WNBA-SF CHAPTER MEMBERSHIP WEBSITE DIRECTORY

If you are a current member of the WNBA-SF Chapter,
and would like to be listed on this page
please fill out the form found here.

Officers for Women's National Book Association SF-Chapter Board Members

 Lynn Henriksen
  President

Lynn Henriksen





Kate Britton

Vice President

Kate Britton 

Teresa
LeYung Ryan
Interim Secretary

Teresa LeYung Ryan-Best Writing Coach-  

 

Christopher C. Payne
Treasurer


Christopher C. Payne

WNBA San Francisco Member Profiles

Member Directory


 Luisa Adams

Luisa Adams
http://www.rp-author.com/Adams/

Luisa Adams is an award winning writer, educator, workshop leader, and Licensed Brain Gym® Consultant. She is the mother of five, grandmother of eight, and resides with her husband, Dave, in San Mateo, California when not living by the enchanted lake.
The collection of short stories by Luisa Adams and whimsical drawings in Woven of Water inspire the reader to discover meaning amid the loves and losses of growing up, growing old, and all the events in between. By taking this book in hand, you will create time for a personal retreat with the exquisite beauty of nature as your host. The reward, the splendor of grateful living, is priceless.

"I give my deep gratitude to everyone over the last ten years who reminded me that it took courage, not perfection, to offer the world a written expression of love." Luisa Adams

WNBA San Francisco Member Profiles

Nina Amir-Editor, Author, CopywriterNina Amir
CopyWright Communications
http://www.copywrightcommunications.com
http://www.purespiritcreations.com

Nina Amir is a journalist, author, nonfiction editor/consultant/writing coach with 30+ years of experience in the publishing field. The founder of Write Nonfiction in November, she serves as the San Jose Jewish Examiner. She has edited or written for 45+ local/national/international magazines, newspapers, e-zines, and newsletters on a full-time or freelance basis. Her essays have been published in five anthologies, and she has self-published five booklets (short versions of books she is writing). She has a proven track record as a book editor. One of her client’s books (Enlightened Leadership) was self-published and then purchased/re-released verbatim by Simon & Schuster (Fireside) and another (Radical Forgiveness) won the 1998 Writer’s Digest Self-Published Book Award (Inspirational category), has sold over 115,000 copies, and recently  was purchased by Sounds True. Another client's book (Finding Heaven Here) recently was purchased by O-Books.

Amir is the holiday and spirituality expert on Conversations with Mrs. Claus, a  podcast heard in 90+ countries and downloaded by 110,000 listeners per month. Through her own writing and speaking, Amir offers human potential, personal growth and practical spiritual tools from a Jewish perspective, although her work spans religious lines and is pertinent to people of all faiths and spiritual traditions.

 WNBA San Francisco Member Profiles

 

Yolande BarialYolande Barial
Your Words Project
yolandebarial.wordpress.com

Yolande Barial is an engaging poet whose words are sensually spiritual. Yolande is the proud mother of three children: Ernest, Emmanuel and Isabella. They are her passion. Since the year 2000 she has been on a journey to empower herself and in so doing others to step into their own lives, claim them and create their lives into ones they can be proud of.

Yolande holds a B.S. from Xavier University in New Orleans, Louisiana. In 2002 she was published in Parents Magazine; 2003 - 2005 assistant to Kim McMillon, producer of the Literary Expo for the Art & Soul Festival in Oakland;  2004 co-facilitated with Teresa LeYung Ryan, author of Love Made of Heart, SF Bay Area Survivors Conference, SF;  2004 -2005 produces Your Words Projects poetry readings at Kimball's Carnival, Oakland; 2005-2007 produced Your Words Projects poetry readings at Magic Johnsons Starbucks in Oakland; 2004 performing poet in Danjuma, Unity Concepts play Oakland Has Spoken;  2005 2 published poem in If Women Ruled the World and Oakland’s Neighborhoods; Wrote, produced, directed and performed one woman show Telling It like it 'Tis at Poetic Groove, 2006, Oakland.

Yolande spoke at St. Columba's Black History Month Celebration in 2007 and created and conducted the Women's Retreat for St. Columba's Woman's Group. 2008 featured poet at Unity Concepts fundraiser in Berkeley for Katrina victims.

2008 to present 2010 - Yolande has been commissioned to write for various organizations and individuals for National Aids Day, Drew Foundation's Breast Cancer Awareness Luncheon, retirements, weddings and other special occasions.

 

WNBA San Francisco Member Profiles

 
Ellen BassEllen Bass
www.ellenbass.com

Ellen Bass's most recent book of poetry, The Human Line (Copper Canyon
Press, 2007), was named a Notable Book of 2007 by the San Francisco
Chronicle.  She co-edited the groundbreaking No More Masks! An Anthology
of Poems by Women (Doubleday, 1973) and has published several volumes of
poetry, including Mules of Love (BOA, 2002) which won the Lambda Literary
Award.  Her work has been published in many journals including The
Atlantic Monthly, The American Poetry Review, The New Republic, The
Progressive, and The Kenyon Review. Among her awards are a Pushcart Prize,
the Elliston Book Award, The Pablo Neruda Prize from Nimrod/Hardman, the
Larry Levis Prize from Missouri Review, the New Letters Prize, the
Greensboro Award, the Chautaqua Poetry Prize, a Fellowship from the
California Arts Council and a Fellowship from the Virginia Center for the
Creative Arts. Her nonfiction books include Free Your Mind: The Book for
Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Youth and Their Allies (HarperCollins, 1996), I
Never Told Anyone: Writings by Women Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse
(HarperCollins, 1983) and The Courage to Heal: A Guide for Women Survivors
of Child Sexual Abuse (HarperCollins, 1988, 2008). She teaches in the MFA
writing program at Pacific University and at conferences and workshops
nationally and internationally.

WNBA San Francisco Member Profiles

 
Kate BrittonKate Britton, VP WNBA-SF chapter

Well, I think I should start this bio by saying that my most useful degree is the one I earned at the School of Hard Knocks.  In a moment of grace I graduated the class of 1993, with my life.

