Please join us for this exceptional reading group of three authors, all local members of Women’s National Book Association: C.W. Gortner (The Last Queen), Kathi Kamen Goldmark (And My Shoes Keep Walking Back to You), and Tanya Egan Gibson (How to Buy a Love of Reading).

C.W. Gortner will bring insight into his intriguing and highly adventurous historical novel, The Last Queen, and what’s next from him. Kathi will read about one fabulous character (her health-food-obsessed mom, Betty) from both a fictional and a nonfiction perspective. Kathi warns, “Bring your own wheat grass juice.” Tanya will read and talk about writing her critically acclaimed debut novel, How to Buy a Love of Reading, where you’re sure to fall in love with reading all over again. We aren’t suggesting the love of reading is something to be bought, but we know you’ll be inspired to buy these authors’ praise-worthy books.

The Women’s National Book Association launched National Reading Group Month in October of 2007 to celebrate the organization’s ninetieth birthday. This year, WNBA will continue its tradition of promoting women and the book and literacy in general by hosting events in their chapter cities: Boston, Dallas, Detroit, Los Angeles, Nashville, New York, San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington, D.C.

Many thanks to our partner for this event, Whole Foods Market, for providing specialty foods.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS:


Kathi Kamen Goldmark is the author of And My Shoes Keep Walking Back to You, a novel; co-author of The Great Rock & Roll Joke Book, and Mid-Life Confidential: the Rock Bottom Remainders Tour America with Three Chords and an Attitude; and has contributed essays to several anthologies-including Feed Me! (edited by Harriet Brown). With her husband, Sam Barry, she writes a monthly aspiring-writer-advice column in BookPage called “The Author Enablers.”

A 2007 San Francisco Library Laureate and winner of the 2008 National Women’s Book Association award, Kathi is the founder and a member of the all-author rock band the Rock Bottom Remainders, president and janitor of “Don’t Quit Your Day Job” Records, Author Liaison for many high-profile literary events-including Book Group Expo and the Friends of the San Francisco Public Library annual Laureates Dinner-and the producer of the nationally-distributed radio show West Coast Live.


Tanya Egan Gibson was born and raised on Long Island’s south shore, the“Egg”-less side of the island Fitzgerald didn’t write about. She earned a B.A. in English from Cornell University and an M.A. from the University of Washington. She began writing How to Buy a Love of Reading ten years ago, while teaching high school English. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and two children.



C. W. Gortner is the author of The Last Queen (Ballantine Books). This book takes a look at the life of Juana of Castile, the last queen of Spanish blood to inherit her country’s throne, and it is highly praised by Publisher’s Weekly. Half-Spanish by birth, Gortner holds an M.F.A. in writing, with an emphasis on historical studies, from the New College of California and has taught university courses on women of power in the Renaissance. He was raised in Málaga, Spain, and now lives in California. He is currently at work on his next book, which is about Catherine de Medici and will be released by Ballantine Books in 2010. Visit him at www.cwgortner.com.

  ******************************

1. Increase exposure by linking your website to our SF chapter site and writing new posts on our Blog. 
2. Gain ideas from other members through E-newsletter Bookworm. 
3. Check our website calendar not only for WNBA sponsored events, but also those with other organizations. 
4. Grab opportunities to provide leadership to the chapter - join a committee or run for office. 
5. List your book on our National Site - under Author books; List your name in our national database of members. 
6. Have your book noted in our National Magazine, The Bookwoman. Published 3x /year, The Bookwoman is sent out to all chapters and members (800) and industry professionals for a total circulation of 3,000. 
7. Ask to present your book at our Authors Showcase - contact Elisa Southard. 
8. Sign up for open mike at our sponsoring bookstore: Bookshop West Portal, SF.  Contact Pam Reitman. 
9. Work with all of our 10 chapters to network, plan book tours, build your platform. 
10. Have fun! Foster relationships! 

Sign up or renew (only $45!) on our website: www.wnba-sfchapter.org  and Use PayPal.

California Writers Club--SF Peninsula Branch
& Jack London Writers Conference representatives
at 2009 San Mateo County Fair/ Peninsula Festival
August 15-23, 2009

Saturday Sept. 19, 2009 10:00am-4:00pm
Sonoma County Book Festival, at Old Courthouse Square, Santa Rosa, CA 

Meet Your New Board!

The torches have been passed and the WNBA-SF is happy to announce their new board members!

President:
Lynn Henriksen served as WNBA-SF’s vice president last year. She is looking forward to her role as president to help make the San Francisco chapter vibrant by applying her 30-years’ entrepreneurial leadership experience to this position.

For the past decade, Lynn, also known as The Story Woman™, has been inspiring and teaching people to write  “Mother Memoir” through classes, presentations, and her guide book, Give the Gift of Story: TellTale Souls’ Essential Guide to Tap Memory & Write Memoir in Five Acts. She has collected 50 heartfelt bio-vignettes in an anthology entitled, TellTale Souls: Daughters Keeping Mothers’ Spirits Alive One Story at a Time, which is now with her agent in search of a publisher.

Vice President:
Allegra Harris has been a member of WNBA-SF Chapter for over two years, and she held the position of treasurer before becoming vice president in 2009. She is the Sales and Marketing Manager of North Atlantic Books, a publishing house in Berkeley, CA, that specializes in martial arts, holistic health, nutrition, raw foods, and metaphysical and spiritual titles.

Allegra earned a degree in English from U.C. Berkeley. She is a Northern California native.

Secretary:
Sara Cassella is a kindergarten teacher in Los Altos, CA, and has been working with WNBA-SF since 2007.  As the previous newsletter editor, she is excited to serve as the board secretary.

Currently, Sara is working with TPS Publishing to produce science textbooks for grades K-3.  In addition, she has written and edited content for various websites and has authored reading comprehension passages for standardized state tests.  Prior to earning her MA in Teaching and CA Teaching Credential, she received a BA in Speech Pathology/Audiology and conducted research with the Department of Neurology at UCSF.

Treasurer:
Christopher Payne graduated with a degree in accounting and has spent most of his working career in corporate accounting.  He is currently the Director of Finance at EFI, a publicly held company located in Foster City.

Just over a year ago he decided to try his hand at writing, and, for the record, he says he’s as grammatically challenged as they come. He has completed one novel and a couple of short stories and has now started on a second novel. He is excited to have joined the group, but he must admit that every time he mentions he is treasurer of the Women's National Book Association people do a double take and ask him if he got the name of the organization correct. 

***********************