Enjoying the March 29 reading at BookShop West Portal are WNBA-SF board members, from
left, Mary (Shyne) Lunning, Mary E. Knippel, Joan Gelfand Allegra Harris and Teresa LeYung Ryan. Event
details are in WNBA-SF News and in Member
News.
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WNBA-SF News
Effie's Lecture set for May 9
Javaka Steptoe will present the annual Effie Lee Morris Lecture at the San Francisco Public Library at 6:30pm on May 9, with a
reception starting at 5:30pm. His topic will be "Swan Lake, a retelling of the story by Walter Dean Myers and
illustrated by Javaka Steptoe," detailing a different approach to the traditional story by a young African
American illustrator. Established in 1996 by the San Francisco Chapter, this annual lecture salutes WNBA-SF
founding president Effie Lee Morris for her outstanding contributions to the San Francisco Public Library and the
children of San Francisco.
photo by Earthman
Sunset Social, Silent AuctionThe board members of
Women's National Book Association
cordially invite
WNBA-SF members and their guests
to a
Sunset Social & Silent Auction
Enjoy a stunning sunset, compelling conversation, fabulous food & cocktails, and
sensational silent auction on Sunday, May 20, 2007, 5-7pm, at the ocean-view home of WNBA
National Vice President and WNBA-SF Secretary Joan Gelfand, in a beautiful San Francisco
neighborhood (St. Francis Wood area) with plenty of easy street parking (SF-Muni from BART
accessible).
Let's raise a glass to toast all our successes and accomplishments in the world of words while
we raise funds to facilitate the programs and events furthering our members' professional
development. Silent Auction items will include an Executive Membership with Bay Area Business
Woman ($795 value), one-on-one conversations with agents, writing instruction from acclaimed
authors, coaching sessions pre and post publication, fun vacation spots, excellent wines, gift
certificates, unique MEK♥Designs Jewelry, and more!
RSVP now by calling 650-361-0344. Please give us your name and telephone number (with area
code), tell us if you're a member, and provide names of any guests you'll be bringing. Or use our
online
registration form to register. $30/members; $40/guest. You can pay online via PayPal
or mail your check to WNBA-SF Chapter, 2261 Market St #164, San Francisco CA 94114.
Address of event will be given upon receipt of your payment.
Space is limited, please RSVP by May 12th.
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Volunteer for Fun
Want to have a fun afternoon, get a sneak peek at all the terrific auction items and attend the Sunset Social for
free? Volunteer for special duties (set up and take down of auction tables, clearing cocktail area, clearing
buffet area, and general helping after the event ends) on the day of our Sunset Social & Silent Auction.
e-mail Mary at president@wnba-sfchapter.org for more information.
Bookstore owner Neal Sofman, left, welcomes WNBA-SF members and guests to BookShop West
Portal
More Readings Scheduled
Neal Sofman, owner BookShop West Portal (WNBA-SF's sponsoring independent bookstore), was so impressed with the
quality of our work at our inaugural reading on March 29 (see Member News
section) that he will promote our readings on his website as well as through flyers and posters featuring author
photos along with book covers!
Give your words wings. Join the ranks of the likes of Jane Hirshfield, Oakley Hall, Cara Black, and many
others who have held readings at BookShop West Portal. Our next Writers Reading is scheduled for Thursday,
June 7 at 7pm. Readers will have five to seven minutes in which to read their work with a one-minute
introduction. Please remember that we are in a public space and respect the family setting in which we are
reading. Space is limited to 10 readers; sign up by contacting WNBA-SF Writers Reading Coordinator Diana@silkroad.org. To be included in the extensive
advertising by Bookshop West Portal, sign up by May 2; readers signing up after that date will miss the benefit
for BookShop West Portal's marketing for the event, but will still have the opportunity to read if there is still
space on the roster.
As we all know, getting publicity is hard work. Here we're being offered a popular, cozy, neighborhood
bookstore in which to read our work, and they will promote the event. All WNBA-SF members are encouraged to sign
up to read—published work is not a criteria; works in progress can greatly benefit from a public reading during
the writing process.
Free Workshop/Forum June 16
WNBA-SF is hosting "A Gathering of Readers and Writers" from 10am-4pm on Saturday, June 16, in the Oak Room on
the first floor of the San Mateo Library (1100 Park Place, San Mateo, 650-522-7800). And best of all, this
members-and-guests-only event is totally FREE to all participants (donations cheerfully accepted).