Since that moment I’ve successfully made the transition from street life to real life, working in a variety of occupations--all legal--from Waitress to Logistics Manager, always knowing I would eventually be able to tell the story of these years, a story which I believe is essentially one of hope.  Through a series of eight compelling stories, each connected by central character and chronology, and each the circumstance of an epiphany or turning point on my fifteen year odyssey, that story is told in my memoir, Over the Edge.

As I continue to shop for representation, I have found the WNBA-SF Chapter to be a wonderful organization, full of writers, some, first time authors like myself, as well as seasoned authors and publishing professionals, knowledgeable about the many changing aspects of the industry and willing to share valuable information.  I am happy to be able to serve the organization in the position of Vice President and I look forward to meeting you at one of our many events.

 

WNBA San Francisco Member Profiles


Zoe FitzGerald Carter
http://zoefitzgeraldcarter.com



I am a former journalist, and graduate of Columbia Journalism School,
living in the East Bay with my husband and daughters. I have a book coming
out on March 2nd, 2010 from Simon & Schuster. It's a memoir about my
mother's decision to end her life after struggling with Parkinson's for
many years and the difficulty my two sisters and I had coming to terms
with her decision. It's called IMPERFECT ENDINGS.

 

 WNBA San Francisco Member Profiles

 

Kaye Cloutman

Kaye Cloutman Kaye is our 2011Newsletter Editor 

newsletter@wnba-sfchapter.org
Associate Editor & Book Reviewer San Francisco Book Review

http://www.sanfranciscobookreview.com/publication/viewpoints/book-it/

www.sanfranciscobookreview.com and www.sacramentobookreview.com

Kaye has a Bachelor of Science degree in journalism at the University of the Philippines and also attended a 2-year Culinary Program at the Center of Culinary Arts in Manila. She is a self-confessed bookworm who practically grew up in the library, has an unusual penchant for the aroma of old books and finds the ambiance of a library very soothing. Kaye has 9 years of experience working with print, radio, and television media. She is popularly known as the “Love Potion Columnist” for her sex and relationship advice columns in Mirror Magazine. She also bagged some accolades for her 2006 bridal magazine work with Philippine Graphic Publications. She continued her patriotic support of local Philippine talent by creating The Modern Balikbayan Bride published through Blurb, which serves as a valuable resource book to all prospective overseas brides planning their Philippine wedding.

Kaye says that although she may not be financially wealthy, she firmly believes that she possesses the greatest treasures in the world. A loving and devoted husband, a daughter that would make any parent proud, a fourth chance in life and a heavenly little blessing named John Folsom Cloutman IV. “Working at Sacramento and San Francisco Book Reviews with great people like Heidi and Ross has been very therapeutic for me. I will be forever grateful to them for allowing me to be part of their humble beginnings and winning team. There is so much great potential for this publication, and there is something to be celebrated with its immediate success in the face of an imperiled publication industry.”

 WNBA San Francisco Member Profiles

Mary-Ann-Comaroto

Maryanne Comarotoe 
Company: Shomi LLC
http://maryannelive.com

Maryanne Comaroto is America’s leading relationship expert, an award-winning author, seminar leader, radio personality and frequent guest on TV and radio talk shows around the country. Her weekly radio show, Maryanne Live!, reaches three million listeners monthly worldwide.  Through her books, radio show, and media appearances, Maryanne provides a powerful and positive blueprint for creating healthy, fulfilling, sustainable relationships. Her unique approach starts with developing personal insight; “Great relationships begin within!®”Maryanne is the relationship columnist for The Beverly Hills Times, and a go-to expert for Hollywood Life, In Touch Online, and many other online publications. Her blogs on such websites as The Savvy Woman and SheKnows are read by thousands of readers worldwide. Maryanne is the author of the award-winning book, Skinny, Tan and Rich: Unveiling the Myth. Her newest book is Hindsight: What You Need to Know Before You Drop Your Drawers! Maryanne founded SHOMI, LLC, a personal development corporation, in 1998, and is CEO and founder of the National Action Organization, a 501(c)3 non- profit committed to changing the way our culture values women. Maryanne conducts transformational workshops, lectures and awards the Certificate of Responsible Relationship (CORR®).

 

WNBA San Francisco Member Profiles

Patricia V Davis
Patricia Volonakis Davis
Harlots' Sauce Radio e-magazine and podcast
www.patriciaVdavis.com,
 www.harlotssauce.com

Patricia V. Davis's first non-fiction book, Harlot's Sauce: A Memoir of
Food, Family, Love, Loss, and Greece is an Award-Winning Finalist in the
Multi-cultural Non-fiction category of the National Best Books Awards,
sponsored by USA Book News, and has ranked in the top five in its category
on amazon.com.

Patricia is the founder and editor-in-chief of the non-partisan Harlots'
Sauce Radio e-magazine and podcast at www.harlotssauce.com, and her
essays, opinion articles and celebrity interviews have appeared in various
newspapers and magazines nationally and internationally. Patricia has
authored a number of poems on women's issues, including, "If This Woman is
Being Operated Recklessly," which appeared alongside Laurence
Ferlinghetti's work in New Press magazine.(Her fondest achievement to
date.) In the mid-90's, Patricia emigrated to Athens, Greece, where she
founded an education service, Serafim Books, named for "a good book is
like a guardian angel." Serafim Books gained international acclaim for its
dedication to education and its philanthropic work with organizations such
as Make-A-Wish Greece chapter and TESOL Greece, where Patricia served as
vice-chair. During this time, Scholastic International, publishers of
children's books and educational materials, appointed Patricia their
exclusive representative of Greece, Cyprus and Turkey.


WNBA San Francisco Member Profiles

Marsha Toy Engstrom WNBA member
Marsha Toy Engstrom
Book Club Cheerleader
www.bookclubcheerleader.com

Marsha Toy Engstrom, The Book Club CheerleaderT, has been shaking her pompoms since 5th grade-which coincidentally is also when she began her writing career as editor of the Center School Gazette.
A recovering Corporate Trainer/Human Resource-Type,
Marsha holds a Bachelor's degree in Marketing, and a
Master's of Arts in Management and Organizational Development.



