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August 13 – Substack for Authors with Jim Fuhs and Alexandra Hidalgo

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Substack for Authors with Jim Fuhs and Alexandra Hidalgo

Thursday, August 13 at 12 pm PDT

A FREE Virtual Event

Unable to attend? No worries. Register anyway and receive the replay!

Substack is a great option for authors seeking to build their platform, connect with readers, and share their expertise … even before they get a book deal. More than a newsletter, it is a publishing platform that allows writers to develop relationships, cultivate community,  and increase visibility, making them more appealing to agents and publishers.

Join the Women’s National Book Association San Francisco Chapter on Thursday, August 13 at 12:00 p.m. PT for a Lunch & Learn exploring how authors can leverage Substack to support their writing, publishing, and marketing goals. Discover strategies for creating engaging content, growing your readership, and making Substack an integral part of your author platform.

Featured speakers Jim Fuhs and Alexandra Hidalgo each bring a unique perspective to Substack. Through Jim’s Writing and Video Journey, Jim shares practical insights on content creation, video, livestreaming, and authentic community building. Alexandra’s Love in Many Genres blends personal storytelling with cultural commentary, demonstrating how authors can create meaningful conversations that keep readers coming back. Together, they’ll share practical ideas and real-world experiences to help you make the most of the platform.

The discussion will be facilitated by WNBA-SF Networking Ambassador Debra Eckerling, The Book Proposal Expert, author of 52 Secrets for Goal-Setting and Goal-Getting and Your Goal Guide, and publisher of the Book Proposals Simplified Substack. 

Bring your lunch and your questions for an engaging conversation about using Substack to amplify your voice, strengthen your author platform, and create lasting connections with readers.

About the Speakers and Moderator

Jim Fuhs is a Marine Corps veteran turned digital marketing strategist. He’s the President and COO of Fuhsion Marketing and brings over 20 years of military leadership into the fast-moving world of content creation, livestreaming, and strategy. Jim co-hosts the award-winning ‘Dealcasters Live’ on Amazon, and he’s known for combining military precision with marketing innovation to help brands grow smarter.  From the battlefield to the broadcast booth — Jim’s got a playbook for building authentic communities. Follow Jim’s Writing and Video Journey on Substack. 

Alexandra Hidalgo left Venezuela for the US at 16, and she’s an endowed associate professor and Crow Chair of English at the University of Pittsburgh. Her writing and documentaries have been featured in The Hollywood Reporter, IndieWire, NPR, The Criterion Collection, and Women and Hollywood. She writes about relationships across time and distance on her Love in Many Genres Substack and analyzes big-hearted books, movies, and TV shows on her Love Them Tender YouTube channel.

Debra Eckerling is a goal strategist, author, and book proposal expert who helps writers, entrepreneurs, and consultants transform their ideas into sellable books. The founder of The DEB Method for goal-setting simplified, Debra specializes in guiding clients from concept to proposal with clarity, confidence, and direction. Debra is the author of Your Goal Guide: A Roadmap for Setting, Planning and Achieving Your Goals and 52 Secrets for Goal-Setting and Goal-Getting, and hosts GoalChat, The Book Proposal Podcast, and Book Proposals Simplified on Substack. She is also a regular contributor to and speaker for WritersDigest.com. Learn more at TheBookProposalExpert.com and connect with Debra on LinkedIn.
 

To register, please fill out the form below: 

August 13 - Substack for Authors with Jim Fuhs and Alexandra Hidalgo

August 13 @ 12pm PDT — A FREE WNBASF Virtual Event 

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August 27 – Comp-a-palooza with Brenda Knight and Debra Eckerling

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Comp-a-palooza Lunch N Learn with Brenda Knight and Debra Eckerling

Thursday, August 27 at 12 pm PDT

A FREE Virtual Event

Unable to attend? No worries. Register anyway and receive the replay!

Comparative titles (or “comps”) are one of the most important tools for positioning and selling your book. They help agents and publishers understand where your book fits in the marketplace, who it’s for, and why readers will buy it. You need them for pitches and queries (fiction and nonfiction), as well as nonfiction book proposals. 
 
Join the Women’s National Book Association San Francisco Chapter on Thursday, August 27 at 12:00 p.m. PT for Comp-a-Palooza, a Lunch & Learn focused on finding and positioning comp titles for your work-in-progress. WNBA-SF Chapter President Brenda Knight (Publisher, Books That Save Lives) and Networking Ambassador Debra Eckerling (The Book Proposal Expert) will guide you through one of the most important elements of the book pitch.

Discover:

  • What makes a strong comparative title (and what doesn’t)
  • How to find books that position your idea effectively 
  • What agents, publishers, booksellers and sales reps are looking for
  • Which common mistakes to avoid when selecting comps
  • And more!

No matter where you are in your work-in-progress, this session will demystify comps, while giving you practical insights to help position your book.

About the Speakers

Brenda Knight, author of Women of the Beat Generation, began her publishing career at HarperCollins working with luminaries including Paolo Coehlo, Marianne Williamson, Mark Nepo, and His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Knight was awarded IndieFab’s Publisher of the Year at the American Library Association in 2014. She is the author of Random Acts of Kindness, Be a Good in the World, and Women of the Beat Generation which won the American Book Award. She is President of WNBA-SF Chapter.

