Our Hero is a shape-shifting, mind-reading alien who can fly, replicate instantly and make himself invisible. Among other things. The Villain, who is bent on robbing banks and destroying the world, has similar powers — because he is Our Hero’s father! But Our Hero does not know this, nor the Villain’s real motivation: to save his dying wife — the mother Our Hero never knew!

This is what some third-graders from Citizens Academy and seventh-graders from University School came up with in a Superheroes workshop on May 15. The visit marked two firsts: the first time that US’s Boys-t0-Boys Reading Club has branched out into writing, and the first workshop ever at Ohio City Writers.

I was nervous, but I had at least as much fun as they did.

We have two youth workshops currently scheduled, as well as one for adults, and many more are being planned. See the Programs page for details, and register today.

SMARTBoards are rapidly replacing chalk and dry-erase boards in classrooms. My son Daniel taught me the basic functions in time for our first workshop, but there are all sort of bells and whistles that I can’t wait to start using.

Thank you, Mitchell and Mark. We will never make unkind remarks about Pittsburgh again.

Teachers and school administrators interested in learning more about SMARTBoards can contact Mark Linton at mark@smarterguys.com or 877-476-2786.

Press releases and book-store appearances are a good start, but only a start. Four local experts share their experiences with what it takes to get your book noticed. Jane Lassar is the publicist for Cleveland-based Gray & Co., Publishers and creator of the blog Dear Author. John Gorman wrote the memoir The Buzzard: Inside the Glory Days of WMMS & Cleveland Rock Radio. James Renner has published two true-crime books and the genre-twisting novel The Man From Primrose Lane. Erin O’Brien is the author of The Irish Hungarian Guide to the Domestic Arts. To buy tickets in advance, click the button below. At the door we can accept cash or check (made out to Ohio City Inc.). All proceeds from this workshop benefit OCW’s programs for kids.

How would you like to help shape the next generation of professional communicators? You can! IABC Cleveland is “adopting” the Ohio City Writers (OCW) initiative to provide our members an outlet for giving back to the community. …

OCW needs volunteers to develop and facilitate workshops on anything related to writing in any genre. Whatever your interests, whether poetry, music lyrics, fiction, journalism, business writing, drama, speech writing, social media, and more.

Or, instead of a workshop, perhaps you’d like to help promote the center and its activities. That’s cool, too.

We are pleased to forge this alliance, just as we begin launching workshops and preparing other programs for kids (and some for adults too). But please note that you do not have to be a professional writer to volunteer at OCW. No matter what your skill set, we can almost certainly find some way for you to join the cause. Visit the Get Involved page to learn how to get started. If you’re part of an organization or company that would like to support us or collaborate in some way, please email.

Goldhammer

Aaron Goldhammer of WKNR’s The Really Big Show will serve as emcee. Joining him will be Vince Grzegorek, Cleveland Scene’s first sports beat writer and the last non-Browns employee to observe the elusive Randy Lerner in his natural habitat; Peter Pattakos, CLE sports blogger (ClevelandFrowns.com) and author of this scathing assessment of the Indians’ commitment to Chief Wahoo; Tom Reed, the Plain Dealer’s Cavs beat reporter; and Zac Jackson of Fox Sports Ohio.

“The Misery Index: Covering Cleveland Sports” takes place Tuesday, May 8, 7-9 p.m. at Happy Dog, West 58th and Detroit. Admission is free. But bring a Cleveland sports trivia question — we have some Gray & Co. books for those who can stump our panel.