Archives for August 2020

Many of our members have been busy lately! Look at what they’ve accomplished during the time of COVID-19…

María Ochoa‘s work as a writer-photographer was highlighted in a recent East Bay Times news article about how individuals were coping with the shelter in place orders. The article can be found at https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2020/04/15/coping-during-covid-19-photography-brings-me-closer-to-family-friends/

Recently, Judith Field gave an author talk for The Original Book Club using Zoom. It will be about her short story called “The Foster Child,” and included a discussion of the way Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey formula provides structure in the story. 

Diane LeBow, BATW President Emerita, has won Traveler’s Tales Solas Awards for Best Travel Writing for two of her stories:
“Women in Morocco: Up against the wall but laughing together” and “An Unexpected New Year’s in Luxor“.
These are Diane’s 10th and 11th Solas Awards, dating back 13 years.

And hurrah! Diane recently finished her travel memoir and is shopping it with publishers.

The New York Times Magazine recently described Ellery Akers’ new poetry book,

Swerve: Environmentalism, Feminism, and Resistance, as “powerful.”

Sheryl J. Bize-Boutte‘s short story “The Last Collard Green” will be published in the upcoming Colossus:Home anthology. Slated for summer 2020 release, all proceeds will be donated to Oakland’s Moms4Housing.

And her first novel, Betrayal on the Bayou, was released June 19.

Seven of Nanci Woody’s poems were just published online. Here’s the link. Issue 6.

WNBA-SF past president Kate Farrell released her storytelling book June 16th, Story Power: Secrets to Creating, Crafting, and Telling Memorable Stories.  She’s had both online and in-person events, with more to come.
https://katefarrell.net/

One of Jeanne Powell‘s poems was chosen for an anthology edited by SF Poet Laureate emeritus Jack Hirschman, for publication in summer 2020. jeanne-powell.com
starkinsider.com/author/jeannep

B. Lynn Goodwin had a piece on journaling posted on the San Francisco Writers Conference blog. 

And her website Writer Advice’s Flash Prose Contest closes on September 1, 2020. Details at www.writeradvice.com. 

San Francisco Values: Common Ground For Getting America Back On Track, by Geri Spieler and Rick Kaplowitz, published by Palmetto Publishing Group, looks at America’s values and follows how they begin in the Bay Area and then are adopted throughout the rest of the country. While the phrase has garnered some negative responses, in truth, they are America’s values.

Lisa Braver Moss‘ novel Shrug has won the gold in YA fiction in the 2020 IPPYs, as well as the silver in general fiction in the 2020 IBPA Benjamin Franklin awards.

Joan Frank reviewed Anne Raeff’s new novel, Only the River, for the Washington Post:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/books/anne-raeffs-only-the-river-travels-the-globe-and-spans-decades-to-explore-one-familys-secrets/2020/05/06/9cbaac38-8ef8-11ea-a9c0-73b93422d691_story.html

Joan Gelfand launched her debut novel, Extreme on July 14th, 2020: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08BX7RJQL/ref=dp-kindle-redirect

She also spoke on “Getting Published” with the California Writer’s Club/Orange County chapter, on July 11th based on her book You Can Be a Winning Writer: The 4 C’s of Successful Authors, published by Mango Press.

Maxine Schur advanced picture book, Brave with Beauty, was named a 2020 Notable Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies by the Children’s Book Council. Also, her wacky fun alphabet book, Pigs Dancing Jigs will be published in October by Lawley Publishing.

Beatrice Bowles’ Spider Grandmother’s Web of Wonders, an illustrated storybook, is out and available in all bookstores.

With members achieving so much, don’t forget to support your fellow WNBA-SF peers and purchase one of their books. Connect with the author via social media and review their work.

SF Membership Directory

While this time of year can be a period of reading, reflection, and promoting your work, it is also a great time to plan for the fall. What events will you be attending? What writing goals do you have? Will you be starting a new manuscript? 

As you begin to plan for a strong finish to the year, keep in mind the WNBA-SF can help you to achieve your goals. 

Enjoy the long days and warm temperatures!