The Book Club CheerleaderT uses her background in coaching, team-building

and group dynamics to help put the 'group' back in book groups. Focusing
on three perspectives: The People, The Fun and The Books, she facilitates
workshops and coaches book clubs to get the most out of their experiences
together. Her motto is, "They come for The Book, they stay for The Fun,
and they leave if you screw up The People part." She is the editor of
www.bookclubcheerleader.com and is working on her first book, Celebrating
Book Clubs: The Book Club Cheerleader's Guide to Building a Winning Book
Club.

Marsha lives in Northern California with her husband and two black cats,
Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid. When she is not coaching book clubs,
celebrating authors, or practicing her splits, she is curled up with a new
book (or alternatively catnapping) with Butch and Sunny.

WNBA San Francisco Member Profiles

 Elaine Elison

Elaine Elinson

http://members.authrosguild.net/eelinson/


Elaine Elinson is an author, editor, communications consultant and writing teacher.  Her most recent book, “Wherever There’s a Fight:  How Runaway Slaves, Suffragists, Immigrants, Strikers, and Poets Shaped Civil Liberties in California,” (coauthored with Stan Yogi) was published in 2009 by Heyday Books; the book received a starred review in Publishers Weekly and went into its second printing after six months.

A former reporter with Pacific News Service in Southeast Asia, Elinson is the co-author of the book “Development Debacle:  the World Bank in the Philippines,” which was banned by the Marcos regime.

Her essays and short stories have appeared in a wide variety of publications including The Nation and the Los Angeles Daily Journal.  She is a graduate of Cornell University and holds an MFA in writing from Goddard College.  Elinson has been awarded writing residencies at Hedgebrook, Mesa Refuge and the Anderson Center and a writers grant from the California State Library. Her essay on facing her husband’s illness was selected by the American Library Association for publication in Woman’s Day, and she was selected as a 2010 Library Laureate by the San Francisco Public Library. She lives in San Francisco where she teaches writing workshops.

WNBA San Francisco Member Profiles

 

Glenda G. EwingGlenda G. Ewing
Author  of Mirror of My Soul
WNBA San Francisco Chapter Bookwoman Liaison

www.ggbliss.com

Glenda G. Ewing is a native of Nashville, TN.  As a child, Glenda always
had a love for books. Her writing and oratory skills made her a
sought-after speaker and storyteller on stages throughout the city and
beyond.


A former professional model, she is an author / poet, singer, motivational

speaker, certified image consultant / makeup artist.

Glenda EwingGlenda is the author of MIRROR OF MY SOUL a book of poetry involving love
and relationships.  Mirror of My Soul is an exceptional exploration and
revelation about life, love, sensuality, and self respect in the form of
poetry and prose.

She has several awards and certificates of appreciation, and has been
published nationally and internationally several times.  She hosts and
performs in San Francisco, Oakland, and various venues in the Bay Area.

Glenda is currently working on a book of memoirs, a novel, and a second
book of poetry.

 

 

WNBA San Francisco Member Profiles

 

Elly Malka Faden

Elly Malka Faden
www.kabbalah-dating.com
Marin Documentation Group

The Kabbalah-Dating Workbook, for when you have met someone and are thinking
of a long-term commitment!

 

WNBA San Francisco Member Profiles

Kate FarrellKate Farrell
Author & Storyteller
www.girlinthemirror.info 
www.wisdomhasavoice.com

Catharine (Kate) Farrell has always loved stories. From her childhood in
San Antonio, Texas, where she read fairy tales and produced plays in her
backyard, to her years teaching high school in the mid-1960s in San
Francisco, stories spoke a special language. Gaining a Master's in Library
Science in 1970 (UC, Berkeley), Kate returned to the City schools. When
the Zellerbach Family Fund awarded her a grant in 1980 to teach
storytelling to California teachers, Kate conducted a successful
decades-long project. Today, a published author of educational books, Kate
is a San Francisco high school librarian and resides in Sonoma County.

 

WNBA San Francisco Member Profiles

Tanya Egan Gibson
Tanya Egan Gibson
http://www.howtobuyaloveofreading.com

Tanya is the author of HOW TO BUY A LOVE OF READING (May 2009 - Dutton), a novel about nouveau riche parents who try to cure their teenage daughter's hatred of books by commissioning a custom-written novel for her and dubbing themselves the Medicis of Long Island. Hailed as "a fresh and funny new voice in the world of fiction" by Mark Childress (CRAZY IN ALABAMA and ONE MISSISSIPPI), Tanya is an alumna of Squaw Valley Community of Writers and a founding member of the Marin Branch of California Writers Club, for which she is currently Vice President.


WNBA San Francisco Member Profiles

Debbie Gisonni
Debbie Gisonni
Real Life Lessons
www.reallifelessons.com

Debbie Gisonni is an author, speaker, personal growth expert and former
corporate executive.

Debbie spent fifteen years in corporate management, sales and marketing
positions with bottom line responsibility.  She was instrumental in
leading and motivating teams of people through major changes, and was one
of the youngest women to become a publisher of a multi-million-dollar
magazine in the high tech industry.

In 1998, Debbie started Real Life Lessons; a company dedicated to personal
growth and professional success.  Through her books, articles, talks, and
corporate consulting and coaching services, Debbie's mission is to help
people to be successful and happy in life, work and home through positive
change.

Debbie is the author of two personal growth books:  the national best
seller, The Goddess of Happiness:  A Down-to-Earth Guide for Heavenly
Balance and Bliss and Vita's Will: Real Life Lessons about Life Death
Moving On.  She is an experienced speaker and media guest who has
addressed audiences from corporate executives to women's groups to teens.
Her articles have appeared in numerous publications nationwide, and she
has been featured in newspapers such as The San Jose Mercury
News and The Dallas Morning News.  Debbie's "Health and Happiness" column
appears in the Examiner.com.

WNBA San Francisco Member Profiles

Jane Glendinning,

Jane Glendinning, a committee member at WNBA-SF Chapter

www.janeglendinning.com

Jane Glendinning began her life long love of writing as an eight year old hand printing her own ideas and distributing them as a neighborhood newsletter.

