BOOKTALK! Archives - Page 2 of 20 - Women's National Book Association, San Francisco Chapter

Join Us in August! Publisher AMA, Book Fair, Lunch N Learns, & More

Publisher AMA with Kat Georges

Thursday, August 7 at 12 – 1pm PDT

FREE Virtual Event: REGISTER HERE

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

As everyone probably knows, you or your agent needs to get your book or proposal into the hands of an interested editor; that’s the first hurdle.

A well-crafted proposal, an agent with good relationships, and choosing the right editors to approach are the first steps.

What most would-be authors don’t know is that the editor has to turn around and sell you to an editorial board. The sales management, more often than not, makes the decisions.

If sales and marketing think they can sell your book, then you’ve got a wonderful chance of getting published.

So how do you sell your book to a publisher?

If it’s your first book, you have no Nielsen Bookscan number to get in the way. That can be a blessing, but you have to prove that you are an “influencer” that can sell your book and provide the publisher’s sales force with the ammo they need to go out to the trade.

Publishing veteran Kat Georges will help you navigate the rapids of book publishing so you can find the perfect home for your books. Bring all your questions about book publishing so you can learn from some of the best in the business!

Meet the Publisher:

Kat Georges is a poet, playwright, editor, publisher, and graphic designer. She is co-director and an acquisitions editor for Three Rooms Press, an independent publisher inspired by diversity, dada, punk, and passion. Her most recent book is the poetry collection Awe and Other Words Like Wow, and she is co-editor of MAINTENANT, the annual journal of Contemporary Dada Writing and Art. She lives in New York City. Kat is currently looking for LGBTQ+ fiction and young adult fiction that deal directly with current anti-queer attitudes, mysteries that center on bold and daring diverse main characters, and riveting women of history who need to have more attention given to them. Kat welcomes voices that have something different to say, that inspire readers, and that shows the power of innovative, compelling writing. To see the latest Three Rooms Press releases, visit threeroomspress.com.

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

Join the San Jose Woman’s Club and Women’s National Book Association for our CHILL OUT & READ Ice Cream Social and Summer Book Fair. You’ll be able to mix and mingle with members, local authors and neighbors to find out about our many activities at the club.

Register today for free on Eventbrite!

****THIS FAMILY-FRIENDLY EVENT IS FREE AND OPEN TO ALL****

ICE CREAM: Enjoy free ice cream sundaes featuring Marianne’s Ice Cream.

LOCAL AUTHORS: Meet 30 Bay Area authors in person to pick up great Summer reads with everything from Sci-Fi to Cookbooks, Travel Guides to Thrillers for every age group.

HISTORIC TOUR: Take a tour of the San Jose Woman’s Club 1929 Spanish Mission revival clubhouse, a California historic landmark.

MEET & GREET: Find out about the great groups you can join at the club to meet new people with shared interests

UPCOMING EVENTS: Get our event calendar listing all of the great activities we have planned for the upcoming year.

BECOME A MEMBER: Become a San Jose Woman’s Club member and become a part of our history.

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

A Substack Fairy Tale Success: Building Your Readership and Platform with Kate Farrell

Thursday, August 21 at 12 – 1pm PDT

FREE Virtual Event: REGISTER HERE

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

Have you considered publishing your work on Substack? It’s a trendy, literary platform for writers of all stripes: essayists, memoirists, journalists, and novelists. Each passing month, it continues to attract more top thought leaders, like Heather Cox Richardson, Elizabeth Gilbert, Katie Couric, She Writes Press publisher, Brooke Warner, and Rebecca Solnit, to name a few.

Though free to join, it can provide a substantial income via reader subscriptions. Learn how my Substack posts of The Fairy Tale Heroine grew over two years of weekly, focused posts to engage over 2,000 readers. As is true in any publication, the key is well written content, relevant to a niche audience that continues to build. A consistent schedule adds reliability and credibility for you as the author, fulfilling weekly expectations for the readers who can anticipate your posts.

I’ll share effective tips to increase stats that include notes, restacks, use of media, subscribing to other stacks, and recommending those you follow, among others. But the bottom line remains quality of content and relevance. My work on the heroine’s journey is timely and appealing; without an inherent draw that attracts a general readership, Substack does not generate interest or engagement.

