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In This
Issue
From Our Chapter
President
WNBA-SF News
Announcements
From Our Literacy
Liaison
Poet's Corner
Link to Renew Membership (General
Member - $45)
Link to Renew Membership
(Senior/Student - $25)
Joan Gelfand speaks at one
of the many WNBA-SF powerful author readings. See below for
future
events.
Announcements
Women's National Book Association Members
Gather at BookShop West
Portal
When: Tuesday, March 25, 2008
evening 7-9 PM
Where: BookShop West Portal, 80
West Portal Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94127
Members from the Women's National
Book Association will be reading from
their books and networking. Come
meet this dynamic group if you are a
reader or a writer, or
both.
Joan Gelfand, Mary Shyne Lunning,
and Teresa LeYung Ryan chair this event.
To get a spot to read from your
book, or work in progress (you must be a current member),
email
Shyne at lunni8@aol.com. To RSVP for
networking after open mike, email
Teresa at LiteracyLiaison@wnba-sfchapter.org.
For more information about
WNBA, please go to www.wnba-sfchapter.org Donations
will be used toward
our 40th anniversary party in
June.
Open Positions on WNBA-SF
Board
Meet
interesting people, learn new skills, and be a part of the
guiding force shaping
WNBA-SF! Were you
always the kid at school chosen to be the secretary of the
group? Or were you known as a guaranteed "go to" person
when schoolmates forgot their milk money?
We are
in need of detail-oriented people to join the WNBA-SF Board
as secretary, treasurer, and calendar
coordinator.
Each position will be mentored by the previous secretary,
treasurer, and vice president while you learn the
responsibilities. Being a part of the Board is a rich and
rewarding experience, filled with networking possibilities
and the chance to really make an impact on the careers of
authors and the lives of readers.
Contact Mary at president@WNBA-SFchapter.org
to talk about the positions, or come to the next board meeting to
see what it’s all about.
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SAVE
THIS DATE!
JUNE 7, 2008
MAKE YOUR RESERVATIONS ASAP!
The 40th Anniversary of the San Francisco Chapter of
WNBA will be capped by a DINNER on Saturday, June 7th
in San Francisco.
Held at the Sir Francis Drake Hotel
Highlights include:
Keynote Speaker: Beth Lisick
1. Honoring Past
Presidents and Board Members
2. Retrospectives by
selected Speakers.
3. The Installation
of Joan Gelfand, Past President WNBA-SF as the new
NATIONAL PRESIDENT of WNBA.
Please join us for this
great, "full-circle" celebration of 40 years of
activity! Presidents from all of the national
WNBA branches will be in attendance. (This is great
opportunity for WNBA authors to meet with them, and
schedule events in their cities).The entire National Board of WNBA
will also be there.
Because reservations need to be secured right away, PLEASE
LET US KNOW ASAP BY E-MAIL: Mary at
president@WNBA-SFchapter.org
Please include answers to
the following questions in your
email:
1.Will you be
attending? (Cost for the Dinner is estimated at
$50/per person.)
2.Will you be bringing
guests (how many)?
We look forward to seeing you there . . . and to
celebrating with you!
********************
Reminder: WBNA-SF Board
Meetings
Board meetings are open
to the entire membership and are held the
first Thursday of the month 6-8 at the
SFMoMA.
*********************
“Introduction
to Essential Elements in Writing a Story" with Teresa
LeYung Ryan & Lynn Scott
When: Saturday, April 12, 2008, 10am-4pm
Enroll: On-line, telephone, or at
store
Cost: $95.00
Where: Book Passage University
Corte Madera Store
www.bookpassage.com
(800) 999-7909
Co-teacher Teresa LeYung Ryan says: "A great story has a
captivating beginning, a middle that compels you to turn the page,
and a satisfying ending." Co-teacher Lynn Scott adds: “We can
learn so much and watch our writing improve, if we accept that 3/4
of writing is tenacity, 1/4 talent.”
* What point of view should I use?
* What's the timeline and setting of my
story?
* Should I use first-person narrator?
* Do I really need a thesis statement?
What you'll gain from the course:
* in-class writing
(with optional sharing and
commenting);
* examples of how other authors use the
essential elements
* list of recommended readings and resources for
writers.
This is an introductory course for anyone who has an idea for a
story.
OR
For the writer who has a first draft and wish to re-learn the tools
and take the story to a higher level.
*********************
CWC Writer's Forum
Open Mic Night: 10 Writers Read, for 10 minutes
each
When: Third Wednesday
of every month
Hosted by: Borders Books and Music, 2925 El Camino Real, San Mateo,
CA (On El Camino Real, 1 mile south of Highway 92, across from the
Hillside Shopping Center.)
