WNBA/NYC News/Calendar

(Click on the Powells' logo next to each member's publication and order it directly online.)

Carol Hoenig. Without Grace, a novel
(Star iUniverse, September 2005, $14.95, ISBN: 978-1-58348-036-6)

Without Grace is a heartening portrait of small-town life and triumphant coming-of-age tale about the complexities and comforts of family and the healing that comes with letting go of the past. Without Grace has been given high praise from many, including Malachy McCourt, Michael Malone, Rona Jaffe and independent journalist Arthur Kent.

Robin Gorman Newman. How to Marry a Mensch: The Love Coach's Guide to Meeting Your Mate
(Fair Winds Press, February 2006, $14.95, ISBN 1-59233-167-X)

This book of advice and anecdotes follows the success of How to Meet a Mensch in New York (City & Co., 1994 and 1996). Details about Newman's work as a "love coach" and current books may be found at www.lovecoach.com.

Daylle Deena Swartz. I Don't Need a Record Deal: Your Survival Guide for the Indie Music Revolution
(Billboard Books, June 2005, $19.95, ISBN 0823079481)

Following the book release party at the Hard Rock Cafe in New York, Swartz is planning a three-month road trip to interest both musicians and consumers in independent music. Swartz has several books on the music industry and on personal growth to her credit, including a revised edition of How to Please a Woman In & Out of Bed (Adams Media, June 2005, $2.95, ISBN 1593372906).

Julie Ellis. A Turn in the Road
(Severn House, 2004, $26.99, 0727860445)

Ellis's latest romantic suspense novel is also a moving tale of family. April has escaped the pressures of Manhattan to practice law upstate. While defending a young woman in a murder case, April finds love with the woman's adoptive fatherÐand discovers that her client's past is linked to her own.

Carole Spearin McCauley. Cold Steal
(Hillard & Harris, 2004, hardcover: $28.95, 1591330440; paperback: $16.95, 1591330459)

Independent yet vulnerable Pauli Golden, journalist for a medical trade publication, uncovers a mystery of medicine, money and murder in suburban Connecticut. Inspired by writing a nonfiction book on breast cancer, this novel is the first in a series for the woman-owned Hillard & Harris.

McCauley’s writing appears in two anthologies. She has two original recipes in Whodunnit? Favorite Recipes of Mystery Authors and Readers (Sisters in Crime, St. Louis, 2002). Her short mystery story "The Loneliness of Miss Rona" appears in The Suspense of Loneliness anthology (Birch Brook Press, Delhi, NY, 2003).

Two of her short stories were published in magazines: "Crone's Revenge" (FemSpec, Cleveland, OH, fall 2002) and "Adventure at Krysuvik" (Pangaia, California, fall 2002).

Her poem "The We of Me" won a top prize in a Radio Netherlands Shortwave contest. Another poem, "Air," won USA Today's haiku contest for July 23, 2002.

Bernadette Miller and Janet Kuypers. Domestic Blisters
(Scars Publications, 2004, $10.95, 1891470442)
Available from http://www.scars.tv

The two collections of short stories in this book deal with a range of human behavior, from family relationships to politics to mysticism. Twelve stories are by Bernadette Miller (pseudonym of WNBA member Sylvia Oshypko). Autographed copies can be obtained by e-mailing bernamiller4@aol.com.

For more information about the short stories, visit the author's Web site www.bernadettemiller.com

Anna Olswanger. Shlemiel Crooks
(Anna Olswanger Books, 2004, $16.95)

Visit the Wild West of 1919 St. Louis in this limited edition miniature book. This humorous ghost story with a talking horse first appeared in Young Judean, where it won the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators Magazine Merit Award.

Kathryn Marie Bild. The Actor's Quotation Book: Acting in a Nutshell from Those Who Really Know
(Smith and Kraus, 2003, $9.95, 1575253704)
An insightful and entertaining book of quotations from some of our finest actors, directors, writers, producers and acting coaches on the art, the craft, the nerve, and the thrill of acting; what it takes to "make it" and the joy of what it means to be an actor.