BIO
Kate Farrell, storyteller, author, librarian, founded the California Word Weaving Project: Learning through Storytelling; published numerous educational materials on storytelling, and contributed to and edited award-winning anthologies of personal narrative. Farrell’s award-winning recent book is a how-to guide on the art of storytelling, Story Power: Secrets to Creating, Crafting, and Telling Memorable Stories. Kate is the founder of Woven: Telling the Heroine’s Journey based on her work with storytelling as an educator-librarian; she finds profound meaning in the archetypes of feminine fairy tales and shares her process in workshops and on Substack.

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

Volunteer or Join WNBA-SF at the 44th Annual Northern California Book Awards!

Join us for an afternoon celebrating the best of Northern California literature! The Northern California Book Awards is looking for volunteers at the event on Saturday, September 6 and pre-event for the PR tasks listed below. This free public event honors books published in 2024 by local authors and California-based translators. Meet award-winning writers, get books signed, and mingle at the post-event reception!

WHEN:
Saturday, September 6, 2025
2:00 PM

WHERE:
Koret Auditorium, San Francisco Main Library (Civic Center)

WHY YOU SHOULD COME:
A must-attend for readers, writers, and literary aficionados. Special highlights include:
The Fred Cody Award for Lifetime Achievement
California Translation Awards in Poetry and Prose
Awards in Fiction, Poetry, Nonfiction, Children’s Literature & more

WHO:
Presented by Poetry Flash, Northern California Book Reviewers, and the San Francisco Public Library, with partners Mechanics’ Institute and WNBA–SF Chapter.

MORE INFO:
Nominees announced in August at poetryflash.org

PRE-EVENT HELP:

Kim McMillon, PR for NorCal Book Awards needs a few awesome volunteers to help spread the word about the Northern California Book Awards! Here are a few ways you can jump in:

Press Outreach: Help send out our updated press release (coming soon from Joyce!) to media lists.
Social Media Promotion: If you’re great at sharing events or would like to post about the awards, we have a one-minute video ready for TikTok/Instagram and a Save the Date graphic you can use.
Bay Area Media Connections: We’d love to book an interview with Rebecca Solnit on KQED’s Forum (if she’s willing), so if you have connections at Bay Area radio or TV shows—like KPIX’s Book Corner—we’d love your help.
Online Event Listings: I need to input info into local media/event sites—happy to do this solo, but if you’d like to help, I can send you links and email contacts.

If you’re interested in any of the above, please contact sanfrancisco@wnba-books.org—the NCBA would be thrilled to have your support!

You’re Invited! Upcoming Summer Events for Writers

By Admin

JULY 2025

TOMORROW! Speaking for Authors Lunch N Learn Fireside Chat

Thursday, July 17 at 12 – 1pm PDT

FREE Virtual Event: REGISTER HERE

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

Join WNBA-San Francisco for a fun and informative conversation on the importance of public speaking for authors.

Bobbie Carlton, founder of the Innovation Women speakers platform, will be in conversation with WNBA-SF networking ambassador Debra Eckerling.

Public speaking is a powerful – and necessary – tool to help authors build their audience and boost book sales. In this lunch n learn, you’ll discover how speaking—whether in a bookstore, on stage, or on a podcast—can help you connect with more readers and make a bigger impact. It doesn’t matter if you write fiction or nonfiction, short or long-form. Speaking helps bring your message, experience, and/or characters to life, and gives people a reason to want more.

Learn:

Why speaking is essential for authors
Tips for crafting a compelling author talk
How to use speaking to grow your author platform
Ways to get out of your head, so you are more likely to get onto the stage
And more!

Whether you are a new or seasoned author, there is a lot to gain from this conversation.

Meet the Speakers:

Bobbie Carlton is the founder of three companies, Carlton PR & Marketing, Innovation Nights, and Innovation Women, an online “visibility bureau,” dedicated to providing women and other underrepresented voices with a chance to be seen as thought leaders and experts. InnovationWomen.com.

