About Our Association
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The Ohio Writers’ Association is dedicated to supporting both professional writers and emerging authors across the state. We create opportunities for writers to grow their craft, connect with a supportive community, and share their work with a wider audience.
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We currently offer high-quality writing workshops and publishing opportunities—with additional programs in development. Our team works diligently to promote the incredible work being created by Ohio authors and to champion the next generation of literary talent.
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Since 2010, our unique workshop model and our commitment to producing market-driven, reader-focused literature have helped our membership grow exponentially. Together, we’re using our collective voice to uplift one another, develop new talent, and expand resources for writers at every stage of their journey.
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Members of the Ohio Writers’ Association gain access to our online community and resource library, exclusive publishing opportunities, and priority access to workshops and events.
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Our Leadership
Ohio Writers' Association - Board of Directors.
Joe Graves is an author of both fiction and nonfiction whose work explores faith, power, and the deeply human consequences of the stories we tell ourselves. His fiction—including short stories published in various anthologies—often blends speculative elements with ethical questions, while his nonfiction centers on leadership, justice, and community renewal. He is the President of the Ohio Writers’ Association, a local nonprofit that serves hundreds of authors throughout Ohio. Through his writing and literary leadership, he advocates for thoughtful, inclusive storytelling. He has been featured in several local publications discussing issues like banned books and safeguards for authors. Learn more at joegraves.org/press.
Brienne Daugherty (she/her) received her B.A. in English literature from Ohio Dominican University. Her goal is to craft stories that either heal or traumatize the reader. She self-published her first novel, a body-horror called Fat Phobia, in 2023. She lives in rural Ohio with her husband, two kiddos, and three grumpy cats. To see more of her work visit www.briennedaugherty.com.
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.
Megan Murphy, PKA Megan Milstone, is a Cleveland-based author, poet, and artist who began working with OWA in the fall of 2023 by volunteering her marketing skills. She has quickly become an integral part of the OWA family over the past year, including her placement on the OWA Board of Directors. Megan is passionate about music and claims that most of her writing derives from this deep love. She plays guitar and goes to see live music as much as possible. Megan is a Cuyahoga Community College graduate, a self-published author, and a mom to one handsome tabby cat, Bailey.
Maxwell I. Gold is a Jewish-American prose poet, author, and editor, with an extensive body of work comprising over 350 poems since 2017. His writings have earned a place alongside many literary luminaries in the speculative fiction genres and his work has garnered nominations for multiple awards including the Pushcart Prize, the Eric Hoffer Awards, Rhysling Awards, and the Bram Stoker Awards. His work has appeared in numerous literary journals, magazines, and anthologies such as Weird Tales Magazine, Startling Stories, the recent Horror Writers Association anthology Other Terrors: An Inclusive Anthology, Chiral Mad 5, and many more. Maxwell also holds membership in several arts organizations including the Horror Writers Association, Science Fiction Fantasy Poetry Association, Dramatist Guild, and Ohio Poetry Association. Maxwell has taught several poetry workshops and co-edited several anthologies. Maxwell is the current Executive Director for the Horror Writers Association and he lives in Columbus, Ohio, and his work can be found at www.thewellsoftheweird.com.
Our Origins
The Ohio Writers’ Association began in 2009 as a mission-minded business founded by author and entrepreneur Brad Pauquette. From the beginning, the organization was designed not merely as a publishing venture, but as a creative community—one that would connect, equip, and elevate writers across Ohio.
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Through anthologies, educational classes, writing contests, and community events, the organization experienced steady and significant growth, eventually serving thousands of professional writers and aspiring authors statewide. Originally operating under the name Columbus Creative Cooperative, the organization expanded beyond a regional focus and, in 2018, adopted the name Ohio Writers’ Association to better reflect its statewide reach and vision.
As the community continued to grow, so did the need for a more sustainable, mission-centered structure. In response, Brad began the process of transitioning the organization from a privately owned entity into a nonprofit model—one designed to ensure long-term stability, shared leadership, and broader public impact.
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In 2021, Brad formally donated all organizational assets, intellectual property, and infrastructure to a newly formed nonprofit entity, Ohio Writers Group. This transition included the establishment of a board of directors, the adoption of nonprofit governance practices, and a renewed commitment to transparency, accountability, and service to Ohio’s writing community. The move ensured that the organization would not be owned by any one individual, but stewarded collectively for the benefit of writers across the state.
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On February 15, 2022, new leadership officially assumed responsibility for guiding the organization forward. Since that time, the Ohio Writers’ Association has continued to redefine and refine its work—honoring its entrepreneurial roots while embracing a nonprofit mission focused on access, equity, education, and creative excellence.
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Founder
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.