Kathryn Marie Bild. Acting From a Spiritual Perspective: Your Art, Your Business, Your Calling
(Smith and Kraus, 2002, $16.95, ISBN 1-57525-294-5)

This cheering, inspiring handbook provides spiritual and practical guidance for both working and aspiring actors. It gives you, the actor, a fresh look at the art and craft of acting, and gets you past those mental and emotional obstacles that prevent you from fulfilling your dreams. "Kathryn Bild has written The Power of Positive Thinking for the actor," says Jane Alexander, actress and former Director, National Endowment for the Arts. "And there are many sound training tips and nuggets of good advice throughout." "Finally," Jack Canfield, coauthor, Chicken Soup for the Soul series, says, "a book based on spiritual principles that will keep recharging you as you proceed in acting—or any creative endeavor." Bild is a writer, director, acting and directing coach, and a Grammy Award-winning producer.

Nancy Newman. Disturbing the Peace.
(Avon Books, 2002, $13.95, ISBN 03-807983)

"Newman's first novel, a delicious foray into the frenzied world of a single woman searching for her identity, is chock-full of interesting characters and wicked insights." Booklist

The heroine, a savvy single New York woman, has committed her life to three goals: teaching English to immigrants, writing a book about their struggles to assimilate, and avoiding all thoughts about the birth mother she has never known. But when she accidentally blurts out the family secret during a heated interview with a provocative Romanian émigré, his reaction shatters her carefully constructed self-image and turns her world upside-down. As her life begins to unravel, she sets off on a search to uncover the truth about her biological roots and make peace with her past. The outcome is an engaging--sometimes comical--look at what it takes to grow up...at any age.

Mary Sanders Smith. Love Takes
(Lintel, 2002, $14 with a 20% discount by calling 1-866-390-9666 and mentioning WNBA)

The protagonist is Love in Mary Sanders Smith's latest book Love Takes, a collection of short stories and sketches. For better or worse, Love dons a different mantle in each story. Deceptively, Love possesses and obsesses. Characters in the stories often lose their identities to this sometimes kind, but more often overpowering, paradox called Love.

Proceeds from the author's portion are donated to the Daniel J. McGillen Foundation for Down Syndrome, Inc. in honor of Mary Sanders Smith's grandchild. The organization is committed to improving the welfare of people afflicted with Down Syndrome and to make qualifying distributions to individuals and organizations whose mission is to provide educational and financial support to individuals with Down Syndrome.

Jan Yager, Ph.D. When Friendship Hurts: How to Deal with Friends Who Betray, Abandon, or Wound You
(Simon and Schuster/A Fireside Original, 2002, $13, ISBN 0-7432-1145-6)

Publishers Weekly concluded its praiseworthy review: "This valuable book will be a rescuer to all readers struggling to deal with an ailing friendship." Library Journal ended its glowing review: "Recommended for all public libraries." Based on extensive original research, When Friendship Hurts demonstrates how, why, and when to let go of negative friends and how to develop positive friendships (or maintain the ones that someone already has). Jan Yager, Ph.D., sociologist and author of Friendshifts: The Power of Friendship and How it Shapes our Lives (Hannacroix Creek Books, Inc., 2nd edition, 1999), teaches part-time in the Sociology Department at the University of Connecticut, Stamford branch. For more information on Jan’s new book, and to read a sample chapter, go to: www.whenfriendshiphurts.com.

The responsibility for opinions expressed in all member publications rests solely with their authors. Statements made and opinions expressed are strictly those of the authors and not of the WNBA.

This innovative workshop offers you productive face time with agents, who will offer advice on your query material. You are asked to bring your query letter, a synopsis (of 1000 words or less), and the first page of your work. Agents will review your query and offer insights into what gets an agent’s attention, what works, and what doesn’t. Each session is ten minutes. Authors can meet with up to ten agents in one night. NO PITCHING is required or expected.

This year, we’ve added an invaluable feature for all registered participants to help them prepare: a blog, which shows authors how to write effective queries, by walking them through over 20 sample query letters and revisions to them.

Lucy Childs — Aaron M. Priest Literary Agency
Nancy Coffey — Nancy Coffey Literary
Brian DeFiori — DeFiori and Company
Stephany Evans — FinePrint Literary Management
Molly Friedrich — The Friedrich Agency
Molly Glick — Jean V. Naggar Literary Agency
Janet Reid — FinePrint Literary Management
Maya Rock — Writers House
Janet Rosen — Sheree Bykofsky Associates
Mitchell Waters —Curtis Brown, Ltd.

Least expensive: one ten minute session: $30
Better value: three ten minute sessions: $70
Best deal: ten ten minutes sessions: $150
10% discount for current members of WNBA.

Space is limited, so sign up early at programs@wnba-nyc.org; once we confirm that the number of slots you request is available, we will contact you with Paypal info. Other payment options are available, but once you send payment through Paypal your slots and access to the blog will be secured.