Debra Eckerling is an award-winning author and podcaster, goal-strategist, and speaker, who helps authors, entrepreneurs, and consultants create the life they want through goals. Debra speaks on the topics of setting personal and professional projects, networking strategy, and book proposal development. She is host of the GoalChat and Taste Buds with Deb podcasts, and author of Your Goal Guide and 52 Secrets for Goal-Setting and Goal-Getting. Note: Bobbie, as well as WNBA-SF president Brenda Knight and events manager Kate Neff, are all featured in Deb’s new book. 52SecretsBook.com

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

AUGUST 2025

Publisher AMA with Kat Georges

Thursday, August 7 at 12 – 1pm PDT

FREE Virtual Event: REGISTER HERE

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

As everyone probably knows, you or your agent needs to get your book or proposal into the hands of an interested editor; that’s the first hurdle.

A well-crafted proposal, an agent with good relationships, and choosing the right editors to approach are the first steps.

What most would-be authors don’t know is that the editor has to turn around and sell you to an editorial board. The sales management, more often than not, makes the decisions.

If sales and marketing think they can sell your book, then you’ve got a wonderful chance of getting published.

So how do you sell your book to a publisher?

Meet the Publisher:

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

A Substack Fairy Tale Success: Building Your Readership and Platform with Kate Farrell

Thursday, August 21 at 12 – 1pm PDT

FREE Virtual Event: REGISTER HERE

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

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

Amplifying Voices: Why I Serve on the WNBA-SF Board

By Admin

by Anniqua Rana

My journey to the Women’s National Book Association – San Francisco Chapter (WNBA-SF) began in the front seat of my car—laptop propped open, phone tethered, rain streaking the windows. It was during the pandemic, the power was out at home, and Starbucks was too noisy. Still, I wasn’t about to miss Pitch-O-Rama, my first introduction to this dynamic writers’ community.

Despite the storm, I found myself in an online room filled with warmth—writers from across the country encouraging one another, sharing stories, and building something far more profound than a typical networking event. It felt like a place to linger—like Rumi’s Guesthouse, Quintilian’s Memory Palace, or perhaps more aptly, Woolf’s Room of One’s Own.

And somewhere in the courage of that gathering, I was reminded of the defiant verse by Kishwar Naheed, one of Pakistan’s most fearless feminist Urdu poets:

“Yeh hum gunahgaar auratein hain… hum ne bachpan mein khelon se mohabbat ki thi, aur ab qalam se karte hain”—

We are the sinful women… who as children loved our toys, and now we love our pens.

That sense of purpose and belonging has never left me. The WNBA, founded in 1917 by women originally excluded from the male-dominated publishing world, was built on the belief that everyone deserves a seat at the literary table. Those values continue to guide the San Francisco chapter today. But what drew me in wasn’t just the history—it was what I saw happening: active support for BIPOC writers, a commitment to equity, and a space where ideas are nurtured and voices are heard.

The WNBA–San Francisco Chapter was founded in 1968 by the remarkable Effie Lee Morris, a pioneering Black librarian and activist who became the first Coordinator of Children’s Services at the San Francisco Public Library. Her vision established a chapter rooted in diversity, literacy, and community engagement—principles that remain central to our mission.

Becoming a board member wasn’t a difficult leap. Elise Marie Collins (now the National Board President) encouraged me to join. I wasn’t sure what role I would play, but after attending a few meetings, I couldn’t resist joining such an engaged and empowering group.

From Elise Marie Collins, I learned the value of leading with care and intention—she brings a deep sense of compassion to everything she does, whether guiding a yoga class, supporting fellow writers, or creating spaces where community and well-being thrive. From Brenda Knight, I learned the power of combining literary passion with purposeful leadership to uplift diverse voices and create a lasting impact in the publishing world. From Joan Gelfand, I learned that a true literary life is built through generosity, creativity, and a deep commitment to nurturing both words and writers. And from Ellen McBarnette, I learned how to actively build community and reach out to fellow writers with generosity, purpose, and a deep love for the written word.

Each past and present board member has been equally inspiring. Just attending a board meeting fills me with energy and purpose. Now in my third year on the board, I continue to learn how to stay connected to a community devoted to making unheard voices heard—and taken seriously.

As a writer, my work explores identity, culture, and the courage it takes to find one’s voice—threads that echo my journey growing up in Pakistan and living across continents. My novel, Wild Boar in the Cane Field, is rooted in my childhood village, and my nonfiction spans topics from Virginia Woolf and knitting to women athletes in Pakistan and a visit to Harley’s Goat Farm in Pescadero.

I’m currently working on a collection of essays titled Kneading Life, which explores the intersection of cooking and writing through my experiences as a writer and educator, shaped by a childhood between Pakistan and the UK, and my journey as an immigrant in California. The work is inspired by the kitchen philosophies of Mexican nun, poet, and feminist Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz. It is guided by the voices of women writers who have stirred my imagination and shaped my thinking, including Virginia Woolf, Fatima Mernissi, Amy Tan, Kishwar Naheed, and Doris Lessing.

As an educator in the California Community College system, I’ve seen firsthand the transformative power of storytelling, especially for students just beginning to trust that their voices matter. That’s what WNBA-SF offers: a space where storytellers and readers of all backgrounds can grow together.

Today, I continue to be inspired—not only by Pitch-O-Rama, but also by our author mixers, our partnerships with organizations like the San Francisco Writers Conference, and our vibrant readings and workshops. The magic of this chapter lies in its ability to connect people across genres, identities, and generations. It’s not just about writing—it’s about finding a creative home.

If you’re looking for a literary community that values equity, imagination, and connection, I hope you’ll consider joining us. WNBA-SF is always open to new members, and we’re especially excited to welcome those who want to help shape the future of our work as board members.

Reach out—I’d love to discuss how your story might fit into ours.

Lessons from Nita Sweeney

By Admin

by Nita Sweeney and Ellie Bozmarova

Nita Sweeney is a longtime meditator and published author of four books: You Should Be Writing, Depression Hates a Moving Target, Make Every Move A Meditation, and A Daily Dose of Now. Sweeney’s books are infused with her personal experiences of life, depression, running, writing, and mindfulness.

“It felt like I had struggled and struggled and struggled to be published and be an author for almost 20 years,” Sweeney said. Her first three books were published by Mango Books and acquired by Brenda Knight.

In a conversation with Nita, who is gregarious, introspective, and talks in stories, she revealed the relationship that sparked her mindfulness-infused writing. It started in the early 90s when she discovered Natalie Goldberg’s book, Writing Down the Bones. At the time, Sweeney was a lawyer with untreated depression. Goldberg is most known for her series of books about writing as Zen practice.

Goldberg’s writing practice, a timed- writing exercise, helped Sweeney regain her footing in the world. It also led her to meet Goldberg in the desert of Taos, New Mexico. A fateful turn of events fueled by writing practice found Sweeney moving to Taos with her husband and working as Goldberg’s workshop assistant. She worked alongside Goldberg for nine years.

Lessons from Natalie Goldberg (and her teacher, Katagiri Roshi)

Continue under all circumstances. Yes, even after the latest rejection.
Don’t be tossed away. In life and in writing. Go back to the writing, go back to the sitting, the walking or running. Do what you’re going to do. And, if you find success, don’t get tossed away amid the hoopla.
Make positive effort for the good. Even if it’s just brushing your teeth. Let your intention be to do what is good.

Nita’s Writing Routine

Each morning Monday through Friday, Sweeney and her husband attend an online zazen session hosted by One River Zen and meditate.

After, Sweeney goes to one of her rotating workplaces. She’s renting an office now, but also enjoys writing in coffee houses, community rooms, and libraries.

She turns her phone off.

She puts the phone in a drawer and locks the drawer.

She puts the key to the phone drawer in a different locking drawer, and then locks both.

This is necessary, she says, because it gives her hoops to jump through to get to the phone. Distractions are dangerous for writers who can open their email and spend two hours of writing time shopping for shoes, as I’m sure none of us can relate to.

She also uses the app, Freedom, which blocks social media and any website the user wishes to block.

She tries not to look at email until the end of the day, but it’s a work in progress, she admits.

“If I can get to the manuscript first thing in the day, that is the best,” she says.

She uses writing practice when feeling stuck emotionally or in a project. The simple timed practice provides space for intense emotions to flow through her. It also helps her writing. “Writing practice puts me in the present moment of that time, that scene,” she says.

Though her routine is steady, Sweeney is a binge-writer. Her ideal writing environment is 6-8 hours in a day in a hotel room. Her schedule varies if she’s writing a book or not.

When she’s not writing, she loves running with her yellow lab, Scarlet, and spending time with her husband. She wants to get back into running marathons.

“People think that the teacher can give them something. But the thing they’re wanting, they have to find inside themselves. The teacher is a reflection, an example, a mentor, but ultimately you have to find it in yourself,” Sweeney says.

Nita Sweeney’s Advice for WNBA’s BOOKTALK Audience

“Figure out who you are. There are things that work for someone like Natalie Goldberg that will not work for you. Or me. It’s great to try all the things. But when somebody stands on the stage and says, “Just do this,” they’re saying that because they’ve figured out techniques and tools that work for the way their brain is wired or the particular trauma they have had in their life. Sometimes students think there’s something wrong with them because they can’t “just do it”. Find some kind of a meditation practice where it’s beyond the books, the classes. Move your body. Use the three main tools: writing practice, meditation, and movement.”

Learn more about Nita Sweeney’s work and workshops at nitasweeney.com, sign up for Nita’s newsletter, and learn more about Natalie Goldberg’s writing practice.

Secrets for Success Every Writer Needs to Know! You’re Invited: How To’s, Mixers, Pitchfest, and more!

By Admin

Write Your Book Proposal Workshop with Randy Peyser
Thursday, February 13
12 – 1 PM PST
REGISTER HERE
Zoom link provided upon registration

Nonfiction writers: If you want to pitch your book to a literary agent or sell it to a publisher, then a book proposal is mandatory. A book proposal is a business plan in which you must prove the sale of your book in different categories. Randy Peyser has written book proposals that have garnered six-figure deals.

In this Book Proposal Workshop, she will explain what you need to include in each section, and she will share some of the ways she “tips the sale” in the favor of her authors. Come prepared to take a lot of notes because Randy is going to share how to win at the publishing game!

Randy Peyser sells non-fiction manuscripts in all genres and speaks nationally about how to earn book deals. She also serves as faculty for CEO Space International, where she teaches about writing book proposals. She is the author of The Write-a-Book Progra; Crappy to Happy as featured in the move Eat, Pray, Love; and The Power of Miracle Thinking.

Her clients’ books have appeared in Oprah, Time Magazine, the bestseller lists of the Wall Street Journal and USA Today, in airport bookstores, Office Max and FedEx stores, and on Hallmark TV. Her work is featured in: Healing the Heart of the World, The Marriage of Sex and Spirit, Secrets of Shameless Self-Promoters, and the national bestsellers, Networking Magic Guerilla Publicity and The Profit of Kindness.

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

Passion-Projects Goals Mixer
Thursday, February 27
12 – 1 PM PST
REGISTER HERE
Zoom link provided upon registration

February is also known as Heart Month! It’s the perfect opportunity to share your love of reading and writing, while spending time on those passion projects that do not get nearly enough attention.

Join WNBA-San Francisco for a Passion-Project “Share & Tell” Networking Mixer on February 27th at 12pm PDT. Share what you are working on and Tell what support you need and can offer.

Also, Pitch-O-Rama is just over a month away – April 5 – so bring any POR questions for the AMA speed round.

“Goals are a team sport,” says our networking ambassador, Debra Eckerling, author of 52 Secrets for Goal-Setting and Goal-Getting. “Let’s help each other reach the finish line.”

During this virtual mixer, everyone will have a few minutes to:

Share: Your passion project
Tell: What support you need to get it done, as well as ways you can help others in our community.

It’s a MIXER, so please share this event and bring a literary friend or two to join the virtual fun! There will be a virtual guest book so you can share your contact info too.

About Debra: Debra Eckerling is the award-winning author of Your Goal Guide: A Roadmap for Setting, Planning, and Achieving Your Goals and 52 Secrets for Goal-Setting & Goal-Getting. A goal strategist and the creator of the D*E*B METHOD® for Goal-Setting Simplified, Debra offers personal and professional planning, book proposal development, and team-building for executives, entrepreneurs, consultants, and companies. The networking ambassador for WNBA – San Francisco, Debra has spoken on stages for TEDx, Innovation Women, SCORE LA, and more. She is the founder of the Write On Online community, as well as host of the GoalChat and Taste Buds with Deb podcasts.

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

Pitch-O-Rama Prep Workshop & AMA
Thursday, March 20
12 – 1 PM PST
REGISTER HERE
Zoom link provided upon registration

By popular demand, WNBA-SF will hold a Pre Pitch-O-Rama Coaching AMA [Ask Me Anything].

Registration is free for anyone already signed up for 2025 Pitch-O-Rama. If you haven’t, prices are $10 for WNBA-SF members and $25 for non-members.

We are VERY excited to hold our fifth virtual Pitch-O-Rama which is looking to be a fabulous event with new agents and editors including those from the New York publishing world. And, since it is virtual, we have many new writers joining us, hailing from all over the country and even a couple of international guests. We have received many questions and suggestions which resulted in this Pre Pitch session.

WNBA-SF stalwarts who have run Pitch-O-Rama for many years will tell you what to expect, tips and strategies for inspired pitching, and how to get the most from this mini-writers conference.

Hosted by Madame President and publisher Brenda Knight, this event will feature experts who can answer any question you have, so make your list now! She will share what editors and agents are looking for, and how to position your project so it will garner real interest from acquiring editors and literary agents.

Steeped in Pitch-O-Rama history, Kate Farrell will offer insight into effective pitches and the kind of good advice only an experienced author and pitch event coordinator can provide.

Another Pitch-O-Rama veteran and WNBA National President, Elise Marie Collins offers techniques on how to overcome nerves and make your best impression.

Ellen McBarnette, an attendee from previous years’ virtual Pitch-O-Rama will tell you “what she wishes she knew last year and what you should know for this year.”

Goal setting expert Debra Eckerling will share tips for networking in the fast-moving, virtual space.

Every year, writers find agents, get publishing deals and get excellent feedback that advances their writing careers. This year, it can be you!

Registration is free for anyone already signed up for 2025 Pitch-O-Rama. If you haven’t, prices are $10 for WNBA-SF members and $25 for non-members.

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

Virtual Pitch-O-Rama 2025
Saturday, April 5
8AM – 1 PM PST
SIGN UP HERE
Zoom link provided upon registration

Are you developing a concept for a new book? Do you have a manuscript in progress? Have you always wanted to publish that book you’ve been working on for years? If this sounds like you, we would love to invite you to Pitch-O-Rama 2025!

We are happy to announce we will be hosting the next Pitch-O-Rama as a virtual event on April 5th, 2025, where writers will be given the opportunity to pitch their works to agents and editors for publication.

Everyone is welcome to participate!

Register below to pitch your book idea to agents and publishers!

New to Pitch-O-Rama? Pitch-O-Rama is an annual event where we bring in a set of publishing professionals to share their knowledge of the publishing industry. During the event, you will be able to practice your pitch with coaches and fellow writers, and then share that pitch with an expert who will provide advice on taking your writing project to the next level.

A chance like this is an invaluable learning experience that could put you on the path to publication. We hope to see you there!

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

Join us at the Gratitude & Glitz Holiday Mixer! Early Bird Price for Membership & Pitch-O-Rama 2025 Ends 12/23/24

By Admin

Gratitude & Glitz Holiday Mixer
Thursday, December 19th
12 – 1pm PST
SIGN UP HERE
Zoom link provided upon registration

As we head toward 2025, it’s important to celebrate the wins and blessings of the previous year.

Did you publish a book in 2024? Meet an agent or publisher at Pitch-O-Rama? Make good progress on a long-term project? Accomplish an important personal goal? Make new friends and connections?

Join WNBA-San Francisco for a Gratitude & Glitz “Share & Tell” Networking Mixer on December 19th at 12pm PDT.

Share what you are grateful for and Tell what you accomplished. Sparkle is encouraged, but not required!

“You can’t reach your goals on your own,” our networking ambassador, Debra Eckerling says. “You need your community of friends, resources, and champions.” Celebrate the new year – and its infinite possibilities – with the WNBA-SF community.