Though she would prefer to spend her days locked in a room alone facing blank sheets of paper, she has somehow ended up in high pressure face to face sales positions in industries as varied as the Automotive Aftermarket and the Home Remodeling Industry. Jane prays that her last 13 years working as a Mortgage Broker has finally cleaned her karmic slate, and not added to it.

Currently she is the Secretary and Speaker Chair for the Berkeley Branch of the California Writers Club. She is thrilled to be involved with the club’s novel critique group.

WNBA San Francisco Member Profiles

Amy GormanAmy Gorman
PAL Publishing

http://www.agingartfully.com

Ever since I won the Fire Prevention Essay in the Sixth Grade I knew that
writing would become part of my life. But it wasn't until I spent a lifetime
promoting performing artists, introducing the live arts for children, and
also worked as a social worker with the aged, filling out paper after
paper, that I combined my interests. I interviewed many women artists over
85 and wrote a book to honor their artistry and their elderhood.

The result is AGING ARTFULLY: 12 PROFILES OF VISUAL AND PERFORMING WOMEN
ARTISTS 85-105. A 32 minute film, STILL KICKING, was made of six of them,
all over  90, wonderful role models, and living with zest! I like to
present this work and show the film to groups of people, most of them
wanting inspiration to live life to the fullest, and know that the
potential for living creatively well into our nineties and hundreds is a
real possibility.


WNBA San Francisco Member Profiles

Allegra Harris
Allegra Harris 

Former Treasurer
and Vice President for the
WNBA-Sfchapter


 

WNBA San Francisco Member Profiles

         Lynn Henriksen

Lynn Henriksen, President of WNBA-SF Chapter

Lynn Henriksen

The Story Woman
http://www.telltalesouls.com  
http://www.thestorywoman.com
www.wisdomhasavoice.com

President WNBA-SF and CEO of The Story Woman, producing: TellTale Soul
books, Story Salons with a twist, Tap Memory & Write Memoir classes and
events, book reviews, and interviews with an array of literary folks and
artists.

Lynn Henriksen is an author, presenter, and writing coach who encourages
and teaches writing bio-vignettes that honor loved ones. You can and will
write, even if you've never written anything before, by answering this
question, "If you could tell just one story that would capture your
Mother's character and keep her spirit alive, what
would it be?" The Story Woman  method will help you find your unique voice
and distinctive style on the written page as only you can do it.

Read my "how-to" guide book, Give the Gift of Story: TellTale Souls'
Essential Guide to Tap Memory & Write Memoir in Five Acts, available for
purchase only on website or in person!


Current story collection: TellTale Souls: Daughters Keeping Mothers'
Spirits Alive One Memoir at a Time. Co-editor and presenter with Kate
Farrell: Wisdom Has a Voice: Daughters Remember Mothers anthology and
workshops.

WNBA San Francisco Member Profiles

Bridget KinsellaBridget Kinsella
Breaking Books
www.bridgetkinsella.com


For seventeen years Bridget Kinsella has been an editor at Publishers
Weekly, where she covered every aspect of the book publishing and
bookselling fields-including landing the exclusive interview with Oprah
Winfrey when she first started her book club.

In 2007, the Harmony division of Random House published Bridget's
nonfiction book Visiting Life: Women Doing Time on the Outside. Named as a
"hot summer read" by both U.S.A. Today and the San Francisco Chronicle,
the bestselling book brought Bridget much media attention, including
several interviews on National Public Radio, features in Marie Claire,
Glamour and Elle, and an interview on the Today Show.

Bridget's freelance journalism has appeared in The Chicago Tribune and
Writer's Digest and on Salon.com and NPR. Bridget has taught journalism at
the State University of New York's Purchase College and has been a
featured lecturer at the Simon Frasier University Publishing Program.

Bridget's experience covering the book business as a journalist, as a
sought-after publishing expert, and an author, give her an informed
insight into the book business. Bridget is quite selective about the book
projects she takes on, but is eager to work with writers who wish to get
published.

WNBA San Francisco Member Profiles

Mary E Knippel, San Francisco Chapter Former President WNBA
Mary E. Knippel

Creativity Mentor
CopyWriter & Co.


www.openuptoyourcreativity.com
www.copywritermaryeknippel.com

Mary E. Knippel, writer, Creativity Mentor, speaker and workshop leader,
conducts workshops on California's beautiful San Mateo coast in which
participants connect with their creativity, focus on fun and pursue play
as a proven method to de-stress and cope with life's challenges.
Throughout her writing and presentations, Mary delivers one consistent
message:  don't wait until a health crisis to take care of yourself.

Mary is working on a memoir and book of personal essays. Her writing has
appeared in publications in California, Colorado and Minnesota. As an
editor, Mary participated in the 2009 San Francisco Writer's Conference
"Book Doctor" panel and helped numerous aspiring writers with their book
projects and edited a book on wedding protocol, "It's Your Wedding - Not
Theirs." Mary has worked with the Peninsula Branch of the California
Writer's Club (CWC), the San Francisco Chapter of the Women's National
Book Assn (WNBA-SF) as well as various religious and community groups in
California and Minnesota as a Creativity Mentor, speaker and workshop
facilitator. She served as president of WNBA-SF from 2006-09 and has
served on the board of the CWC. A breast cancer survivor, Mary donates a
portion of the proceeds from each workshop to breast cancer research.

