WNBA-NOLA and WNBA-LA Joint Discussion of Inclusive Children’s Literature!

The New Orleans and Los Angeles Chapters of
The Women’s National Book Association
Proudly Invite You To
Being in the Book: The Significance of Inclusive Children’s Literature
Friday, November 4, 6 pm Central time
(4 pm Pacific time)
On Zoom
This webinar discussion features Angela Shante of Sunday Dinner Publishing, an afro-centric press publishing children’s stories, Children’s author Marti Dumas, whose latest title Wildseed Witch imagines a community of powerful black women and girls, and DJ Johnson, owner of Baldwin & Co. Books, a community-focused bookstore celebrating black authors and customers.
This discussion will be moderated by Anne Babson, President of The Women’s National Book Association of New Orleans.

New WNBA-NOLA Member Book Party!

Come to our new annual book member book party!

Date: Friday, October 21, 2022, 6:30 pm

Place: L’Union Française, 4522 Prytania Street, New Orleans

We will be honoring works by two members — Marti Dumas and Liz Williams.

We are so proud to have so many accomplished writers in the New Orleans chapter of the Women’s National Book Association!

This year, we are fêting the books recently published by Marti Dumas and Liz Williams.

Marti Dumas has written a marvelous Children’s/YA novel Wildseed Witch. Situated in the Louisiana Bayou, young African-American girls are educated at Les Belles Demoiselles — a literal charm school where their powers are unleashed and refined. This Bildungsroman is soon to be part of a series.

Elizabeth M. Williams, president of The Southern Food and Beverage Museum of New Orleans and our Vice President, has published Nana’s Creole Italian Table : Recipes and Stories from Sicilian New Orleans, a cook book that reflects on immigrant life in Louisiana and the meaning of family traditions surrounding food.

Both members and non members are welcome. Come hear from both authors, buy their books, and toast their success !

WNBA-NOLA and L’Union Francaise Event on September 9

Mark your calendars for Friday, September 9!  We will be co-hosting a discussion with Robin White of her translation of a French feminist abolitionist novel from the nineteenth century, Friendship and Devotion, or Three Months in Louisiana. We will be co-hosting this event with L’Union Francaise, a French cultural organization in New Orleans that was founded approximately when the novel Dr. White has translated was written. Stay tuned for more details.

LA Poet Laureate Mona Lisa Saloy to address Annual Meeting

We are thrilled that Louisiana Poet Laureate Mona Lisa Saloy will be the featured speaker at our Annual Meeting May 24.  The event will be held at L”Union Francaise, 4522 Prytania Street in New Orleans.  The award-winning author, folklorist, educator and scholar has been known and beloved for her work about Black Creole culture. Saloy has documented Creole culture in sidewalk songs, jump-rope rhymes and clap-hand games to discuss the importance of play. Her first book, “Red Beans & Ricely Yours,” won the T.S. Eliot Prize and the PEN/Oakland Josephine Miles Award. Her collection of poems, “Second Line Home,” captures day-to-day New Orleans speech, family dynamics and gives insight into the unique culture that the world loves.

THINGS TO DO THIS MONTH — 

BE BRAVER WITH ADVENTUROUS WOMEN TRAVEL WRITERS

ON MARCH 9

On March 9 at 7:30 pm, we will be meeting with the co-hosts of the podcast There She Goes – Lavinia Spalding and Kelly Chappie, who are travel writers themselves, have anthologized women travel writers in print, and who now host an acclaimed podcast where adventurous and swashbuckling women travel writers from every continent but Antarctica share stories that make the listener feel braver.

Come hear them discuss their plans for the second season of the podcast and listen to travel narratives from some of their featured writers.  We will talk about the kinds of work they look for as editors and podcasters, advice for emerging travel writers, and why it is important for us to hear brave globe-trekking stories from women authors.

If you would like to attend, please click on this link on March 9.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87699182504

DIVE DEEPER INTO WOMEN AUTHOR’S POWER  AT OUR  ACADEMIC PANEL DISCUSSION AT SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA UNIVERSITY ON MARCH 24 AT 2 PM.

On Thursday, March 24, at 2 pm on the third floor of Sims Library (1211 SGA Drive in Hammond) on the campus of Southeastern Louisiana University, The New Orleans Chapter of the WNBA is teaming up with the English department for an academic discussion of the importance of women’s writing with our members and members of the university faculty. We are talking about women writers who may have been underestimated or misunderstood and other concerns deeply connected to the mission statement of this organization.  Attendance is free, and light refreshments will be served.

WHO IS GOING TO THE TENNESSEE WILLIAMS FESTIVAL THIS YEAR?

The list of events is up at the Tennessee Williams Festival website — https://tennesseewilliams.net/festival/events/

And our member Constance Adler is presenting, member Sara Woodard is one of the key organizers of the event, and our doyenne Susan Larson remains a grand influencer in all things T-Dub-Fest. Tickets are on sale now.  See you at the Carousel Bar!

 

Virtual Pitch & Query with Literary Agents

Event Title: Virtual Pitch & Query with Literary Agents
Date: Tuesday, February 22
Time (with time zone): 6–7:30 p.m. CST
Cost: This event is FREE to WNBA members, $15 to non-members
In-person/virtual: Virtual
Registration or event link: https://agentqueryreview.splashthat.com/
Event co-hosts: Boston and New Orleans
Description:

What makes a query catch an agent’s interest? What common mistakes drive agents to reject? Hear from Carrie Howland, founder of Howland Literary, Amaryah Orenstein, founder of GO Literary, and Sarah Younger, of Nancy Yost Literary Agency as they listen to your queries LIVE and provide feedback to help you snag the agent of your dreams! The first 30 to register may submit pitches & queries for review, 450 words max for both, which will be read in order of submission. We’ll get through as many as we can. Register early to assure yours will be at the top of the list!

Check this out:  https://youtu.be/VL0TzyGP4E4