 President's Letter |
 Dear WNBA members, As my term as president has come to a close, I've been thinking about change. Transition is on my mind not just for the obvious reasons: I turned the gavel over this past weekend at the national meeting in Detroit to the immensely capable Carin Siegfried, the current VP/president-elect and the founder of the Charlotte chapter. But for reasons that relate to what is happening in the world writ large, in the book community, and in our organization, the inevitability of change is tempered with the promises of constancy in my mind. To be sure, we can see massive change--some to the benefit of humanity, and sad to say some to the opposite effect--all around us. Profound changes--both challenges and opportunities--are also moving the book world in new directions. How we make books and distribute them have undergone revolutions in the past few years. Electronic media are reshaping reading and publishing and bookselling in profound ways, disrupting long-established practices while opening new avenues. In this swift-moving torrent, though, the underlying value of books endures. Authors, publishers, booksellers, librarians, and all the affiliated professions and avocations involved with books circle around the value of storytelling, to support the chronicling of the world around us, interpreting it and making sense of it in this vast sea of change. The WNBA's centenary in 2017 is fast approaching. One hundred years for an organization such as ours testifies to the enduring value of books, not to mention the lasting dedication of women whose passion for books and words just won't give up! This coming year we will begin planning in earnest to celebrate this great milestone. Our plans are fourfold: a yearlong lecture series across all WNBA chapters, a website and publication on the history of the WNBA, a major donation to a book and literacy-related nonprofit, and a big celebration in New York City, where the WNBA was founded. So as change continues to swirl around us, let's use this three-year build-up to the 100th to spread the word about the enduring values the WNBA century celebrates. Books still offer the same civilizing influences on our society as they did nearly 100 years ago, when fifteen women organized themselves in downtown Manhattan in the fall of 1917 to "champion the role of women in the world of words." So please join me, Carin, and our other executive officers--Past President Mary Grey James, Secretary Annette Haley, and Treasurer Gloria Toler--along with incoming officers, VP/President-Elect Jane Kinney-Denning and Secretary Shannon Janeczek, in starting the celebrations. Many, many thanks to our outgoing secretary, Annette Haley, for her dedication, enthusiasm, and the innovative ideas she brought to the table. Also, a huge thanks to Gloria Toler, who has served as The Bookwoman editor and coeditor for three years while also serving as treasurer, a very demanding position. Fortunately, the Bookwoman will continue to benefit from Gloria's good cheer and attention to detail, as she has agreed to stay on as copy editor. Best wishes, ~ Valerie Tomaselli Immediate Past President/Centenary Chair
Women's National Book Association
P.S. As this letter is being written, I just heard that Maya Angelou has died. So much to say about her, but let me just leave you with this well-known quote, apropos of our WNBA century:
"The excitement is not just to survive but to thrive, and to thrive with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style." |
Atria Books
National Reading Group Month Sponsor
The Crown Publishing Group Extra Libris--Great books and more to go with them
National Reading Group Month Sponsor
HarperCollins Publishers (Amistad, Ecco, Harper, Harper Paperbacks, HarperPerennial,
WilliamMorrow, William Morrow Paperbacks) National Reading Group Month Sponsor
Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. National Reading Group Month Sponsor
Other Press
National Reading Group Month Sponsor
Penguin Group (USA) / Penguin Young Readers Group
WNBA Pannell Award Sponsor
Sourcebooks National Reading Group Month Sponsor
Friends of National Reading Group Month
American Booksellers Association Book Group Buzz--A Booklist Blog Kobo-A Rakuten Company Reading Group Choices--Selections for Lively Book Discussion Reading Group Guides--The Online Community for Reading Groups
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WNBA's Executive Officers
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President
Valerie Tomaselli (NYC)
VP/President Elect
Carin Siegfried (Charlotte)
Secretary
Annette Marie Haley (Detroit)
Treasurer
Gloria Toler (Nashville)
Past President
Mary James Grey (Nashville)
Incoming Officers
(As of June 9, 2014)
President
Carin Siegfried (Charlotte)
VP/President Elect
Jane Kinney-Denning (NYC)
Secretary
Shannon Janeczek (Detroit)
Treasurer
Gloria Toler (Nashville)
Past President
Valerie Tomaselli (NYC)
For further information on the national board, chapter, presidents, committee chairs, please to to the WNBA website. You may also download a pdf here.
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Submission Guidelines
for The Bookwoman
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Updated deadlines, formatting, and word count specifications for the upcoming season are
Interested in submitting an article to The Bookwoman? Contact us at:
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WNBA @ Book Expo America 2014!
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National Reading Group Month -- Open Volunteer Positions
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 2014 is here! And our plans to enlarge the National Reading Group Month (NRGM) all-volunteer staff is in the works. We are currently interviewing for a second NRGM Event Coordinator as well as a NRGM Bookstore Liaison. Full details here. Deadline for applications is June 23, 2014.Contact Jill Tardiff at: jill.tardiff[at]gmail.com. |
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Boston
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www.wnbaboston.org
Brunch with the Author & the First Annual Dorothy O'Connell Award
Spring has brought forth some exciting new events for the WNBA Boston Chapter. We held a "Brunch with the Author" event, where members got to dine and chat with Joan Wickersham, author of The News From Spain. This intimate event was held at the Concord home of our Membership Chair, Dawn Rennert, with delicious food and great conversation. Joan signed copies of her books and answered a Q&A.
Additionally, members were asked to submit nominations for the first annual Dorothy O'Connell Award, which goes to a Boston-area woman who has written a column, article, or essay published in a newspaper or journal in the past year that is of interest or benefit to the community. We're happy to announce that Grace Talusan, who was nominated by member Gilmore Tamny, received the award for her essay "Angelina Jolie (and I) Will Have Another Preventative Surgery", originally published in Boston Magazine.
Grace will receiver her cash prize and read from her winning essay at our annual June "Great Summer Reads" annual Open Meeting, where members will discuss what they've been reading and writing, and hear about great new reads from the staff of Newtonville Books. Refreshments have been donated by Whole Foods, and we're hoping members will bring their friends along.
Member News
Lisa Borders was one of the featured readers at the Dire Reading Series, reading from her novel The Fifty-First State.
Daphne Kalotay's (WNBA-Boston co-president)) novel Sight Reading won the 2014 New England Society Book Award for fiction.
Margot Li vesey talked to Vivien Shotwell about Shotwell's new book at Harvard Book Store.
Randy Susan Meyers read from her novel The Comfort of Lies at Newtonville Books.
Judith Nies celebrated the release of Unreal City: Las Vegas, Black Mesa, and the Fate of the West at Porter Square Books.
 B.A. Shapiro discussed her novel, The Art Forger, at a variety of different places throughout New England. The Art Forger was selected as the book for "Dedham Reads" and "Woburn Reads."
Nancy Rubin Stuart discussed her book, Defiant Brides: The Untold Story of Two Revolutionary-Era Women and the Radical Men They Married at the Jacob Sears Memorial Library.