During this event, everyone will have a few minutes to:

Share: Express your gratitude
Tell: Highlight your 2024 achievements and what you plan to celebrate at the end of 2025

It’s a HOLIDAY MIXER, so bring a festive drink or snack to enjoy! Also, please share this event and bring a literary friend or two to join the virtual fun! Be sure to sign the virtual guest book and share your contact info.

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

Virtual Pitch-O-Rama 2025
Saturday, April 5, 2025
8AM to 1 PM PDT
SIGN UP HERE
Zoom link provided upon registration

Everyone is welcome to participate!

Register below to pitch your book idea to agents and publishers!

A chance like this is an invaluable learning experience that could put you on the path to publication. We hope to see you there!

**Early Bird Special: $10 OFF for both WNBA-SF Members and Non-members

$75 for WNBA-SF members, $115 for Non-members, expires on 12/31/2024

After 12/31/2024, registration is as below:

$85 for WNBA-SF members, $125 for Non-members

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

New Members & Renewals

Whether you are joining for the first time or renewing, please use this form! Membership runs between June 1, 2024 – May 31, 2025 with April and May as bonus months and annual member dues include $16 for the national organization. Join or renew today to take advantage of this year’s rate!

2024 Rate:
$59 Active Member
$39 Active Member, Senior/Student Rate

2025 Rate:

$65 Active Member
$45 Active Member, Senior/Student Rate

To join or renew your membership today, use this form! As always, thank you for your support!

Join Us for the Holiday Storytelling Fest & Early Bird Special for Pitch-O-Rama 2025

By Admin

Virtual Pitch-O-Rama 2025
Saturday, April 5, 2025
8AM to 1 PM PDT
SIGN UP HERE
Zoom link provided upon registration

Everyone is welcome to participate!

Register below to pitch your book idea to agents and publishers!

A chance like this is an invaluable learning experience that could put you on the path to publication. We hope to see you there!

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

Holiday Storytelling Fest: True Stories of Grace and Gratitude
Thursday, November 21, 2024
5pm – 6pm PT
SIGN UP HERE
Zoom link provided upon registration

All are welcome to the WNBA-SF Chapter’s virtual storytelling fest to celebrate the holidays as only book women writers can! Five brilliant, talented writers will share their personal stories of grace and gratitude to bring us cheer during this wonderful season of thanksgiving and joy.

After our five presenters tell their true stories, we’ll open it up to our virtual audience—that’s you! We want to encourage the sharing of stories during the holidays with friends and family in the spirit of deep gratitude this year.

Celebrate with us in sharing joy and gratitude with stories for the holidays. Bring a glass of wine or cup of tea and gather ‘round our virtual fire. Bring a friend!

Featured storytellers include Karen Wang Diggs, Kate Farrell, Mary Mackey, Ellen McBarnette, and Sheila Smith McKoy!

To register, please visit the event page!

You’re Invited! Post-Election Call for Community with Poetry

By Admin

Social Justice Poetry
Thursday, November 14, 2024
12pm – 1pm PT
SIGN UP HERE
Zoom link provided upon registration

Poetry gets at the truth more so than any other form of the written and spoken word. And, of course, it is those poetic truth-tellers who help us see and hear what is so often hidden from us and what we must know. This event is timed and designed to be on the other side of the election, after what is likely to be a brutal political season, when we will need social justice poets and their vital truths, more than ever. Hope you can join us for this special night of community!

Featuring poetry by Zoë Flowers, Christopher Marmolejo, Granddaughter Crow (Dr. Joy Gray), and Joan Gelfand!

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

Join Us! Early Bird Special for Pitch-O-Rama 2025 & Upcoming November Events

By Admin

Virtual Pitch-O-Rama 2025
Saturday, April 5, 2025
8AM to 1 PM PDT
SIGN UP HERE
Zoom link provided upon registration

Everyone is welcome to participate!

Register below to pitch your book idea to agents and publishers!

A chance like this is an invaluable learning experience that could put you on the path to publication. We hope to see you there!

