Laurie Kincer, champion of Cleveland writers, retires 

For more than a decade, well-known and aspiring authors across Northeast Ohio have found more than literary programs at the Cuyahoga County Public Library’s William N. Skirball Writers’ Center; they have found community. Much of that, colleagues and local authors say, can be attributed to Laurie Kincer.

Kincer, who runs the center, is retiring on July 31 after helping shape one of the region’s most active literary communities.

Kincer joined CCPL in 2001, beginning what would become a 25-year career dedicated to literacy, education and fostering creative spaces. She was tasked with managing the center when it was established in 2015 in a special wing at the South Euclid-Lyndhurst Library, located at 1876 South Green Road.

Through workshops, author talks and partnerships, Kincer turned the center into a gathering place for established and emerging poets, fiction and non-fiction writers.

“I always believed libraries should be places where people feel inspired,” said Kincer, a Lakewood resident. “Whether someone had published five books or had never written a sentence before, we wanted them to feel welcome here.”

Kincer’s love of literature began long before her library career. English was always a favorite subject, and she said her passion for learning led her to continue studying the field throughout her higher education. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in English and French from Ohio Wesleyan University before obtaining a Master of Arts from Case Western Reserve University and a Master of Library and Information Science from Kent State University.

Throughout her tenure, Kincer focused on creating opportunities for writers to connect, learn and grow. |

“What I’m most proud of is the community,” Kincer said. “Writers can spend so much time working alone, and I think the Writers’ Center became a place where people realized they didn’t have to do it by themselves.”

Among those who worked closely with Kincer was local author Deanna Adams, who collaborated with her on numerous projects, including bringing the Western Reserve Writers’ Conference to the South Euclid-Lyndhurst Library.

“Laurie had this incredible ability to make things happen,” Adams said. “She wasn’t just organizing programs, she was building relationships and creating opportunities for writers to feel seen and supported.”

Adams said Kincer understands how to bring people together through writing and literature.

“The Writers’ Conference wouldn’t have become what it was without Laurie,” Adams said. “She understood the importance of connecting local writers with professionals and giving people access to opportunities they might not otherwise have.”

Under Kincer’s leadership, the center became more than a library program. It evolved into an invaluable resource for mentorship, networking and professional development. Bill Kelly, CCPL’s adult programming manager, said Kincer’s influence stretched well beyond one branch.

“Laurie helped redefine what literary programming could look like in a public library,” Kelly said. “She had a vision for making writing accessible and meaningful for the community.”

Kincer’s work created a lasting impact on both patrons and fellow library professionals, according to Kelly.

“She built something that people trusted and valued,” he said. “Her legacy is not just in the programs she created, but in the people she encouraged.”

For Adams, Kincer’s retirement marks the end of an important chapter for Northeast Ohio’s literary community. 

“Laurie made people feel like their voices mattered,” Adams said. “That’s a gift, and it’s something the writing community will carry forward.”

However, retirement doesn’t mean slowing down for Kincer.

She is looking forward to spending more time with family, including her two grandchildren and another on the way, and hopes to remain an active presence in their lives. She also plans to move to a cottage in Vermilion, walk on the beach, read, write, meditate, reconnect with friends and volunteer at literary and cultural events.

“I may be retiring, but I don’t think you ever stop being part of the writing community,” she said. “I’ll always be cheering writers on.”

For many local writers, Kincer’s legacy may be measured not only in programs or partnerships but in the creative community she helped build, one story at a time.