registration required.
Saturday, April 6, 2024, 4:00 p.m.
Barnes & Noble Beavercreek
Career Authors Writing Retreat (faculty)
April 12-14, 2024
MIT Endicott House, Dedham, MA
Ohioana Book Festival
Saturday, April 20, 2024
Columbus Metropolitan Library
*Free & open to the public.
Lebanon Public Library: Meet the Author
“Beyond the Book Club” Discussion: A Million Reasons Why
April 23, 2024, 6:00 p.m.
The Carnegie Center Books in Progress Conference 2024 (faculty)
Lexington, KY
Friday, May 31, 2024
*Paid registration required
Writer’s Digest University Webinar: Setting Up a Great Novel Premise
June 13, 2024, 1:00 p.m. EST (virtual only)
*Paid registration required
Columbus (Ohio) Book Festival 2024 (featured author)
July 13-14, 2024
*Free & open to the public
Grown-Up Summer Camp Reader Extravaganza
Ann Garvin’s Bummer Camp Launch Exclusive: Featured Author / Camp Staff
Stevens Point, WI
August 23-25, 2024
Writer’s Digest University Webinar: Mastering Voice
September 5, 2024, 1:00 p.m. EST (virtual only)
*Paid registration required
2024 Writer’s Digest Annual Conference (faculty)
Cincinnati, OH
October 17-20, 2024
*Paid registration required
Penguin Bookshop Writers Series: An Evening With Jessica Strawser
In-Store Launch Event, Sewickley, PA
Monday, October 21, 2024, 7 p.m. EST
Free & open to the public. Call ahead to reserve a signed copy if you’re unable to attend.
Catch You Later Hometown Launch Event
Joseph-Beth Booksellers, Cincinnati, OH
Wednesday, October 23, 2024, 7 p.m. EST
Free & open to the public. Call ahead to reserve a signed copy if you’re unable to attend.
Wine & Words With Wade (Virtual Event)
A Live, Literary Happy Hour
In Conversation With Bestselling Author Wade Rouse/Viola Shipman
Thursday, October 24, 6:30 p.m. EST
*Tune in live on the Viola Shipman Facebook Page
First Chapter Fun: Virtual Event
Live on Facebook & Instagram @FirstChapterFun
Hosted by Hannah Mary McKinnon & Hank Phillippi Ryan
Thursday, October 29, 12:30 p.m. EST
2024 Kentucky Book Festival
Joseph-Beth Booksellers, Lexington, KY
Saturday, November 2, 2024, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. EST
The Back Room Authors: Twisty Suspense (Virtual Event)
Literary Cocktail Party Featuring: Tracy Clark, J.T. Ellison, Jessica Strawser & Stephanie Wrobel; Hosted by fellow bestsellers Karen Dionne & Hank Phillippi Ryan
Sunday, November 3, 2024, 7 p.m. EST
Register for free here to receive your event link.
In Conversation With Jessica Strawser on Her New Novel, Catch You Later
Bike Trail Books, New Loveland (OH) Location
Q&A Hosted by Store Owner Brooke DeSantis, Signing to Follow
Monday, November 11, 2024, 7 p.m. EST
*Come celebrate the expansive new space for events at Bike Trail Books! Book clubs, groups, and solo readers welcome for this fun, interactive evening, free & open to the public.
The 2024 Books by the Banks Festival
Public Library of Cincinnati & Hamilton County (Main Library, downtown)
Saturday, November 16, 2024, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. EST
Free & open to the public.
Sharon Short in Conversation with Jessica Strawser
Celebrating Sharon Short’s new mystery novel, Trouble Island
Joseph-Beth Booksellers, Cincinnati, OH
Wednesday, December 4, 2024, 7 p.m. EST
*Copies of both authors’ books will be available for holiday gift-giving.
The Bookshelf Holiday Open House
The Bookshelf Madeira, Cincinnati, OH
Saturday, December 7, 2024, 1-2 p.m. EST
*Signed & personalized books make wonderful holiday gifts. Stop in to meet the author and get yours signed live, or call ahead to reserve a signed copy for pickup later.