Join us for a fun-filled day with speakers, a presentation by the WNBA board members, brain gym exercises and
more! Let's get together to meet each other and share ideas. This is an opportunity to gain knowledge on
marketing, using the Web, improving our speaking skills, learning about a new computer application, Dragon
Speaking, which types as you talk and meeting several WNBA board members, who will give a panel presentation!
Speakers will include marketing consultant Pamela Swingley; Brendan Murphy of Toastmasters
International; Ted Maher, Dragon Speaking; Linda Lee, Books on the Web; Luisa Adams, Brain
Gym; and a panel featuring writers Martha Alderson, Joan Gelfand, Teresa LeYung Ryan, and
Allegra Harris.
Bring your own lunch, dress casual, listen to the speakers and share your views! Admission is free, but
donations will be accepted. Each member can bring one guest. This is a great chance for members of WNBA-SF to
meet each other and share their skills and experiences.
Thanks go to Membership Chair Mary (Shyne) Lunning for spearheading this event. To make a reservation or for
more information, contact Shyne at membership@wnba-sfchapter.org.
Promote your book at the annual Sonoma County Book Fair
Be Booth Buddies
Interesting in exhibiting and selling your books in the WNBA-SF booth at the Eighth Annual Sonoma County Book
Festival in September? This event is growing in attendance and popularity each year. It's a great opportunity to
meet book-oriented folks, from readers to other writers. In addition to the booth exhibitors, there are always
many speakers, readers and panel presentations.
E-mail Teresa LeYung Ryan at LiteracyLiaison@wnba-sfchapter.org by May 15 if you're interested. The festival will
be held in the Old Courthouse Square in downtown Santa Rosa on Saturday, Sep. 15, from 10am-5pm. The cost is $25
to participate in the WNBA-SF booth (which includes a canopy, one 8-foot table and two chairs). The first eight
members who email Teresa will have priority.
We need four members to staff the booth from 10am-1:30pm, and four members from 1:30-5pm. Your book will be
displayed all day; table space will be equally divided to accommodate all eight members who pay $25 each. For
more information about the festival, visit socobookfest.org.
Randall Weaver, from left, looks on as Brian Castagne
shows Mary E. Knippel a program in the Project Read computer lab
From Our Literacy Liaison
Dear WNBA-SF Chapter Members,
WNBA-SF President Mary Knippel and I met with Randall Weaver, Project Read Manager at San Francisco
Public Library, to discuss creating a partnership between Project Read and WNBA. It's all about
helping people helping themselves.
Project Read's mission statement: To provide free instruction in basic reading and writing thereby enabling
adults to access greater opportunities in their lives.
Our mission statement: The Women's National Book Association is a national organization of women and men who
work with and value books. WNBA exists to promote reading and to support the role of women in the community of
the book.
Even if WNBA members can't commit to being tutors for Project Read, we can support this awesome organization
by talking about the phenomenal work these folks do. Talk about the wonderful services they provide to
English-speaking adults—from their free one-to-one tutoring to their easy-to-use computer lab to their Language
Experience Technique (whereby an adult learner tells his/her stories to the tutor who writes them down; adult
learner then learns to read his/her own stories!)
Check out Project Read's website.
Under "What's New!" click on:
Then under "Helpful Resources" check out:
If you decide to get involved, I'd love to hear from you. My email address is LiteracyLiaison@wnba-sfchapter.org/
Sincerely,
Teresa LeYung Ryan
Board Meeting May 3
Everyone's welcome at the monthly WNBA-SF board meeting from 6-8pm on Thursday, May 3. WNBA-SF board meetings
(except for the January session) are usually held on the first Thursday of the month from 6-8pm at the Café at
the Museum of Modern Art in San Francisco. For more details or to add an item to the agenda, please e-mail
president@wnba-sfchapter.org.
Filling the BookWorm with Your News
The WNBA-SF chapter newsletter, the BookWorm, is published the first of every month. We'd love to announce
members' publications, articles, book-signings, workshops, awards or other milestones. The deadline for
submissions is the 20th of each month; please send items to newsletter@wnba-sfchapter.org. (If you
don't receive a "got it" response within a few days of sending your e-mail, please try again.)
