Dec. 6 Holiday Event: The Chantilly Writers celebrated their annual holiday event at Elaine’s! The authors shared their work, including the Club’s anthologies. Great holiday gifts!

When: Saturday, December 06, 2025 from 12-3pm

Where: 208 Queen Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314

Get your free ticket: chantillywriters.eventbrite.com

Authors Choice: Cocktail of the day — Deans Pistachio Silk Cream • Selected Entree — Grilled Salmon with Potato Salad, Fava Bean Puree, Potatoes, Labneh, Fresh Herbs

Authors at the event: Laynie Bowen, Nick Bruner, Robert Cantrell, Corinne Delaney, Angela Glascock, Anita Klein, Joan Leotta, Tom Sterling, and more.

Check out the interviews conducted by Club president Nick Bruner on the Authors Between the Covers show on InkandescentRadio.com, including the interview conducted by club member Chris Heyl with Nick!

Learn more about the group here: writersofchantilly.blogspot.com.

About the Club’s Anthologies:

Recipes for Life: Writers of Chantilly Anthology 2024

Get ready to embark on a journey full of flavors and emotions! The aroma of food can awaken powerful memories and emotions: a bakery might remind us of the last delicious pie we ever prepared with our mother, a slice of chocolate cake can take us back to that first trip abroad, while unique flavors could spark a reminiscence of dinner and dancing with a stranger. Whether it’s a big event, like a wedding or a holiday, talking over warm bowls of soup, baking a batch of special cookies, or just sitting down with an old friend over coffee and slices of rich, creamy cheesecake, food is a recurring theme in our lives and memories. In this 2024 Anthology, you’ll find a 34-course meal full of our food-inspired stories, poems, essays, and recipes. So take your place at our table, open this book, and feast on the recipes and stories of life’s journeys contained within! Click here to buy the book.

Did I Ever Tell You About the Time . . .?: Writers of Chantilly 2023 Anthology

Did I ever tell you about the time I met JFK, or when I drove a taxi for Jacqueline Onassis? Have I described my first kiss, my first business deal, or my new treasure for the house? Did you hear about the time I let my ten-year-old shave my head? I could tell you what life was like during the Cold War, or how one little kitten can take over your house. I have many heartwarming stories about my family as well. Did I mention nearly getting swept away by a tornado in the mountains of West Virginia? You won’t believe what my beach house looked like after a hurricane. Did you hear about my astonishing legal case, or the unusual body that the police found? I must tell you about when I stumbled, during the middle of a snowstorm, into an old inn and a merciless pack of thieves and murderers, drinking and carrying on. And I know you won’t believe it, but I’ll tell you about that morning Memaw went to battle during an alien invasion.
Grab a seat and turn the page. Have I got some stories for you . . . ! Buy the book!

WildLife: Writers of Chantilly 2022 Anthology

WildLife proceeds through tales of fabled lands, great adventures, and wild lives and loves. A dragon breathes fire in a mysterious cave, mythical creatures meet vicious rulers in an elf kingdom, monsters emerge from tempestuous seas, and a ghost appears every Saturday morning. Wild birds and ducks, bears and buffalo, frogs and dogs enter into the lives of humans in fascinating and often delightful ways. Come join us on our enchanting, surprising, and adventurous journeys. Buy the book!

Dancing in the Rain: 2022 Anthology

Sometimes, the clouds ain’t clearing. Sometimes, you just gotta dance in the rain. In this charming 2021 anthology from the Writers of Chantilly, the choreography says it all. Fourteen stories—including a Twilight-Zone-flavored vacation getaway, a personal essay about a sister’s spirit in a thunderstorm, and two segments of Hemingway-inspired “six-word stories” opening and closing the book—come together to put forward the best this writers’ group has to offer. Take it from us—waiting for the earth to dry is not the way to go. Life’s more fun wet. Buy the book!

About our Elaine’s Literary Salon Host, Jeffrey James Higgins: A retired supervisory special agent who writes thrillers, short stories, creative nonfiction, and essays, Jeff has wrestled a suicide bomber, fought the Taliban in combat, and chased terrorists across five continents. He received the Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Heroism and the DEA Award of Valor. Jeffrey has been interviewed by CNN, National Geographic, and The New York Times. Learn more: jeffreyjameshiggings.com

Find more of Elaine’s Literary Salon events here. And check back for new episodes of Elaine’s Literary Salon on Inkandescent.tv and listen to all the podcasts on InkandescentRadio.com.

Elaine’s Literary Salon

About Elaine’s Restaurant: A menu filled with delicious modern Mediterranean cuisine selections is sure to please everyone in your party. The dishes are inspired by exquisite food from Alexandria, Egypt — a blend of Middle Eastern and French, Greek, and Italian influences. Elaine’s is named for the owner’s grandmother and is based on a promise she made at the age of 12, growing up in Cairo. “I promised my grandma I would someday own a restaurant and name it after her,” shares Cynthia, who is also an author. She and her husband, bestselling thriller novelist Jeffrey James Higgins, are proud to share my family’s recipes with new friends and families in the Washington, DC metropolitan area.” Located in an 1880s building, it was the previous home for 38 years of the beloved bistro Bilbo Baggins. The newly renovated restaurant is located in the heart of Old Town’s Historic District within sight of the Potomac River and Founders Park, just a few blocks from The Torpedo Factory Art Center, and Old Town Alexandria Waterfront. Make a reservation today: elaines-restaurant.com.