Rena.Mahajan001@umb.edu
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Detroit
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www.wnba-books.org/detroit/ The Civil War & the Underground Railroad & Write-a-House with Team Detroit The Detroit Chapter enjoyed two outstanding programs during the month of April, beginning with Professor of History, Dr. Roy Finkenbine, a specialist on slavery, the Civil War and the Underground Railroad. The evening was like a master class on Solomon Northup, whose 1853 autobiography became the basis for the Academy Award-winning film, Twelve Years a Slave. Dr Finkenbine will be a presenter at the National Park Service Network to Freedom conference to be held in downtown Detroit, July 16-20. This year's theme," Women and the Underground Railroad," will feature speakers, panel discussions and tours or local museums and historic sites.
We wrapped up the month with Detroit booster extraordinaire, Toby Barlow, who once described himself as a broken man who came to a broken city to work for a broken company in 2006. What a difference eight years has made for this adman, author, and entrepreneur, who is also creative director at Team Detroit, the super-agency that directs Ford Motor Company's global advertising. While traveling the globe on behalf of Ford, he has published two novels and is working on a third. He has also opened a design store, founded a nonprofit letterpress, and is planning a restaurant.
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WNBA-Detroit president, Willetta Heising & Write-a-House founder Toby Barlow
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His latest nonprofit venture is Write-A-House, which plans to renovate three homes this year using construction trainees from Young Detroit Builders, supervised by professional contractors. Their ambitious goal is to renovate vacant homes and then give the homes to deserving writers, who will, in turn, energize the Detroit writing community.
When we were invited to Team Detroit to talk with Barlow, we learned he is also a big reader who loves talking about books and authors. We went with plans to present our donation to Write-A-House, and left knowing we had made a new friend in the book community.
Member News  Shannon Janeczek of PublishSavvy and her client Heather Nestleroad hosted a book launch party on April 12, at the Tree of Life Bookstore in Marion, Indiana. Traffic was brisk at the signing table for this second book, If I Grow A Beard, Do I Have to Dye That, Too?  Sue William Silverman will be in NYC to promote her new memoir, The Pat Boone Fan Club: My Life as a White Anglo-Saxon Jew, at the Jewish Book Council and at Book Expo. More here. Report by Willetta Heising Back to top
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New Orleans
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WNBA-NOLA on Facebook
Inaugural Pinkley Prizes & Edible Books
Hello, ladies--or should I say, ladies and gentlemen! Because: our chapter is proud to report that we have welcomed not just one, but two, book-loving men into our lineup of WNBA all-stars (pun intended?). But I digress. To business!
 The highlight of the past few months has been the awarding of the inaugural Pinckley Prizes for Crime Fiction, established in honor of Diana Pinckley, a beloved friend, WNBA member, and founding NOLA chapter member, longtime New Orleans Times-Picayune columnist, and, above all, mystery lover. We presented the prizes in conjunction with the 2014 Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival. Our dedicated judges were chapter members Constance Adler, memoirist; Mary McCay, founding director of the Walker Percy Center for Writing and Publishing at Loyola University New Orleans; and Chris Wiltz, novelist. The prize for debut novel went to Gwen Florio for her book Montana, and the prize for body of work went to New Orleans native Laura Lippman. Our beautiful prizes were handcrafted by a chapter member, Yuka Petz, from the pages of these authors' very books. It was quite a sight! We're looking forward for our sophomore awards next spring, and plans are already in the works. If you'd like to find out more info or perhaps even submit your own crime novel, check out our website, http://pinckleyprizes.org, for more details. Submissions will be open soon!
We also had a great time at the New Orleans Museum of Art's Edible Book Day and Cake Decorating Competition, organized and hosted by member Sheila Cork. Fourteen stunning cakes/books/cake-books competed for a host of prizes, from most like a book, to best visual presentation, to punniest/funniest, etc., judged by Susan Larson (chapter president extraordinaire and host of WWNO's The Reading Life); Brett Gauthier, executive pastry chef for the Brennan Restaurant Group; and Susan Ford from New Orleans Kitchen and Culture magazine. Three members competed, Antoinette de Alteriis, Johanna Rotondo-McCord, and Abi Pollokoff (that's me!), and Antoinette took the crown jewel of the people's choice, with a stunning cake inspired by the story of Briar Rose. It was a beautiful and creative--and tasty--sight.
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The winning "edible book" by Antoinette de Alteriis
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Upcoming events include the celebration of our third chapter anniversary and planning for the WNBA national board meeting in 2015, of course, to be hosted here in the Big Easy.
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San Francisco
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San Franscisco Writers Conference,
Pitch-O-Rama, & the 33rd Annual Northern California Book Awards
Chapter members participated in the San Francisco Writers Conference as presenters, volunteers, and exhibitors at this 11th annual writing conference orchestrated by WNBA-SF's founding and current members, Elizabeth Pomada and Michael Larsen. Not only do WNBA members, Linda Lee and Frances Caballo, sit on the board of SFWC, but many others contributed significantly to the success of the conference while promoting WNBA to attendees; among them are: Nina Amir, Catharine Bramkamp, Meg Waite Clayton, Kate Farrell, Joan Gelfand, Jane Glendinning, Teresa LeYung-Ryan, Mary Mackey, and Barbara Santos. It is our distinct pleasure to have been part of this high profile annual event from its inception in 2004, whose motto is: "A Celebration of Craft, Commerce & Community."
We are now preparing to contribute their talent and organizational skills to the 6th San Francisco Writing for Change Conference, "the place to discover whether your book can change the world," Saturday, September 6, 2014.
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Pitch-O-Rama: Meet the Agents
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On March 29--in a sudden rainstorm during California's season of drought--we inaugurated our first "Pitch-O-Rama: Meet the Agents" event at the historic Women's Building in San Francisco's fabled Mission District. We had a sell out crowd in spite of the weather, and soon filled the room with the smell of freshly brewed coffee and delicious pastries--all prepared by our amazing volunteer team. For a sense of that day, read this delightful post by one of the attendees:
Getting My Feet Wet
By B. Lynn Goodwin
Asking experts to read my work is scary. What if an agent laughs and says, "Why don't you take a creative writing class?" That scenario did not happen when I went to the WNBA Pitch-O-Rama on March 29th. Instead I talked to three YA agents and they all asked me to send them sample pages.
Twenty-four hours before the event started, I discovered that my one-sentence elevator pitch wouldn't be enough... I've written, rewritten, edited, and honed my manuscript, and I'm still finalizing it, but the Pitch-O-Rama seemed like a reasonably priced way to get some face-to-face feedback from agents and push myself forward, if only I could get the pitch right.
Continue reading Lynn's review here.
