Author Talk & Writing Workshop

What happens when a novel you wrote becomes a movie? Join author Melissa W. Hunter for a special evening celebrating the journey of her novel Eight Wishes from the page to the screen!

Melissa will share the story behind the book’s adaptation, what it’s like to see characters and scenes brought to life, and some of the unexpected twists and turns along the way.

Then, settle in for a short, interactive writing workshop exploring how to capture the sights, sounds, traditions, and small moments that make holiday memories last.

Whether you consider yourself a writer or simply have a story to tell, you’ll leave with the beginnings of a meaningful holiday memory on the page.

A little Hollywood. A little writing. A lot of holiday memories!

December 1, 2026

7:00-9:00 pm EST

Cincinnati, OH

Location shared upon registration

Instructor Bio

Melissa W. Hunter is an alum of the 2025 SFTT: Cincinnati show! She is an award-winning author and co-host of The Kibbitz Podcast. Her writing has appeared in Kveller, the Jewish Literary Journal, Literary Mama, Books by Women, and The American Israelite, and she regularly contributes to Cincy Jewfolk. Melissa’s passion for storytelling and deep connection to her family history inspired her debut novel, What She Lost, based on her grandmother’s life as a Holocaust survivor. Her most recent book, Eight Wishes, is a heartwarming Hanukkah romance currently being adapted into a film.