Planning Ahead: Sharing ideas for WNBA-SF at the July 15
planning retreat are, front row from left, Teresa LeYung Ryan, Dänna Wilberg, Mary Canavan, Mary
Knippel, Linda Lee and Joan Gelfand. Standing, in back, are Sheila Baltimore, Mary O'Donnell,
Mary "Shyne" Lunning and Priscilla Burgess
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WNBA-SF News
WNBA-SF President Mary E. Knippel, left, welcomes Vice President Linda
Lee
From Our New Vice President
My name is Linda Lee and I have been working on the internet since 1999. A single mom with three
great kids, I started selling books and toys and concert tickets on eBay, and this lead to
writing and selling ebooks and creating websites. This then led to my website. I also started
repairing computers for people, which lead me to start speaking at local schools on internet safety.
I was spending so much time explaining and helping people with their computers, I decided to
write a guide book for regular folks, in plain simple English on basic everyday tasks that can
stump us while we are on the computer. I hope to have my book completed by early 2008. It is
called Smart Women, Stupid Computers. It isn't just for women, but hey lets face it, men
don't like to ask to for help, and the women buy the books in the house most of the time
anyway!
The process of writing has lead me to get involved with the local writing community. I have
worked for four years at the awesome San Francisco Writers Conference. This is always a high-energy, inspiring
event. I was also privileged to be one of the speakers at the Gathering of Readers and Writers
event hosted by the WNBA-SF at the San Mateo Library. My topic was "
Getting Started Online, Putting Your Book on the Web". I'm very excited to become the
VP of WNBA-SF and will be blogging more about my adventures.
Monthly Board Meeting
The next meeting of the WNBA-SF board will be held Thursday, Aug. 2. All members are welcome to
attend the monthly meeting at the Museum of Modern Art Café in San Francisco, 6-8pm, on the first
Thursday of each month. Contact Mary to add agenda items by July 31 or if you have any questions
about the board.
Time for Membership Renewal
Look for renewal information in your e-mail box soon. We’re adding a
senior/student rate and making it easier to renew online with PayPal.
Contact Membership Chair Mary Lunning if you have any questions or
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Come to Sonoma County
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Meet book-oriented folks, from readers to other writers, while
selling your books in the WNBA-SF booth at the Eighth Annual Sonoma County Book
Festival in downtown Santa Rosa on Saturday, Sept. 15. This event is growing in
attendance and popularity each year. In addition to the booth exhibitors, there are
always many speakers, readers and panel presentations. |
E-mail Teresa LeYung
Ryan as soon as possible if you're interested. The festival will be held in the
Old Courthouse Square in downtown Santa Rosa on Saturday, Sept. 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). 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 the
Sonoma County Book Festival web
site.
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From Our Literacy Liaison
Dear WNBA-SF Chapter Members,
We'd love to hear about how you're promoting literacy in your community. Email me your story
and I'll share it with fellow members so that we can further promote you and the organization
you're helping. Please email me your volunteer connections and I'll profile you in a column.
Finding just the right group is rewarding. Martha Alderson, renowned plotting teacher
and consultant, delivers writing workshops to children who live at the Santa Clara County
Children's Shelter. The writing program is sponsored by the Friends of the Library of Los
Gatos, of which Martha is a board member. With over 20 years of experience working with thousands
of special education students, it's no surprise that Martha continues to empower children through
literacy.
Mark Forrest, recreation director, writes, "Martha, the astonished look of accomplishment on
the kids' faces is a wonderful testament of your gift to teach. We are forever grateful for the
time you shared and are anxiously awaiting your next visit. The Children's Shelter is a temporary
placement facility for abused, neglected and abandoned children. Thanks again for making a
difference in the lives of our children."
For members who live or work in SF and are interested in helping adult-learners through
Project Read at the San Francisco Library, their training schedule in September is Tuesday
and Thursday evenings (Sept. 11, Orientation, 6-7:30pm; Sept. 13, 18, 20, 25 and 27, 6-8:30pm).
In November, the training sessions will be held on two Saturdays, Nov. 3 and 17, 10am-4pm. If
you're interested in other locations, please email me and put "WNBA and Literacy" in the subject
line. To attend a training session, please call the Project Read office at 415-557-4388 so they
can mail you important materials before training begins.
When training is completed, each tutor is matched with one adult learner, primarily according
to when they can meet, and then the tutor/learner pair is expected to meet once a week for
approximately two hours. Most decide to meet at the main library where rooms are available and
the computer lab/office is located, but now and then they may meet at branch libraries as well as
other neutral locations.