Debra Eckerling is The Book Proposal Expert, a book proposal specialist who helps authors clarify their message, develop their content, and craft proposals that get noticed. She is the author of Your Goal Guide and 52 Secrets for Goal-Setting and Goal-Getting, host of GoalChat and the Book Proposal Podcast, and the creator of The DEB Method for goal-setting simplified. Debra has spent years helping writers, entrepreneurs, and experts turn their ideas into compelling book plans that get noticed by agents and publishers. Learn more at TheBookProposalExpert.com and connect with Debra on LinkedIn.

Need extra support? Brenda and Debra also offer Pitch Clinic office hours for authors who want additional guidance refining their pitches, positioning their books, and preparing for the next step in their publishing journey.

To register, please fill out the form below: 

August 27 - Comp-a-palooza with Brenda Knight and Debra Eckerling

August 27 @ 12pm PDT — A FREE WNBASF Virtual Event 

"*" indicates required fields

Your best email address.
Your first name, as it will appear on Zoom when you log in!
Your last name, as it will appear on Zoom when you log in!
WNBA Member?*
How did you find out about this event?*

Join Us! Author Audit Today & Summer Mixer Next Week!

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Author Audit

Thursday, July 9 at 12 pm PDT

A FREE Virtual Event

Unable to attend? No worries. Register anyway and receive the replay!

As authors, our to-do list is never-ending. How do we make sure we are checking all the boxes we need to? That’s where an Author Audit comes in! This quick 20 question quiz will help identify crucial steps you should take when marketing your books and teach you new ways to expand your outreach, even if you are just starting out.

Have you secured endorsements or editorial reviews for your upcoming release? How about a street team? Planning an in-person signing or sprucing up your promotional materials? And don’t forget your digital presence: from author websites to optimizing your Amazon listing, there’s a lot to cover! But this audit makes it easy to hit all of the important points in one quick session.

About the Speaker

Megan Mary is an international bestselling author, host of Women’s Dream Enlightenment Podcast, founder of Inner Realms Publishing, and Literary Ladies, a free book marketing community for women authors. Her metaphysical trilogy, Witches of Maple Hollow, blends the genres of mystery, fantasy and speculative fiction: Book 1: The Dream Haunters, Book 2: The Dream Mirrors & Book 3, The Dream Dimensions.

In addition to a career spanning over twenty-five years creating, managing and marketing websites, she holds an MA in English Literature, MSc in Metaphysical Sciences, and is pursuing her PhD in Metaphysical Counseling. Holding a certification in Online Teaching and Learning, she regularly mentors other women authors as well as provides book marketing services. She is a member of the SF Chapter of the WNBA, the Author’s Guild, the International Association for the Study of Dreams, the Coalition for Visionary Resources, MMM (Murder, Mystery, and Mayhem) Writers, and the Eastern Idaho Writer’s League.

An expert guest on over 100 podcasts, she has been featured in Publisher’s Weekly, BookLife, Authority Magazine, Parade Magazine, and VeryWell Mind. She lives in Idaho with her husband and two cats.

To register, please visit the event page and fill out the form at the bottom of the page!

 

Remember to follow WNBA-SF on Instagram @wnba_sanfrancisco to stay connected and current on our events, interviews, and other activities!

 
 

Summer Lovin’ Goals Mixer

Thursday, July 16 at 12 pm PDT

A FREE Virtual Event

Unable to attend? No worries. Register anyway and receive the replay!

Join the Women’s National Book Association San Francisco Chapter for our Summer Lovin’ Mixer on Thursday, July 16 at 12:00 p.m. PT, to share and celebrate the writing goals that have captured your heart this season.

Whether you’re flirting with a new book idea, committed to finishing a manuscript, rekindling a relationship with a stalled project, or looking for the perfect next step in your writing journey, this interactive networking event will help you give your writing goals the Summer Lovin’ they deserve.

Hosted by WNBA-SF Networking Ambassador Debra Eckerling, The Book Proposal Expert and author of 52 Secrets for Goal-Setting and Goal-Getting and Your Goal Guide, come prepared to share goals, discuss challenges, celebrate possibilities, and discover ways to keep the spark alive all summer long.

It’s a mixer, so bring a literary friend or two. Also, bring your lunch, your writing dreams, and your summer spirit. You’ll leave with fresh inspiration, new connections, and a renewed commitment to your writing goals.

About the Host

Debra Eckerling is a goal strategist, author, and book proposal expert who helps writers, entrepreneurs, and consultants transform their ideas into sellable books. The founder of The DEB Method for goal-setting simplified, Debra specializes in guiding clients from concept to proposal with clarity, confidence, and direction. Debra is the author of Your Goal Guide: A Roadmap for Setting, Planning and Achieving Your Goals and 52 Secrets for Goal-Setting and Goal-Getting, and hosts GoalChat, The Book Proposal Podcast, and Book Proposals Simplified on Substack. She is also a regular contributor to and speaker for WritersDigest.com. Learn more at TheBookProposalExpert.com and connect with Debra on LinkedIn.

To register, please visit the event page and fill out the form at the bottom of the page!

 

Perfect your book pitch with expert guidance!

Your Pitch. Perfected.

In this interactive Pitch Clinic, publisher Brenda Knight (Books that Save Lives) and book proposal strategist Debra Eckerling (TheBookProposalExpert.com) team up to help authors refine and strengthen their pitches in real time. Whether you’re preparing for a conference or Pitch-O-Rama; a meeting with an agent or publisher; or an email submission, this session will give you the tools and confidence to make your pitch stand out.

