Founded in 2003 by Joseph McLaughlin, the Tuscarawas County Writers Guild provides workshops, feedback, and networking for local writers at the Tuscarawas County Center for the Arts. Based in the Dover-New Philadelphia area (Ohio), it fosters a community for all genres, including publishing opportunities and offering a supportive environment for both new and experienced authors. 

  • Founder: Joseph McLaughlin of Dover, a retired English professor from Stark State College, who also led the group's first anthology project, "In Other Words".
  • Mission: The guild focuses on fostering local writing talent through monthly meetings, speaker events, community partnership, and workshops.
  • Leadership: Past leadership has included Rick Maloy, Stacy Hardin, Cherie Kail, and John R. Kiste III, with Bre Stephens elected president in early 2026.
  • Meetings: The guild currently meets on the first Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at the Dover Public Library in Dover, Ohio. ​

Guild Officers

Bre Stephens
President

Trang Moreland
Vice-President

Leeanna Warren
Treasurer

​Cathie Adams
Secretary

The Guild welcomes writers of all genres and skill levels. ​

Member Spotlight

Trent Lindsey
Western Fantasy Role-Playing
Trent Lindsey is an author in the Dover-New Philadelphia area who writes genre-bending, western fantasy role-playing games and epic novels. He’s a graphic designer by trade, and specializes in crafting his own books from scratch.
Trang Moreland
​Non-Fiction 
Trang Moreland grew up in Viet Nam. At the age 21, she immigrated to the United States. After overcoming language and cultural barriers, she finished trade school and now owns Trang’s Rentals. Trang is currently Vice President of the Tuscarawas County Writers Guild, an inspirational speaker and author of two books: “Just Smile and Say Hello” (autobiography) and “I Am You” (cookbook). Trang and her husband Jay live in Ohio and have two adult children. She donates to many local benefits and charities and provides school supplies for children in her native country.

https://www.amazon.com/stores/Trang-Moreland/author/B07BS5XV8W
Kathleen Martin
Cultural and Romance Fiction
Kathleen Martin was only twelve years old when she announced to her family that she wanted to be an author when she grew up. An avid reader, she's spent her life reading books on lost civilizations, alien worlds, and the tales of the Native Americans. Now a retired steel worker, she finally has the time to make her childhood dream come true, with three books (The Sea Stone Collection, Called Back: A Tale of Two Worlds, The Return into the Deep) written and available on Amazon. 

https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B083LL2THW/