This event has passed
Cozy Fridays - Writing Workshop
Past event
Featured Book
Fact & Fiction
This simple and encouraging guide offers a relatable story map for writers who are sitting on a historical fiction story but don't know where to start.
Constance Hays Matsumoto was that person - until she wasn't. With no MFA, no background in creative writing, not even a journal to her name, she wrote Of White Ashes, an award-winning novel inspired by her family's remarkable World War II stories.
With delightful candor, Connie shares how she embraced novel writing by learning the craft, creating helpful techniques, and asking repeatedly, "Wait, how do you do that?" Offering personal story, practical writing advice, visuals, and a healthy dose of humility, Connie shows how she turned confusion into confidence and how you can, too.
Your story and voice matter. Let's dive in, get messy, and bring the novel only you can write to life
This book will be available for purchase at the event.
Also Featured
Of White Ashes A WWII Historical Novel Inspired by True Events
The bombing of Pearl Harbor propels America into WWII and two Japanese Americans into chaos. Separated by the Pacific, each embarks on a tumultuous path to survive childhood and live the American dream. Ruby Ishimaru loses her liberty and uproots from her Hawaii home to incarceration camps on the mainland. Koji Matsuo strains under the menacing clouds of the Japanese war machine and atomic bombing while concealing a dangerous secret-one that threatens his family's safety.
When destiny brings Ruby and Koji together in California, their chemistry is magnetic, but wounds of trauma run deep and threaten their love as another casualty of war.
Inspired by the true stories of the authors' family, Of White Ashes crosses oceans and cultures, illuminating the remarkable lives of ordinary people who endure seemingly unbearable hardship with dignity and patience. Their experiences compel us to reflect on the resilience of humanity and the risk of history repeating.
About This Event
Queen Takes Book is launching a Friday event series: Cozy Fridays! Join us for a Writing Workshop with Constance Hays Matsumoto, author of Fact & Fiction and Of White Ashes.
This event will include an author talk and workshop about writing from family history and lived experience, as well as an audience Q&A and book signing. Copies of Fact & Fiction and Of White Ashes will be available for purchase at the event and are available for order on our website.
This event is FREE to attend, but we kindly ask that you RSVP. We can't wait to see you there!
Featured Author
Constance Hays Matsumoto
Constance Hays Matsumoto is the author of the award-winning historical novel, Of White Ashes and her new nonfiction, Fact & Fiction: How to Write a Novel Inspired by Family and History. Connie earned her B.A. from Notre Dame of MD University and M.S. from Johns Hopkins University. She is an engaged literary citizen and serves as the President of the Women’s National Book Association Mid-Atlantic Chapter and is a member of the Authors Guild, Eastern Shore Writers' Association, and Historical Novel Society. Previously, Connie served on the Board of Directors of the Maryland Writers' Association and as President of the Baltimore Chapter. www.MatsumotoBooks.com
About the Venue
Queen Takes Book
We are Columbia, MD's only independent bookstore. We believe that everyone should be able to see themselves in the pages of a book and are committed to providing a welcoming environment for everyone who walks through our doors. Columbia is halfway in-between Baltimore and Washington, D.C., making us accessible to people from both of these cities. We have a robust slate of book clubs and also do on-site and off-site author events and book fairs.
Visit store pageMore at Queen Takes Book
Cozy Fridays - Soup Swap
Queen Takes Book is launching a Friday event series: Cozy Fridays! Join us for a Soup Swap on October 23rd at 6:30pm. Love making soup? Love eating soup? Then this is the perfect event for you! Queen Takes Book is hosting a Soup Swap, where you bring a soup and get to try everyone else's. Tasting bowls and spoons will be provided by Queen Takes Book. Please bring your own receptable (crock pot or similar warming container preferred) and ladle to serve your soup. Please also bring your own leftover containers. Attendees are not required to share leftovers with each other, but are welcome to do so if they like. Please also avoid nut soups due to allergies. Tickets are $8 to reserve your spot. If you attend the event, you will receive a $5 voucher you can use that night or in the future.
Evening Fiction Club - October '26
Join us for our Evening Fiction Club on Wednesday, October 28th at 6:45pm. This month we'll be reading The Hounding by Xenobe Purvis. Copies of the book are available at Queen Takes Book and can be purchased at 10% off in-store through October 28th. Use the code BOOKCLUB to get 10% off through our website. You can also order through Bookshop.org (paperback or ebook) or Libro.fm (audiobook) to support local independent bookstores.
Cozy Fridays - Halloween Storytime
Queen Takes Book is launching a Friday event series: Cozy Fridays! Join us for a Halloween Storytime on October 30th at 6:00pm. It's spooky season, y'all! So bring your little ones to Queen Takes Book for a spooky (and sweet) Halloween Storytime. All ages are welcome and costumes are encouraged! We will also have candy to give out for trick-or-treating. Our bookseller Christy will be leading the storytime. This event is FREE to attend, but we kindly ask that you RSVP. Please RSVP for all of the children who are attending; adults do not have to RSVP or include themselves in the RSVP numbers.