Podcasts about san francisco writers conference

In this episode of the Moral Imagination Podcast I speak with Fr. J. Augustine Wetta about his book Humility Rules: Saint Benedict's Twelve-Step Guide to Genuine Self-Esteem. The world teaches us to assert ourselves, to follow our passions, to speak up, talk back, “get yours,” don't let anyone stand in your way. But it doesn't really work. As Tyler Durden proclaims in Fight Club: “We've all been raised on television to believe that one day we'd all be millionaires, and movie gods, and rock stars. But we won't. And we're slowly learning that fact.”In contrast to the world's and Fight Club's response (which we won't talk about), Fr. Augustine looks at the Rule of St. Benedict and his ladder of humility as a guide for real happiness and true self-esteem, which comes not from self-assertion, but from self-denial, selflessness, serving others, and not being a slave to one's own will and desires. We discuss Fr. Augustine journey from a lifeguard, surfer, and rugby player to a Benedictine monk, and some of his stories teaching high school students, and throwing himself into a rosebush. In his Rule for monks, St. Benedict explains that any progress toward holiness, happiness, and relationship with God and others must be grounded in humility. He describes humility as a ladder – with one side as the soul and the other as the body. …if we want to reach the highest summit of humility, if we desire to attain speedily that exaltation in heaven to which we climb by the humility of this present life, then by our ascending actions we must set up that ladder on which Jacob in a dream saw angels descending and ascending (Gen 28:12). Without doubt, this descent and ascent can signify only that we descend by exaltation and ascend by humility. Now the ladder erected is our life on earth, and if we humble our hearts the Lord will raise it to heaven. We may call our body and soul the sides of this ladder, into which our divine vocation has fitted the various steps of humility and discipline as we ascend. (St. John's Abbey) Fr. Augustine goes through each of the steps on the ladder of humility * Fear of God * Self-Denial * Obedience * Perseverance * Repentance * Serenity * Self-Abasement* Prudence * Silence * Dignity * Discration* Reverence The book is excellent. It is morally and spiritually serious and entertaining. I laughed out loud several times.Fr. Augustine offers apparently outlandish advice to to people struggling with anxiety, worry, and broken relationships* Don't speak up* Be someone's doormat* Don't follow your dreams* Put your worst foot forward And gives “homework” to practice each of the steps including:* Make no excuses next time you are reprimanded * Clean a toilet * Say thank you next time someone tells you something you already know * The next time you see something not done your way - leave it be if it worksIn addition to Humility Rules we discuss a number of topics including:· His book on decision making called , Pray, Think, Act: Make Better Decisions with the Desert Father· Joy cannot be grasped, but is the fruit of love and self-denial.· St. John Cassian and his writings on the eight vices – including the vice of self-esteem, and why focusing on ourselves prevents us from building good relationships and finding happiness.· Challenges of modern life, particularly the impact of digital distractions on mental health and spiritual well-being· The difference between contemporary meditation practices with traditional Catholic contemplative prayer.· The importance of cultivating an attitude of reverence and gratitude· The role of obedience in spiritual growth – and why it's probably not a good idea to throw oneself into a rosebush.· How chastity requires us to see others as persons and subjects, not objects for use· St. Benedict's rule on Silence, how silence increases mental clarity and attention to others, and the magnificent quote from Dom Paul Delatte OSB Commentary on the Rule of St. Benedict“The fundamental purpose of silence is to free the soul, to give it strength and leisure to adhere to God.It delivers us from the low tendencies of our nature and of fixing us in the good.“Biography Augustine Wetta is a monk of Saint Louis Abbey in Saint Louis Missouri. He has two degrees in Theology from Oxford University, a BA in Ancient Mediterranean Civilizations from Rice University, and an MA in English from Middlebury College. For twenty years, he has taught English, Classics, and Theology at the Priory School, in Saint Louis, Missouri, where he also coached rugby and served as Director of Chaplaincy.  In 2019, he was named a Portsmouth Institute Senior Fellow.  He writes for Our Sunday Visitor, and hosts a blog entitled "Disagreement" with Islamic social activist Umar Lee, and frequently appears on EWTN and Saint Joseph Radio.In 2014, he was awarded the Judson Jerome Poetry Award and the Bill Baker Award for Fiction at the Antioch Writers Workshop (the first author in the history of the conference to win both). In 2015, he was awarded the Taliaferro Award for Memoir Writers at the San Francisco Writers Conference, where he was also a finalist for the Emerging Writer Award.He is the author of several books: * Pray, Think, Act a book on decision-making based on the sayings of the Desert Fathers* The Eighth Arrow, a fantasy prison-break set in Dante's Inferno * Saving Grace, an illustrated children's book about a three-legged turtle.* Humility Rules: A 12 Step Guide to Genuine Self-Esteem which has sold over 100,000 copies and has been translated into five languagesThe son of an artist (Jean Carruthers Wetta) and a historian (Frank Wetta), Father Augustine was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana in 1971, but grew up in Galveston, Texas. There he learned to surf and developed an enormous ego as a lifeguard on the Galveston Sheriff Department Beach Patrol. During this time, he also worked as a professional juggler (“The Flying Fettuccinne Brothers”) and as an archaeologist (at the Agora in Athens). He remains an avid surfer. In fact, if you Google “surfing monk” his is the first name that comes up—along with a news report about how he was nearly eaten by a shark. Themes/Chapters of the Interview* 00:00 Introduction to Father Augustin Weta* 03:07 Exploring Humility and Self-Esteem* 05:55 St. Benedict's Ladder of Humility* 09:13 Fr. Wetta's Journey to Monastic Life* 12:03 The Role of Self-Denial* 14:52 The Importance of Silence* 18:11 Art, Beauty, and Truth* 21:04 Fear of God and Genuine Self-Esteem* 30:06 The Struggle with Digital Distractions* 34:12 The Importance of Silence in Modern Life* 37:29 Meditation vs. Contemplation: A Spiritual Perspective* 41:39 Understanding Lust and Chastity* 49:00 The Role of Reverence in Spiritual LifeResources J Augustine Wetta: Humility Rules: St. Benedict's 12-Step Guide to Genuine Self-Esteem J Augustine Wetta: Pray, Think, Act: Make Better Decisions with the Desert FathersPhilokalia Volume 1 - This is an amazing collection and it includes St. John Cassian on the Eight Vices Other Books related to the rule of St. Benedict Dom Paul Delatte, OSB —his Commentary on the Rule of St. Benedict is long and detailed but incredibly impressive and deep. Honestly it is probably not worth it unless you Here is the quote on silence from Dom Delatte that I refer to in the episode and I use a lot - especially in thinking about cultivating silence, but also in our age of over-information. I also recommend a visit to a Benedictine Abbey if you can. I have not visited St. Louis Abbey, but I have visited Clear Creek Abbey in Oklahoma several times. You can learn more about them here and get CDs of their chanting if you are interested. Photo Credit: Courtesy Augustine Wetta OSB Get full access to The Moral Imagination - Michael Matheson Miller at www.themoralimagination.com/subscribe

ALLi Campaigns Manager Matty Dalrymple speaks with Kathy Meis, founder and CEO of Bublish, about editing with your audience in mind. Kathy explains why authors should view their books as gifts to readers, designed to evoke specific emotions and experiences. She advises stepping back from the manuscript, studying the market, and understanding comparable titles to better position a book. Kathy also highlights the value of knowing your genre, reading reviews, and seeking editorial feedback to align with reader expectations. Find more author advice, tips, and tools at our self-publishing advice center. And, if you haven't already, we invite you to join our organization and become a self-publishing ally. Sponsors This podcast is proudly sponsored by Bookvault. Sell high-quality, print-on-demand books directly to readers worldwide and earn maximum royalties selling directly. Automate fulfillment and create stunning special editions with BookvaultBespoke. Visit Bookvault.app today for an instant quote. This podcast is also sponsored by Gatekeeper Press, the all-inclusive Gold Standard in Publishing, offering authors 100% rights, royalties, satisfaction and worldwide distribution. Gatekeeper Press, Where Authors are Family. About the Host Matty Dalrymple podcasts, writes, speaks, and consults on the writing craft and the publishing voyage as The Indy Author. She has written books on the business of short fiction and podcasting for authors, and her articles have appeared in Writer's Digest magazine. She serves as the campaigns manager for the Alliance of Independent Authors. Matty is also the author of the Lizzy Ballard Thrillers, beginning with Rock Paper Scissors; the Ann Kinnear Suspense Novels, beginning with The Sense of Death; and the Ann Kinnear Suspense Shorts, including Close These Eyes. She is a member of International Thriller Writers and Sisters in Crime. About the Guest Kathy Meis is the founder and CEO of Bublish, a complete publishing and marketing solution for self-publishers. As a veteran developmental editor and ghostwriter, Kathy has guided many books to Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon bestseller status. With more than thirty years of experience in media and publishing, she is a sought-after expert on independent publishing, book marketing, and author branding. She has spoken at BookExpo America, Women in Media, GrubStreet, PubSmart, the San Francisco Writers Conference, ALLi's SelfPubCon, and the Women in Publishing Summit. You can find Bublish on the web, LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and Facebook.  

Looking to take your writing career to the next level? In this video, we highlight 7 must-attend writing conferences for authors in California. Whether you're a new writer or an established author, these events are perfect for networking, learning from industry experts, and improving your craft. From workshops to panel discussions, discover which California author conferences are right for you! #authortubechannel #authorconference #authortips #californiaauthors #selfpublishing ALA Annual Conference & Exhibition- https://alaannual.org. (This one travels so it may not be in Cali at the time you watch this video) Bay Area Book Festival- https://www.baybookfest.org/ Black Writers On Tour- https://www.blackwritersontour.com/ Los Angeles Times Festival of Books- https://events.latimes.com/festivalofbooks/ WonderCon- https://www.comic-con.org/ San Francisco Writers Conference- https://www.sfwriters.org/ Rancho Mirage Writers Festival- https://www.rmwritersfest.org/ Subscribe and ring the bell to get weekly tips that will help you write your book and get published! ======================================= GOT QUESTIONS? GET ANSWERS, CONTACT ME! ======================================= ▶ EMAIL: hello@ashleymking.com ▶ SCHEDULE A TIME TO TALK WITH ME: ASHLEYMKING.AS.ME ================================================= SUBSCRIBE & JOIN THE CONVERSATION ON SOCIAL MEDIA Interact with me Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/publishwithashleymking Instagram - http://instagram.com/publishwithashleymking/ Pinterest- http://pinterest.com/theashleymking Linkedin- https://www.linkedin.com/in/theashleymking/ Twitter: http://twitter.com/theashleymking Fanbase- https://www.fanbase.app/theashleymking TikTok- https://www.tiktok.com/@theashleymking?_t=8V59WfiQUpC&_r=1 ===================================================== Affiliate Disclaimer: While we receive affiliate compensation for reviews / promotions on this page, we always offer honest opinion, relevant experiences and genuine views related to the product or service itself. Our goal is to help you make the best purchasing decisions, however, the views and opinions expressed are ours only. As always you should do your own due diligence to verify any claims, results and statistics before making any kind of purchase. Clicking links or purchasing products recommended on this page may generate income for this website from affiliate commissions and you should assume we are compensated for any purchases you make. This channel is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for website owners to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, audible.com, and any other website that may be affiliated with Amazon Service LLC Associates Program. Earnings Disclaimer: This video is for educational and entertainment purposes only. There is no guarantee that you will earn any money using the techniques and ideas mentioned in this video. This is not financial advice. Your level of success in attaining the results claimed in this video will require hard-work, experience, and knowledge. We have taken reasonable steps to ensure that the information on this video is accurate, but we cannot represent that the website(s) mentioned in this video are free from errors. You expressly agree not to rely upon any information contained in this video. ==================================================================Subscribe to Get It Done Podcast- Books, Business, and Branding on Soundwise

Indie authors are told that in order to be successful, "you've got to find your tribe" and "build your community." But how exactly do you do that? Where do you start? And once you gain some traction, how do you nurture your community to help it grow and thrive? Enter Amanda Traylor (also writing under June Patrick), an award-winning author of more than twenty novels ranging from domestic suspense to escapist rom-coms. As a speaker, coach, and board member of the San Francisco Writers Conference, she's grown accustomed to expanding her network. But it wasn't always like that. Join us as Amanda shares her journey and provides practical, actionable advice to help any author build their community. //Draft2Digital is where you start your Indie Author Career//  Looking for your path to self-publishing success? Draft2Digital is the leading ebook publisher and distributor worldwide. We'll convert your manuscript, distribute it online, and support you the whole way—and we won't charge you a dime.  We take a small percentage of the royalties for each sale you make through us, so we only make money when you make money. That's the best kind of business plan.  • Get started now: https://draft2digital.com/• Learn the ins, the outs, and the all-arounds of indie publishing from the industry experts on the D2D Blog: https://Draft2Digital.com/blog  • Promote your books with our Universal Book Links from Books2Read: https://books2read.com  Make sure you bookmark https://D2DLive.com for links to live events, and to catch back episodes of the Self Publishing Insiders Podcast.

On this episode, Shanta speaks with returning guest Lalit Kumar as they discuss his new book- "Yosemite of My Heart, Poems of Adventure in California", as well as work/life balance and much more.Lalit Kumar likes to write both poetry and prose around the themes of adventure and exploration. He currently writes a monthly column in ‘India Currents' called ‘Road Raves' sharing his passion for adventure sports. His last book “Years Spent : Exploring Poetry in Adventure, Life and Love”, was among top three Selects in Poetry genre featured in ‘Indie Spotlight' by Book Life/Publishers Weekly, 25th July 2022. His poems have also featured in various anthologies including “Everything Intensely”, San Francisco Writers Conference 2022. Find him on Instagram @lalitk06 or on his website at www.lalitkumaronline.com

The San Francisco Writers Conference enjoys a rich literary culture. Over the last 19 years, the conference has continued to evolve as technologies and publishing pathways continue to change. Today we sit down with conference director Laurie McLean to learn what about goes into to planning such an event, and what authors can expect to gain.//Draft2Digital is where you start your Indie Author Career//  Looking for your path to self-publishing success? Draft2Digital is the leading ebook publisher and distributor worldwide. We'll convert your manuscript, distribute it online, and support you the whole way—and we won't charge you a dime.  We take a small percentage of the royalties for each sale you make through us, so we only make money when you make money. That's the best kind of business plan.  • Get started now: https://draft2digital.com/• Learn the ins, the outs, and the all-arounds of indie publishing from the industry experts on the D2D Blog: https://Draft2Digital.com/blog  • Promote your books with our Universal Book Links from Books2Read: https://books2read.com  Make sure you bookmark https://D2DLive.com for links to live events, and to catch back episodes of the Self Publishing Insiders Podcast.

Karlee Vincent has managed technology and branding events for 100,000 attendees while struggling to breastfeed during cross-country travel. Her persistence led to new company policies, including breast milk shipments sent from the road to a mom's home at company expense. Karlee was also the driving force behind the establishment of a mothers' room, a private space for nursing moms at every company conference.Karlee's passion for empowering nursing moms in the workplace is the inspiration behind the Traveling Milk Truck. Her essays have appeared in Scary Mommy, Tiny Beans and TODAY's Parenting Team.She has been interviewed on podcasts such as The Breastfeeding Talk Podcast and Compassionate Mindfulness, named one of Canada's top 10 mindfulness podcasts. Karlee has also been a featured expert for articles published on WSJ, CNN, Ms. Magazine, SFWC blog and has appeared on the Tamron Hall Show. She was a guest speaker at the San Francisco Writers Conference in July 2022.Karlee, her husband, and their two school-aged daughters, live near San Francisco.www.karleevincent.comwww.travelingmilktruck.comFacebook | Instagram | Twitter | TikTokFind the youtube video interview here!For more from Cappella, follow us on all social media channels:Website | Instagram | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter | YoutubeTo get in touch with us, send us an email at hello@cappella.io! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/cappella/message

This episode is all about cause and effect, what it is, why it is critical in fiction despite being largely absent in real life, and how it works line by line as stimulus and response. In chapter 3 of his book Scene and Structure, Jack Bickham has some hard rules about applying and ordering stimulus, internalization, and response. We examine our own writing to see if it follows the proscribed format.And, as a bonus, we start the episode off with  interviews we did at the San Francisco Writers Conference that we're calling "Confessions of Craft Book Addicts"Want to learn more, check out our show notes.Want to hear more of our exercise workshop? We post the bonus podcast, SnarkNotes, and detailed write up of the exercises on our Words to Write by Patreon account.*Support this podcast on Patreon*

* A graduate of the School of Library and Information Studies, UC Berkeley, Kate Farrell has been a language arts classroom teacher, an author, a librarian, a university lecturer, and a storyteller since 1966. She founded the Word Weaving Storytelling Project, and she has published numerous educational materials on the art of storytelling. Kate edited the anthology, Wisdom Has a Voice: Every Daughter's Memories of Mother, and co-edited two others: Times They Were A-Changing: Women Remember the '60s & 70s and Cry of the Nightbird: Writers Against Domestic Violence. She is past president of the San Francisco Chapter of the Women's National Book Association and a presenter for the San Francisco Writers Conference. * Podcast host Matthew Félix asked Kate about the importance of stories. He also asked about the history of oral storytelling, as well as the resurgence it has enjoyed since the 1970s. * Kate explained the difference between telling a story orally and writing it down, highlighting the role that a live audience has as cocreator in the experience. She also discussed how storytelling foments change, both for the audience and the storyteller themselves. * Storytelling is not just for the stage, but also has practical, day-to-day applications, as illustrated by three types of stories: defining, signature, and personal branding, which Matthew and Kate discussed. * Kate explained the benefits of having a repertoire of stories at the ready for different circumstances. * Kate shared ways of gathering stories, as well as how to choose which ones might best be suited to storytelling. * Matthew asked Kate about the features essential to every story, and they reviewed the seven steps to preparing a story to be told—Kate emphasizing that stories should not be memorized. * Kate shared key things to keep in mind while performing, including important aspects of vocalization and the importance of making eye contact with the audience. * Matthew asked Kate about what she referred to as the cutting edge of storytelling: weaving or braiding archetypes with personal narratives. Listen here or on: iTunes | Stitcher | Spotify | Google | TuneIn | Amazon | Player FM | Deezer Watch on YouTube   Links https://katefarrell.net/

* Elisabeth Kauffman is the Marketing Director for the San Francisco Writers Conference, as well as an independent editor, an author, and an artist. She edits fiction and memoir for independent clients as well as for publishing companies, and she coaches writers on finding their voices and connecting to the magic in their creative lives. Elisabeth offers workshops for local writing groups on topics such as using tarot in the drafting and revising process and tapping your creative potential through visual arts. * Podcast host Matthew Felix and Elisabeth discussed creativity, including how and why Elisabeth believes it is an act of self-love, tips for getting unstuck creatively, dealing with impostor syndrome, and more. * Elisabeth recently published a tarot deck and book, Lunaria , to help authors and other creatives connect with their creativity. * Elisabeth shared some of the history of the tarot, how she got interested, and why she decided to develop her own deck, in collaboration with visual artist Jennifer Gerhart. * Elisabeth described how she adapted the traditional tarot deck to one tailored to the needs of writers, including replacing the traditional arcana (e.g., Cups became Inkwells), making the deck gender neutral (e.g., Knights became Apprentices), and associating each major arcana card with a famous writer. * Elisabeth explained specific ways in which writers can use the cards for insight and inspiration. * Lunaria was funded by a Kickstarter project. Elisabeth described her experience with Kickstarter, including lessons learned from not funding the first time around and recommendations for other creatives considering using Kickstarter to fund their own initiatives.   Listen here or on: iTunes | Stitcher | Spotify | Google | TuneIn | Amazon | Player FM | Deezer Watch on YouTube   Links www.writingrefinery.com www.facebook.com/elisabeth.kauffman.731 www.instagram.com/fairbetty/   Title The Tarot, Creativity, & Kickstarter with Elisabeth Kauffman   Keywords tarot, creativity, kickstarter, funding, writing process

* Charlie Jane Anders is the author of The City in the Middle of the Night and All the Birds in the Sky. Her fiction and journalism have appeared in the New York Times, the Washington Post, McSweeney's, Mother Jones, Tor.com, Wired, and elsewhere. Her TED Talk, "Go Ahead, Dream About the Future" got 700,000 views in its first week. Along with Annalee Newitz, she co-hosts the podcast Our Opinions Are Correct. Charlie Jane will be a keynote speaker at the 2022 San Francisco Writers Conference. * Charlie Jane talked about two books that she has published recently: the nonfiction "Never Say You Can't Survive" and the young adult fiction, "Victories Greater than Death."  * "Never Say You Can't Survive" is "a mixture of encouragement, ideas for how to use writing to feel OK in a world that's not OK, and actual technical advice on stuff like characts, plot, and worldbuilding." * Podcast host Matthew Felix and Charlie Jane discussed many of the topics in the book, including how to strike the right balance between outlining and allowing for spontaneous creativity; the challenge writers sometimes have in giving themselves permission to write; imagination as a form of resistance; and navigating the challenge of representing without appropriating. * Matthew and Charlie Jane talked about impostor syndrome and how to get beyond it. * Charlie Jane talked about the art of worldbuilding (i.e., creating fictional worlds), and how daydreaming, researching the past, and more can help with the process. * She also elaborated on an observation she made in her Tedx talk that “the world ends all the time, and we keep going.” * "Victories Greater than Death" is about a young woman - a clone - who is the keeper of an interplanetary rescue beacon that is about to activate, making her dreams of saving all the worlds and adventuring among the stars possible. * Charlie Jane explained the challenges of writing a young adult novel, including finding the right pace and voice. She also discussed how she knew this book was just the first in a trilogy, as well as the book's exploration of gender identity.  * Charlie Jane talked about the worldbuilding that went into "Victories Greater than Death," the challenges of writing the forthcoming second book in the series, and the possibility of returning to this world for other books. * Charlie Jane shared the future of her popular San Francisco reading series, Writers with Drinks.   Listen here or on: iTunes | Stitcher | Spotify | Google | TuneIn | Amazon | Player FM | Deezer Watch on YouTube   Links www.charliejaneanders.com www.facebook.com/charliejane www.instagram.com/charliejaneanders/

  About Rocky Lang Rocky Lang has been involved in the motion picture and television business all his life. He has produced, written and directed motion pictures, documentaries, television shows, movies-of-the-week and mini-series. Mr. Lang recently executive produced Girl Fight for Lifetime Television and Racing For Time starring Charles Dutton, which received a Best Picture nomination for the Image Awards. Lang is currently developing The Patty Hearst Story at CBS and a two-hour untitled movie for Lifetime Television. Mr. Lang has just completed a book for Abrams Books, titled Letters From Hollywood that will be published in September of 2019. He is the author of eight other books, including How I Broke Into Hollywood, which was published by Judith Regan and Regan Books/Harper-Collins, Confessions of Emergency Room Doctors (Andrews McMeel), The Big Nasty (Cable), and Growing Up Hollywood, Differences Differences, Lara Takes Charge and If You Thought Your Divorce Was Bad, Wait Until You Read This Book (HLPI Publishing). Mr. Lang has been published in The Huffington Post and other papers and magazines and has appeared at Book Expo America, Publishers University, the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, the San Francisco Writers Conference and other conventions across the country.

Two writers share their stories as young girls in the segregated South, one black and one white. The storytelling is followed by a rich conversation about race in America. Music by Chic Street Man. Have you ever wanted to have a conversation about race but were unsure how to begin? Perhaps you have wondered how to create lasting friendships based on deep conversations about racism? Please join us for a heartfelt, eye-opening exploration.ABOUTSheryl Bize-Boutte Pushcart Prize nominee Sheryl J. Bize-Boutte is an Oakland multidisciplinary writer whose autobiographical and fictional short story collections, along with her lyrical and stunning poetry, artfully succeed in getting across deeper meanings about the politics of race and economics without breaking out of the narrative. Her first novel, Betrayal on the Bayou, was followed with a poetry collection written with her daughter Dr. Angela M. Boutte, titled No Poetry No Peace, published in 2020.  She is a popular literary reader, presenter, storyteller, curator, and emcee for local events. Kate FarrellAs a storyteller, author, and librarian, Kate founded the Word Weaving Storytelling Project and published numerous educational materials on storytelling. She has contributed to and edited award-winning anthologies of personal narrative, Times They Were A-Changing: Women Remember the 60s & 70s, and Cry of the Nightbird: Writers Against Domestic Violence. Farrell's new book, on the art of storytelling for adults, is Story Power: Secrets to Creating, Crafting, and Telling Memorable Stories. Recently, Farrell presented workshops for adults on the art of storytelling at the San Francisco Writers Conference. Kate is now offering virtual workshops for libraries and writing groups, as well as performing virtually as a storyteller.Chic Street ManChic Streetman has been called an Ambassador for Peace & Goodwill. He has performed at the General Assembly of the United Nations in New York and in two Peace Child productions touring to Russia and Poland.Chic recorded his first album in Paris, France and has released numerous albums: Guns Away; Everybody Be Yo’self;  Beau-ti-ful, Lullablues, and a single called Sidewinder.  On this show, you’ll get to hear some brand new songs from Chic’s newest album, Left Foot Down, produced by his friend Keb Mo.In addition to concerts and festivals, Chic is an award winning composer,  performer  and theater director who has composed and performed in an extensive list of theatrical productions. To name just a few:He received an Audelco Award and an NAACP Theater Arts Award for his music and performance in Spunk. He composed the score and starred in the Berkeley Repertory Theater’s production of The Caucasian Chalk Circle. He was a contributing author, performer and musical arranger for the Denver Center Theater Company’s It Ain’t Nothin’ But The Blues, and toured with the show.  For a full list of Chic’s many accomplishments, go to: https://chicstreetman.com  Find his music here:  https://chicstreetman.hearnow.com/

Podcast Program Director and Host Matthew Félix introduced himself, sharing his three books and how he got into podcasting and his new role with the San Francisco Writers Conference podcast. Matthew provided an overview of the podcast relaunch, including the following changes: longer episodes (one hour); availability on major podcast platforms; video on the conference YouTube channel; a new name, still TBD. Matthew introduced conference director Laurie McLean and spoke briefly with her about her trajectory as a literary agent and her history with the conference. Laurie shared the conference goings-on for 2021 - even though the conference itself did not take place this year - including: ongoing Zoom classes in collaboration with the Mechanics' Institute; Pub Quiz with Andy Jones in March; Poetry Open Mic in April; Agent Pitch-a-Thon in May. Operations Manager Lissa Provost provided additional details about the Pub Quiz and Poetry Open Mic. She also shared information about this year's new conference writing contest, which includes an anthology. Asked about 2022, Laurie explained that the conference will take place, hopefully in person but - if for some reason that is not possible - definitely online.

Kate Farrell, storyteller, author, librarian, founded the Word Weaving Storytelling Project and published numerous educational materials on storytelling. Farrell's new book, a timely how-to guide on the art of storytelling for adults, Story Power: Secrets to Creating, Crafting, and Telling Memorable Stories, was released in June. Recently, Farrell presented workshops for adults on the art of storytelling at the San Francisco Public Library, Mechanics Institute, and the San Francisco Writers Conference. Kate is now offering virtual workshops for libraries and writing groups, as well as performing virtually as a storyteller. https://katefarrell.net/Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/PostcardstotheUniverse)

Kate Farrell – Story PowerAir Date: 18 November 2020 at 4:00 PM ET/1:00 PM ETKate Farrell, storyteller, author, librarian, founded the Word Weaving Storytelling Project and published numerous educational materials on storytelling. Farrell's new book, a timely how-to guide on the art of storytelling for adults, Story Power: Secrets to Creating, Crafting, and Telling Memorable Stories, was released in June.Recently, Farrell presented workshops for adults on the art of storytelling at the San Francisco Public Library, Mechanics Institute, and the San Francisco Writers Conference. Kate is now offering virtual workshops for libraries and writing groups, as well as performing virtually as a storyteller.Connect with Kate at https://katefarrell.net/Visit the Show Page at https://omtimes.com/iom/shows/postcards-to-the-universeConnect with Melisa Caprio at https://www.postcardstotheuniverse.com/#KateFarrell #StoryPower #PostcardsToTheUniverse #MelisaCaprio

D2D's Kevin Tumlinson chats with Carla King about travel writing, the San Francisco Writers Conference, and her author-helping services, Destination Published and Self-Pub Boot Camp!//Draft2Digital is where you start your Indie Author Career//Looking for your path to self-publishing success? Draft2Digital is the leading ebook publisher and distributor. We’ll convert your manuscript, distribute it online, and support you the whole way, and we won’t charge you a dime. We take a cut of royalties on each sale you make through us, so we only make money when you make money!• Get started:  https://Draft2Digital.com Get insider info on indie author success from our blog.• Visit: https://Draft2Digital.com/blogTune in to our monthly livestreams and ask us anything!• D2D Live: https://D2DLive.comPromote your books with our Universal Book Links!• Books2Read: https://books2read.com//Get ahead of the Self-Publishing game with our Amazing Partners//Findaway Voices || Find a narrator, produce your audiobook, and distribute it to retailers worldwide, including Audible.com and Apple Books.• http://findawayvoices.com/d2dReedsy || Assemble your team of publishing professionals! Find editors, cover designers, marketing experts, ghostwriters and more.• https://reedsy.comBookBrush || Build graphics and video that help you market and promote your books.• https://bookbrush.com/d2d-mockups///Join the D2D Community Online//Facebook || https://facebook.com/draft2digitalTwitter || https://twitter.com/draft2digital

America remains a dream for many immigrants, whose myriad stories span decades and generations. L.N. Gruer’s illuminating debut novel “The Blue Tartar” chronicles five immigrant women, all bound by a history that takes them from the killing fields in Ukraine to the fire-scorched Hollywood Hills. An immigrant herself, Gruer was born and raised in the former Soviet Union. She won first place at the San Francisco Writers Conference for her poetry collection “I Sing of Things Unspoken” and is also an award-winning essayist. In addition, she’s written nonfiction works on therapeutic nutrition, including her groundbreaking book on mineral deficiencies in children. Find out more on Books That Make You. You can also follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

Today on the podcast, I'm talking with Grant Faulkner, executive director of NaNoWriMo. He talks with me about how writing a novel in a month is a great metaphor for being a productive leader and artist.  NaNoWriMo is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides tools, structure, community, and encouragement to help people find their voices, achieve creative goals and build new worlds — on and off the page. Their claim to fame is in their namesake -- National Novel Writing Month, which happens every November. I personally have done NaNoWriMo twice -- once for a yet unpublished novel and once for the memoir I'm working on right now. Writing a Novel is a lot like any other kind of project where you'll have a crisis of confidence in what you're working on. We all have the shiny new object syndrome when that happens and Grant gives some advice on how to handle that along with insights on how to jump-start your creativity. I interviewed Grant at the 2020 San Francisco Writers Conference at the Hyatt Regency in Downtown San Francisco. I'd like to thank them for letting me crash a conference room. They are some great people. You'll hear why during the interview. You might hear some background noise and me fumbling a bit with the microphone. Apologize ahead of time for that.  Now, let's get better, together. Actions to Try or Advice to Take Do a Time Hunt: Take a week and figure out where all your time is spent. Log in all and see where you might have some free time confetti. Find your Time Confetti: Small blocks of time (~10 minutes) to achieve progress towards your goals. Look for them around checking email and social media. Make Your Creative Time: wake up early, go to bed late, don't watch NetFlix, or stop reading the news. Start Everyday Anew: The past is the past. Try and start your day fresh from what happened yesterday. What's the most important thing: What prioritizes to you have in a day and what's the most important thing to get done independently of whether or not it's fun for you. Renew your self-confidence: You cannot make or even market something if you don't believe in it. Renew your self-confidence even when things are not working out. Links to Explore Further National Write a Novel in a Month San Francisco Writers Conference Ray Dalio's Principles Grant on Twitter and his website NaNoWriMo on Twitter Author Hugh Howey -- self-publishing success and self-confidence. Keep In TouchBlog or Twitter or LinkedIn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Paul’s fresh off the San Francisco Writers conference, and he shares what he learned. Plus, should you pay for notes on your scripts? The eternal debate rages on. Paul's Blog: https://maximumz.blog/ Justin's Amazon page: https://www.amazon.com/Justin-Sloan/e/B00OJPAM0K/ PT's Amazon page: https://www.amazon.com/P.T.-Hylton/e/B00J8K7KWY/ Get the Creative Writing Life book: https://www.amazon.com/Creative-Writing-Life-Justin-Sloan-ebook/dp/B07YR2FMYK/

Get ready and find out how to launch your book to five-star reviews with beta readers, a high-converting website, and ownership of your book data in this podcast. Carla King hosts the Author Friendly podcast and runs the self-publishing and technology track for the San Francisco Writers Conference. Get ready and find out how to launch your book to five-star reviews with beta readers, a high-converting website, and ownership of your book data in this FREE webinar. In this episode, you will learn how to launch your book to five-star reviews with: Beta readersA high-converting websiteAnd, ownership of your book

The San Francisco Writers Conference Podcast: THREE QUESTIONS ABOUT..   Meet Kevin Smokler, the "unofficial educator" for the San Francisco Writers Conference. Kevin was the founder and publisher of Central Booking, which grew to serve nearly 50,000 bibliophiles worldwide and was praised by media outlets such as Wired, USA Today, and Forbes, which referred to it as the "Paris Review of the 21st Century.” He is a writer, public speaker and performer based in San Francisco. He writes about technology and culture, is the author of several books including Brat Pack America: A Love Letter to 80s Teen Movies, Practical Classics: 50 Reasons to Reread 50 Books You Haven’t Read Since High School, Bookmark Now: Writing in Unreaderly Times and The Customer is Always Wrong: The Retail Chronicles.   Listen in as host Alex White asks Kevin three questions about the publishing industry today. Lots of great insight.

Literary Agent Jennifer March Soloway and I discuss the types of projects she's looking for, how she evaluates queries and writing samples, and the sorts of services she provides to her clients. She demonstrates her vast knowledge of the market and why she would be an ideal literary agent to represent authors, and throws out plenty of fabulous tips for writers. This is an episode you'll want to listen to a few times and take notes. Jennifer March Soloway represents authors and illustrators of picture book, middle grade, and YA stories, and is actively building her list. Although she specializes in children’s literature, she also represents adult fiction, both literary and commercial, particularly crime and psychological suspense projects. For picture books, she is drawn to a wide range of stories from silly to sweet, but she always appreciates a strong dose of humor and some kind of surprise at the end. When it comes to middle grade, she likes all kinds of genres, including adventures, mysteries, spooky-but-not-too-scary ghost stories, humor, realistic contemporary, and fantasy. YA is Jennifer’s sweet spot. She is a suspense junkie. She adores action-packed thrillers full of unexpected twists. Throw in a dash of romance and she’s hooked! She's a huge fan of psychological horror that blurs the lines between the real and the imagined. But as much as she loves a good thriller, she finds her favorite novels are literary stories about ordinary teens, especially those focused on family, relationships, sexuality, mental illness, or recovery. In such stories, she is particularly drawn to a close, confiding first-person narrative. Regardless of genre, she is actively seeking fresh new voices and perspectives underrepresented in literature. That’s her wish list, but the truth is an author might have something she has never considered before, and it might be absolutely perfect for her. She is open to any good story that is well written with a strong, authentic voice. Surprise her! Prior to joining ABLA, Jennifer worked in marketing and public relations in a variety of industries, including financial services, health care, and toys. She has an MFA in English and Creative Writing from Mills College and was a fellow at the San Francisco Writer’s Grotto in 2012. She lives in San Francisco with her husband, their two sons, and an English bulldog. Jennifer regularly presents at writing conferences all over the country, including the San Francisco Writers Conference, the Atlanta Writers Conference, and regional SCBWI conferences. For her latest conference schedule, craft tips and more, follow Jennifer on Twitter (@marchsoloway). MiddleGradeNinja.com andreabrownlit.com

Rob Price is a self-published author turned publisher who founded Gatekeeper Press to level the playing field of the book-publishing industry. The company provides full-service publishing and a la carte services for authors. Gatekeeper is run by Rob and his wife Takako along with a staff of editors, designers and data entry people. They offer a wide and varied distribution network to protect you against possible distribution outages. They also offer lowest-cost printing I’ve seen in an on-demand service, and you’ll learn why. In this episode, we walk through the publishing process from editing, design, and distribution. You’ll learn how long each step takes so you can schedule your book launch. I met Rob at the IBPA conference when he was Chairman of the IBPA, and have gotten to know him in my role as self-publishing and tech track leader at the San Francisco Writers Conference. Authors I know who have used Gatekeeper rave about the service.

Laurie McLean wears many hats. She is the Director of the San Francisco Writers Conference, a literary agent, Founder of Fuse Literary, and a former Silicon Valley marketing and PR professional. I asked her to talk about the February 2019 conference and the return on investment for the money and the time for this or any conference. You’ll learn what makes the San Francisco conference different and how to get the most of it. How to organize your time between the sessions, exhibitors, and the agents, getting to know some of the 500 other participants, not to mention the opportunities for deeper learning in the pre- and post-conference workshops. There are over 100 presenters in the various tracks: Fiction, Non-Fiction, YA and Children’s, Self-Publishing and Technology (my track), Business and Marketing, and an Etc. track that includes sessions on audiobooks and book to screen to name just a couple. I hope you enjoy this discussion and that it encourages you to attend a conference here or wherever you are. Listen and find out why.

Paul Toth’s interest in science fiction may have started in an extremely remote town in Alaska where fantasy role playing helped add to the variety of life. But through moves to San Francisco and Boise and now Omaha, Paul has kept up his interest in science fiction and today he is shopping his first book. On the podcast, Paul talks a bit about a recent guest post on the RMFW blog about where science fiction ideas come from. He also tells us about that first book, which involves a rogue planet and an unusual zoo, and he talks about pitching his book as one of hundreds of other writers at Writer’s Digest Pitch Slam. Paul Toth is a technologist by day, sci-fi author by night, and full-time seeker of truth and the perfect pizza. After attending numerous writing conferences, including Writer’s Digest, Muse, and the San Francisco Writers Conference, he’s more than a little certain that RMFW’s yearly conference, that would be Colorado Gold, is the one to beat. Paul Toth's website Intro music by Moby Outro music by Dan-o-Songs

Donna was hailed by the Los Angeles Times as "a novelist to keep high on your reading list" thanks to her previous novels (Extraordinary Means and California Street), and now she's about to release a gorgeous, gripping novel about a mother who faces increasing hostility and an uncertain future when her son Jack, a young boy with Asperger's, is accused of killing a classmate, There’s More Than One Way Home. Read more about her latest book here! “Intriguing and gut-wrenching…reminiscent of Liane Moriarty...A witty, modern voice delivers a captivating tale about a mysterious death that feels like a light read but soon submerges the reader deep in the throes of substance.” -Kirkus ABOUT DONNA'S BOOK Image may contain: 1 person, textThere’s More Than One Way Home: Anna Kagen seems to have it all: She’s young, beautiful, and married to a wealthy, prominent man. But within the walls of her San Francisco mansion, she spends her time dodging her husband’s barbs and hunting down potential friends for her son, Jack, a 10-year-old on the autistic spectrum. That old life suddenly seems idyllic when, on a school field trip, she makes the small error in judgment that sets in motion a chain of events that leads to another boy’s death. Suddenly Jack is a suspect, her husband’s career is in jeopardy, and Anna has to choose between loyalty to her son…and what may be her one chance at happiness. ABOUT DONNA Donna taught fiction writing for two decades, most notably at the University of California Extension at Berkeley, where she led the Novel-Writing Workshop. Her first novel, Extraordinary Means (William Morrow), was celebrated by Kirkus as a “a witty, clear-eyed debut,” and the San Francisco Chronicle described it as “an extraordinarily lively, funny novel.” The Los Angeles Times called her second novel, California Street (Simon & Schuster) “inventive…thought-provoking and fun to read,” and The San Francisco Examiner called it “a lifeboat in a sea of featureless fiction.” Both of Donna’s novels were optioned for film. Donna taught fiction writing for two decades, most notably at the University of California Extension at Berkeley. She lives in San Francisco. Donna published her first novel, Extraordinary Means, with William Morrow. Kirkus called it “a witty, clear-eyed debut,” and the San Francisco Chronicle described it as “an extraordinarily lively, funny novel.” Her second novel, California Street, was published by Simon & Schuster. Digby Diehl wrote in the Los Angeles Times, “This is an inventive novel that is thought-provoking and fun to read, and Levin … is a novelist to keep high on your reading list.” The San Francisco Examiner called it “a lifeboat in a sea of featureless fiction.” Both of Donna’s novels were optioned for film. Donna has published two books about writing,Get that Novel Started and Get that Novel Written, both with Writer’s Digest Books. Get that Novel Written was translated into Italian and published by Dino Audino Editore. Donna taught fiction writing for two decades, most notably at the University of California Extension at Berkeley, where she led the Novel-Writing Workshop. Many of her students have gone on to publish, including Frank Baldwin (Balling the Jack and Jake and Mimi), Terry Gamble (Water Dancers and Good Family), and Mark Coggins, author of the August Riordan mysteries. She has also been a frequent guest at writers’ conferences, including the San Francisco Writers’ Conference and the Squaw Valley Community of Writers. For many years she was a freelance book reviewer for the San Francisco Chronicle and a columnist for the San Francisco Independent. Donna’s work is included in Boston University’s 20th Century Archives and in the California State Library’s collection of California novels. She lives in San Francisco. About the Publisher: Chickadee Prince Books is a young Brooklyn small publisher of acclaimed fiction and non-fiction. CPB publishes the Watt O’Hugh literary science fiction series, and in 2016 published the critical hit, Max’s Diamonds by Jay Greenfield. CPB will publish five new titles in Spring 2017. http://www.donnalevin.com/

Otto is best known for his passionate and precise approach to exploring and developing hidden brilliance and suppressed intelligence as creative assets in individuals and organizations. He is a nationally known expert on genius and innovation who has transformed the lives of his clients as a coach, speaker and co-author of “Yes, You Are a Genius – Whether You Know it or Not”. Mr. Lang is the author of eight books, including How I Broke Into Hollywood, which was published by Judith Regan and Regan Books/Harper-Collins. His other books include Confessions of Emergency Room Doctors(Andrews McMeel), The Big Nasty (Cable), and Growing Up Hollywood, Differences Differences, Lara Takes Charge and If You Thought Your Divorce Was Bad, Wait Until You Read This Book (HLPI Publishing). Mr. Lang has been published in The Huffington Post and other papers and magazines and has appeared at Book Expo America, Publishers University, the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, the San Francisco Writers Conference and other conventions across the country.

Join us as we discuss Kidlit, writing on Wattled (she was discovered because of her insanely high number of followers), traditional vs self-publishing, what it's like to have an amazing agent like Laurie McClain, and more!

Author Seamus Beirne joins the program today to talk about his book, "Breakout from Sugar Island." Seamus will talk about his writing style, inspirations and how he decided this was going to be his first book to publish! Call 323 657-1493 to ask this talented author a question and join the fun!   Seamus Beirne grew up in Ireland and emigrated to the United States at eighteen to study for the priesthood. After ordination he went to Southern California to teach Latin and English in a Catholic high school. Things happened fast after that: he earned an M.A. in English, met his future wife, left the priesthood, got his first Social Security card, got married, and had three children. He spent the next twenty-five years as a high school English teacher and administrator, including a stint as president of the teachers union. Although he had written opinion pieces for the Los Angeles Times and contributed to school newsletters,he never attempted to write fiction until seven years ago. Since that time he's completed three historical novels one of which, Breakout From Sugar Island, was published by Fireship Press in September, 2015. He's received the following awards: Conference Choice Award winner for adult fiction, San Diego Writers Conference, 2010, 2011, and 2012. Runner-up for adult fiction, San Francisco Writers Conference, 2010. Finalist in the Pacific Northwest Writers Association Conference, 2011.  

Author Seamus Beirne joins the program today to talk about his book, "Breakout from Sugar Island." Seamus will talk about his writing style, inspirations and how he decided this was going to be his first book to publish! Call 323 657-1493 to ask this talented author a question and join the fun!   Seamus Beirne grew up in Ireland and emigrated to the United States at eighteen to study for the priesthood. After ordination he went to Southern California to teach Latin and English in a Catholic high school. Things happened fast after that: he earned an M.A. in English, met his future wife, left the priesthood, got his first Social Security card, got married, and had three children. He spent the next twenty-five years as a high school English teacher and administrator, including a stint as president of the teachers union. Although he had written opinion pieces for the Los Angeles Times and contributed to school newsletters,he never attempted to write fiction until seven years ago. Since that time he's completed three historical novels one of which, Breakout From Sugar Island, was published by Fireship Press in September, 2015. He's received the following awards: Conference Choice Award winner for adult fiction, San Diego Writers Conference, 2010, 2011, and 2012. Runner-up for adult fiction, San Francisco Writers Conference, 2010. Finalist in the Pacific Northwest Writers Association Conference, 2011.  

Coach Cafe' Radio is thrilled to welcome author and publisher Brenda Knight! Brenda is a twenty-two year publishing veteran who started her career at HarperCollins, where she fell in love with publishing and had the thrill of working with major authors like Huston Smith, Paolo Coehlo, and Melody Beattie.   In 2008 she joined Cleis Press as associate publisher and sales manager. Not long after, she launched Viva Editions, a new imprint dedicated to publishing books that inform, enlighten, and entertain. The very name, "Viva!” is celebratory. And while Viva Editions is a line of books that are as fun as they are informational, the intention behind Viva is very serious—these are books that are truly helpful and intended to enhance people's lives.   An accomplished author, Brenda Knight wrote Women of the Beat Generation, which won an American Book Award. She is also the author of Wild Women and Books and other tomes. Knight volunteers for the American Cancer Society as a counselor for the newly diagnosed and leads a writing workshop titled “Putting Your Passion on Paper” at the San Francisco Writers Conference, Book Passage, and East West in Mountain View. Brenda’s  book, The Grateful Table: Blessings, Prayers and Graces for the Daily Meal (November 2013), shares 365 blessings that light the way toward cultivating gratitude every day.    Her newest book is Be a Good in the World: 365 Days of Good Deeds, Inspired Ideas and Acts of Kindness, a book of good days filled with great ideas for making a difference. Visit Brenda Knight- vivaeditions.com Get to know your hosts- Kathleen Martin-kathleenmartincoaching.com Estra Roell-americaslifepurposecoach.com

The Belief In Angels (She Writes Press)  Notes to Boys (Rare Bird Books) Join us this evening as two wildy talented authors bring you coming of age tales quite unlike any you've read before. Jules Finn and Samuel Trautman know that sorrow can sink deeply—so deeply it can drown the spirit. In The Belief in Angels, by J. Dylan Yates, these two wounded souls must decide: surrender to the grief that threatens to destroy them, or find the strength to swim for the surface. Growing up in a volatile hippie household on a tiny island off the coast of Boston, Jules's imaginative sense of humor is the weapon she wields as a defense against the chaos of her family's household. But somewhere between gun-waving gambling debt collectors and LSD-laced breakfast cereal adventures, her younger brother Moses dies—and it's a blow from which Jules may never fully recover. Jules's grandfather, Samuel, wants to help his grandchildren, but he's wrapped up in a sad story of his own. Once called Szaja, Samuel is an orthodox Jew who lived through the murderous Ukranian pogroms of the 1920s, as well as the Majdanek Death Camp—but his survival came at an unspeakable price. In their darkest moments, Jules and Samuel receive what could only be explained as divine intervention—serendipitous experiences that give them each the hope they so desperately need. Ultimately, however, they both must look inside themselves for the courage to come to the rescue of their own fractured lives. Notes to Boys: And Other Things I Shouldn't Share in Public is a "mortifying memoir" from bestselling author and tv/film writer Pamela Ribon. Miserably trapped in a small town Texas with no invention of the internet in sight, Ribon spent countless hours of her high school years writing letters to her (often unrequited) crushes. The big question is: Why did she always keep a copy for herself? Wince along with Ribon as she tries to understand exactly how she ever thought she'd win a boy's heart by writing him a letter that began: "Share with me your soul," and ends with some remarkably awkward erotica. You'll come for the incredibly bad poetry, you'll stay for the incredibly bad poetry about racism. Raised on a tiny, New England peninsula, J. Dylan Yates pursued her BA from the University of Colorado-Boulder. Yates worked with Boulder County's Voices for Children program as a CASA volunteer for 15 years and now volunteers with the Big Sister program. The Belief in Angels, Yates's debut novel, won the Alexis Masters Scholarship Award at the February 2012 San Francisco Writers Conference. She lives in San Diego with her partner and a talking cat. Pamela Ribon is a bestselling author, television writer and performer. A pioneer in the blogging world, her first novel,Why Girls Are Weird, was loosely based on her extremely successful website pamie.com. The site has been nominated for a Bloggie in Lifetime Achievement, which makes her feel old. Ribon created the cult sensation and tabloid tidbit "Call Us Crazy: The Anne Heche Monologues", a satire of fame, fandom and Fresno. Her two-woman show, "Letters Never Sent" (created with four-time Emmy winner and "Jay Leno Show" favorite Liz Feldman) was showcased at the 2005 HBO US Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen. She has been writing in television for the past seven years, in both cable and network, including on the Emmy-award winning "Samantha Who?" starring Christina Applegate. Using her loyal Internet fan base, Ribon sponsors book drives for libraries in need. Over the years, pamie.com has sent thousands of books and materials to Oakland and San Diego, sponsored a Tsunami-ravaged village of schoolchildren, and helped restock the shelves of a post-Katrina Harrison County, Mississippi. Ribon's book drive can now be found at DeweyDonationSystem.org, which has sponsored libraries from the Negril School in Jamaica to the Children's Institute in Los Angeles. 

Elizabeth Pomada is a literary agent who co-founded the Writing for Change Conference and the San Francisco Writers Conference with her husband, Michael Larsen.  Together, they started Michael Larsen - Elizabeth Pomada Literary Agents in 1972.She talks about the Writing for Change Conference and tips for writers who want to write for change.You can read a transcript of this interview on my blog, Have Fun * Do Good.