Writer’s Digest Webinar: What Do Your Characters Want?
December 19, 2024, 1 p.m. EST
Live interactive workshop including on demand access.
Paid registration required.
2023 EVENTS
Meet Jessica Strawser at the Cincy Book Bus Depot
Saturday, March 11, 2023,
11 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
10936 Reading Road, Sharonville
*Prepublication exclusive: New paperback editions of The Next Thing You Know will be available for signing.
In-Store Event at Joseph-Beth Cincinnati: In Conversation with Rebecca Serle On Tour for One Italian Summer (*New Paperback Editions of The Next Thing You Know will also be available)
Tuesday, March 14, 2023
7:00 p.m., free
Writer’s Digest 9th Annual Mystery & Thriller Virtual Conference
March 25-26, 2023
online workshop; paid registration required
Wright Library Foundation’s Writing Workshop Series
Virtual Workshop: Surprise & Delight Your Readers on Every Page
Thursday, April 20, 2023, 7-8:30 p.m.
free and open to the public; advance registration required
2023 Ohioana Book Festival
Columbus Metropolitan Library, OH
Saturday, April 22, 2023, 10:30-5:00
in-person event; free and open to the public
Career Authors Writer’s Retreat 2023 (faculty)
MIT Endicott House, Dedham, MA
May 5-7, 2023
in-person event; advance paid registration required
Columbus Book Festival: Featured Author
July 14-15, 2023
Columbus Metropolitan Library, Central Ohio
In Conversation With Katrina Kittle about her new novel: Morning in This Broken World
September 12, 2023, 7:00 p.m.
Joseph-Beth Booksellers, Cincinnati, OH
Meet the Author: Jessica Strawser
September 26, 2023, 6:30 p.m.
Clermont County Public Library, Miami Twp., OH
2023 Ohio Library Council Convention & Expo
Duke Energy Convention Center, Cincinnati, OH
September 28, 2023
Author Spotlight (paid registration required)
Writer’s Digest University Webinar: Mastering Voice
October 5, 2023
Virtual Event (paid registration required)
Kentucky Book Festival
Saturday, October 21, 2023, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Joseph-Beth Booksellers, Lexington, KY
Buckeye Book Fair
*Exclusive presale event! Get your signed copies before the official release.
Saturday, November 4, 2023, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
Greystone Event Center, Wooster, OH
Book Clubs Discuss: A Million Reasons Why
Free & open to the public (book sales provided by The Bookshelf Madiera)
November 14, 2023, 6-8 p.m.
Oxford Lane Library, Oxford, OH
Books by the Banks
*Exclusive presale event! Get your signed copies before the official release.*
Saturday, November 18, 2023, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Duke Energy Convention Center, Cincinnati, OH
The Last Caretaker: Cincinnati Launch Event
Wednesday, November 29, 7 p.m.
Joseph-Beth Booksellers, Cincinnati, OH
The Last Caretaker Meet & Greet / Signing
Saturday, December 2, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Cincy Book Bus Depot, Sharonville, OH
The Back Room Authors
Multi-author event with bestsellers Jillian Cantor, Jeneva Rose & Nalini Singh.
Sunday, December 3, 7 p.m.
Virtual interactive event: Register for free.
The Last Caretaker on Adriana Trigiani Live
Virtual event, in conversation with Adriana.
Tuesday, December 5, 3:45 p.m. (EST)
The Last Caretaker: Pittsburgh Launch Event
Wednesday, December 6, 7 p.m.
Penguin Bookshop, Sewickley, PA
The Last Caretaker on Tour: Cuyahoga Public Library:
In Conversation with The Scent of Murder Author Kylie Logan
Thursday, December 7, 7 p.m.
North Royalton Branch Library, OH
*Book sales on site courtesy of Mac’s Backs Books on Coventry
2022 EVENTS
THE NEXT THING YOU KNOW IS ON TOUR!
