Middle Valley Wordsmiths
are looking for serious members to join their writer’s group
We are participating at these upcoming events
27th Annual Tewksbury Harvest Festival
September 27, 2025
Christie Hoffman Farm Park in Tewksbury, NJ
11th Annual Califon Street Fair
October 12, 2025
11AM - 4PM - Main Street - Califon, NJ
Who we are
Founded in September of 2020, the Wordsmiths are a collection of published and soon-to-be published authors that meet on the third Thursday of every month in a variety of locations in Morris and Hunterdon County. Their 90-minute work sessions include critiques of each other's submissions, discussions on the craft of writing, book and e-book marketing trends, and other related subjects.
MVWordsmiths (left or right) D.J. Murphy, Renny Hodgkins, Bill Leavens, Charlie Levin, Starr Diethorn,
Neil McNeil (Neil Szigethy), Mark Kitchin, and Dave B. Watts
Although the group is currently mystery and thriller fiction driven, all types of writers are welcome, especially if their goal is to create publishable work and support others in that goal in a positive manner. There is no charge to join. The only requirement is for individuals to have an open mind and an interest in sharing their work.
Please contact the group at MVWordsmiths@gmail.com if you have an interest in attending the next meeting
Current members in the Middle Valley Wordsmiths include:
D.J. Murphy
Murphy has won awards for his screenplays and has published a number of books of fiction, non-fiction and poetry. The Califon resident organized the first book festival held at the Middle Valley Cultural Center and is the Wordsmiths founder.
Website djvmurphy.com
Charles Levin
Levin is the Amazon best selling author of the NOT SO DEAD Trilogy. His 26-year background in tech, degree in philosophy and love of fast paced thrillers are the brew that created them.
Neil Szigethy
Szigethy writes mysteries and suspense fiction under the pen name Neil MacNeill. Exit Row, set in England and Philadelphia in 1991, is his first novel. His second, A Stillness in the Pines, is set in the near future in the Pine Barrens. The Poe Puzzler, his third novel, is a cozy mystery that takes place in Ocean City, NJ. The Long Valley resident is a Middle Valley Community Center trustee.
Renny Hodgskin
Hodgskin is a semi-retired insurance claim professional working on his first novel. He has specialized experience in Catholic Evangelization and his current work deals with the touchy subject of the ramifications of misconduct litigation in a fictional case against the Catholic Church.
David B. Watts
Watts has turned a more than 50-year career in law enforcement and private investigation into a writing career. Since his retirement in 2015, he has written a memoir and three novels on the subject.
Mark Kitchin
Although not yet a published novelist, Kitchin is an award winning newspaper reporter with more than 4,000 articles to his credit during a 30-year career at the Morristown Daily Record and Observer Tribune. His goal is to publish his first work of fiction in 2022.
Lori Robbins
Lori is the author of the On Pointe and Master Class mystery series. Her work has garnered multiple awards, including the Indie Award for Best Mystery and the Silver Falchion. Short stories include Accidents Happen in Mystery Most Diabolical and Leading Ladies in Justice for All. She’s also a contributor to The Secret Ingredient: A Mystery Writers Cookbook.
Starr Diethorn
Starr, a resident of Long Valley, is the author of the Berkshire Hills mystery series, which includes three books: Death at Wildbough, Death at Kismet, and Death at Echo Cave. She is currently working on the fourth book, Death at Dragon's Peak. Starr enjoys attending concerts at Tanglewood, and the beautiful location inspired her series.
Bill Leavens
Bill Leavens and Margaret Nordstrom have made their home in Middle Valley for more than four decades. Bill has been a member of the Middle Valley Community Center during that time. He presently serves as Recording Secretary of the Center's Board of Trustees. He has published articles on aviation-related issues and currently has a novel haunting him during sleepless nights. This will be reduced to writing during the next quadrennium after he figures out myriad twists, turns, and improbable details. It involves aircraft.
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