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Elizabeth B. Martin
& Kate Farrell
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The 33rd Annual Northern California Book Awards were held on April 27 and WNBA-SF was proud to sponsor this illustrious award ceremony for the first time this year. We were pleased to be in the company of those who review and honor authors in our midst, here in Northern California. Doing so advances the mission of WNBA: to promote literacy, a love of reading, and women's role in the community of the book. It was a full house at San Francisco's Main Library's auditorium, a gathering of the entire book community: agents, publishers, authors, poets, and readers. To read SF member, Zara Raab's post on the day, click here. Member News  Nina Amir announces The Author Training Manual: Develop Marketable Ideas, Craft Books That Sell, Become the Author Publishers Want, and Self-Publish Effectively, released March 2014, (Writers Digest Books), offering aspiring authors a process to help them produce marketable book ideas. (Read Nina's "Four Branding Tips for Women Writers" below.)
 Susanna Solomon announces Point Reyes Sheriff's Calls Calls , her short story collection inspired by actual sheriff's calls from Point Reyes Light, listed as bestseller twice in the Marin Independent Journal. Mildred (in the stories) burns her cupcakes when she sees herself in the paper.
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Washington DC
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Networking and Good Food at COSI!
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Lily Willens & Carla Danziger
Photo by Patricia Leslie
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In late February, chapter members met for Downtown Diners, an ad-hoc group who choose an inexpensive place to meet for conversation and dinner. This time they met up in Rosslyn, Virginia, at COSI, sharing stories, taking pictures, and generally having a festive time in the midst of Washington, D.C.'s long winter.
Member News
Janet Hulstrand's (with Linda Hetzer) Moving On: A Practical Guide to Downsizing the Family Home is now an e-book! Known as "a downsizing bible," her book has been updated and expanded, and the e-version allows for quickly linking to many additional sources of information for those in the process of downsizing and decluttering. To find out more, visit her website.
Judith Orvos, policy/science/technical editor, and president of Orvos Communications, was among the panelists at the Office of Intramural Training & Education's February 18 Workshop/Seminar on Career Exploration. Speaking to NIH graduate students, postdocs and fellows considering careers in science writing/editing, Judy and fellow panelists shared how they transitioned to their current jobs, and answered questions.
NC Weil read her short story "Broke and Broken" at the "Stories, Stories, Bring your Stories" monthly event at Denver's Mercury Cafe on January 28.
 Caroline Bock's new critically-acclaimed young adult
novel, Before My Eyes, has been published by St. Martin's Press. This novel tells the story of teens, mental illness and gun violence, set at the end of a hot summer in Long Island, New York. It's considered appropriate for ages 14 and above, and adults. 
Judy Leaver, member and blogger, reviewed Richard Blanco's For All of Us, One Today, an Inaugural Poet's Journey. Read it on her blog
Report by NC Weil
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Charlotte
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www.wnba-charlotte.org
Self-publishing, Meet the Author and a lecture by Professor William Ferris of UNC Press
The WNBA-Charlotte strives to offer innovative and diverse programming events to meet the needs of our members. Since our last update, we've hosted three well-attended meetings.
Partnering with the Charlotte Writers' Club, in February we offered "Social Media, Writing and Publishing--A Panel Discussion." The panel included Samantha Bagood, an agent from Adams Literary; Christy Lynn Allen, a self-published author of Samantha Green & the Case of the Haunted Pumpkin; Trisina Dickerson, publicist at John F. Blair, Publisher; Wanda Jewell, executive director of SIBA, the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance (SIBA); Maureen Ryan Griffin, writing coach, author of Spinning Words into Gold, a Hands-On Guide to the Craft of Writing; and Gary V. Powell, award-winning short story writer and novelist. The buzz word of the night seemed to be "value." The authors and book professionals emphasized the need to dynamically communicate with their online audience to add value beyond the price of the book, as readers are hungry to interact. There was also a spirited discussion regarding how to find the social media portal that is the best fit for your needs.
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In March, we hosted our Spring "Meet the Authors" evening, which focused in on regional authors including Sonja Condit, Starter House (William Morrow Paperbacks); Amy Greene, Long Man (Alfred A. Knopf); A SIBA "Okra Pick," Drew Perry, Kids These Days (Algonquin Books); and Barbara Claypole White, The In-Between Hour (Harlequin MIRA), A SIBA "Okra Pick." Each author read from their book and then answered questions.
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Professor William Ferris
of UNC Press
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In April, we welcomed UNC-Chapel Hill professor William Ferris, author of The Storied South (UNC Press). Professor Ferris, a widely recognized leader in Southern studies, African American music, and folklore, is the Joel R. Williamson Eminent Professor of History at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the senior associate director of UNC's Center for the Study of the American South.
He is also adjunct professor in the curriculum on folklore. Professor Ferris spoke about women writers and artists, including Eudora Welty, Alice Walker, and Maud Gatewood. Along with his lecture, he featured a presentation of slides and videos and audio clips, so we could hear Eudora Welty and Alice Walker and others speak for themselves. While his book also features some men, he focused on women for our lecture. At one point he said, "Women are the heart of the South."
Our final event of our programming year is often one of the best attended: Great Summer Reads. Coming up in May, Park Road Books owner and WNBA-
Charlotte's Sally Brewster will recommend the best beach reads, compelling new literature and books for teens and kids to keep us entertained all summer long.
Member News
Carin Siegfried's book, The Insider's Guide to a Career in Book Publishing, will be published in June 2014. Perfect for recent grads, Siegfried explains the ins and outs of publishing, gives tips for improving your application, and what to do if you don't want to move to NYC.
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Los Angeles
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Literary Tea & the Judy Lopez Foundation Award
The Los Angeles chapter continues to have wonderful Literary Teas, and although we have only done this for one year, we know it will be a regular feature of our event year for a long time. Our most recent Tea was in April, and featured three authors reading and answering questions, plus wonderful food, a combination that made for an interesting and delicious Sunday afternoon.
And by the time you read this newsletter we will have held our 29th annual Judy Lopez Memorial Foundation Award dinner. This is a national award given for excellence in middle-grade children's literature. This year's medalist is Kathi Appelt (The True Blue Scouts of Sugar Man Swamp), and doesn't the title just make you want to run out and buy it? Our Honor Book Winners are Amy Timberlake (One Came Home), Liesl Shurtliff (Rump: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin), and Cynthia Kadohata (The Thing About Luck). Meg Flanders is the chair of this event, and has always done a fantastic job of organizing the authors, the dinner, the award, and all of the details involved with pulling it all together.
Our chapter board is now 15 strong, and we look forward to our coming membership year with lots of positive energy!
Member News
 Constance Caruso's first book, Foothold in the Mountain is receiving positive reviews and now Kirkus Review Magazine has picked up her book to advertise! She's getting close to Best Seller List status and needs your support. Check out B&N, Amazon, AuthorHouse, and Mystic Journey Bookstore. Warning: This book is not for sissies!
 Carrie Cross's personally autographed copy of Skylar Robbins: The Mystery of Shadow Hills comes with a free pair of binoculars! Rated 5-stars on Amazon, Skylar will teach your daughters a compassionate way to stand up to bullies. www.carrie-cross.com.
 Lisa-Catherine Cohen has been commissioned by a child Holocaust survivor to write her book, titled: Kuka--The Golden Child in the Red Coat. This woman is Spielberg's inspiration for the little girl in the red coat in "Schindler's List." This harrowing miracle story will be published in 2014.