Time: 7:30 pm
Cost: Free
Details: This is a
great opportunity for authors to get exposure and to practice
public speaking skills. Open to all writers and listeners,
including CWC members and non-members. Each reader is given a
choice of whether or not they wish to receive
feedback.
***If you are a current member and wish to read at this Open Mike,
please email Teresa LeYung
Ryan at LiteracyLiaison@wnba-sfchapter
.org immediately for further
instructions. Put "Requesting a spot for March
25"
in your subject
line.***
If you would like a free one-hour speech coaching lesson to prepare
for our Open Mic, contact Geri through
CWC.
*********************
Upcoming Author
Reading
Don’t miss Cara Black present her newest book, Murder in the Rue de Paradis.
Murder in the Rue de
Paradis is the 8th in the Aimee Leduc Investigations and
debuted at #10 on the SF Chronicle bestseller list! To learn more,
visit www.carablack.com. Be sure to
check out one of her upcoming reading:
March 4th at 7pm
Book Passage 51 Tamal Vista Bld
Corte Madera
March 5 at 12:30 pm
Stacey's Bookstore
581 Market St SF
March 12th at 7pm
The Booksmith
1644 Haight ST SF
March 18th 7pm
Bookshop West Portal
80 West Portal Ave SF
We hope to see you at one of
these fantastic readings!
********************
Craft of Fiction
One-Day Workshops with Ellen Sussman
Spring Fiction Workshop offered beginning in late March and Best
American Short Story Seminars later this spring. Look out for
notices about these classes in late winter.
For more information or to RSVP, please visit www.ellensussman.com.
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From Our Chapter President
 Dear WNBA-SF
Friends,
Did you know that in 1987 a Congressional resolution named March
Women’s History Month, but Sonoma, California first observed it in
1978? March 8 is International Women’s Day which is set aside to
honor the fight for the political rights for working women. In
March 1776 Abigail Adams wrote to her husband John, who was helping
to frame the Declaration of Independence, “Remember the Ladies…If
particular care and attention is not paid to the Ladies, we are
determined to forment a Rebellion, and will not hold ourselves
bound by any Laws in which we have no voice or Representation.” In
March of 1852 Harriet Beecher Stow’s novel, “Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” is
published and becomes American’s first book to sell over 1 million
copies. How many of us would be thrilled to have that number sold,
but just imagine how it felt in 1852. March 1888 was the month the
National Council of Women of the US was organized by Susan B.
Anthony, Clara Barton, Lucy Stone, Julia Wards Howe and Elizabeth
Cady Stanton. I wonder what they think of the campaigning going on
right now. And in March 1917 Virginia Woolf established the Hogarth
Press. Computers and technology in general have certainly made some
parts of publishing easier, but I think the writing process will
never change.
Growing up March was a celebratory time because three of the eight
members of my immediate family had birthdays within two weeks of
each other. My mother perfected what she still refers to as “the
putsy cake” (really a Pillsbury Bake-Off prize winner tunnel of
fudge cake recipe) over the years because it was requested so
often. In fact, it is considered the family birthday cake! WNBA-SF
has a birthday coming up in June and I’ll be looking for all of you
at our celebration. Mark your calendars for Sat., June 7 when we
will be gathering to celebrate our 40th Anniversary! We’ll keep you
posted here with all the details.
As part of WNBA-SF, we recognize that women’s history runs the
spectrum from the kitchen table to the kitchen cabinet, and as such
we have quite a legacy to uphold. Over the years WNBA has
contributed to that legacy in many ways through programs, panels,
presentations and members’ works. Our next event at BookShop
West Portal on March 25 would be an excellent opportunity for
members to let their voices be heard.
I look forward to seeing you at our next WNBA-SF event!
Be well,
Mary
From our Litaracy
Liason Dear WNBA-SF Chapter
Members,
Calling all Members and Colleagues Who are Authors of Children's
Literature!
We have formed another literacy partnership—with Reach Out and Read! In February
2008 I contacted Roya Yasharpour, ROR’s Statewide Program Director
in California, and was delighted to hear about how our members who
are authors of children's book and ROR could collaborate not only
for publicity but also for the sheer fun of working together to
inspire children.
Here's Ms. Yasharpour's invitation to you:
Mutually beneficial ways to promote Reach Out and Read’s (ROR)
pediatrics literacy efforts in California, while also promoting
your love of reading and your work:
1. Donate signed copies of books for ROR community book fairs and
events (we have numerous community partners including local
schools).
2. Facilitate a young author writing workshop—donate a portion of
attendance fee and book sales to ROR.
3. Hold a house party to promote ROR.
4. Volunteer to read at a local ROR clinic.
5. Make a donation to Reach Out and Read in California through
www.reachoutandread.org be sure to specify funds be directed to
California.
6. Help us secure a booth to sell books at local events; We will
include your books and you can donate a portion of sales to ROR in
CA.
