It started so simply; a friend (Joel Niemeyer, you know I mean you) saying that I should meet another friend of his, also a writer. Then we joked about creating a roundtable of Ballard writers: Ballard’s version of the famous Algonquin Table.

The original idea has bloomed and multiplied like so much local moss, and there will need to be many tables, fully extended, to accommodate the smorgasbord of local writers participating in the Ballard “Authors & Neighbors” event from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Oct. 19 at Sunset Hill Community Club.

I contacted a few writers I knew then Secret Garden Bookshop gave me many more. Then each writer gave me other names. And although a few authors had conflicts, no one turned down the invitation to meet one another and their neighbors at a community event.

I decided to make it a potluck of authors, but without pre-assigned genres. So there will be cookbook authors and poets, writers with agents and without. Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Literary Memoir, Health & Psychology, Young Adult, Early Reader…there will be something for every age and interest.

Thirty writers are planning to participate in this first attempt at rounding up Ballard writers. Secret Garden Bookshop will sell everyone’s work, self-published or otherwise (and are donating a percentage to Sunset Hill Community Association).

There will be a panel discussion on building an audience, something I’m calling Author Bingo and door prizes.

All the authors submitted Ballard-centric bios upon request. Here’s a mere sampling of what they shared, or else what I know about them, from A to Z (although the current list ends at W, a Z writer could turn up any day).

Nicole Aloni lives, writes, shops and cooks in Ballard but it’s her "Backyard Bartender" book that has caught my eye.

Karen G. Anderson and I met at my garage sale, and I’ve called her Ghost Blogger ever since.

Erica Bauermeister and I got to meet a woman who grew up in Norvell House (which inspired a setting in Erica’s book).

Rita Bresnahan finds poetry in every day and helps me to see it.

Sandra Coffman was introduced to me by a West Seattle friend. She taught me to ask for jam at Besalu.

Jay Craig gave me an early copy of his "Scottish Buddhist Cookbook" and liked that my review said, “It’s not really a book.” He’ll be the one wearing the kilt. (It’s not exactly a cookbook either).

Lowen Clausen is Mr. Ballard – does the Ballard Building ring any bells? The second book of his police trilogy was set in Ballard.

Laura Cooper is on the board of the Ballard Historical Society, has a greeting card company and is co-author of "Fishes & Dishes," which was the top-selling paperback at Secret Garden Bookshop last week.

Carl Deuker has written eight young adult novels, seven of which are set in Ballard, but is most popular in Nebraska! (I used to get his mail when I lived just one block south).

Janna Cawrse Esarey now lives just south of the Ballard Bridge, but her increasingly popular memoir "The Motion of the Ocean: 1 Small Boat, 2 Average Lovers, & a Woman’s Search for the Meaning of Wife" had its starting point at Shilshole (and may be in competition for longest book title award).

The protagonists in Kevin Emerson’s "Oliver Nocturne" series “skulk around Cupcake Royale, Golden Gardens and Salmon Bay Park.”

Phil and Kaja Foglio’s web-comic "Girl Genius" has just received its second Hugo Award for Best Graphic Story.

Liz Gallagher hosts the teen book club at Secret Garden and has two young adult novels set in Fremont and Ballard respectively.

Carol Hiltner lives locally but her life revolves around her experiences in Siberia and subsequent activism.

Don Kentop curates Poetry in Fremont and has just had his chapbook published by Rose Alley Press.

One of Nina Laden’s 12 books in print has sold more than 500,000 copies.

Kristine Leander is president of the Leif Erikson International Foundation.

Carol Levin’s house is known to anyone who walks a dog along 34th Avenue Northwest, and she may be one of the few poets to be inspired by sea lions.

Corbin Lewars is founder of the zine “Reality Mom” and author of the online column by the same name, in addition to writing memoirs and a novel.

Scott McCredie and I met after I read about his lawn service Eco-Mow. A longtime journalist, he now mows our lawn and edited my book. His book has enlightened me regarding the physical sense of balance.

Paul Michel’s first novel, "Houdini Pie," was just published by Ballard’s own publishers, Bennett & Hastings.

Julie Pheasant-Albright is a fourth-generation Ballardite and an expert on early Ballard.

Ingrid Ricks is the friend of a friend that I met over a table at Aster, Ballard’s coffee shop of choice for writers since Nervous Nellie’s became Nellie’s.

Julie Reinhardt is co-owner of Smokin’ Pete’s BBQ and believes “smoking pork butt might help women find balance in their hectic lives.”

Michael Schein claims to have been named 20th Avenue Northwest treasure by a guy who hangs out in Salmon Bay Park.

Darrell Toland has a 6.5-foot talking robot in his garage.

Marjorie Young gives psychic readings at the Ballard Farmer’s Market.

Allan Wenzel is a historian who has lived in the Ballard home built by his parents since a few weeks of age.

Ballardites, come meet the writer next door.

Sunset Hill Community Association hosts “Ballard Authors & Neighbors” on from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Oct. 19 at 3003 N.W. 66th St. Free admission. For me information, contact atlargeinballard@yahoo.com.