WNBA San Francisco Member Profiles

 

Diane LeBow

Diane LeBow

www.dianelebow.com,
http://www.examiner.com/x-10684-International-Travel-Examiner

Based in San Francisco, Diane LeBow, President of the Bay Area Travel Writers, Inc., has published stories with Salon.com, Via Magazine, Travelers Tales and Seal Press anthologies, France: A Love Story: Women Write about the French Experience, Greece: A Love Story, Foreign Affairs: Erotic Travel Tales (Cleis Pres), B for Savvy Brides, Skirt Magazine, and many national newspapers and magazines, including regular columns with examiner.com. Her story about her experiences working with women in Afghanistan is included in The Best Women’s Travel Writing 2010 (Travelers’ Tales). Diane’s many awards for her writing and photography include two time Solas Travelers’ Tales Gold Awards, BATW Planet Earth, and Writers’ Digest. She travels the globe and has spent time with peoples in many cultures, including Afghan women, Libyans, the Hopi, Amazon people, Tuvans, Mongolians, and Corsicans. She has scuba dived with sharks in the Red Sea and trained champion Morgan horses.
Diane gives popular lectures/slide shows both in the USA and abroad on her off the beaten track adventures, often focusing on women in various cultures. A pioneer of Women’s Studies, Diane earned her Ph.D. at UC, was a college professor for many years and since her retirement, teaches travel writing in various venues, upcoming at the Central Coast Writers’ Conference, September 2010.

WNBA San Francisco Member Profiles


Linda Lee, AskMePc-WebDesign.com

Linda Lee, Webmaster for WNBA-SF Chapter

Linda Lee
AskMePc-WebDesign

SmartWomenStupidComputers
WordPressCentral.org
http://askmepc-webdesign.com
http://smartwomenstupidcomputers.com
http://wordpresscentral.org
 

Linda is a writer, speaker, educator, and website designer.
Specializing in beautiful clean designs and user-friendly affordable websites
and blog design and hosting.

She is currently finishing her book, "Smart Women Stupid Computers, The Savvy Guide for Navigating the Internet"

A crowd-pleasing speaker and teacher, Linda says, “I am writing this book to help all the people I talk to everyday. Many feel overwhelmed by technology. I create websites and blogs for people and they need simple and clear directions to use when working online and performing basic daily computer tasks.
My goal is put a book in their hand where they can open it up and find help at their fingertips.

Linda is has made numerous appearances on Disney's ABC/ KGO's popular program " View from the Bay  ",  sharing her informative and easy tips on working online and other topics. You can view her video series here on how to get started with a website or blog.

Linda serves as the Volunteer Director and one of the Presenters for the   San Francisco Writers Conference  , and Writing for Change. She is the Volunteer Director for   Midsummer Mozart Festival  .

She is the former VP and current webmaster for the
  Women's National Book Association San Francisco Chapter  .

She is webmaster for the California Writers Club,  Redwood Writers Club, Soroptimist Oakland Chapter, and the San Francisco Writers Conference Blog,  as well as many other organizations.


WNBA San Francisco Member Profiles

Leigh Anne LindseyLeigh Anne Lindsey
www.Leigh-Anne-Lindsey


Leigh Anne Lindsey worked eighteen years in Silicon Valley from 1985 to 2002. While attending college, Ms. Lindsey worked at an Aspen radio station. While actively involved in the following efforts, Ms. Lindsey wrote and edited materials for raising technology funds, merging, selling and co-founding technology companies. She wrote investor and client presentations, business plans, newsletters and public relations materials. She ran her own public relations firm – Jordan Communications. Prior to Silicon Valley, Ms. Lindsey was a radio announcer (DJ), commercial radio copy-writer and producer at KSPN-FM & TV2.

Ms. Lindsey attended San Francisco State University (Bachelor of Science Degree), College of San Mateo (Liberal Arts Associate Degree), and Colorado Mountain College-Aspen (Liberal Arts and Photography.)

Family artists: brother Jim is an actor, writer and poet; sister Janis (“Wild At Heart” a Natural History Field Guide : Aspen-Snowmass Village @ Amazon); Mother Moja Yvonne - an accomplished painter – former President- Chairman of the Board & co-founder of a Dallas financial institution with their father, Jim T. Lindsey, a former Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives.

Leigh Anne Lindsey has a sci-fi novellete out to publishers and is now working on a futuristic thriller “Age Me Not” (excerpts at www.Leigh-Anne-Lindsey.com.)


WNBA San Francisco Member Profiles


Judith Marshall
Judith Marshall

www.judithmarshall.net

Judith Marshall is a third generation native Californian, born in St.
Helena and raised in Concord.  Her lifelong dream of writing fiction was
realized with the completion of  HUSBANDS MAY COME AND GO BUT FRIENDS ARE FOREVER, winner of the Jack London Prize awarded by the California Writers Club. 

She is an active member of the California Writers Club, a member of
a bi-monthly critique group, and a regular participant in writing classes
and workshops.  She continues to hone her craft and is currently working
on her second novel, STAYING AFLOAT, the story of a devoted stay-at-home wife and mother who morphs into a sex-starved adulteress.



WNBA San Francisco Member Profiles

Jeanne Miller
Jeanne Miller

JC Miller Writer
jcmillerwriter.com

Novelist Jeanne (JC) Miller lives in Northern California. Redwood Writers and Unlimited Publishing selected her work, ON THE BRINK OF NORA, for publication. The novel explores the strength and resilience of women, the pitfalls and complexities of traditional marriage and motherhood.

She is currently writing her third novel, VACATION, the saga of William Koval, a stoic scientist confronted with the aftermath of his wife's violent death. On vacation in rural England, he is drawn to a woman whose shocking past changes his life irrevocably. He struggles to move forward--perhaps to love again.

 

WNBA San Francisco Member Profiles

Linda Joy Myers
Linda Joy Myers
The National Association of Memoir Writers

www.namw.org 
www.memoriesandmemoirs.com

Linda Joy Myers, Ph.D.,is the President and founder of the National
Association of Memoir Writers. She is the author of the prize-winning memoir Don't Call Me Mother: Breaking the Chain of Mother Daughter Abandonment.



Her new book, The Power of Memoir-How to Write Your Healing

Story will be available in January 2010 through Jossey Bass publishers.

Linda has been a therapist in Berkeley for the last thirty years, and
received her MFA at Mills College. Through her workshops, online coaching,
and speaking engagements, Linda integrates the principles of healing and
creativity in presenting the powerful healing process of writing true
stories. Her first book Becoming Whole: Writing Your Healing Story has
been used as a text by therapists, ministers, and writing coaches, and was
a finalist in the ForeWord magazine's 2008 Book of the Year Award. Linda's
prize-winning nonfiction and poetry has been published in various literary
journals.  Her novel excerpt, Secret Music, a novel about the
Kindertransport, music, and redemption was a finalist in the San Francisco
Writing Conference contest. The complete novel is seeking publication.
Linda is past-president of The California Writers Club, Marin branch, and
former Vice-President of the Women's National Book Association.

