The Chesapeake Bay Writers on October 7 will hold two free events for the public.

James E. Tobin will present a workshop titled “Illusions of Speech? Writing Great Dialogue” at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 7 at the Williamsburg Library, 515 Scotland Street.

Tobin earned a journalism degree in college, then moved to New York City, where he wrote two off-Broadway plays for the Circle Repertory Company and children’s books for MacMillan. He then watched helplessly as his first novel burned in a hotel fire. As a result, he pursued a career as an educator and psychologist, and his writing shifted to scholarly articles and textbooks. Only when he retired did he return to writing fiction.

His debut novel, “When We Were Wolves,” was published by Pale Horse Books last year, and his second novel, “Triple Divide,” will be out this fall. Tobin and his wife Jean live in Williamsburg, the setting for “When We Were Wolves.”

After the workshop, there will be an Open Mic event at 1:30 p.m....