Alva Sachs joined with After School-All-Stars Los Angeles for a school visit with her award-winning children's books. This enrichment program has former CA Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger as its founder in 2002. Kobe Bryant also provides support and life changing experiences to All-Star students.
Joan Slottow had a booth in the Artists' Pavilion at the Celebr  ate Israel Festival on May 18. She is a long-time WNBA/LA member, and is the current president of the Judy Lopez Memorial Foundation, which gives an annual award for children's literature.
Report by Ruth Lightruthlight3@gmail.com
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Nashville
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www.wnbanashville.org/
Panel Event on Self-Publishing & Book Discussion Group with the Nashville Public Library
In February, we started our year by hearing from Tim Henderson, executive director of Humanities Tennessee, which is dedicated to promoting lifelong learning, civil discourse, and an appreciation of history, diversity, and community among Tennesseans. Some of the programs sponsored by Humanities Tennessee include: Southern Festival of Books, Appalachian and Tennessee Young Writers' Workshops, a variety of community history programs, grants, and awards for teachers and community organizations, among others. We're proud to sponsor a scholarship each year for the young writers' workshops.
On March 6, we had an informative panel on the topic of self-publishing. Presenting for us were authors Pat Ballard and Jenna Bennett, as well as Angie Brown of Ingram Industries, who talked about Ingram's newest self-publishing option, Spark. Pat Ballard writes motivational romance fiction with big beautiful  heroines. She has seven novels, a book of short stories, and a nonfiction book, 10 Steps To Loving Your Body (No Matter What Size You Are), in print. She also has a nonfiction book, Something To Think About, free to download from her website: www.patballard.com. New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jenna Bennett (Jennie Bentley) writes the Do-It-Yourself Home Renovation mysteries for Berkley Prime Crime, and the Cutthroat Business mysteries for her own gratification. She also writes a variety of romance for a change of pace, including the award-winning Fortune's Hero. Learn more at www.jennabennett.com. Judging by our overflow crowd, and the healthy round of Q&A, interest in self-publishing is alive and well.
 Our book discussion group, which is a joint endeavor with the Nashville Public Library, met in March at a neighborhood branch library to discuss The Orphan Master's Son by Adam Johnson. May's book is The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown. These monthly gatherings, which are coordinated by Mary Hildebrand, are free and open to the public, and all are invited to continue the conversation at a nearby café afterwards.
In April, we had the pleasure of hearing from chapter members Nancy Stewart and Gail Vinett, who highlighted their favorite books for our summer reading lists. Whether you're heading to the beach or staying at home, they had something for everyone, and they even let us take home the review copies!
Member News
Towles Kintz, has launched an online magazine called Proximity, with three other writers. Proximity Magazine is a quarterly collection of true stories exploring place, space, and connection in the modern age.
 Amy Lyles Wilson celebrated the publication of Y'all Come Over: A Celebration of Southern Hospitality, Food, and Memories, the third in the trilogy of cookbooks she co-authored with Patsy Caldwell (Thomas Nelson, 2013).
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New York City
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www.wnba-nyc.org
Query Roulette, Managing Your Career
& Books for the Kids Research Center
The NYC Chapter of the WNBA had a very busy and exciting spring.
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Query Roulette 2014
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Our annual Query Roulette took place in February at the AAP offices and was a wonderful opportunity for aspiring writers to meet with agents to discuss and get professional feedback on their query letters. The participating agents were an outstanding group and we are very grateful for their participation.
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Self-publishing panel at Wix Lounge
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Our March panel collaboration with the Book Industry Guild of NY (BIGNY) at The WIX Lounge on Self-Publishing was filled to capacity and outstanding. Then on Friday, March 28th we co-sponsored a panel discussion with the New York University Creative Writing Program entitled "Write Relationships: Authors, Editors, and Agents," another inspiring event in a new and beautiful venue.
In April we collaborated with AAP's Young to Publishing group (YPG) on their YPG Executive Track with a panel entitled: "Managing Your Career and Negotiating Your Salary." Needless to say, this was a very popular panel and the information shared was extremely valuable for all who attended.
Our annual spring brunch, held at member Diana Altman's beautiful apartment in the the city, was a wonderful gathering filled with great food and conversation and we are grateful to Diana for being such a gracious hostess. We also hosted a neighborhood brunch in March
Lastly, our successful Book Drive with the Kids Research Center (KRC) will be complete with the setting up of a Book Room on May 17th at the Campos Plaza Community Center in Lower Manhattan.
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A Kids Research Center reading room
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All of these collaborations have expanded our reach into the dynamic and evolving NYC publishing community and we have already started planning follow-up programs with these organizations for next year. It is all so exciting and a wonderful time to be a part of our chapter.
Member News
Tqwana Brown has a new job as an Assistant Production Editor at Teacher's College Press.
Susannah Greenberg, president of Susannah Greenberg Public Relations, moderated two panels at Book Expo America: BEA Editors' Buzz Young Adult Books presenting Fall 2014 breakout YA titles, and
Creative Content Opportunities, on marketing tactics for self-publishing. More on Susannah's blog
Sandi Perry, a new member, has made the first round in Amazon's Breakthrough Novel Contest for her contemporary women's fiction book, The Art of Stealing. Wish her luck!
Liberty Schauf is working for Thieme Publishers as an Editorial Assistant. She is also working as a freelance writer and editor.
Harikleia Sirmans wrote the index to The Encyclopedia of Epic Films by Constantine Santas, James M. Wilson, Maria Colavito, and Djoymi Baker, available April 2nd.
Rachel Slaiman is interested in education and now has a job at Guarini and Guarini, a law firm, working as a Communications Manager and Ambassador. Additionally, she still writes for Latin Trends Magazine and works on Elance.com.
 Anne-Marie Sutton posted her new book trailer video on YouTube promoting her third Newport mystery, showing scenes from the book, Keep My Secret.
Jenna Vaccaro is now an Assistant Editor at Springer Publishing Company, a higher education medical and social science publisher.
Report by Jane Kinney-Denning,
Jessica Napp, & Jenna Vaccaro
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Seattle
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www.wnba-books.org/seattle/
Member News
 Sue Simonich's an original family history mystery Painted Skies, by Sue Simonich, is being reviewed for the 2014 Writer's Digest Annual Competition. It's the first in a series of mysteries featuring Nova Denver, an intuitive and botanical explorer, was a finalist in the 2013 Reader's Favorite competition. Visit: Painted Skies and Facebook.
