Thu, June 12, 2025|  11:00 AM – 1:00 PM | Amelita Mirolo Barn

Join NAWBO Columbus for our June Monthly Meeting as we celebrate authors! Join us to hear from a variety of authors as they share their journey and area of expertise. Authors will share what inspired them to write and how their books help women business owners. Attendees will hear from all authors and have the chance to interact with them at exhibit tables. Authors will have a limited amount of books for purchase, attendees are encouraged to purchase books ahead of the event using the links below.

AUTHORS INCLUDE:

• Tahtianna Alston, When Missing Someone: Joys of Connection
• Dilara Casey, Wherever You Go
• Sherrie Hopkins, God’s Seven BFFs
• Leslie Powell Ahmadi, The Road Between Hearts: A Memoir of a Black American Woman Discovering Iran
• Courtney Stone Smith, Sur(real) Style: Your Personal Style Journey
• Chamie Townsend, CFP®, AAMS™, CRPC™, PRETTY Mind

See below for key takeaways, links to purchase books and to learn more about our authors.

REGISTER HERE

MEET OUR AUTHORS:

TAHTIANNA ALSTON, WHEN MISSING SOMEONE: JOYS OF CONNECTION

Book Key Takeaways:

• Healthy connection is powerful, healing, and always worth nurturing;
• The book can be used as a tool for bedtime conversations, classroom discussions, therapy sessions, or calm-down moments;
• It’s time to normalize discussions about emotions.

ABOUT TAHTIANNA:

Tahtianna Alston, LMSW, is a licensed social worker, published author, and the founder of Victory In Motion LLC. With extensive experience in counseling and social work, she enables individuals, couples, and families to build stronger, more meaningful relationships through creative workshops, coaching, and innovative products.

Tahtianna is deeply passionate about facilitating healing and cultivating personal growth. She specializes in guiding clients toward greater understanding and connection through tailored strategies rooted in empathy, communication, and the arts.

As a mother and advocate for generational change, Tahtianna is dedicated to creating a legacy of love, resilience, and transformation. She believes in the revolutionizing power of healthy connection and creativity, equipping those she serves with the tools they need to develop and further promote lasting bonds.

You can learn more and purchase When Missing Someone: Joys of ConnectionHERE.

DILARA CASEY, WHEREVER YOU GO

Key Takeaways:

• The Pros and cons of self-publishing
• How to start writing a book
• Where to look for critique groups and writing partners

ABOUT DILARA:

Dilara Casey is an accomplished marketer and writer who has lent her storytelling skills to help develop brands and scale growing companies. Her work has caught the eye of the TODAY Show, USA TODAY, Politico, and Forbes Magazine. Dilara penned an innovative 136-page handbook that was recognized by the Harvard Business Review. Wherever You Go is her first novel.

Dilara is a member of the Columbus Women’s Writing Group and Women’s Fiction Writing Association. She lives in Central Ohio with her husband, two kids, and her dog who is the same color as a perfectly-toasted marshmallow.

You can learn more and purchase Wherever You Go locally or online HERE.

Sherrie Hopkins, God’s Seven BFFs

Book Key Takeaways:

• Overcoming individual issues with the help of others
• The comfort and peace that come from calling upon God

ABOUT SHERRIE:

Born in Charleston, WV, Sherrie has lived in many different cities of these United States, and she has traveled internationally. Upon retiring, she moved to Columbus, Ohio in 2020.  She pursued her higher education at the University of Charleston where she studied Early Childhood Education. After her marriage, Sherrie owned and operated a children’s daycare center for ten years. She currently works part time as a receptionist for a local business event center. She has always had empathy and compassion for troubled families and hopes to make a difference in young people’s lives through her relatable stories.

You can learn more and purchase God’s Seven BFFs HERE.

LESLIE POWELL AHMADI, THE ROAD BETWEEN HEARTS: A MEMOIR OF A BLACK AMERICAN WOMAN DISCOVERING IRAN

Book Key Takeaways:

• The people of Iran are not the same as its politics.
• When seen through the lens of culture rather than politics, Iran can be an incredibly rich, awe-inspiring, fun, exquisite, and enjoyable place to be.
• When in a culture different from your own, it is important to be vigilant about checking your own assumptions before acting on them or making a judgment.

About Leslie:

Dr. Leslie Powell Ahmadi (PhD, foreign language and culture education, TheOhio State University) transitioned from being a Spanish professor to a cross-cultural and language trainer and coach after experiencing a life-changing four-year journey with her Iranian husband in post-revolutionary Iran (1992-1996). She writes a monthly blog on her Iranian experiences and has just completed a memoir on her intercultural, interracial, and interfaith experiences there. Fluent in English, Spanish, and Persian, Leslie’s expertise spans academic, corporate, and nonprofit sectors.

You can learn more about The Road Between Hearts: A Memoir of a Black American Woman Discovering Iran HERE.

Courtney Stone Smith, Sur(real) Style: Your Personal Style Journey

Book Key Takeaways:

• Style is Self-Discovery, Not Just Self-Decoration
• Your Clothes Carry Energy—Wear What Aligns with Your Future Self
• Style is a Sensory Experience: Engage Mind, Body, and Soul Sur(real) Style redefines personal style as a full-body, full-soul experience.

ABOUT COURTNEY:

Courtney Stone Smith is the founder of Sur(real) Style, a Certified Personal Stylist, and the author of Sur(real) Style: Your Personal Style Journey. With a B.S. in Psychology and an M.F.A. in Fashion Merchandising, Courtney brings over two decades of experience blending emotional intelligence with fashion expertise to help women express their most radiant, aligned selves.

Courtney’s work is rooted in the belief that clothing is more than aesthetic—it’s a tool for self-discovery, empowerment, and reinvention. Her signature approach weaves together styling, mindfulness, and intentionality, guiding clients on transformative journeys that elevate both wardrobe and spirit.

She specializes in working with creative, high-achieving women—especially those over 40—who are ready to be seen, felt, and celebrated through their style. Whether through private client work, workshops, or her signature membership, The Surreal Style Society, Courtney is on a mission to redefine style as a soulful, sensory experience that honors both inner growth and outward expression.

You can learn more and purchase Sur(real) Style: Your Personal Style Journey HERE.

Chamie Townsend, CFP®, AAMS™, CRPC™, PRETTY Mind

Book Key Takeaways:

•  Holistic wellness for an amazing life takes discipline
• The correct mindsets are crucial in all aspects of your life
• Good habits with consistency can help you achieve anything

ABOUT CHAMIE:

Chamie Townsend, CFP®, AAMS™, CRPC™, is a dedicated financial plannerand the founder of Elevated Wealth Advisory Group, LLC. She holds a B.S. in Computer Science and Engineering and a B.S. in Applied Mathematics from The Ohio State University, as well as a Master of Science in Financial Engineering from Kent State University. Chamie is passionate about living life to its fullest, which includes riding her motorcycle, traveling to new and exciting destinations, cooking, and spending quality time with her friends and family.

You can learn more and purchase PRETTY Mind HERE

Registration Closes Monday, June 9th at 10am 

To view boxed lunch choices click HERE.

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