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WNBA-National News
Boston Library to house WNBA Collection
WNBA-SF authors are invited to be a part of a new WNBA collection to be housed at the Boston Pubic Library. We
hope to inaugurate the collection on our national meeting weekend, June 2-4. This is a wonderful opportunity for
WNBA-SF members to place their work in a permanent collection and become part of the circulating volumes.
Individual members may send one or two copies to: Laurie Beckelman, 160 Tea Rock Ln, Marshfield MA 02050.
Supporting Book Reviewers
The national WNBA forwarded the following information, which ran in the Library Journal.
Last week, the Los Angeles Times folded its book review section into an opinion section, and the
Atlanta Journal-Constitution eliminated its book review position. Not a good week for book criticism, but
not a surprising one, either: in the past few years, newspapers from the Chicago Tribune to the Dallas
Morning News to the Village Voice have seen book coverage shrink.
The National Book Critics Circle (NBCC) is not taking these developments lying down. This week, in an effort
to support book reviews, book editors, book pages, and book culture, the NBCC is launching a Campaign to Save
Book Reviews. Throughout the month of May, the NBCC is asking authors and editors, journalists and publishers--in
fact anyone interested in literary culture—to speak out on the value of books and book reviewing.
The campaign's launch pad is an effort to save the book review position at the Atlanta
Journal-Constitution, held until last week by Teresa Wright. Explains NBCC president John Freeman, "Teresa
has the opportunity to apply for a job within the company, but it's not clear what the fate of the book page will
be—whether it'll be reassigned to an existing editor, whether it will go entirely to wire copy, or whether it
will be removed altogether."
A petition to save Wright's job has already secured nearly 1,000 signatures, including those from luminaries
as varied as Michael Connelly, Richard Powers and Ian Rankin. Those interested in signing should here.
Throughout the campaign, Critical Mass, the NBCC's blog, will feature Q&As, posts by concerned writers,
and advice on petitioning the media to assure continued book coverage. Current posts include a lengthy Q&A
with David L. Ulin, editor of the Los Angeles Times Book Review. Check out Critical Mass to join in these efforts
and to track developments in this ongoing and important campaign.
The National Book Critics Circle, founded in 1974, is a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization consisting of
nearly 700 active book reviewers nationwide who are interested in honoring quality writing and communicating with
one another about common concerns. It is managed by a 24-member all-volunteer board of directors. For more
information, please go to bookcritics.org.
For questions, contact Barbara
Hoffert, 646-746-6806.
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Mission Statement
The Woman's National Book Association is a national organization of women and men who work with and
value books. WNBA exists to promote reading and to support the role of women in the community of the book.
The Women's National Book Association was established in 1917, before women in America had the right to
vote.
The San Francisco branch of WNBA is one chapter in a vibrant organization with over 800 members across the
county. Each branch has its own flavor and lively events to honor books—the creation of books, the world of
books, and allied arts.
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In This Issue
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Welcome
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Welcome to the May 2007 edition of Bookworm, with news and events highlighting San Francisco WNBA members!
"It seems to me that those songs that have been any good, I have had nothing much to do with the writing of
them. The words have just crawled down my sleeve and come out on the page."—Joan Baez
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From Our Chapter President
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Dear WNBA-SF Friends,
This is the time of year when summer is just around the corner and our year seems to speed up.
Well, 2007 is no exception! The WNBA-SF board and event volunteers have been working hard
planning wonderful things for you in May and June.
May 9 is our annual Effie Lee Morris Children's Literature Lecture—check the details under
WNBA-SF News. featuring Javaka Steptoe at the San Francisco Public Library.
The Sunset Social and Silent Auction on May 20, 5-7pm, promises to be a gala evening involving
three of my favorite things: friends, food and shopping!
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Mary E. Knippel
Sharie Cohen Photography |
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Don't miss our next installment of Writers Reading event at BookShop West Portal on June 7 at
7pm. The March event was filled with powerfully passionate writing representing a wide variety of
genre. On June 16, 10am-4pm, WNBA-SF will host a panel discussion at the San Mateo Public
Library, "A Gathering of Readers and Writers," offering strategies on marketing, technical advice
and more.