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The Real Presidents of WNBA
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Annette Marie Haley (Detroit) Interviews
Nashville President Bebe Brechner
Reading has always been a major part of my life, starting with a fascination with books and magazines as a toddler that compelled me to teach myself how to read by age 4. Born and raised in Decatur, Alabama, I was fortunate to have parents who valued reading and an older sister who provided a competitive edge to my early reading habits. My other two siblings, a brother and younger sister, also turned to reading as a favorite pastime. My father was a medical doctor who subscribed to loads of medical journals as well as a variety of other magazines from art to travel. My mother was a college-educated R.N. who loved to read. She balanced the family's magazine collection with another load of general interest periodicals from Look, Life, and Saturday Evening Post, to Redbook, Good Housekeeping, and Ladies Home Journal, among others. We also had four sets of encyclopedias and a ceiling-to-floor wall of packed bookcases in our den! My parents bought the latest bestsellers as well as collections to benefit the children. I did not lack for reading materials at home, but I also spent a great deal of time at our public library. Decatur had a marvelous Carnegie library that was a magical place for me. I remember standing in the stacks as a 13 year old and vowing to read every book in the library before I graduated high school! I did not achieve this goal, but I surely gave it a great try.
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Bebe Brechner
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I know that an early speech impediment gave me great impetus to turn to reading.
I had difficulty being understood in speech until around age 7. I loved school, and other than difficulty in speaking out in class, I enjoyed learning. I was also a tomboy and loved summer camps, swimming, and horses.
I also thrived in college, trying out many majors and many colleges before finally finishing a B.A. in social sciences from Hofstra University, New College, located in New York. While in college, I worked in different college libraries and, not surprisingly, took a first full-time job after graduating at the University of Kentucky library, where I started my Master's degree in library science. I stopped work to have three children, and re-entered the workforce many years later. I worked in a couple of libraries, and then moved into the online information industry as an editor with ProQuest, a library vendor for information resources. I've worked at ProQuest since 1996, and I love it. I manage and create databases for primarily academic libraries in the areas of general reference, social sciences, ethnic and gender studies, and political science. One of the perks is working with one of our content partners, The National Security Archive.
Why did you originally join WNBA?
We moved to the great city of Nashville in 2004, and I was able to keep my job at ProQuest (based in Ann Arbor, Michigan) as a telecommuter. Among the first things I always do when moving to a new place is to obtain a library card. I discovered a charming, beautifully restored neighborhood Carnegie library that I began to visit regularly. While looking through the local information rack by the doors, I picked up a little brochure about the Nashville chapter of WNBA. I wanted to find like-minded people (book people) and was especially impressed by the origins of the organization. So, I started to attend the monthly programs and very soon got involved with helping on the newsletter. I really liked the programs, and it was obvious that the members were just as devoted to literature as I was. It was a great fit!
What other positions in WNBA have you held, if any? What did you enjoy in that job?
As a brand new member, I immediately joined up with Gloria Toler, another new member, and one other member to try to revive the chapter's newsletter. That was a great experience, and we managed to get a very nice newsletter going. I transitioned into redeveloping the static website, and Gloria took over and ran with greatly improving the newsletter. Gloria and I developed a lasting and deep friendship through this.
Why did you take on this leadership role? What have you gained from it?
I realized after one general meeting that I wanted to know these members better, and I knew that the only way to do that was to get more involved. The chapter had a need (newsletter) and I had an interest in that area. I gained so many new friends, as well as translatable experience in newsletter creation and delivery, as well as a completely new skill in website management! The friendships and the new skills acquisition have served me well.
What is your best life short story?
As with many Baby Boomers, I've had a peripatetic and sometimes wacky life, from home-schooling for 7 years; to living as an immigrant in Israel in an absorption center with 3 kids and a husband with a broken leg, all in 3 concrete rooms and cooking off a hotplate with a tiny, tiny refrigerator; from working as a librarian in a maximum security prison for women (lots of stories here!); to a 'softer' job as librarian in a ghetto library where my main job was "bouncer" and, finally, to some good travel tales from business travel on my own to places like Tallin, Estonia, and Périgord, France. So, you see, I have too many stories to tell, and I haven't even mentioned my first child - a wooly monkey (Jasper Ann) from the Amazon, who was our first and very beloved child and lived intimately with us for 17 years. (interviewer's note: OMG, Bebe sounds like the protagonist from We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves by Karen Joy Fowler!)
What/who would you hate to be without?
What I would hate to be without is something (practically anything!) to read. I'm such a visual person, I really have to have some text to engage me. I'm the Internet person who skips the video to read the transcript instead! It's faster.
You are happiest in what situation?
My happiest and ideal situation is a beautiful beach with loads of books to read and plenty of time. Second best - make it a mountainous retreat, perhaps Colorado, again with books and time. Being outdoors in beautifully peaceful surroundings makes me happy, but I have to have some reading material at hand, too!
Hobbies or free time pursuits?
I always state 'reading' as one of my hobbies--after all, this is what I do most often in my spare time! Also, gardening, cooking, and being outdoors hiking, walking, and sightseeing.
Favorite book of all time or what have you read recently that grabbed you?
I cannot narrow down a favorite book of all time, as these have changed over the years. I can mention a recent novel that is still staying with me in a powerful manner after reading it some three years ago--The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller. A nonfiction book that challenged and changed me since reading it several years ago is The Emperor of all Maladies: A Biography of Cancer by Siddhartha Mukherjee.
Any career goals?
I am looking forward to finishing my career in the information industry over the next few years, continuing my work with WNBA, particularly in the National Reading Group Month work, and also growing my entrepreneurial work with one of my sisters--www.enskri.com. My husband and I love to travel with our two dogs, visiting our three grown children and other family, and enjoying the landscape of America.
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Annette Marie Haley
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Thank you all, Real Presidents of WNBA, for 3 years of wonderful interviews allowing us all into your interesting lives!
This is my last column; new opportunities in life await!
~Annette Marie Haley (Detroit)
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Four Branding Tips for Women Writers
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Nina Amir
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By Nina Amir (WNBA-SF)
Branding can seem an ominous job for an author. The "big brands" like Nike, Levis, Audi, and Apple put millions of dollars into plans that ensure they are perceived and known a specific way by potential customers. How can an author accomplish the same feat, and why should she bother?
Help Readers Know What You Represent
It's important for authors to brand themselves for the same reason companies bother with this business exercise. It helps potential buyers know what you sell and the value your products and services provide. The product you sell is a book. The value you provide lies between the covers of that book.
Your Books Hold Branding Keys
Nonfiction authors, can brand themselves based upon their area of expertise. Novelists can brand themselves based upon the themes and subject matter in their stories.
But what if you have just one novel or if your novels don't share any characteristics? Or what if your nonfiction doesn't stick to one topic?
Brand yourself based on your status as a strong, female author. Take a stand as a member of the Women's National Book Association, for example, and use that platform to help brand you. You also could use your interests to help create a brand. Put yourself out there as a female writer helping other women writers, a woman writing about women, a woman writing about women's issues (if that is what you do), a female writer who volunteers at women's shelters or helps battered women.
In my new book, The Author Training Manual: Develop Marketable Ideas, Craft Books That Sell, Become the Author Publishers Want, and Self-Publish Effectively, I discuss branding for authors at length. This is an important part of creating a business plan for your book and for yourself. Here are four tips from the book that you might use to help you get started.
- See the big picture of your book, yourself, and your career. Think beyond the first book. Conceptualize how you want readers to see and think about you and your book, or books.
- Think about how you want to build a career or business around your books. To earn a living from your book, you have to become a savvy entrepreneur.
- Brainstorm additional books-series, sequels and spin offs to see how they all fit together into a brand. This means seeing yourself as a multiple-book author, not as a one-book wonder.
- Consider a tagline for yourself. Could you be the XX Coach or XX expert? Can you "verb" yourself with a phrase that says, "helping _______" or "providing _______"?
Once you've come up with a brand, create your author website. Decide on "your colors." And carry out your brand to all your social networks, your business cards, and your marketing materials. Watch how quickly people take note and how this will help you market yourself and your books.
Nina Amir, author of How to Blog a Book: Write, Publish, and Promote Your Work One Post at a Time and The Author Training Manual: Develop Marketable Ideas, Craft Books That Sell, Become the Author Publishers Want, and Self-Publish Effectively, moves her clients from ideas to finished books as well as to careers as authors by helping them combine their passion and purpose so they create products that positively impact the world. She writes four blogs, self-published 12 books, and founded National Nonfiction Writing Month, aka the Write Nonfiction in November Challenge.
To learn more about Nina, visit www.ninaamir.com. Get a FREE 5-Day Become a Published Author Series from her when you click here.
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Great Group Reads Review
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By Carin Siegfried (WNBA-Charlotte)
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 Big Brother
(Harper hc, 978-0061458576; Harper Perennial, 978-0061458606)
A Great Group Reads 2013 Book
I loved Lionel Shriver's We Need To Talk About Kevin but afterwards I did not reach for other of Ms. Shriver's books, perhaps because the emotions of that book were so sharp and raw. I read Big Brother for my Great Group Reads book club so I didn't have the choice, and I am so glad! Her writing is so impressively on-point and precise and it cuts deeply. I found myself frequently reading passages aloud or over and over to myself. And they don't have to be long to make you intake breath sharply with her acute observations. Take this example: "The Web, the great time-killer that had replaced conspicuously passive television with its seductive illusion of productivity." Yes. It is so true. Once when we goofed off, we couldn't pretend we were doing anything but. However now, when I am caught by my husband playing solitaire, I quickly flip the phone from horizontal to vertical, pretending I was checking email.  She is also sharp in picking her topics. They're not ripped-from-the-headlines in the way of "Law & Order" or Jodi Picoult's novels, but instead she picks the topics that are not only very relevant, but that everyone is afraid to talk about. In this book, it's obesity. Pandora goes to the airport to pick up her brother, Edison, and at first is saddened to see a grotesquely overweight passenger being wheeled to baggage claim in a wheelchair, and then is disgusted and horrified when she realizes this person she was just pitying is Edison, almost 400 pounds. Her brilliant and talented jazz pianist brother's life seems to have gone downhill fast, just as her career has taken off. When she asks him about it, he says, "What's so great about being a perfectionist?... You do all this work, and then the stuff you've made just pisses you off." And when his stay with Pandora seems determined to become lengthy, her marriage and her relationship with her step-children are threatened. Her husband is an interesting character who isn't entirely sympathetic but they are a good pair. I really liked this line: "Maybe the greatest favor a spouse can tender is to overlook what you can't." I don't want to give too much away, but sibling relationships are a huge theme of the book, as is the temptation and fleeting nature of fame. I was a little disappointed that a couple of the secondary characters felt like afterthoughts. They weren't in the book enough given their stated importance, but they weren't in it little enough to just be passing references, namely Oliver and Solstice. But that's a minor quibble with an otherwise masterful novel. The ending smacked me in the face, but it wasn't such a shock that I didn't buy it. I'm sure some people will have a problem with the ending, but I was okay with it. This book was fantastic--like a decadent chocolate cake. Although it encouraged me to work out more while I was reading it. Read it now.  Carin Siegfried, WNBA's national president as of June 6, 2014, is a former book editor at St. Martin's Press. Carin now runs her own business, Carin Siegfried Editorial, a full-service independent editorial boutique offering everything from manuscript assessment to help with résumé writing. (WNBA members get a discount!) Carin's book The Insider's Guide to a Career in Book Publishing will be published soon by Chickadee Books. More information available at: carinsiegfried.com. |
UN CornerThe Women's National Book Association is a NGO associated with the
United Nations Department of Public Information
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Compiled and Edited by Jill A. Tardiff (NYC)
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Jill A. Tardiff
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WNBA NGO Main Representative at the United Nations (UN)
Department of Public Information (DPI )
Announcement
 The 65th Annual UN DPI/NGO Conference will be held Wednesday, 27 August through Friday, 29 August at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City. Theme: "2015 and Beyond: Our Action Agenda," with emphasis on civil society and climate change. Representing WNBA: Valerie Tomaselli, Past President; Jill A. Tardiff, NGO Main Representative; Marilyn Berkman, Alternate Representative; Dena Mekawi, Youth Representative; Jenna Vaccaro, Youth Representative. Thanks to Dena for her participation in the preliminary town hall meetings leading up to the conference.
 Events and Briefings
United Nations Observance of International Women's Day 2014
"Equality for Women is Equality for All"
United Nations Headquarters NYC
7 March 2014
By Dena Mekawi
The event reflected on the achievements and challenges in addressing the needs and priorities of women and girls in implementing the formulation of the Post-2015 development agenda. Participants included: Ban Ki-moon, United Nations secretary-general; John W. Ashe, president of the 68th Session of the United Nations General Assembly; Hillary Rodham Clinton, former United States secretary of state in the Obama administration; Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, United Nations under-secretary-general and executive director of UN Women; lastly, Andrea Núñez, vice president of the World YWCA Board .
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon started the panel. We can build a better world because we know the challenges. It has been proven that countries with higher-level equality have a higher economic growth. This has been the priority since day one, and we as a country need to lead by example.
Mr. Ashe said men and women must walk hand-in-hand, in order to create progress for all. Women's efforts support family, their community benefits society as a whole. Mr. Ashe also brought up the topic of sexual reproductive health in women which needs to be improved. Women must have equal access to resources; increase women's education for a brighter future, and discover the root causes for inequality.
Mrs. Clinton, former United States secretary of state. When women succeed, the world succeeds. This is truly inspiring, understanding how women alone can make a huge difference in the world. Mrs. Clinton mentioned how every place in the world is different, however, our values across the world stay the same. Women should have access to jobs, education, and bring an end to violence and forced marriages. We should recognize the gap for women and girls worldwide. Mrs. Clinton mentions a "no ceilings" concept, which is aligning efforts to understand what we have achieved, to what we still need to achieve. Women's progress is human progress, and there are some unfinished businesses of the 21st century. Adopting a new set of commitments, having a clear target, and concrete metrics to make it work. These commitments need to be a universal agenda according to the level of needs. Listening to Mrs. Clinton speak was truly a memorable experience, she is such a powerful woman, and a perfect role model on what women's empowerment looks like.
Ms. Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka noted the use of Internet as a great tool to target and send messages out in order to improve the lives of girls and women worldwide and to embed women's rights in all we do. She brought up the "SHE" imperative:
- S stands for the Security of women and girls from all forms of violence,
- H stands for her Human rights, including sexual and reproductive rights, land rights, equal pay, recognition of unpaid care, and all the rights and opportunities to which she is entitled.