Brenda Knight, Publisher, Books That Save Lives, and President of WNBA-SF Chapter, is a longtime publisher and industry veteran, who draws on decades of experience acquiring and publishing bestselling and award-winning titles. She offers an insider-perspective on what agents and publishers are really looking for — and what makes a pitch irresistible.

Debra Eckerling, TheBookProposalExpert.com, brings her talent for helping writers clarify their ideas, define their audience, and communicate their book’s value with confidence. The author of Your Goal Guide and 52 Secrets for Goal-Setting and Goal-Getting, Debra helps writers, entrepreneurs, and consultants turn their compelling book concepts into strong, strategic proposals that sell.

Together, Brenda and Debra provide practical feedback, actionable advice, and professional insights designed to help you pitch your book like a pro.

To learn more about Pitch Clinic, please visit the event page!

Learn to Market Yourself & Meet Your Writing Goals This Summer!

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Podcasting Strategies for Authors

Thursday, June 25 at 12 pm PDT

A FREE Virtual Event

Unable to attend? No worries. Register anyway and receive the replay!

Join the Women’s National Book Association – San Francisco Chapter on June 25 for a Lunch N Learn focused on how authors can use podcasting to support their writing and publishing goals.

Whether you’re hosting a podcast, appearing as a guest, or both, podcasting is an essential tool for building your author platform. It offers opportunities to share your expertise, connect with readers, expand your network, and increase visibility for your brand … before, during, and after you write your book/get published! 

The panel will explore the benefits of podcasting from both sides of the microphone, including:

  • Why or when to start a podcast
  • What it takes to launch and sustain a podcast
  • How authors can become great podcast guests
  • Strategies to get the most of your podcast appearances
  • And more!

Our Panel

Debra Eckerling is a goal strategist, author, and book proposal expert who helps writers, entrepreneurs, and consultants transform their ideas into sellable books. The founder of The DEB Method for goal-setting simplified, Debra specializes in guiding clients from concept to proposal with clarity, confidence, and direction. Debra is the author of Your Goal Guide: A Roadmap for Setting, Planning and Achieving Your Goals and 52 Secrets for Goal-Setting and Goal-Getting, and hosts GoalChat, The Book Proposal Podcast, and Book Proposals Simplified on Substack. She is also a regular contributor to and speaker for WritersDigest.com. Learn more at TheBookProposalExpert.com and connect with Debra on LinkedIn.
 
Julie Migliacci is the co-owner of Revent Consulting, a hybrid and virtual event planning company. The Revent teams provides support for small to large organizations globally assisting in internal communications, webinars, conferences and online conversations. Julie has over 17 years of high touch customer service and event planning under her belt. There isn’t an event type she hasn’t planned before, from large celebrity fundraisers, virtual conferences and premier cooking shows. She is always up for a new challenge and creating unique experiences for clients and their guests. Hailing from France, Julie has lived in 4 countries and considers herself a global citizen. She currently resides in Boston, MA and is always looking for an opportunity to jump on a plane to do something new. If left on a deserted island, Julie would bring her sourdough starter (named Steve) and her cats. learn more at revent.consulting.
 
Kandas Rodarte is a veteran podcast host and digital content strategist who has been producing the Gratitude Geek podcast since 2014. With over 300 episodes published, she specializes in helping Gen X women solopreneurs build sustainable businesses through strategic podcast guesting, content repurposing, and authentic visibility strategies. As the creator of the Gratitude Geek Lab community and founder of the Creator Collab Mixer, Kandas facilitates practical, experiment-driven guidance for women navigating business growth. She also co-hosts the Sci-Fi Book Pod and brings hands-on experience with podcast production workflows, SEO optimization, and community building to every conversation about podcasting. KandasRodarte.com.

To register, please visit the event page and fill out the form at the bottom of the page!

 

Remember to follow WNBA-SF on Instagram @wnba_sanfrancisco to stay connected and current on our events, interviews, and other activities!

 

 

Author Audit

Thursday, July 9 at 12 pm PDT

A FREE Virtual Event

Unable to attend? No worries. Register anyway and receive the replay!

As authors, our to-do list is never-ending. How do we make sure we are checking all the boxes we need to? That’s where an Author Audit comes in! This quick 20 question quiz will help identify crucial steps you should take when marketing your books and teach you new ways to expand your outreach, even if you are just starting out.

Have you secured endorsements or editorial reviews for your upcoming release? How about a street team? Planning an in-person signing or sprucing up your promotional materials? And don’t forget your digital presence: from author websites to optimizing your Amazon listing, there’s a lot to cover! But this audit makes it easy to hit all of the important points in one quick session.

About the Speaker

Megan Mary is an international bestselling author, host of Women’s Dream Enlightenment Podcast, founder of Inner Realms Publishing, and Literary Ladies, a free book marketing community for women authors. Her metaphysical trilogy, Witches of Maple Hollow, blends the genres of mystery, fantasy and speculative fiction: Book 1: The Dream Haunters, Book 2: The Dream Mirrors & Book 3, The Dream Dimensions.

In addition to a career spanning over twenty-five years creating, managing and marketing websites, she holds an MA in English Literature, MSc in Metaphysical Sciences, and is pursuing her PhD in Metaphysical Counseling. Holding a certification in Online Teaching and Learning, she regularly mentors other women authors as well as provides book marketing services. She is a member of the SF Chapter of the WNBA, the Author’s Guild, the International Association for the Study of Dreams, the Coalition for Visionary Resources, MMM (Murder, Mystery, and Mayhem) Writers, and the Eastern Idaho Writer’s League.

An expert guest on over 100 podcasts, she has been featured in Publisher’s Weekly, BookLife, Authority Magazine, Parade Magazine, and VeryWell Mind. She lives in Idaho with her husband and two cats.

To register, please visit the event page and fill out the form at the bottom of the page!

 

Read about Shirin Yim Leos’s writing process for her upcoming novel in our latest featured member interview!

 

 

Summer Lovin’ Goals Mixer

Thursday, July 16 at 12 pm PDT

A FREE Virtual Event

Unable to attend? No worries. Register anyway and receive the replay!

Join the Women’s National Book Association San Francisco Chapter for our Summer Lovin’ Mixer on Thursday, July 16 at 12:00 p.m. PT, to share and celebrate the writing goals that have captured your heart this season.

Whether you’re flirting with a new book idea, committed to finishing a manuscript, rekindling a relationship with a stalled project, or looking for the perfect next step in your writing journey, this interactive networking event will help you give your writing goals the Summer Lovin’ they deserve.

Hosted by WNBA-SF Networking Ambassador Debra Eckerling, The Book Proposal Expert and author of 52 Secrets for Goal-Setting and Goal-Getting and Your Goal Guide, come prepared to share goals, discuss challenges, celebrate possibilities, and discover ways to keep the spark alive all summer long.

It’s a mixer, so bring a literary friend or two. Also, bring your lunch, your writing dreams, and your summer spirit. You’ll leave with fresh inspiration, new connections, and a renewed commitment to your writing goals.

About the Host

Debra Eckerling is a goal strategist, author, and book proposal expert who helps writers, entrepreneurs, and consultants transform their ideas into sellable books. The founder of The DEB Method for goal-setting simplified, Debra specializes in guiding clients from concept to proposal with clarity, confidence, and direction. Debra is the author of Your Goal Guide: A Roadmap for Setting, Planning and Achieving Your Goals and 52 Secrets for Goal-Setting and Goal-Getting, and hosts GoalChat, The Book Proposal Podcast, and Book Proposals Simplified on Substack. She is also a regular contributor to and speaker for WritersDigest.com. Learn more at TheBookProposalExpert.com and connect with Debra on LinkedIn.

To register, please visit the event page and fill out the form at the bottom of the page!

 

Perfect your book pitch with expert guidance!

Your Pitch. Perfected.

In this interactive Pitch Clinic, publisher Brenda Knight (Books that Save Lives) and book proposal strategist Debra Eckerling (TheBookProposalExpert.com) team up to help authors refine and strengthen their pitches in real time. Whether you’re preparing for a conference or Pitch-O-Rama; a meeting with an agent or publisher; or an email submission, this session will give you the tools and confidence to make your pitch stand out.

Brenda Knight, Publisher, Books That Save Lives, and President of WNBA-SF Chapter, is a longtime publisher and industry veteran, who draws on decades of experience acquiring and publishing bestselling and award-winning titles. She offers an insider-perspective on what agents and publishers are really looking for — and what makes a pitch irresistible.

Debra Eckerling, TheBookProposalExpert.com, brings her talent for helping writers clarify their ideas, define their audience, and communicate their book’s value with confidence. The author of Your Goal Guide and 52 Secrets for Goal-Setting and Goal-Getting, Debra helps writers, entrepreneurs, and consultants turn their compelling book concepts into strong, strategic proposals that sell.

Together, Brenda and Debra provide practical feedback, actionable advice, and professional insights designed to help you pitch your book like a pro.

To learn more about Pitch Clinic, please visit the event page!

Featured Member Interview – Shirin Yim Leos

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Shirin Yim Leos’s upcoming novel OF WIND AND DUST—A sweeping, multigenerational novel about three women married to the same man at the same time, stretching from rural China to an emerging, mid-nineteenth century Seattle. An unforgettable story of striving, sacrifice, love, and loyalty inspired by the author’s own family history.

What brought you to write OF WIND AND DUST?

(SYL): I remember being told as a child, just at that age when Snow White and Cinderella were my bedtime companions, that my great-great-great grandmother was a Native American princess. All the adults seemed united in this belief, but also frustratingly ignorant and uninterested in who this princess was, and how she came to be part of our Chinese family. That began a lifelong fascination that eventually led to this novel, although this novel is now far from solely focused on her.

Which parts of this story are grounded in fact, which fictionalized?

(SYL): My search for my Native American great-great-great grandmother eventually led to some astounding facts about her life. She was from the Puget Sound, either Duwamish or Suquamish. I believe the former although there is some conflicting evidence. Her name was Mary Carey. She met and married my great-great-great grandfather, Chun Chin Hock, who is extremely well documented as the first Chinese settler in Washington Territory, and who went on to build shops and hotels, level roads and cut waterways. He was friends with the Seattle pioneers and personalities Yesler and Burke, and played a significant role in building Seattle.

My great-great-great grandparents bought land in Port Orchard and raised a family there. At some point, Chun Chin Hock’s first wife, a Madam Woo, arrived from China. This is part of family lore, but her arrival was also noted in the local newspaper. This wife took Mary’s sons back to China. Mary and Chun only left Seattle for China two years later. All of this is documented. After that, all we have about Mary is a note in the family almanac that she soon died and was buried in one half of a spectacle grave (a Chinese gravesite built for two), outside the east gate of the village.

So, all these turning points in the narrative are grounded in fact, with some slight alterations. For example, I reduced the size of Mary’s family to a single son for focus. The details of time and place that form the background of the novel—China in turmoil, an emerging Seattle, Hong Kong rising out of the malarial marsh—are also grounded in fact, although in some cases I have delayed or brought forward events by a year or two.

Most importantly, the heart of the book, the relationships between these characters, how they thought, felt, and interacted, are entirely fictional as we have nothing in their own voice, no journals or letters. In short, the setting and some plot points are grounded in fact, and the characters and the emotional lives they live are fictionalized.

What was the most surprising finding in your research?

(SYL): There was a belief held by some that Mary was one of Chief Seattle’s daughters. Research at the Suquamish Museum could not confirm but also could not rule out that she was one of three daughters by Seattle’s second wife who have disappeared into history. There’s conflicting evidence that she might have been the daughter of Chief Curley, also known as Chief Suquardle, a leader of the Duwamish and half-brother to Chief Seattle.

What surprised me most in my research was that Mary’s origin was so difficult to establish. I would have thought daughters of people as famous as Chief Seattle and Chief Curley would have been mentioned by name and in writing, at some place and some time. Mostly, they were not.

I also found in my own family’s almanac that all the births and names of sons were recorded, when they married, when they died. Sometimes but not always daughters were noted as having been born, but names were not given. Marriage and death were never recorded. For the first time I was acutely aware of how easily stories and people are lost, especially the stories of women.

What did you learn about yourself as a writer during the long writing process?

(SYL): When I began this book over a decade ago, I thought of myself as a short-form writer. I wrote picture books, twenty of which have been published, and I wrote short stories. I did not think I had it in me to complete a novel.

What I learned was that I can do it! That in fact, I find having more time to tell the story liberating. I only hope that I can do it a bit more quickly next time.

What did you learn about your family that you didn’t already know?

(SYL): I learned that we have distant roots in the Puget Sound. It sounds sentimental, but I now feel a deeper connection to the sea and sky there. I think that comes through in the book.

I am also convinced that we are all connected to remarkable people: if you unspool any family history, you will find fascinating and admirable individuals. And these individuals may look nothing like you. They might not think like you do. They certainly won’t share your cultural context. In our current tribalism we tend to forget that history is long, and if we go back far enough, we were all each other’s people.

Are you planning to write another novel?

(SYL): Yes. This novel began as Mary’s story, and then other characters came alive and it is now the story of three women, all married to the same man at the same time. In its writing, other characters beyond these three women came alive also, and now they are demanding that their stories be told. So, I am working on something that is not exactly a sequel, but that takes OF WIND AND DUST as its jumping off point.

Shirin Yim Leos is is an Ezra Jack Keats Award–winning author of 21 children’s books, a writing retreat leader, and a former publisher. She has taught writing at conferences around the world and at institutions such as Stanford University’s Continuing Studies program for more than a dozen years. Publishers Weekly once named her a talent to watch; two feature articles and several years later, they placed her on their front cover. Last year, they applauded the sale of her adult historical fiction, OF WIND AND DUST, to The Dial Press as their Deal of the Week. The launch of the book is scheduled for early 2027. In the meantime, Shirin likes to help writers with her perspective from both sides of the desk.

July 9 – Free Lunch N Learn: Author Audit

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Author Audit

Thursday, July 9 at 12 pm PDT

A FREE Virtual Event

Unable to attend? No worries. Register anyway and receive the replay!

As authors, our to-do list is never-ending. How do we make sure we are checking all the boxes we need to? That’s where an Author Audit comes in! This quick 20 question quiz will help identify crucial steps you should take when marketing your books and teach you new ways to expand your outreach, even if you are just starting out.

Have you secured endorsements or editorial reviews for your upcoming release? How about a street team? Planning an in-person signing or sprucing up your promotional materials? And don’t forget your digital presence: from author websites to optimizing your Amazon listing, there’s a lot to cover! But this audit makes it easy to hit all of the important points in one quick session.

About the Speaker

Megan Mary is an international bestselling author, host of Women’s Dream Enlightenment Podcast, founder of Inner Realms Publishing, and Literary Ladies, a free book marketing community for women authors. Her metaphysical trilogy, Witches of Maple Hollow, blends the genres of mystery, fantasy and speculative fiction: Book 1: The Dream Haunters, Book 2: The Dream Mirrors & Book 3, The Dream Dimensions.

In addition to a career spanning over twenty-five years creating, managing and marketing websites, she holds an MA in English Literature, MSc in Metaphysical Sciences, and is pursuing her PhD in Metaphysical Counseling. Holding a certification in Online Teaching and Learning, she regularly mentors other women authors as well as provides book marketing services. She is a member of the SF Chapter of the WNBA, the Author’s Guild, the International Association for the Study of Dreams, the Coalition for Visionary Resources, MMM (Murder, Mystery, and Mayhem) Writers, and the Eastern Idaho Writer’s League.

An expert guest on over 100 podcasts, she has been featured in Publisher’s Weekly, BookLife, Authority Magazine, Parade Magazine, and VeryWell Mind. She lives in Idaho with her husband and two cats.

 

To register, please fill out the form below: 

Registration is now closed. Visit our homepage to sign up for email notifications and never miss a WNBA-SF event!

July 16 – Summer Lovin’ Goals Mixer

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Summer Lovin’ Goals Mixer

Thursday, July 16 at 12 pm PDT

A FREE Virtual Event

Unable to attend? No worries. Register anyway and receive the replay!

Join the Women’s National Book Association San Francisco Chapter for our Summer Lovin’ Mixer on Thursday, July 16 at 12:00 p.m. PT, to share and celebrate the writing goals that have captured your heart this season.

Whether you’re flirting with a new book idea, committed to finishing a manuscript, rekindling a relationship with a stalled project, or looking for the perfect next step in your writing journey, this interactive networking event will help you give your writing goals the Summer Lovin’ they deserve.

Hosted by WNBA-SF Networking Ambassador Debra Eckerling, The Book Proposal Expert and author of 52 Secrets for Goal-Setting and Goal-Getting and Your Goal Guide, come prepared to share goals, discuss challenges, celebrate possibilities, and discover ways to keep the spark alive all summer long.

It’s a mixer, so bring a literary friend or two. Also, bring your lunch, your writing dreams, and your summer spirit. You’ll leave with fresh inspiration, new connections, and a renewed commitment to your writing goals.

About the Host

Debra Eckerling is a goal strategist, author, and book proposal expert who helps writers, entrepreneurs, and consultants transform their ideas into sellable books. The founder of The DEB Method for goal-setting simplified, Debra specializes in guiding clients from concept to proposal with clarity, confidence, and direction. Debra is the author of Your Goal Guide: A Roadmap for Setting, Planning and Achieving Your Goals and 52 Secrets for Goal-Setting and Goal-Getting, and hosts GoalChat, The Book Proposal Podcast, and Book Proposals Simplified on Substack. She is also a regular contributor to and speaker for WritersDigest.com. Learn more at TheBookProposalExpert.com and connect with Debra on LinkedIn.
 
 

To register, please fill out the form below: 

Registration is now closed. Visit our homepage to sign up for email notifications and never miss a WNBA-SF event!

Join Us Tomorrow! Exciting Upcoming Lunch N Learns!

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LGBTQ+ PRIDE Panel: Queer Voices in Literature

Thursday, June 4 at 12 pm PDT

A FREE Virtual Event

Unable to attend? No worries. Register anyway and receive the replay!

Join award-winning queer authors for an inspiring PRIDE panel discussion on the joys, challenges, and power of being a queer writer today.

Duncan MacLeod, MBA from USC Marshall, is a writer, advocate, and founder of Jim Dandy Publishing. Through personal finance books and young adult/mental health fiction, he champions authentic storytelling and visibility.

Kathleen Archambeau, celebrated journalist and longtime LGBTQ+ rights advocate since 1992, co-founded the James Hormel LGBT wing of the San Francisco Public Library. A same-gender ballroom dancer who competed in the Gay Games, she has raised significant funds for queer mental health services and shared inspiring profiles in the SF Bay Times while teaching at the University of San Francisco.

Together, they explore identity, representation, resilience, and the transformative role of queer narratives in literature.

About the Moderator and Panelists

Jodie Anders is a multi-hyphenate artist whose work spans the mediums of acting, writing, videography, editing, and graphic design. As a Jewish bisexual creator who struggled with acceptance as a teen, Jodie focuses on connections across divides, celebrating diversity and promoting youth empowerment. She currently serves as the Publicity and Communications Director for the youth nonprofit CAIORG, where she’s spent over two decades mentoring and guiding teens in confidence and leadership. She also produced “Let’s Talk about Leadership, Service and Sisterhood,” a podcast by and for teens, and is the co-author of Queer Cheer: Activities, Advice, and Affirmations for LGBTQ+ Teens.

Duncan MacLeod received his MBA from University of Southern California Marshall School of Business. In addition to his work as a personal bookkeeper and finance coach, he’s a writer, advocate, and publisher of financial self-help books, young adult and mental health fiction. He is the owner and publisher at a new press called Jim Dandy Publishing.

 

 

Native San Franciscan, Kathleen Archambeau, is an award-winning writer and LGBTQ activist. She is author of four nonfiction works, Climbing the Corporate Ladder in High Heels (2006), “Seized,” an essay in The Other Woman (2007), edited by Victoria Zackheim, Pride & Joy (2017), and We Make It Better (2019), with gay dad, Eric Rosswood. Academy Award-winning screenwriter, Dustin Lance Black wrote the Foreword to Pride & Joy and endorsed We Make It Better. Archambeau’s work has been favorably reviewed in global and national literary publications and she has been a featured speaker at national and global Pride literary events. Her book was included as part of the Oakland Museum of California store’s Queer California Exhibit, and she is a founding member of the James Hormel LGBT wing of the SF Public Library. Most recently, she released The Book of Awesome Queer Heroes (2024).

 
Dr. Kim Makoi is a queer trans man, mind-body chiropractor, and author of Booze to Balance: A Chill 30-Day Liver Healing Program. With nearly 30 years in practice and a PhD in Pastoral Counseling, he helps people unlock the full potential of their life’s voyage — starting with the physical vessel. Dr. Kim designs personalized luxury healing retreats and delivers daily wit and wisdom through his micro-newsletter, The Daily Nugget, at drkimsf.com/dailynugget.

 

 

To register, please visit the event page and fill out the form at the bottom of the page!

 

Remember to follow WNBA-SF on Instagram @wnba_sanfrancisco to stay connected and current on our events, interviews, and other activities!

 

Podcasting Strategies for Authors

Thursday, June 25 at 12 pm PDT

A FREE Virtual Event

Unable to attend? No worries. Register anyway and receive the replay!

Join the Women’s National Book Association – San Francisco Chapter on June 25 for a Lunch N Learn focused on how authors can use podcasting to support their writing and publishing goals.

Whether you’re hosting a podcast, appearing as a guest, or both, podcasting is an essential tool for building your author platform. It offers opportunities to share your expertise, connect with readers, expand your network, and increase visibility for your brand … before, during, and after you write your book/get published! 

The panel will explore the benefits of podcasting from both sides of the microphone, including:

  • Why or when to start a podcast
  • What it takes to launch and sustain a podcast
  • How authors can become great podcast guests
  • Strategies to get the most of your podcast appearances
  • And more!

Our Panel

Debra Eckerling is a goal strategist, author, and book proposal expert who helps writers, entrepreneurs, and consultants transform their ideas into sellable books. The founder of The DEB Method for goal-setting simplified, Debra specializes in guiding clients from concept to proposal with clarity, confidence, and direction. Debra is the author of Your Goal Guide: A Roadmap for Setting, Planning and Achieving Your Goals and 52 Secrets for Goal-Setting and Goal-Getting, and hosts GoalChat, The Book Proposal Podcast, and Book Proposals Simplified on Substack. She is also a regular contributor to and speaker for WritersDigest.com. Learn more at TheBookProposalExpert.com and connect with Debra on LinkedIn.
 
Julie Migliacci is the co-owner of Revent Consulting, a hybrid and virtual event planning company. The Revent teams provides support for small to large organizations globally assisting in internal communications, webinars, conferences and online conversations. Julie has over 17 years of high touch customer service and event planning under her belt. There isn’t an event type she hasn’t planned before, from large celebrity fundraisers, virtual conferences and premier cooking shows. She is always up for a new challenge and creating unique experiences for clients and their guests. Hailing from France, Julie has lived in 4 countries and considers herself a global citizen. She currently resides in Boston, MA and is always looking for an opportunity to jump on a plane to do something new. If left on a deserted island, Julie would bring her sourdough starter (named Steve) and her cats. learn more at revent.consulting.
 
Kandas Rodarte is a veteran podcast host and digital content strategist who has been producing the Gratitude Geek podcast since 2014. With over 300 episodes published, she specializes in helping Gen X women solopreneurs build sustainable businesses through strategic podcast guesting, content repurposing, and authentic visibility strategies. As the creator of the Gratitude Geek Lab community and founder of the Creator Collab Mixer, Kandas facilitates practical, experiment-driven guidance for women navigating business growth. She also co-hosts the Sci-Fi Book Pod and brings hands-on experience with podcast production workflows, SEO optimization, and community building to every conversation about podcasting. KandasRodarte.com.

 

To register, please visit the event page and fill out the form at the bottom of the page!

 

Perfect your book pitch with expert guidance!

Your Pitch. Perfected.

In this interactive Pitch Clinic, publisher Brenda Knight (Books that Save Lives) and book proposal strategist Debra Eckerling (TheBookProposalExpert.com) team up to help authors refine and strengthen their pitches in real time. Whether you’re preparing for a conference or Pitch-O-Rama; a meeting with an agent or publisher; or an email submission, this session will give you the tools and confidence to make your pitch stand out.

Brenda Knight, Publisher, Books That Save Lives, and President of WNBA-SF Chapter, is a longtime publisher and industry veteran, who draws on decades of experience acquiring and publishing bestselling and award-winning titles. She offers an insider-perspective on what agents and publishers are really looking for — and what makes a pitch irresistible.

Debra Eckerling, TheBookProposalExpert.com, brings her talent for helping writers clarify their ideas, define their audience, and communicate their book’s value with confidence. The author of Your Goal Guide and 52 Secrets for Goal-Setting and Goal-Getting, Debra helps writers, entrepreneurs, and consultants turn their compelling book concepts into strong, strategic proposals that sell.

Together, Brenda and Debra provide practical feedback, actionable advice, and professional insights designed to help you pitch your book like a pro.

To learn more about Pitch Clinic, please visit the event page!

June 25 – Free Lunch N Learn: Podcasting Strategies for Authors

By

Podcasting Strategies for Authors

Thursday, June 25 at 12 pm PDT

A FREE Virtual Event

Unable to attend? No worries. Register anyway and receive the replay!

Join the Women’s National Book Association – San Francisco Chapter on June 25 for a Lunch N Learn focused on how authors can use podcasting to support their writing and publishing goals.

Whether you’re hosting a podcast, appearing as a guest, or both, podcasting is an essential tool for building your author platform. It offers opportunities to share your expertise, connect with readers, expand your network, and increase visibility for your brand … before, during, and after you write your book/get published! 

The panel will explore the benefits of podcasting from both sides of the microphone, including:

  • Why or when to start a podcast
  • What it takes to launch and sustain a podcast
  • How authors can become great podcast guests
  • Strategies to get the most of your podcast appearances
  • And more!