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

Social Justice Poetry Event
Thursday, November 14, 2024
12pm – 1pm PT
Zoom link provided upon registration

Featuring poetry by Zoë Flowers, Christopher Marmalejo, Granddaughter Crow (Dr. Joy Gray), and Joan Gelfand!

To register, please visit the event page!

Holiday Storytelling Fest: True Stories of Grace and Gratitude
Thursday, November 21, 2024
5pm – 6pm PT
Zoom link provided upon registration

Celebrate with us in sharing joy and gratitude with stories for the holidays. Bring a glass of wine or cup of tea and gather ‘round our virtual fire. Bring a friend!

Featured storytellers include Karen Wang Diggs, Kate Farrell, Mary Mackey, Ellen McBarnette, and Sheila Smith McKoy!

To register, please visit the event page!

You’re Invited! Early Bird Discount for Pitch-O-Rama 2025 & Other Fabulous Fall Events

By Admin

Virtual Pitch-O-Rama 2025
Saturday, April 5, 2025
8AM to 1 PM PDT
SIGN UP HERE
Zoom link provided upon registration

Everyone is welcome to participate!

Register below to pitch your book idea to agents and publishers!

A chance like this is an invaluable learning experience that could put you on the path to publication. We hope to see you there!

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

Stranger Fiction: The Art of Crafting Speculative Fiction and World-Building With Words
Thursday, September 12, 2024
6-7:30PM PDT
Mechanics’ Institute Library
57 Post Street, San Francisco, CA 94104
4th Floor, Chess Room

The Women’s National Book Association San Francisco Chapter is thrilled to present this exciting member panel at the Mechanics Institute Library! As our home planet Earth grows ever hotter, crowded and more polluted, we look to other realms for new hope and relief from our terran concerns. Thankfully, brilliant minds and bold thinkers have already created places and spaces to which we can journey in books and take armchair travels to new worlds beyond our wildest imagining. These creative writers—Ellen McBarnette, Mary Mackey, Sheila Smith McKoy, and Vanessa MacLaren-Wray—will discuss their craft and the art of world-building through fiction.

To register, please visit the event page!

Cooking & Food Writing Panel
Thursday, September 19, 2024
12 to 1 PM PDT
Zoom link provided upon registration

Join WNBA-San Francisco for an upcoming food and cookbook writing panel, where writers/podcasters/food professionals will delve into the art of blending culinary expertise with captivating storytelling. This includes articles, cookbooks, and social media.

During this Lunch N Learn, you will:

Explore how to craft irresistible recipes that resonate with audiences online
Gain valuable tips on creating engaging content that goes beyond the plate
Make new food-loving friends

Whether you’re an aspiring writer, seasoned chef, or food enthusiast, this virtual event is your gateway to the intersection of food, writing, and social media. Join us and our panel—Katie Chin, Dianne Jacob, Faith Kramer, and Amy Kritzer Becker.

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

How to Get a Book Deal
Thursday, September 26, 2024
12 to 1 PM PDT
Zoom link provided upon registration

GET A BOOK DEAL WITH A PUBLISHER
There’s the book you want to write and the book a publisher – and readers – will buy: Are they the same book?

Literary agents receive 1500+ manuscripts a month. Publishers receive 10,000+ manuscripts a year. If you want to get a publishing deal and more readers, you’ve got to know what publishers (and readers) buy and how to make your book stand out from the pack.

Publishing coach, Randy Peyser, pitches books to agents and publishers after her company edits or ghostwrites them through her company, Author One Stop, Inc.
(www.AuthorOneStop.com)

Randy will tell you exactly what you need to know to get an agent or publisher to offer you a contract.

You will find out:

What topics are hot and what’s not.
The most essential sales tool you need in order to sell a manuscript to a publisher.
The quickest way to get an agent or publisher to stop in their tracks.
The 1 thing to absolutely not do if you are serious about getting a publishing contract.
How to get cover endorsements when you don’t know anybody who’s famous.
The biggest mistakes authors make.
The things you absolutely must do to make your book stand out.
Details about your writing that publishers always look for.
The biggest questions publishers ask before they make a buying decision.
How to title your book to maximize your sales potential
The pros and cons of traditional publishing versus self-publishing
Converting a book to a screenplay that actually gets considered

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

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