About Our Association
The Ohio Writers’ Association supports professional writers and emerging authors.
We currently offer writers’ workshops and publishing opportunities, with more planned for the future. We also work diligently to support our membership by promoting the great work of emerging Ohio authors.
Our unique workshop model and commitment to producing market-driven literature has multiplied our membership base exponentially since 2010. We will use our growing, collective voice to raise one another up, to support emerging talent, and to provide resources for professional writers.
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Members of the Ohio Writers’ Association receive access to our online community and resources, exclusive publishing opportunities, and access to our workshops, and events.
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Our Leadership
Ohio Writers Association announces it's inaugural Board of Directors.
Joe Graves is President of Ohio Writers’ Group, Inc., the parent organization of Ohio Writers’ Association and heads the Steering Committee. Joe began writing back in college, when he wrote and produced short films. (They are available online, but he does not recommend watching them.) Over the last six years, he’s been focused on completing his first novel, and since 2020, started writing short stories. Along with writing, Joe has 10 years of leadership experience in non-profits and has helped launch community organizations.
George Pallas is the Vice President of OWA. He was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and grew up in the Nashville area. He moved to Ohio after graduating from Vanderbilt University and began a career in information technology. As a writer, he has two short stories to his credit and is in the process of publishing his first book, Stalking Horse, a mystery novel. He also writes about historical true crime in his blog, Old Crime is New Again at georgepallas.com. George lives in downtown Columbus, Ohio, with his wife, Sharon, and their dog, Sheldon Cooper.
Jim Hodnett is a retired psychologist and educator. He grew up in Arkansas and taught in Little Rock Public Schools for eight years (the last five at Central High). He earned his doctorate in psychology from The University of Texas at Austin. He has lived in Columbus, Ohio for the last thirty years, working at The Ohio State University and in private practice before retiring in 2017. Jim and his husband of 27 years, Joe Heimlich, live in a building located on the former site of the Ohio State Penitentiary, which once housed O. Henry, whose spirit Jim attempts with limited success to channel. Jim has been writing since 2011. His story, "Red: A Fairy Tale," was included in Metamorphosis, an anthology of Ohio writers published by the Ohio Writers Association in 2022.
Colette R. Harrell has released her newest novel, Later. This fantasy adventure satisfies at every turn of a page. It provides a sometimes humorous, historical rendering of a family that follows their heart and, in return, receives the gift of justice, acceptance, and romantic love. It’s all about the Happily Ever After for her.
Colette made her debut as an author with the book; The Devil Made Me Do It, a multiple award-winning tale of love, body positivity, and forgiveness. As a published author, she has enjoyed meeting her readers and engaging them in discussions centered around their mutual love of literature. She holds a master’s degree and worked as a director of social services, which allowed her a front-row seat to the conflict and struggles of everyday people.
Her days are filled as an Author, Story Editor, and Book Coach. She wears many titles allowing twenty-four hours a day to meet the challenge. She is a wife and mother and embraces all that important role provides. She understands in all things; we need balance.
Her goal in writing is to engage readers and provide them with golden nuggets of wisdom that feed and titillate. Her biggest lesson is that it takes a village to raise a dream. She loves and appreciates everyone who is a part of her village.
Becky Hirn is a writer and educator living in Columbus, Ohio. After earning a Journalism degree from The Ohio State University, she worked as a news reporter and columnist. Her travel column, Our Trip Takes Us, detailed her adventures traveling the United States in an RV for a year with her husband and two children. Following the trip, she returned to school, earning a master’s in Education. She worked at a non-profit organization teaching adult literacy, English as a second language, and high school equivalency courses. She also presented a writing workshop at the Thurber House in 2021. She currently works as an assistant faculty member at Strayer University and is editing two murder mysteries written during National Novel Writing Month. She’s also a nature explorer, herb gardener, and climate change enthusiast.
Brian Luke is formerly assistant professor of philosophy at the University of Dayton and currently organist/choir director at Northwest United Methodist Church in Columbus. He is author of Brutal: Manhood and the Exploitation of Animals (University of Illinois Press, 2007) and, with his writing partner Barbara Luke, The Complete Crimes of Donald Trump, Volume 1: Crimes of Race and Sex (Carriage House Press, 2020). Brian and Barbara are hosts of the book review podcast Bestseller and are completing their first novel, a thriller set at the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition called Don't Shoot the Piano Player. They live in Marysville, Ohio, with a barely manageable menagerie of cats, dogs, chickens and goldfish.
Our Story
Brad Pauquette, an author and entrepreneur, founded the Ohio Writers' Association as a mission-minded business in 2009. Through anthologies, classes, contests, and community events, the organization grew dramatically to represent thousands of professional writers and aspiring authors from around the state of Ohio. Originally known as Columbus Creative Cooperative, Brad changed the name to the Ohio Writers' Association in 2018. Brad functioned as the owner and president through 2021, when he donated all of the assets and infrastructure to the newly formed nonprofit, Ohio Writers Group, so that the organization can continue to expand and serve Ohio's amazing authors. Learn more about Brad and his other projects at BradPauquette.com.
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On February 15, 2022, new leadership assumed the reins as OWA continues to redefine itself to better continue its mission of supporting Ohio’s professional writers and emerging authors.