Looking forward to seeing you soon,
Mary
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Member Profile: Bookworm talks to Micky Duxbury, author of Making Room in Our Hearts
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Micky Duxbury is an adoptive parent of a daughter brought to her family through domestic adoption in 1994.
The author of Making Room in our Hearts: Keeping Family Ties Through Open Adoption, Micky is a licensed
Marriage and Family Therapist who has practiced in the Bay Area for more than 25 years. She specializes in pre
and post-adoption education and counseling, and works with adoptive families and birth parents as they begin,
build, and navigate their ongoing relationships. She worked for more than 11 years in the HIV/AIDS field as a
therapist and continues her work in the field of life threatening illness by working with women and families
dealing with cancer.
A frequent workshop presenter, her presentations focus on coping with the challenges of the adoption process,
raising adopted children, and navigating open adoptive relationships. She developed and taught a course on The
Psychology of Adoption and offers Raising Adopted Children workshops. A strong proponent of ethical and
child-centered adoption practices, she has worked as a mediator, therapist, and educator with all members of the
adoption triad.
When not working, with family and friends, or deeply engaged in the First Unitarian Church Of Oakland, Micky
can usually be found working in her beautiful garden or hiking, biking or kayaking in Pt. Reyes.
- When did you start writing?
- I started writing my first book almost four years ago. The actual writing of the book was the least
difficult part. Getting clear on approach, structure, and chapters was the biggest challenge.
- What inspired you to choose your subject matter?
- We adopted our daughter in what was originally an open adoption that became closed when she was two years
old. I began work in the field and became aware that although many adoption professionals promote the idea of
openness, they do not provide the pre and post-adoption education and counseling that can ensure its success.
I wanted to help others address their fears and concerns by using real-life stories of families that had been
successful. I especially wanted to make a strong case for a child-centered view of openness, as it is the
child, teen, and then adult who is left to grapple with questions of identity because of separation from
their biological parents.
- How difficult / easy has your experience been as a published author?
- It was challenging to find a publisher. When the book was about 30% formed, I sent a book proposal to 50
carefully selected agents and publishers. I got back mostly form letters, but also several complimentary
letters. I returned to make more progress on the manuscript, then sent a query letter to hundreds of
publishers via a local service: Publishers and Agents, (which I would highly recommend). I received a dozen
requests for the proposal and ultimately got two offers. The most challenging and sometimes painful part of
the process has been having a very different set of expectations of what the publisher would be able to do in
terms of PR for the book.
- What advice would you give other aspiring authors?
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- Work within a support group of some kind. Get some folks who are also trying to complete a
manuscript and /or find a publisher so you have ongoing support and are not operating in a
vacuum.
- Get someone to review your book proposal and get it out there well before you are half way
through completing the manuscript.
- Use a service to get the widest possible screening for the proposal...well worth the money!
- Talk with your publisher about the specific marketing/PR plan: What exactly will they do? Put it
in the contract if possible. Make sure you are choosing a publisher to best represent your intentions
for the book.
- Get educated about the demands of doing adequate PR: the time, expertise, and money it takes.
Make sure you have the stomach to start a part-time job doing PR, or figure out how to pay someone
else to do it.
- Anything else you would like to share with the WNBA?
- I would welcome sharing what I have learned with other aspiring first-time non-fiction writers and look
forward to hearing from you.
Are you a WNBA-SF member and published author? Would you like to share your story with WNBA-SF? Contact
newsletter editor Patricia Lynn
Henley about being featured in the Member Profile section of the BookWorm.
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Member News
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WNBA-SF member Danna Willberg reads from her first novel at the
Writers Reading event in BookShop West Portal
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The Joys of Reading
Stories of romance so sweet you could feel the tenderness, adventure so thrilling you found yourself listening
for the sound of gunfire, family drama so touching you found yourself reminded of your own familiar dilemmas, and
poetry delivered with skill, panache and passion—all these were presented to an enthusiastic audience at the
first Writers Reading at BookShop West Portal on March 29.
Participant Danna Wilberg shared her thoughts about the experience:
Someone asked, "What did you want to be when you were eight years old?"
"I wanted to be a writer," I answered.
I never dreamed I would be invited to the BookShop West Portal in San Francisco, to listen to stories and
poetry read by extraordinary authors, let alone be invited to stand at the same podium to read my own work. I
felt as though I was having an 'out of body' experience! Is this really me? I asked myself, shaky,
nervous.
I hope so!
WNBA-SF member Diane LeBow will be reading from her story, "Dancing on the Wine Dark Sea, at 7pm
Thursday, May 17, at Get Lost Books, 1825 Market St. in San Francisco (415-437-0529) with a few other
contributors to the new Seal Press anthology, Greece: A Love Story: Women Write about the Greek Experience
(Seal Press). Diane, president of the Bay Area Travel Writers and winner of the recent Travelers' Tales Solas
Gold Award for Best Story of a Romance on the Road, tells the tales of three visits to the land of Homer over a
25 year period, writing about love, death, visits to the sites of ancient Athenian fertility cults, and much
more.
WNBA-SF Secretary Joan Gelfand reports that Persimmon Tree, an independent online magazine
associated with Mills College, seeks submissions from women over age 60. They are looking for work revealing the
diversity and richness of women's experiences and the variety of their perspectives. The magazine welcomes
previously unpublished short fiction, novel excerpts, performance pieces, and nonfiction under 5,000 words.
Please go to their
website for submission details and guidelines.
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Announcements
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Gold Rush Writers Retreat
When: May 4-6
Where: Historic Hotel Leger, 8304 Main St, Mokelumne Hill CA
Cost: $125-$145
Registration: www.goldrushwriters.com
Details: WNBA-SF Member Kevin Arnold is part of the faculty for this workshop featuring best-selling
authors, award-winning writers, and university professors, among others. They'll lead small, interactive
workshops in short story, poetry, novel, memoir, young adult fiction, nonfiction, flash fiction and biography.
The three-day event also includes luncheon and dinner speakers. Participants should bring their latest writing to
share in the workshops. Everything starts with an evening picnic in the magnificent Victorian garden home of
best-selling author Antoinette May.
Writing and Your Health
When: Four Sundays, May 6 and 20, and June 3 and 10, 7-8:30pm
Where: Bookshop West Portal (WNBA-SF's sponsoring store), 80 W Portal, San Francisco
Cost: $80 (limited to 8 participants
Registration: 415-564-8080, bookshopwestportal.com
Details: Research has shown that the writing process is useful as a therapeutic tool for people living with
medical conditions. This is for those with healthcare concerns who would like to share their experiences through
writing. Dr. Abby Caplin, a physician specializing in mind-body medicine, will guide participants through
a process of reflection, allowing time for writing and sharing if desired. No writing experience is necessary.
Just come with an open mind and a notebook.
Write From Your Heart
When: Saturday, May 12, 9:30-11:30am (a continental breakfast will be served at 9am)
Where: Foster City Recreation Center, 650 Shell Blvd., Foster City
Cost: $20 Foster City residents; $25 non-residents (space is limited)
Registration: Please send checks by May 4 payable to City of Foster City (write "May 12 writing workshop" on the
check as well), to 650 Shell Blvd, Foster City CA 94404. For more information, call 650-286-3380
Details: Whether you're writing articles, short stories, or books, WNBA-SF Member Teresa LeYung Ryan
will help you identify the themes and give you resources so that can get your work published. For the first 90
minutes of this class you'll focus on your current project by examining themes and archetypes. The last 30
minutes Teresa will answer questions about the publishing arena. Please bring publications (including books) that
you enjoy reading and your current project. Teresa is a career coach for writers. Her mother-daughter novel,
Love Made of Heart, is now archived at the San Francisco History Center and recommended by the California
School Library Association and the California Reading Association. Teresa says, "I want to see everyone step into
their dreams." For more information about Teresa, go to www.LoveMadeOfHeart.com.
Best American Short Stories
When: 9am-noon, Saturdays, May 19 and 26, June 2 and 9
Where: TBA
Cost: $55 per class
Registration: ellensussman@gamil.com
Details: WNBA-SF member Ellen Sussman is leading four seminars using the 2006 edition of Best
American Short Stories, edited by Ann Patchett. As in the past, the group will read five stories for each
class and discuss the tales in terms of what can be learned from them as writers. Ellen will provide the bagels
and coffee for these Saturday-morning sessions. Participants can sign up for one, two, three or all of the
classes. These classes usually fill quickly.
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