Even if WNBA members can't commit to being tutors, we can support Project Read by
talking about the phenomenal work these folks do. Talk about the wonderful services Project Read
provides 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 down what he/she hears; adult learner then learns to read his/her
own stories!) Visit the Project Read website. If you decide to get involved, I'd love to hear from
you.
Sincerely,
Teresa LeYung Ryan, LiteracyLiaison@wnba-sfchapter.org
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WNBA-National News
Great Get-together in Boston
by Mary E. Knippel
This year's WNBA-National meeting in Boston was even more impressive because I could really
appreciate all the dedication, energy and commitment that every woman brought to the table. Last
year in Los Angeles, I think I was in a bit of a daze all weekend. I had stepped just into the
role of president of our wonderful San Francisco chapter. As I have never been to Boston before,
I was in awe of the history around every corner. It was beautiful, bustling and bursting with
humanity.
Our meetings were filled with our common challenges: Membership recruitment, retention and
involvement; Board commitment; Finances & Fundraising; and Communications—both internally and
to external audiences. It was so good to share ideas with everyone about how to make the chapters
work better and grow. Our chapter's e-newsletter garnered approval as an economic success, and
also a very impressive communication tool. I'll be doing my best in the coming year to maintain
the level of professionalism and high standards modeled for me in Boston.
2008 National Meeting & WNBA-SF 40th Anniversary Party
WNBA-SF is hosting the 2008 WNBA National Board Meeting, but it won't be all business. We're
having a party! WNBA-SF is celebrating our 40th Anniversary on Sunday, June 8.
Our kick-off celebration will be the 12th Annual Effie Lee Morris Children's Lecture on
Friday, June 6, 3:30 p.m. at the San Francisco Main Library. The business meetings will take
place in San Francisco on Saturday afternoon, Sunday all day and Monday morning (June 7-9, 2008);
WNBA members may attend non-voting sessions. All of the sessions are full of varied discussions,
but every agenda item pertains to furthering our mission of world wide literacy and fostering
professional development of women in the book industry.
We'll need your help to plan the WNBA National meeting as well as a spectacular 40th
Anniversary Party. It would be wonderful to put together a weekend for our visitors that
spotlights San Francisco through the eyes of WNBA members. Contact Mary to help with
either the WNBA National Meeting or the 40th Anniversary Party.
History: The San Francisco Chapter of WNBA was founded in 1968 by Effie Lee Morris, then
coordinator of Children's Services for the San Francisco Main Public Library. Membership has
ranged from sixty to one hundred. Our members are writers, booksellers, agents, editors,
publishers, publicists, librarians, graphic designers, career coaches, marketing specialists,
conference planners, aspiring authors and avid readers. Our vision is to support women (and men)
in the book industry and to create a local literary community within the San Francisco Bay Area.
The continual demand for professional development programs along with networking and marketing
opportunities drive our programming choices. We offer traditional dinner format programs and
events, and have added such events as panels and hands on workshops where participants have the
opportunity to learn more about our craft, hone new skills and meet other writers.
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In This Issue
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Welcome
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Welcome to the August 2007 edition of Bookworm, with news and events highlighting San Francisco
WNBA members!
"Writing, I think, is not apart from living. Writing is a kind of double living. The writer
experiences everything twice. Once in reality and once in that mirror which waits always before
or behind."—Catherine Drinker Bowen, Atlantic, December 1957.
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From Our Chapter President
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Dear WNBA-SF Friends,
I'm writing this on an emotional high because so many of you gathered on the
Coastside for the Summer Board Retreat to plan our upcoming year. The energy and
enthusiasm was only surpassed by the laughter and generosity of spirit we each
brought to the WNBA table.
We have a new Vice President, Linda Lee, who is eager to take on her new
responsibilities and complete the WNBA-SF Board. We have lots of great ideas, but
are still working on firming up the details so I'll just strongly suggest you
stay tuned. This year's programs will feature traditional offerings with a twist,
brand new bits and many collaborative endeavors.
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 Mary E. Knippel
Sharie Cohen Photography |
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Our first official event in October will be in observance of National Book Group
Month and will pay homage to both the tradition of book groups and spooky
stories. More details will follow in the next newsletter. You won't want to miss
a minute of what's coming up!
