You are here: Home / WNBA-SF Spotlight Author

Why is it important to show up to network?

June 7, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Why is it important to show up to network?

WNBA-SF Chapter Board Member and Writing Career Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan here to answer the question:

June 2, 2011

Take care of yourself; take care of your career. I don’t even like the word “network” so I get creative. Speaking of getting creative, tonight’s WNBA-SF Chapter Meet Up was an example of how to network and have fun.

WNBA member Leon Veal, the outreach coordinator for Project Read San Francisco, calendars meeting space at the San Francisco Public Library main branch for us once a month.  I had asked SF Chapter past president Creativity Mentor Mary E. Knippel to co-lead a WNBA Meet Up with me.

Members Birgit Soyka and Janine Kovac RSVPed.

Mary and I showed up early.  I helped Mary re-configure her business card to read: You’ve been thinking about writing your book? Let me (Mary E. Knippel) help you. Mary showed me her Google Voice phone number. I want to create a YouTube channel for WNBA-SF Chapter–I provided the format and Mary came up with a great idea–”Let’s create a how-to video/tutorial for our members!”  Mary is indeed the Creativity Mentor.

Birgit Soyka arrived, looking vibrant.  She and I will be showcasing our books later this month:

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

Tuesday, June 28, 2011, 7:00-9:00pm

BookShop West Portal, 80 West Portal Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94127 415-564-8080

Women’s National Book Association (WNBA) members celebrate June’s “Rebuild Your Life Month” featuring books by members Birgit Soyka and Teresa LeYung-Ryan. Join us for a fun evening— reception; authors’ presentations; meet the new board and members of the San Francisco Chapter. Please RSVP by emailing  BookShopRSVP@wnba-sfchapter.org

Birgit Soyka (author of To Drink the Wild Air: One Woman’s Quest to Touch the Horizon)

and

Teresa LeYung-Ryan (author of Love Made of Heart and Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days)

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

 

Mary and I were telling Birgit about using YouTube to promote our work and Birgit was telling us about her wanting to identify her biggest target audience. Would that be readers of spiritual growth, world travels, women’s issues or motorcycle racing?

Then Terri Bertini (screenwriter, producer and director) showed up!  I had met Terri at the Asian Heritage Street Celebration last month.  When Birgit showed her book to Terri and started talking about her motorcycle racing and world travel . . . Terri said she remembers meeting Birgit in Los Angeles fifteen years ago at a race and that it seems like just yesterday. Voila!  Birgit (in her motorcycle gear) is memorable and attracts attention.

I asked Terri if she has a blog and she told us the blog name she is considering. When her blog name is official I will broadcast on my blog.

Birgit is interested in showcasing her book at more venues.  Mary and I will be at the Literary Arts/Fine Arts Department at the San Mateo County Fair on Friday 17, 2011 (please see http://www.lovemadeofheart.com/Teresa-LeYung-Ryan%27s-Events.html for details) but we cannot be at the fair the following day for Bardi Rosman Koodrin’s Author Book Day June 18, 2011, 2:00-4:00pm because Mary is giving a workshop in Half Moon Bay and I had promised to take photos and film her.

Here’s an idea:  I would email Bardi and pitch Birgit. Mary suggested to Birgit that if she gets table space on the 18th to showcase her books that she might also showcase my books.

Aah, helping each other, helping ourselves and having fun at the same time! This is why it is important to show up to network.

Janine Kovac, we missed you. Check out Janine’s blog.  See you real soon.

Terri Bertini, thank you for joining us at the library.

Cheering for all hardworking writers!

Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan


Hope to see you on June 17, 2011!  at the Literary Arts Dept. Stage at the San Mateo County Fair in California

4:00-6:00pm Mary E. Knippel presents “Coaxing Creativity” workshop

6:30-8:00pm readings by California Writers Club–San Francisco Peninsula Branch members including contributing authors in the anthology Fault Zone: Words from the Edge.

8:00-9:00pm Author Teresa LeYung-Ryan uses Love Made of Heart to inspire adult-children of mentally-ill parents to speak openly about the stigmas and gain resources for their families. As Writing Career Coach Teresa, she helps fiction and nonfiction authors gain a competitive edge before and after publication with her workbook Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days.