Our Panel

Debra Eckerling is a goal strategist, author, and book proposal expert who helps writers, entrepreneurs, and consultants transform their ideas into sellable books. The founder of The DEB Method for goal-setting simplified, Debra specializes in guiding clients from concept to proposal with clarity, confidence, and direction. Debra is the author of Your Goal Guide: A Roadmap for Setting, Planning and Achieving Your Goals and 52 Secrets for Goal-Setting and Goal-Getting, and hosts GoalChat, The Book Proposal Podcast, and Book Proposals Simplified on Substack. She is also a regular contributor to and speaker for WritersDigest.com. Learn more at TheBookProposalExpert.com and connect with Debra on LinkedIn.
 
 
Julie Migliacci is the co-owner of Revent Consulting, a hybrid and virtual event planning company. The Revent teams provides support for small to large organizations globally assisting in internal communications, webinars, conferences and online conversations. Julie has over 17 years of high touch customer service and event planning under her belt. There isn’t an event type she hasn’t planned before, from large celebrity fundraisers, virtual conferences and premier cooking shows. She is always up for a new challenge and creating unique experiences for clients and their guests. Hailing from France, Julie has lived in 4 countries and considers herself a global citizen. She currently resides in Boston, MA and is always looking for an opportunity to jump on a plane to do something new. If left on a deserted island, Julie would bring her sourdough starter (named Steve) and her cats. learn more at revent.consulting.
 
Kandas Rodarte is a veteran podcast host and digital content strategist who has been producing the Gratitude Geek podcast since 2014. With over 300 episodes published, she specializes in helping Gen X women solopreneurs build sustainable businesses through strategic podcast guesting, content repurposing, and authentic visibility strategies. As the creator of the Gratitude Geek Lab community and founder of the Creator Collab Mixer, Kandas facilitates practical, experiment-driven guidance for women navigating business growth. She also co-hosts the Sci-Fi Book Pod and brings hands-on experience with podcast production workflows, SEO optimization, and community building to every conversation about podcasting. KandasRodarte.com.
 

To register, please fill out the form below: 

Registration is now closed. Visit our homepage to sign up for email notifications and never miss a WNBA-SF event!

 

June 4 – LGBTQ+ PRIDE Panel: Queer Voices in Literature

By

LGBTQ+ PRIDE Panel: Queer Voices in Literature

Thursday, June 4 at 12 pm PDT

A FREE Virtual Event

Unable to attend? No worries. Register anyway and receive the replay!

Join award-winning queer authors for an inspiring PRIDE panel discussion on the joys, challenges, and power of being a queer writer today.

Duncan MacLeod, MBA from USC Marshall, is a writer, advocate, and founder of Jim Dandy Publishing. Through personal finance books and young adult/mental health fiction, he champions authentic storytelling and visibility.

Kathleen Archambeau, celebrated journalist and longtime LGBTQ+ rights advocate since 1992, co-founded the James Hormel LGBT wing of the San Francisco Public Library. A same-gender ballroom dancer who competed in the Gay Games, she has raised significant funds for queer mental health services and shared inspiring profiles in the SF Bay Times while teaching at the University of San Francisco.

Together, they explore identity, representation, resilience, and the transformative role of queer narratives in literature.

About the Moderator and Panelists

Jodie Anders is a multi-hyphenate artist whose work spans the mediums of acting, writing, videography, editing, and graphic design. As a Jewish bisexual creator who struggled with acceptance as a teen, Jodie focuses on connections across divides, celebrating diversity and promoting youth empowerment. She currently serves as the Publicity and Communications Director for the youth nonprofit CAIORG, where she’s spent over two decades mentoring and guiding teens in confidence and leadership. She also produced “Let’s Talk about Leadership, Service and Sisterhood,” a podcast by and for teens, and is the co-author of Queer Cheer: Activities, Advice, and Affirmations for LGBTQ+ Teens.

Duncan MacLeod received his MBA from University of Southern California Marshall School of Business. In addition to his work as a personal bookkeeper and finance coach, he’s a writer, advocate, and publisher of financial self-help books, young adult and mental health fiction. He is the owner and publisher at a new press called Jim Dandy Publishing.

 

 

Native San Franciscan, Kathleen Archambeau, is an award-winning writer and LGBTQ activist. She is author of four nonfiction works, Climbing the Corporate Ladder in High Heels (2006), “Seized,” an essay in The Other Woman (2007), edited by Victoria Zackheim, Pride & Joy (2017), and We Make It Better (2019), with gay dad, Eric Rosswood. Academy Award-winning screenwriter, Dustin Lance Black wrote the Foreword to Pride & Joy and endorsed We Make It Better. Archambeau’s work has been favorably reviewed in global and national literary publications and she has been a featured speaker at national and global Pride literary events. Her book was included as part of the Oakland Museum of California store’s Queer California Exhibit, and she is a founding member of the James Hormel LGBT wing of the SF Public Library. Most recently, she released The Book of Awesome Queer Heroes (2024).

 
Dr. Kim Makoi is a queer trans man, mind-body chiropractor, and author of Booze to Balance: A Chill 30-Day Liver Healing Program. With nearly 30 years in practice and a PhD in Pastoral Counseling, he helps people unlock the full potential of their life’s voyage — starting with the physical vessel. Dr. Kim designs personalized luxury healing retreats and delivers daily wit and wisdom through his micro-newsletter, The Daily Nugget, at drkimsf.com/dailynugget.
 
 
 

To register, please fill out the form below: 

Registration is now closed. Visit our homepage to sign up for email notifications and never miss a WNBA-SF event!