Be well,
Mary
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Member Profile: Bookworm talks to Michealene Cristini Risley, co-author of
This Is Not The Life I Ordered
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 WNBA-SF member Michealene Cristini Risley, co-author of This Is Not The
Life I Ordered: 50 Ways To Keep Your Head Above Water When Life Keeps Dragging You Down,
is a serial entrepreneur who has created some of the largest deals in consumer products. She
launched the first-ever branded maternity line in association with Adidas. At Sega she
championed the Girls Task Force and produced over 100 episodes of animation. She has also
produced, directed and funded an award winning film called "Flashcards", currently airing on
PBS stations. Michealene is working on a number of films and documentaries. In 2006, she was
invited to the Sundance Producers Conference. She is a co-founder of Women's Independent
Cinema, a film distribution company.
- When did you start writing?
- I have been writing all of my life but for the purpose of a book, just about three years
ago.
- Why did you choose your particular genre?
- The three other authors of book (Deborah Collins Stephens, Jackie Speier and Jan
Yanehiro) and I have been friends for a long time. About seven years ago, we started meeting
as a group, regularly, which turned into a "Kitchen Table Group", where we could talk and
help each other get through problems in our lives. Over time, we realized that our group
discussions were really helping us with all of our different issues that we had been facing
and we wanted to be able to share the success that this type of group can give people. We
wanted to share the tips we had accumulated with other people as well. So, we wrote a book
about what we knew was working.
- What inspired you to choose your subject matter?
- The subject matter of the book discusses our lives; it was what our lives were about and
what we were living. We thought it could help other people to know that they were not alone
and that all women face hard issues in their lives. We also thought that it could help other
people as much as it helped us.
- How difficult / easy has your experience been as a published author?
- My experience lies in the middle of difficult and easy. It is a challenge to publish a
book because of the competition with all of the other books being released every week. It
takes a great amount of energy, creativity, and persistence to create a buzz in the market
place for your book. However, when your book makes an impact on people, and they want to
share the book with their family and friends, it is extremely gratifying and makes all of the
hardships of publishing the book worthwhile.
- What advice would you give other aspiring authors?
- My advice would be to prepare for a lot of hard work in promoting the book yourself, but
also go with a publisher that you feel confident in and that you will support in anything
they do.
- Anything else you would like to share with the WNBA?
- One other tip—make use of independent book stores, especially stores that have an affect
on the NY Best Seller's List. And, have fun!
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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photo credit Elizabeth Maynard Schaefer
From left, moderator Danna Wilberg introduces panelists Martha Alderson, Joan Gelfand and
Teresa LeYung Ryan for a discussion on "Turning Rejections into Success Through
Perseverance"
photo credit Elizabeth Maynard Schaefer
Participants join in the sacred circle dance, led by Maureen Atkins
What a Day!
On June 16, approximately 30 WNBA-SF members and guests came together at the Gathering of Writers
and Readers in the San Mateo Public Library. It was a full day, with sacred circle dancing,
Internet marketing, getting your book online, Brain Gym, a demo of hands-free voice-activated
writing software, a Toastmasters presentation on public speaking and a writers panel. Many thanks
go to Mary (Shyne) Lunning for turning her "brainchild" into a reality.
Participant Danna Wilberg shares her thoughts on the day in a note to Shyne: I wanted to
thank you again for your time, effort and expertise in putting together such a valuable workshop.
For one who is new to the writing arena, the information presented was very helpful. I loved the
circle dance! I loved everyone's sincerity. It was a fabulous experience!—Many Blessings,
Danna
And WNBA-SF member Ricky Weisbroth writes, I really like presentations that provide real
information to me as a professional writer. I appreciate that the WNBA is doing this and a
special thank-you to Shyne for organizing it. The first speaker Linda Lee had so much to say that
was so important to me, and not nearly enough time! She was terrific!
How To Submit—For Writers
The key to writing success is submitting but sometimes it can be a grind. But WNBA-SF member
Joan Gelfand and others say don't give up! Come join their submission support group, which
forms in September. The group will meet one weeknight each month in downtown San Francisco to
share resources, advice and contacts for getting for work published. For more information, email
Joan Gelfand.
Congratulations also go to Joan for her two poems, "Soccer Mom" and "Music/Dream
Seven", which are included in the 10,000 Poems Project sponsored by the Steinbeck Center in Monterey. Joan
also shares the news that WNBA-SF member Ellen Sussman, editor of the anthology 26
Writers Behaving Badly, has been on national book tour for the book's launch. Visit
Ellen's web site for
more details on her events.
The WNBA-SF chapter newsletter, the BookWorm, is published the first of every month. We
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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Announcements
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San Francisco Writing-for-Change Conference
When: Thursday-Saturday, Aug 23-25, 2007
Where: Grace Cathedral, San Francisco
Cost: $395, including meals.