If you are interested in any of the above possibilities and more,
please contact ROR’s Statewide Program Director in California,
Roya
Yasharpour.
Members who are planning to get involved with Reach Out and Read,
please keep me (Teresa) posted. Email me photos of you and ROR and
we'll post them on the WNBA website.
And, there's our partner
Project Read—the adult literacy program—doing awesome work in
the community.
Project Read San Francisco 415-557-4388.
If you are involved with these or other literacy advocates, please
email Teresa at LiteracyLiaison@wnba-sfchapter.org
and I'll showcase you in this Column. Please put "WNBA and
Literacy" in your subject line.
Be well!
Teresa LeYung Ryan
LiteracyLiaison@wnba-sfchapter.org
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Poet's Corner
This month's featured poet is Elaine Dallman. Elaine's collection
of poetry is called Nevadans. Elaine is a firm believer
that poetry must be brought into the community to demonstrate the
relationship of poetry to life. She holds a Ph.D. in Creative
Writing and English Literature and has spent a great portion of her
life teaching. She is one of the pioneers of bringing women
studies curriculum into various universities. She is
currently a member of the Board of Directors for the San Francisco
Poetry Museum. To learn more about Elaine, please visit
www.elainedallman.com.
Red
I’m geranium red, a bloom of virtue
living on a slope.
High on my mountain, by the ruined tavern,
fat boulder,
Oompah
close to a circling crescent rusted off
a fallen weathervane.
That near moon rises, flies like a crane high
above waves of mountain pines.
It sees me,
a bloomin’ stick in the ground.
Oompah of
moon lit heart,
moon shine on the potbelly.
My eyes glitter, petals pulse.
Rock, I rise to dance with you.
Scratch scruntch Oompah rolls,
rolls over me. He falls down the slope
marked by my blurry streak.
From a stick my soul rises,
a flattened red dawn spreads, faces earth.
Red thickens, is fiery.
Pushed by a wind untroubled from love of earth,
I go downward, back to grow
close to wind and grass. Grass.
Flower. Growing. I burst flowers.
I hunger for soil to hold me, and for
its coronal above,
shining day.
********************
WNBA-SF
News
Congratulations to Diane
LeBow!
Diane LeBow
recently won, at the 2008 Bay Area Travel Writers Awards and
Planet Earth Awards, the Gold Award for the Best Travel
Writer Web Site (www.dianelebow.com) and also
the Bronze Award for Best Travel-Related Essay/Article
in an Anthology for her story, "Dancing on the Wine Dark Sea"
from the Seal Press Anthology, Greece: A Love Story: Women Write about
the Greek Experience. Judges were tops in their fields
from around the country.
********************
WNBA-National News
History:
The
Woman's National Book Association is a national organization
of women and men who work with and value books. WNBA exists
to promote reading and to support the role of women in the
community of the book. The San Francisco Chapter of WNBA was
founded in 1968 by Effie Lee Morris, then coordinator of
Children's Services for the San Francisco Main Public
Library.
Membership
has ranged from sixty to one hundred. Our members are
writers, booksellers, agents, editors, publishers,
publicists, librarians, graphic designers, career coaches,
marketing specialists, conference planners, aspiring authors
and avid readers. The San Francisco branch of WNBA is one
chapter in a vibrant organization with over 800 members
across the county. Each branch has its own flavor and lively
events to honor books, the creation of books, the world of
books, and allied arts.
BookShop West Portal was the bookstore for the
San Francisco Writers Conference this year.
Great
Job Neal Sofman!
San Francisco Writers Conference
2008
WNBA is well represented at the SFWC
2008!
Elizabeth Pomada, Karen Folger Jacobs, Sara
Cassella, Joan Gelfand and Michael Larson
The San Francisco Writers Conference is always a fast
paced, information rich event and a wonderful opportunity to
network and meet other writers and people in the literary
world. Lets not forget the fun factor, it is truly a great
time!
Many of our members were presenters in the breakout sessions or
panels and some agents participated in the Speed
Dating portion of the program.
Teresa LeYung Ryan and Elisa Southard , Vicki
Weiland, Linda Lee, Cara Black, Andrea Brown, Hut Landon,
Ted Weinstein, Robert Shepard, all were part of
popular sessions!
We also had a very good response from our
WNBA information table. We have already had
several new members join since the conference.
Vice President Linda Lee served as this
years Volunteer Coordinator and will be on board again in
2009. If you are interested in attending and being a volunteer, let
her know.
A big thank you to Vicki Weiland for running
the WNBA table and all the members who pitched in: Pat Windom,
Mickey Duxbury, Joan Gelfand, Mary E. Knippel, Patricia Costello,
Teresa LeYung Ryan, Shyne Lunning, and Elisa Southard all
helped, we can't do it without you
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The Bookworm