JOIN WNBA-SF CHAPTER AND HAVE FUN BUILDING YOUR CAREER

 

Filed Under: Benefits of Volunteering, creativity, Fiction, Latest News, Non-Fiction, Publishing - Agents, Acquisition Editors, Publishers, Publicists, Booksellers, Readings, San Francisco Chapter, Success, Technology Tips/Tools, Testimonials, Upcoming Events, WNBA-SF Spotlight Author, WNBA-Writers, Women's forums and support, Women's National Book Association Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Phillipa Gregory, Author of "The Other Boleyn Girl" at Book Passage Oct 16th

October 3, 2008 By Leave a Comment
National Reading Group Month

National Reading Group Month

Oct 16–
WNBA National Reading Group Month event!
Featuring Phillipa Gregory, author of “The Other Boleyn Girl” and her book “The Other Queen” at Book Passage in Corte Medera.

Philippa Gregory talks about The Other Queen ($25.95). Gregory presents a unique view of Mary, Queen of Scots, during her captive years in Elizabethan England. Gregory uses new research and her passion for historical accuracy in a tale filled with suspense, passion, and political intrigue. Gregory is the author of The Other Boleyn Girl. This event includes an audio-visual presentation. Reception hosted by Women’s National Book Association at 6:30 pm.


Join us at 6:30 for time with Phillipa Gregory and a reception.
Wine and cheese and then after Phillipa shares, we will be serving some cake and good company!
2 DVD’s of the movie “The Other Boleyn Girl” and autographed copy of the book
will be given as doorprizes.

Phillipa Gregory will discuss her new book "The Other Queen".

Phillipa Gregory will discuss her new book

Corte Madera Store
51 Tamal Vista Blvd.
Corte Madera, CA 94925
(415) 927-0960
(800) 999-7909
Fax (415) 924-3838
Café (415) 927-1503

Filed Under: National Reading Group Month, Readings, San Francisco Chapter, Upcoming Events, WNBA-SF Spotlight Author, Women's National Book Association Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Patti Breitman ~WNBA-SF Author Spotlight, September 2008~

September 8, 2008 By Leave a Comment
Author Spotlight- Patti Breitman



book cover


When did you start writing?
In 1988, when the AIDS epidemic was making headlines, and major magazines were hailing condoms as the solution, I kept yelling at the magazine articles, “Nobody wants to wear a condom!” So I wrote my first book, about why and how to persuade your lover to use a condom. The persusasive arguments are still valid, but the statistics, sadly, are out of date. And the book is out of print now, too.

Why did you choose your particular genre?
I have always worked with prescriptive nonfiction, first as a publicist, then as an editor and finally as an agent. Many of these books had a huge, positive influence in my life and I hoped that mine might influence others for the better as well.

What inspired you to choose your subject matter?
The condom book was inspired by the headlines of the time. My next project, How to Say No Without Feeling Guilty, was the answer to a question my co-author Connie Hatch and I had been playing with: What did we wish we had known when we were in our twenties and thirties that we finally knew in our forties. My new book is a response to people who enjoy vegetarian meals when they eat in restaurants or when I prepare them, but who say, “I’d eat this way more often if only it didn’t take so much time.” I set out with my co-author, Carol J. Adams, to show that it does not take so much time to prepare delicious and nutritious food from the plant kingdom.

How difficult/easy has your experience been as a published writer?
Having co-authors has made the writing process a delight for me. I work alone most of the time, and I love the collaborative process of creating a book. The hardest part for me is to think organizationally. My co-authors have always been good at organizing the books and brainstorming the best ways to communicate the information. Also, they have been very good writers, and that has made the books accessible and fun to read.

What advice would you give other aspiring authors?
Don’t let the nuts and bolts of getting the book published in the way of the writing. Write the best book proposal you can, and then focus on finding the best agent for the book.

Anything else you would like to share with the WNBA?
I would like to thank the WNBA for its steadfast focus on books and reading. As the industry changes and even what we call a book is redefined to include electronic formats, the WNBA keeps reading front and center and celebrates books with robust enthusiasm. It has been a pleasure to be a member.


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


 Would like to be featured as our Author Spotlight?

Please email our newsletter editor, Sara Cassella
newsletter-@-wnba-sfchapter.org.

Filed Under: WNBA-SF Spotlight Author, WNBA-Writers, Women's National Book Association Tagged With: