San Francisco Chapter
The San Francisco Chapter of WNBA brings together women and men with diverse backgrounds in the literary world to exchange ideas and resources, build relationships, and support the local literary community. 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. Active members in our early history, whom we remember fondly, include Virginia McKenzie, Peggy Sarasohn, Helen Luce, Eleanor Smith, Jean-Marie Lee. Our activities concern professional development, literacy projects, book donations for children to the San Francisco Hall of Justice Teddy Bear Room along with various day care centers; for adults to prisons and Women's groups. Our vision is to support women 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.
WNBA-SF major events have included:
Meet-the-Agents
Authors can discuss their projects with live agents, face-to-face. This popular annual event is affectionately referred to as “speed dating” where writers have the opportunity to get feedback about their projects from a professional agent. Recently, independent publishers have joined the agents at this event. It has proved to be a positive and worthwhile experience for both the writers and agents.
Annual Fall Networking Party and Book Showcase
Members and guests have the opportunity to preview recently published works, or soon to be published works, by members and non-member Bay area authors. Authors receive valuable book tour promotional practices as they talk about their work.
Effie Lee Morris Children's Literature Lecture
The Effie Lee Morris Lecture was established in 1996 by the San Francisco chapter in partnership with the San Francisco Public Library. A monetary gift is given annually for the lecture series named in honor of the WNBA-SF's founding President Emeritus Effie Lee Morris. The annual lecture was created to salute Effie Lee Morris for her outstanding contributions to the San Francisco public Library and the children of San Francisco. The lecture is cosponsored annually by the Friends of the San Francisco Public Library. The lectures take place in the Koret Auditorium of the San Francisco Main Library. Guest lecturers have included: Children's author and illustrator Tomie dePaola, Illustrator Javaka Steptoe, David and Robert Souci, and Pamela Munoz Ryan.
Writers Readings
WNBA-SF authors have given their words wings and joined the ranks of the likes of Jane Hirshfield, Oakley Hall, Cara Black, and many others when they participated in readings at BookShop West Portal, a cozy, San Francisco neighborhood independent bookstore. 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. Readers have five to seven minutes in which to read their work with a one-minute introduction.
Literacy Liaison
Teresa LeYung Ryan is moving forward in a newly created WNBA-SF position as our Literacy Liaison, where she will seek out co-operative opportunities, share information as well as help create opportunities for chapter members to link up with local literacy efforts and become community literacy leaders. Through Project Read, the adult literacy program of the San Francisco Public Library, professionally trained volunteer-tutors provide free one-on-one tutoring to English-speaking adults who want to improve their basic reading and writing skills. Activities for enrolled adult learners with young children are offered through the Project Read Families for Literacy Program.
Our monthly newsletter is now delivered via e-mail and contains member profiles as well as member news, information about events and announcements about classes/worships/writing opportunities. The newsletter may also be read on our web site. For any further information, contact our chapter president Mary E. Knippel.