Registration/more info: See the conference web site
or contact co-founders Elizabeth
Pomada & Michael Larsen, 415-673-0939.
Details: This is the first conference dedicated to nonfiction books about change, from the
personal to the planetary, includes business, culture, the environment, health, the media,
personal development, politics, social issues, spirituality, and technology. The keynoters:
Rachel Naomi Remen, "Kitchen Table Wisdom," Philip Zimbardo, "The Lucifer Effect," and Riane
Eisler, "The Chalice and the Blade." Attendance limited to 150 writers who will network with
agents, authors, editors, and other publishing pros. Tuition $395, including meals. For more
information visit the conference web site.
Open up to your Creativity and PLAY!
Mary E. Knippel, Writer and Creativity Mentor
When: Saturday, Sep 15, 10am-noon
Where: Belmont Library, Taube Room, 1110 Alameda de las Pulgas
Cost: $15 (California Writers Club members), $18 non-members
Registration/more info: 650-615-8331, www.sfpeninsulawriters.com
Details: Share a morning of playful possibility with Mary E. Knippel, local writer and
creativity mentor, and the California Writers Club. Mary will discuss how incorporating such
hands-on activities as journaling, collage making, beading and paper-craft arts brings harmony to
body-mind-spirit energies. She encourages everyone to embrace their creativity to reclaim their
confidence, composure, spunk, spontaneity, sense of well-being, calm, imagination, patience,
curiosity and spirit. Bring your sense of adventure and be prepared to explore delightful
diversions, which may yield insightful results.
Plot Intensive Workshop, Advanced
Martha Alderson, author of Blockbuster Plots—Pure & Simple
When: Sep 22, 2007, 10am-3pm
Where: Los Gatos
Cost: $100
Registration/more info: See Martha's web
site
Details: In appreciation of the complexity of fully integrating all aspects of plot to
create unity in one's work, Martha Alderson offers this Advanced Plot Workshop. Writers looking
for a practical, hands-on approach to plotting their own individual project are invited to bring
their scenes to be used as examples. Class size is limited. To qualify, each writer must have
read Blockbuster Plots—Pure & Simple, viewed a Blockbuster Plots DVD, or
attended a live workshop.
Martha Alderson is an international plot consultant, an award-winning writer of historical
fiction, and a speaker. She teaches plot writing workshops privately and through UC Santa Cruz
Extension, Learning Annex, East of Eden Writers Conference, Jack London Writers Conference, and
elsewhere.
East Meets West: A National Magazine Symposium for Editors and Writers
Presented by The American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA) and UC Berkeley Journalism
School
When: Sep 29, 2007, 9am-5pm
Where: North Gate Hall, Hearst at Euclid Avenue, University of California, Berkeley
Cost: $130 for ASJA members/applicants, and J-School alumni; $160 for other mid-career
journalists (lunch provided to all participants)
Registration/more info: See the symposium web site
Details: East Meets West brings together editors from top general-interest magazines and
veteran journalists for an intimate, all-day conference at the Graduate School of Journalism at
the University of California, Berkeley. The editors will share tips, insights, and insider
information on their publications. Writers will learn the editors' views on what makes great
long-form narrative journalism, hear about the types of pitches they seek, and have the
opportunity to meet one-on-one with an editor. The symposium will feature John Bennet from The
New Yorker; Jeanne Carstensen, Salon; Sheila Glaser, The New York Times
Magazine; Terry Monmaney, Smithsonian; Ben Schwarz, The Atlantic Monthly;
Martin Smith, West (The Los Angeles Times). In addition to all-day forums and
panels, a 15-minute session with one editor will be available to the first 36 registrants. These
will be arranged on a first-come, first-served basis. The emphasis of these sessions is not on
pitching stories, but rather on discussing your work with a top national magazine editor.
Transforming Grief into Potent Writing
Teresa LeYung Ryan and Lynn Scott
When: Saturday, Oct 13, 10am-4pm
Where: Book Passage, Corte Madera
Cost: $95
Registration/more info: See the Book Passage web
site or call 800-999-7909
Details: This is a hands-on workshop to elicit the creativity waiting to
emerge from the depths of pain, transforming grief (from loss of identity, purpose,
innocence or a loved one) into inspiration for ourselves and others. Participants
should bring their current projects to class. Scott is the author
of A Joyful Encounter: My Mother, My Alzheimer Clients, and Me. Ryan is the author
of Love Made of Heart. |
Teresa LeYung Ryan, left, and Lynn Scott |
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 "Mary E, Knippel")