- E stands for an Empowered decision-making and full leadership and participation in all spheres of life.
Ms. Núñez commented on the YWCA as a platform for action, where it seeks to end violence against women and empower women in different ways. The YWCA offers judgment-free space for students and also gives workshops serving about 2 million women, girls and their families. It's a blessing to see how far we have come, and all the steps that many are taking around the world for women's rights and gender equality.
We hope to see what the future holds, continuing to empower women and girls one day at a time.
"Marginalization and Inequalities Facing Youth--A Public Policy Dialogue"
United Nations Headquarters NYC
25 March 2014
Written by Dena Mekawi
When it comes to youth, how well are we recognized in the world? Are our voices being heard, are we given the right platforms to do so? There has been upsurge in international youth unrest in recent years, with groups of young people organizing and demanding attention to issues that specifically affect them. This event featured a variety of speakers addressing these issues, which we as youth are facing. Often marginalized from local and national development, youth are particularly vulnerable to shocks and conflicts, and are often left behind despite widespread progress. The experiences of this demographic in times of great global, economic, social, human rights and environmental challenges require dedicated research and targeted solutions.
The Office of the UN Secretary-General's Envoy on Youth--United for Youth, together with the Columbia Global Policy Initiative at Columbia University, organized this event. Speakers: Margaret Greene, president of GreeneWorks; Ravi Karkara, global expert advisor on Children and Youth with UNHabitat; Hanan Morsy, lead economist for Southern and Eastern Mediterranean at European Bank for Reconstruction and Development ; Nur Laiq, independent political consultant, author and journalist; Ahmad Alhendawi, UN secretary-general's envoy on youth.
Ms. Greene started the discussion. She is known for her research on advocacy and literacy on young women, and is the president of GreeneWorks. Her discussion included topics like underage marriage, which causes early termination of schooling; early and forced marriages lead to poor health, and the girls are more vulnerable to HIV and other diseases. 1 in 3 girls are married by 18 years old, 1 in 7 by the age of 15. Mostly this issue has been seen more in Asia and Africa, but it exists. Many efforts have been taken to address this issue. There needs to be a step taken supporting the development of investing in girls. Ms. Greene suggests that adults should provide access to information, and educate others.
Mr. Karkara spoke about the aspiration of ending discrimination. The first step to the process is the Youth 21 initiatives: in hopes to strengthen youth participation. Youth issues need permanent structure, recognized value, and partnership. Next step is to build on youth movement, in hopes on having civic engagement as a priority. We need a global framework on youth rights, with focus on preventing violence, and promoting gender equality.
Ms. Morsy discussed youth unemployment. The global economic crisis has hit youth the most. Spain's youth unemployment rate is over 50%. Along with this comes worrying, anxiety, and possibly depression. The long-term effect of not being able to find jobs are youths becoming frustrated, and wanting to give up. Time goes by, and they are losing their skills. How do we fix this? Ms. Morsy suggested we build on a healthy economy, youth unemployment demands structural reform. Focusing on areas of mismatching of skill sets, and pursuing those measures. We need to focus on fostering competition and innovation.
Social media officer on Indian National parties' election campaign on youth issues, also author of Talking to Arab Youth: Revolution and Counterrevolution in Egypt and Tunisia, Nur Laiq spoke about civic engagement and political engagement. We need to provide youth with financial support, and also enable youth to have a voice in policy-making to enhance participation. Ms. Laiq said, "Youth-led protests show that there is a desire to change the current system." In other words, we, as youth, are proving and standing up for change.
Mr. Alhendawi discussed budgeting. The goal is to combat marginalization and recognize youth on a larger scale. We need participation of youth both informally and in social movements and politics. Youth should be included in every possible arena. Mr. Alhendawi explains, if empowerment is to be taken seriously, then we must respect youth agency. At the end of the day, development is not about the economy, it's about the people.
As a youth, I feel confident when seeing the initiatives that are being taken in the issue of marginalization towards youth. Youth are the leaders of tomorrow, we need to recognize them, and value them. I know we are headed towards a better future with today's leaders.
"Media Freedom for a Better Future -- Shaping the Post-2015 Development Agenda"
United Nations Headquarters NYC
1 May 2014
Written by Dena Mekawi
The United Nations Department of Public Information in cooperation with the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization Celebrate World Press Freedom Day 2014.
World Press Freedom Day (3 May) is a time to encourage and develop initiatives in favor of press freedom, and to assess the state of press freedom worldwide. This day focuses on media's importance in development, safety of journalists and sustainability.
Attending the DPI Briefing on World Press Freedom Day, Ban Ki-Moon secretary-general delivered the opening remark. Speakers: John W. Ashe, president of the 68th Session of the United Nations General Assembly; Vibeke Jensen, director, UNESCO representative to the United Nations; Pamela Falk, president, UN Correspondents Association.
The secretary-general remarked that journalists are singled out for speaking or writing uncomfortable truths--kidnapped, detained, beaten, and sometimes murdered. Such treatment is completely unacceptable in a world reliant on global news outlets and the journalists who serve them. Last year 70 journalists were killed, many caught in the crossfire of armed hostilities. Last year, 211 journalists were being held in prison. About 456 journalists have been forced into exile since 2008. These numbers are alarming, behind these statistics is a man or a woman going about their business. The secretary-general demanded that media freedom must continue to be at the center of our work to promote security, dignity and prosperity for all. Society and individuals must defend this fundamental right as a critical factor in achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and advancing the Post-2015 Development Agenda.
The opening session began with Peter Launsky-Tieffenthal, under-secretary-general for Communications and Public Information. The key point Mr. Tieffenthal addressed was defining the freedom of speech as a fundamental human right and liberty that enables people to voice their concerns and share their aspirations. He noted that freedom of speech helps to drive the development of society towards the achievement of the Post-2015 Development Agenda.
Mr. Ashe stated that good governance and the rule of law are the central drivers of sustainable development and the freedom of press is a critical and essential pillar to the Post-2015 Development Agenda. Mr. Ashe explains that in the face of violence, authorities have the responsibility to bring violators to justice and promote the safe environment for journalists to conduct their work. He encouraged journalists to sharpen their pencils and continue fighting the good fight.
Ms. Jensen observed how the world has a new opportunity for articulating new goals and targets. Free pluralistic media is important for achieving sustainable development goals. It's essential that member states promote free pluralistic media that contributes to credible information and plurality of ideas. Ms. Jensen mentions how the safety of journalism is fundamental for achieving this end. Empowerment through human rights is necessary to ensure that every voice is heard and every journalist is safe, said Ms. Jensen.
Additional speakers: Yehia Ghanem, international journalist in residence at CUNY, Graduate School of Journalism; Delphine Halgand, US representative, Reporters Without Borders; Agnes Callamard, director of Freedom of Expression and Information Project; Wade C.L. Williams, editor, FrontPage Africa Newspaper.
Ms. Halgand commented that through its network of 150 correspondents in 130 countries Reporters without Borders observes modern press freedom violations on a daily basis. Ms. Halgand defined freedom of information as "the most important freedom that allows us to verify the existence of all other freedoms." She stated that although the United Nations is sending strong signals to those who have forsaken journalists, there is still a lack of verification of member states' responsibility to bring perpetrators to justice.
Ms. Williams noted that the international community of journalists is a strong and loyal one. However, many of the worst oppressors of press freedom are still in Africa. Even though Liberia is in its tenth year of consecutive peace, journalists suffer from repression of freedom in a new way. Ms. Wade mentions when the UN leaves, Liberia will become a no-go zone for journalists. She says that journalists will continue to be on the side of the people instead of the government.
Mr. Ghanem focused on the precarious situation of world press freedom in the Arab world. He mentions that for an Egyptian journalist it is ambitious to relate press freedom to the Post-2015 development agenda. Speech of hate has taken control over media in Egypt. Mr. Ghanem shared his hope that one day he would return to an Egypt where he and his children would not be judged on their ideas, "One day I hope to see freedom, and my beloved Egypt back." (Very touching, I hope we see this change in Egypt and all over the world.)
Ensuring press freedom around the world is a priority. Free and pluralistic media are important to better governance in democracies. We need to stand together to construct instruments to safeguard the right of journalists, without having them fear for their lives.
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UNICEF/US Fund For UNICEF
We at the Women's National Book Association value our ongoing relationship with the US Fund for UNICEF. UNICEF and The Fund do a tremendous amount of work, "making the world better for kids." Take a look at 2013 in Review: UNICEF's Year in Pictures.
Stay Informed. Be the first to know about UNICEF's relief efforts in times of emergency. UNICEF USA on Facebook. @UNICEFUSA on Twitter.
Did You Know? UNICEF works in more than 190 countries and territories. UNICEF's impact,
91% of every dollar spent goes directly to assist children, http://www.unicefusa.org/about/finances.
The 2014 US Fund for UNICEF Annual Meeting (4 May) coincided with UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Audrey Hepburn's 85th birthday. More about her work and the Audrey Hepburn® Society: http://tinyurl.com/lwqrg9v.
UNICEF Condemns Abduction of Girls in Nigeria
UNICEF Responds to Landslide in Afghanistan
Infographic: The Worst Crisis You've Never Heard Of
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UN Women
Op-ed: #BringBackOurGirls (7 May 2014)
Joint statement by UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka and UN Population Fund Executive Director Babatunde Osotimehin.
"Op-ed: Afghan Women's Voices in Elections: Changing the Game" (6 April 2014)
Opinion piece by the UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka.
"Education is the single biggest transformative factor for the individual, the nation and society" (29 March 2014) by UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka.
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MY World. The United Nations Global Survey For A Better World.
The United Nations wants to hear from you.
Take the survey
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UN Calendar of Observances
1 June, Global Day of Parents
4 June, International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression
5 June, World Environment Day
12 June, World Day Against Child Labour
20 June, World Refugee Day
23 June, International Widows' Day
23 June, United Nations Public Service Day
18 July, Nelson Mandela International Day
30 July, International Day of Friendship
9 August, International Day of the World's Indigenous People
12 August, International Youth Day
19 August, World Humanitarian Day
23 August, International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and Its Abolition
29 August, International Day Against Nuclear Tests
5 September, Day of Charity
8 September, International Literacy Day
15 September, International Day of Democracy
21 September, International Day of Peace
27 September, World Tourism Day
For a complete listing, download UN Calendar of Observances app on iTunes.
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Recommended Readings
A Call to Action: Women, Religion, Violence, and Power by Jimmy Carter (Simon & Schuster,  978-1476773957)
From Simon & Schuster: The world's discrimination and violence against women and girls is the most serious, pervasive, and ignored violation of basic human rights: This is President Jimmy Carter's call to action.
 Hard Choices by Hillary Rodham Clinton (Simon & Schuster, 978-1476751443)
From Indiebound: Hillary Clinton's candid reflections about the key moments during her time as Secretary of State, as well as her thoughts about how to navigate the challenges of the 21st century.
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Nancy Stewart
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Last note ... long-time friend and colleague Nancy Stewart (WNBA-Nashville) has decided to step down from her position as NGO Alternate Representative at the United Nations Department of Public Information. Nancy has held this position for more than 14 years, supporting our mandate to the United Nations, promoting initiatives such as the US Fund for UNICEF and its Afghanistan Education Alliance and Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF Campaign, tirelessly fundraising on the Fund's behalf on the chapter level, and attending annual conferences and meetings at the UN HQ when possible. It was at such a conference--the annual DPI/NGO Conference held on September 11, 2001 at UNHQ--that solidified my friendship with Nancy and the other attending representative Diane Ullius (WNBA-DC). Waiting then wondering together what the next hours would bring on that tragic day. Thank you, Nancy, for your devotion and counsel, your generosity and goodness. Always and forever appreciated.
The Women's National Book Association is a NGO associated with the United Nations
Department of Public Information
Jill A. Tardiff, NGO Representative at the United Nations Department of Public Information (NYC)
Marilyn Berkman, Alternate (NYC)
Nancy Stewart, Alternate (Nashville)
Jenna Vaccaro, Youth Rep (NYC)
Dena Mekawi, Youth Rep (NYC)
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From the Editors
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Woodcut by Jost Amman (1568)
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As Valerie mentioned in her letter above, Gloria Toler will be stepping down as coeditor of this newsletter but will remain on as a copy editor. I would need an entire newsletter to tell you what a wonderfully gifted editor Gloria is, but it would take volumes to explain to you what a great collaborator, teacher, and most importantly of all, what a great friend she has been to me. Thank you Gloria! ~ Rhona
Gloria's are very big shoes to fill, so big in fact, that we are looking for two assistant editors to begin in August. (Update: Nicole Ayers of WNBA-Charlotte will fill one of those positions!) If you have enthusiasm for our organization, and an eye for detail, please get in touch with us at the email below. The positions are on a strictly volunteer basis, but they do offer a valuable boost to one's résumé. As Nashille's Bebe Brechner says in this month's issue about working on her chapter's newsletter, " I gained so many new friends, as well as translatable experience in newsletter creation and delivery, as well as a completely new skill in website management! The friendships and the new skills acquisition have served me well." Have a wonderful summer of reading, and we'll see you back here in September!
Gloria Toler (Nashville) & Rhona Whitty (NYC)Bookwoman Coeditors Annette Marie Haley (Detroit) Bookwoman Copy Editor Contact the editors at: newsletter@wnba-books.org
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Important Copyright Information for Contributors
We only accept articles written by the author or copyright holder. The Bookwoman, website, and other publications of the Women's National Book Association adhere to all local, national and international copyright laws. By submitting an article to us you are granting permission for its use on our website in our resource library (articles), in our member resources area and/or in our magazine and newsletters. Contributing authors retain all copyrights to their individual works.
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Barbara Gibson-Paul's