Friends & Fiction After-Show
With NYT Bestsellers Mary Kay Andrews, Patti Callahan Henry, Kristy Woodson Harvey & Kristin Harmel
Wednesday, March 16, 8 p.m. EST, Live on Facebook & YouTube
Joseph-Beth Booksellers: Launch Day Celebration
In Store Event, Cincinnati, Ohio
Tuesday, March 22, 7 p.m. EST
Reading With Robin: Tell Me About Your Book
Tuesday, March 22, 3 p.m. EST, Live on Instagram @robinkallink
A Mighty Blaze: “Authors Love Bookstores” Series
Wednesday, March 23, 4 p.m. EST, Live on Facebook and YouTube
Cuyahoga County Public Library
Monday, April 4, 7 p.m. EST, Virtual Event
Adriana Ink!
With NYT bestseller Adriana Trigiani
Tuesday, April 5, 6 p.m. EST, Facebook Live
Inside the Writer’s Studio: Cincinnati State
Arts & Sciences (students & faculty only; not open to the public)
Wednesday, April 6
The Penguin Bookshop Writers Series
In Store Event, Pittsburgh, PA
Thursday, April 7, 7 p.m. EST
Don Bentley, In Conversation With Jessica Strawser (Hostile Intent Book Tour)
In Store Event, Mason, OH, Half-Price Books
May 5, 6 p.m. EST
Career Authors Writing Retreat (Faculty)
Endicott House, MIT, Boston
May 13-15, in person event
Clermont County Public Library: Amelia Branch Author Visit
Tuesday, May 31, 6 p.m. EST
Thurber House Summer Literary Picnics: An Evening With Jessica Strawser
Wednesday, July 13, 6 p.m. EST (Ticketed Event)
Thurber House Lawn, Columbus, Ohio
Kentucky Book Festival 2022
Joseph-Beth Booksellers, Lexington, KY
Saturday, October 29
Buckeye Book Fair 2022
Greystone Event Center, Wooster, OH
Saturday, November 5, 9:30-4:00
Books by the Banks 2022
Duke Energy Convention Center, Cincinnati, OH
Saturday, November 19, 10:00-4:00
2021 EVENTS
THE A MILLION REASONS WHY BOOK TOUR HAS GONE VIRTUAL!
The Back Room: Cocktails & Conversation With Your Favorite Authors
An Evening With Joshilyn Jackson, Jessica Strawser, Steph Cha, and Emily Carpenter
Sunday, March 7, 7 p.m. EST (free Eventbrite registration required)
Reading With Robin: Tell Me About Your Book
Tuesday, March 23, 4 p.m. EST, Live on Instagram @robinkallink
Adriana Ink! The World’s Biggest Book Club
Jessica Strawser In Conversation with Adriana Trigiani
Tuesday, March 23, 6 p.m. EST, via Facebook Live (streaming live) & YouTube (on demand afterward)
Joseph-Beth Booksellers Presents: A Million Reasons Why
Jessica Strawser in Conversation with Colleen Oakley
Wednesday, March 24, 7 p.m. EST (via Zoom: RSVP for free event link)
The Penguin Bookshop Writers Series Book Launch: A Million Reasons Why
Jessica Strawser In Conversation with Kristin Bair
Thursday, March 25, 7 p.m. EST, via Zoom (ticketed event; registration required)
Macmillan Publishers Presents: Author Agent Virtual Tell-All
With Jessica Strawser & Barbara Poelle (Co-sponsored by Writer’s Digest)
Tuesday, March 30, 7 p.m. EST, via Crowdcast (free; registration required)
Cuyahoga Public Library Author Series
A Conversation With Jessica Strawser: On A Million Reasons Why
Wednesday, March 31, 7 p.m. EST, via Zoom (free registration required)
National Society of Newspaper Columnists Virtual Conference
Virtual Session Facilitator, April 16, 2021
Ohioana Book Festival 2021
Free Virtual Event, Featured Author/Panelist, April 23-25, 2021
Wright Memorial Public Library: Virtual Writing Workshop
May 4, 2021, 7-8:30 p.m. EST
Free & Open to the Public: Advance Registration Required
Career Authors & MIT Endicott House Intensive Writer’s Workshop
Virtual Event Faculty, May 7-8, 2021
In Conversation With Catherine McKenzie: Six Weeks to Live Tour
Joseph-Beth Booksellers, live on FB & Zoom, May 18, 2021, 7 p.m. EST.