 

WNBA San Francisco Member Profiles

 

Louise NayerLouise Nayer
www.louisenayer.com

Louise Nayer has published over fifty poems in magazines, written two books of poetry: Keeping Watch, with funding from the NEA and The Houses are Covered in Sound. She co-authored, How to Bury  A Goldfish and discussed the book on NPR. Her latest book, Burned: A Memoir, Atlas and Co. 2010 was listed as  one of Ten Upcoming Titles in the April issue of O Magazine. She teaches full-time at City College of San Francisco--classes in creative writing, English Composition, literature and Trauma and the Arts. Presently she is doing radio interviews and reading from her new book on the East and West Coast.

 

WNBA San Francisco Member Profiles


 

Christopher C. PayneChris is Treasurer at WNBA-SF Chapter 2009-2011

Christopher C. Payne
JournalStone
www.journalstone.com

Having three daughters might seem like reward/trial enough but I have recently chosen to venture into the literary field as well. Having a degree in Finance I have spent my entire career in corporate accounting and finally decided, I just couldn't take it anymore.

I have written my first book, Duncan's Diary, Birth of a Serial Killer. While the book is not what I originally intended, it does hold one's interest effectively throughout. It is more violent and psychologically unnerving than I would have originally anticipated. Since it was written during a tumultuous time in my life, I guess it is nothing more than a reflection of the sadness that was erupting inside. Words are but a window to our inner souls. The interesting question is can we face what we see once it is opened.

Not that I have or do condone any actions that Duncan might have performed. I feel for him as a character and think he would do society service by being locked in a very damp dark jail cell.

Thanks and as always.  Sleep with one eye open. hahahahahaahahah

WNBA San Francisco Member Profiles

   Lisa Meltzer PennLisa Meltzer Penn 

www.LisaMeltzerPenn.com

Lisa Meltzer Penn is a fiction writer and professional editor of chidren's and adult stories and novels. Her work has appeared in Travelers Tales: Spain, Transfer Magazine, and The Cupboard.  She recently edited the first ever California Writers Club SF/Pen branch anthology, Fault Zone: Words From the Edge,  where an excerpt from her novel The Siren Dialogues also appears. She lives on the Peninsula just below the fog belt with her husband and two children. Visit her website and blog at: www.LisaMeltzerPenn.com.

 

 

 

WNBA San Francisco Member Profiles

Bob Quinlan

Bob Quinlan
Company: Earn It: Empower Yourself for Love

www.earnitbook.com

Author of "Earn It: Empower Yourself for Love" which applies basic business principles and terminology to romantic relationships so that women AND MEN will have a common ground to better meet the needs of each other and themselves. Love is an investment from which we are entitled to receive a fair and reasonable return on investment--no more, no less. If we give less, we are allowed to receive less in return. Accepting that love is not unconditional is very empowering to you, your partner and your partnership. You can have more love in your life because you can deserve more love. Yes, men will understand this book about romance. It is up to you and your partner to EARN IT.

 

 WNBA San Francisco Member Profiles

 

Sarbjit RaiSarbjit Rai,
www.elfins.vpweb.com


Sarbjit Rai is a biotech professional who has over 15 years experience working in the pharmaceutical industry. Originally from England she currently works as a manager for Genentech a leading Biotechy company in the Bay Area, and lives in San Francisco.

Sarbjit started writing in 2006 and published her first childrens book called 'Elfins in San Francisco' in August 2009. This book was originally written for her nieces as a way to introduce them to this magical city, and includes many famous landmarks and traditions.

Sarbjit enjoys painting, writing, the creative arts and supporting the local community, and wrote this book as a tribute to SF, her adopted city, and for her family all of whom who live in England and Singapore, hoping to link these two key aspects of her life.

'Elfins in San Francisco' is selling at the Book Passage at the Ferry Building in SF and is available on Amazon. More information can be found at www.elfins.vpweb.com.

Sarbjit plans to donate the royalties to Room to Read a global childrens non-profit based in San Francisco that promotes literacy and gender equality in developing countries.

 

WNBA San Francisco Member Profiles

 

Elizabeth RosnerElizabeth Rosner
www.elizabethrosner.com
www.facebook.com/elizabethrosnerbooks
www.redroom.com/elizabethrosner

I am a novelist, poet and essayist living in Berkeley.  My first novel THE SPEED OF LIGHT (Ballantine 2001) won several literary prizes in the US and in Europe, and was translated into nine languages.  The book was optioned by actress Gillian Anderson, who will be making the film her directorial debut.  BLUE NUDE, my second novel, was named among the year's best books by the SF Chronicle in 2006; the paperback edition was published by Gallery (Simon & Schuster) in 2010.  My poetry collection GRAVITY (Small Poetry Press 1998) is in its 14th printing.  Essays of mine have appeared in the NY Times Magazine, Elle, and several anthologies.  I travel widely to lead writing workshops and to visit with book groups.

 

WNBA San Francisco Member Profiles


Teresa LeYung Ryan-Best Writing Coach- Teresa LeYung Ryan  
Interim Secretary of WNBA-SF Chapter

http://WritingCoachTeresa.com

Writing Career Coach Teresa is the author of  Build Your Name, Beat the Game: Be Happily Published (a 22-day workbook for writers to build their names and attract attention before and after publication).

She conducts “Major League Tryouts with Coach Teresa to Build Your Writer’s Name” at writers’ clubs and conferences.

Form a study-group, split the cost and hire Coach Teresa to:
   * coach you in name-building to attract the right agent or publisher or more fans
   * guide you in designing and growing your blog (to showcase your expertise and experiences)
   * show you computer-navigating shortcuts and how to easily “find stuff” on the World Wide Web

As an author and a community member, Teresa uses her novel Love Made of Heart to:
• shed light on stigmas suffered by immigrant women, men, and children
• advocate understanding of mental illness/traumas to the mind
• help survivors of violence find their own voices through writing
www.LoveMadeOfHeart.com

Teresa is:
§    Board member at WNBA-SF Chapter since 2004
§    Author with agent and NY publisher
§    Writing career coach and manuscript consultant
§    Creator of “Major League Tryouts with Coach Teresa to Build Your Writer’s Name”
§    Past president of California Writers Club-SF Peninsula Branch
§    Library advocate; speaker; instructor

WNBA San Francisco Member Profiles

Adina Sara WNBA-sfchapter member
Adina Sara

adinasara.com

Bay Area garden columnist Adina Sara has recently published a garden
memoir - The Imperfect Garden (Regent Press 2009) - a series of essays,
poetry and garden photographs following her decades-long relationship with
an unruly garden.  Her first book, 100 Words Per Minute: Tales from Behind
Law Offices Doors (Regent Press 2006), chronicles her unintentional career
as an office worker.  Sara sings with an a cappella international folk
music group, Mozaik (myspace.com/mozaikvoices) and has produced several
cd's of original music.  Sara's books and cds are available at
www.adinasara.com.

WNBA San Francisco Member Profiles

Ann Seymour

AnnSeymour.com

Book:  I've Always Loved You

Studied under Wallace Stegner at Stanford, and in journalism interviewed Jill Tartar, head of NASA's SETI program, Arthur Schawlow, a Nobel Laureate partical physicist, Jerry Rice and John Madden, former NFL stars. Firefall Media published my first book, a true story of WW II in the pacific battlefields, California, and the Imperial palace, Tokyo. It's called I've Always Loved You and is available on Amazon and on AnnSeymour.com

 WNBA San Francisco Member Profiles

Ruth SilnesRuth Silnes
www.RuthSilnes.com
http://www.ruthsilnesart.blogspot.com
http://naptimesecrets.blogspot.com

Ruth Silnes is an artist and author of KEEPING AHEAD OF WINTER 4100
Nautical Miles Inside America, nonfiction for adults, and NAPTIME SECRETS
a color book for two to six year-olds. She is almost finished with her
next book YOU AND THE ARTS?, a short overview about the tremendous
importance of the arts.


 

At ninety four-years-old she keeps learning, and is active doing what she
loves. She has been a real estate broker, yachtswoman and entrepreneur.
She lives in San Mateo and enjoys her two great-grandchildren.

WNBA San Francisco Member Profiles

Shulamit Sofia WNBA SF Chapter Member
Shulamit Sofia

Soul Strength Seminars
www.soulstrengthseminars.com

Shulamit Sofia is an elder who has walked the spiritual path from her
earliest days.  Her formal education in Psychology, Political Science and Psychiatric Social Work complement the lifelong spiritual journey she has navigated between the demands of Ego and the needs of Soul.  Her formal education focused on teaching ways of Ego adaptation in individual coaching as well as classes, workshops
 and seminars; her informal education encompassed learning ways of living an authentic soulful life.


Shulamit Sofia has been a life long pilgrim who has walked the path she is
now ready to guide others along.  For the past twenty-five years Shulamit
Sofia has studied intensively with renowned Jewish mystics and teachers.
exclusive representative of Greece, Cyprus and Turkey

WNBA San Francisco Member Profiles

Birgit Soyka

Birgit Soyka

www.birgitsoyka.com,www.todrinkthewildair.com

Birgit Soyka spent her youth in her native Germany, chasing the horizon from the age of 5. Her desire to fly like the birds and live a "life less ordinary" led her to an early passion for big motorcycles and into an aspired career as one of the first female motorcycle road racers in Germany and southern California. A veteran world traveler, Birgit lived on two continents, in several countries and a dozen different cities. What was originally intended as a year of "adventure travel" in the United States in her early 20's turned into a much bigger "life adventure", passionately leading her through many inspirational and thought provoking experiences into a  professional career in international Logistics.
Her memoir “To Drink the Wild Air” – A Woman’s Quest to Touch the Horizon” recounts the courageous bold and often inspirational stories to live life to the fullest and persevere no matter what the odds or obstacles, teaching us that what really matters is to be true to yourself and your dreams. Now 25 years later, she makes her home in the city of San Francisco, California with the three beautiful Amazon parrots she saved and adopted while living in Mexico.

 

WNBA San Francisco Member Profiles



Geri SpielerGeri Spieler
www.gerispieler.com

Geri Spieler's style of journalism takes the buzz on the streets and
turns it into investigative stories that are not being covered anywhere
else. She is an award-winning investigative journalist and esteemed author
who has written for such publications as the Los Angeles Times, San
Francisco Chronicle, and Forbes. Geri was the founder and editor of
Electronic Commerce News, a technology journal published by Phillips
Business Information, which led to a six-year assignment as a
Research Director and Analyst for the Gartner Group, an international
technology advising company. Geri established a professional relationship
with would-be presidential assassin Sara Jane Moore that lasted for thirty
years.

This unique access to her enigmatic subject, combined with her
diligent independent research, reveals information never before known in
TAKING AIM AT THE PRESIDENT: THE REMARKABLE STORY OF THE WOMAN WHO SHOT
GERALD FORD, a compelling award-winning new book published by
Palgrave-Macmillan.


WNBA San Francisco Member Profiles

 

Ann SteinerAnn Steiner, Ph.D., MFT, CGP

www.DrSteiner.com


Ann Steiner, Ph.D., is a licensed marriage and family therapist in private practice, an author, professional speaker, teacher, consultant, and former wheelchair user.  Over 30 of her articles have been published in consumer and professional publications.Her inspiring story is featured in the book Believing in Ourselves: A Celebration of Women (Andrews McMeel, 2002), along with Sonia Sotomayor, now a Supreme Court Justice, Antonia Novello, former Surgeon General of the United States, and Marty Evans, executive director, Girl Scouts of America.She is a sought after guest lecturer, workshop presenter, and keynote speakerfor audiences such as the American Group Psychotherapy Association, the Arthritis Foundation, Aplastic Anemia & MDS International Foundation, the California Psychological Association, and Cystic Fibrosis Research Foundation.Her website www.DrSteiner.com provides a free, downloadable Medical Information Form for listing essential information, along with articles and resources for coping with medical illness. Dr. Steiner recently signed with a New York literary agent who is representing her upcoming book, The Rollercoaster of Chronic Illness: How to Add Joy to the Ride. This self-help book expands on her CD of the same title and introduces practical, simple tools for bringing joy, purpose, and effectiveness into lives that have been derailed by chronic pain and physical limitation.  Her latest publication, Starting and Sustaining Groups that Thrive: Workbook and Planning Guide is available at speaking engagements and on her website.

WNBA San Francisco Member Profiles

Jackie Annette SueJacqueline Annette Sue

KhedCanRon Publishing

www.jacquelinesue.com

Jacqueline Annette Sue - Honored 2010 Literary Laureate, by The Friends and Foundation of the San Francisco Public Library.

My book Cornbread and Dim Sum:Memoir of a Heart Glow Romance recounts struggles of race, family and a post office career in San Francisco.  My most recent book Morning Glories in a Dead Tree, is a book of poetry that arises from the death of my husband,
of forty years, Frank Sue in 2004 and defines the strength of my season of restoration afterwards.  Other works by me, are Black Seeds in the Blue Grass and a play, Mother-in-laws in VietNam.  
My work in progress is due out in 2011.


I am a retired marketing director and Postmaster and a member of the Bay Area Independent Publishers Association (BAIPA), the Military Writers Society of America (MWSA) and the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA).

From 2005- 2008 I was the talk show host for The Jackie Sue Show, From the Banks of the Mainstream on PIVTR internet radio.  A San Francisco State University graduate with a masters degree from San Francisco Theological Seminary.

I have two daughters, an adopted daughter from Thailand, a grandson and a newly adopted granddaughter and a new great-granddaughter.  In August, 2009, at age 73, I married David Johnson, a San Francisco historical photographer who for 62 years has documented the Fillmore Jazz era and African-American community life [http://www.apogeephoto.com/dec2009/nsterne122009.pdf ]. 

 

WNBA San Francisco Member Profiles

 

Charlotte E. Thompson, M.D.

www.drthompsonsbooks.com

 

Charlotte E. Thompson, M.D. has been a practicing physician for fifty years and is the author of eight books; six have been published by William Morrow, Random House, Oxford University Press, Econ-Verlag in Germany  and Jessica Kingsley Publishers in the U.S. and UK. Her first book, Raising a Handicapped Child, was published in 1986 and continues to sell in its fifth edition. Her latest book, Grandparenting a Child with Special Needs will be published in Holland in 2010. Her Blog is: www.findinggoodmedicalcare.com


 WNBA San Francisco Member Profiles

Wendy Nelson TokunagaWendy Nelson Tokunaga
Company: CultureWave.com
http://www.WendyTokunaga.com

Writer, manuscript consultant, speaker and teacher Wendy Nelson Tokunaga is the author of the novels "Love in Translation" and "Midori by Moonlight," both published by St. Martin's Press. Her novel, "No Kidding," won the Literary/Mainstream Fiction category in Writer’s Digest’s Best Self-Published Book Awards in 2002. She is also the author of two children's non-fiction books, and has had short stories published in various literary journals. Wendy holds an MFA in Creative Writing from University of San Francisco and teaches classes and workshops for novel and memoir writers and offers manuscript consulting services.

 

WNBA San Francisco Member Profiles

 Sara Videtto

Sara Videtto is a Kindergarten teacher in Los Altos, CA, and has been working with the WNBA-SF since 2007. She served as the previous newsletter editor and the fomer board secretary.  Her latest work includes authoring science textbooks for grades K-3 with TPS Publishing.  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 Dept. of Neurology at UCSF.

 

WNBA San Francisco Member Profiles

 Margie Yee Webb                                                      
Margie Yee Webb

http://www.sacramento-writers.org/

Margie Yee Webb is President of the California Writers Club (CWC), Sacramento Branch. She also serves on the central board as Member-at-Large of CWC, which has 18 branches throughout California. www.calwriters.org
Margie enjoys promoting the club and its members. In 2009, she coordinated the participation of CWC in the 5th Annual Asian Heritage Street Celebration (AHSC) in San Francisco and the donation of members' books for the AHSC School Raffle Program to benefit San Francisco public schools. As a result, CWC was honored for community service and received certificates from the AsianWeek Foundation, City and County of San Francisco Board of Supervisors, California Legislature Assembly, and California State Board of Equalization.
This year 2010 Margie is involved in various events to promote the club, including the Local Author Fair at the Folsom Public Library, the Local Authors Appreciation Day at Barnes & Noble in Citrus Heights, and the 6th Annual AHSC in San Francisco. Additionally, CWC will be participating in the Northern California Storybook & Literature Festival being planned by the Roseville Public Library for Summer 2010.
She is also a member of Northern California Publishers & Authors, and recently joined the Women's National Book Association San Francisco Chapter.
Margie is currently working on a book with photographs of her Cat Mulan along with insightful and inspirational reflections.

WNBA San Francisco Member Profiles


Barbara Whittaker Women's National Book Association SF chapter member
Barbara Whittaker

Stanford University
Member of WNBA since 2000. Publicity Chair for WNBA events. Writer of
short fiction and children's stories.
Email: babsywit@yahoo.com



 

WNBA San Francisco Member Profiles

 

Pat Tunder WindomPatricia Tunder Windom
InSpirit
http://patwindom.com

As a Life Path Counselor, Patricia Windom believes that each of us can live to our full potential when we acknowledge the connection to higher consciousness.

Pat comes from a rich background in both Theology and Spiritual Training with an MA in Theological Studies at San Francisco Theological Seminar and the GTU as well as Ordination by the Healing Light Center. She practiced over 20 years as a Medium and Spiritual Counselor for individual clients.

 

 

 

WNBA San Francisco Member Profiles

If you are a current member of the WNBA-SF Chapter and would like to have your profile added, please submit your informtion here:

WNBA San Francisco Member Profiles