Carmel Clay Public Library: Virtual Author Series
Facebook Live, June 3, 2021, 11 a.m. EST
Midwest Writers Workshop 2021
Virtual Conference, July 28-31, Instructor/Panelist
I’D LOVE TO JOIN YOU!
PAST EVENTS
Erma Bombeck Writers’ Workshop (Sponsor Representative)
University of Dayton, Ohio, March 31 – April 2, 2016
5th Annual Books-in-Progress Conference(Featured Speaker)
Carnegie Center, Lexington, Kentucky, June 3, 2016
March 28, 2017, 7 p.m.
April 6, 2017, 6 p.m.
April 8, 2017
May 5-6, 2017
May 10, 2017, 6 p.m.
May 16, 2017, 7 p.m.
Antioch Writers’ Workshop LitSalon (Featured Author)
May 21, 2017, 4-7 p.m.
Green Tree Public Library (Joint Event With Author Rebecca Drake)
June 29, 2017, 7 p.m. (discussion of my Almost Missed You, Rebecca’s Only Ever You and the domestic suspense trend, followed by Q&A and book signing)
Mystery Writers Bookshop’s Coffee & Crime Series (Featured Author)
July 1, 2017, 10:30 a.m.
Antioch Writers’ Workshop(Instructor)
July 8, 2017 (daytime workshop + evening faculty signing)
July 20-22, 2017
August 1, 2017, 7 p.m.
August 4, 2017, 7 p.m.
August 10, 2017, 5:30-7:15 p.m.
Info / Registration ($30 Fee)
Saturday, October 28, 2017, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
University of Dayton, OH
Joseph-Beth Booksellers, Cincinnati, OH
The Top 10 Writing Lessons From 10 Years of Interviewing Bestselling Authors
Main Library, Saturday, March 30, 2019, 1 p.m.
Cincinnati Public Library Writer’s Workshop (Free & Open to the Public)
Fiction Writers’ Workshop: Building Suspense by Acting Out of Character
Main Library, Saturday, June 8, 2019, 1 p.m..
Cincinnati Public Library Writer’s Workshop (Free & Open to the Public)
Your Publishing Questions Answered—From Both Sides of the Desk
Main Library, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019, 1 p.m.
AAUW Lunch & Literature (Ticketed Fundraiser)
American Association of University Women, Erie, PA, Chapter
The Kahkwa Club, Erie, PA
Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019
Clermont County Public Library Area Writers Festival (Keynote Address)
Miami Township Branch Library
Saturday, Oct. 5, 2019, 12:30-4:30 p.m.
Assistance League of Greater Cincinnati: Books & Brunch (Ticketed Fundraiser)
Kenwood Country Club
Thursday, Oct. 17, 10:30 a.m.
Books by the Banks
Duke Energy Center, Cincinnati, OH
Saturday, Oct. 26, 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Kentucky Book Fair
Alltech Arena, Kentucky Horse Park, Lexington, KY
November 16, 2019
In Conversation With Kimmery Martin
Joseph-Beth Booksellers, Cincinnati, Ohio
March 4, 2020, 7 p.m.
Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY
March 21, 2020
Tipp City, OH / Facebook Live
June 22, 2020, 7:00 p.m.
Virtual Campus (Oxford, Ohio)
July 2020
Erma Bombeck Writers Workshop (Faculty)
Virtual Event
October 29-31, 2020
Easton Book Festival (Panelist) — Virtual Event
Tall Poppy Writers: Raising Up Strong Women’s Voices in Fiction
November 1, 2020, 4 p.m. EST
.
Writer’s Digest Annual Conference: 100th Anniversary Celebration (Instructor)
Virtual Event
November 5-7, 2020
.
Virtual 2020 Buckeye Book Fair (Featured Author)
November 6-15, 2020
Penguin Bookshop Writers Series: In Conversation With Kristin Bair
Virtual Launch Event: Bair’s Agatha Arch Is Afraid of Everything
November 10, 2020, 7 p.m.
Jessica Strawser 