National Authors Day: Celebrated by North County Authors & Poets in San Diego
Cats: Speaking Events|National Authors Day:
Celebrated by North County Authors & Poets in San Diego
National Authors Day was celebrated yesterday in San Diego County’s northern-most area of Oceanside, next to Camp Pendleton’s Marine Corp Base, as the North County Authors and Poets (NCAP) hosted a full-day free event, themed "So You Want to Be An Author!"
Covered in its entirety by local television station KOCT-TV (www.koct.org), The Oceanside Channel, and reporter Faamasani S. Unutoa, the special story will air mid-November. KOCT is a non-profit Corporation that provides public, educational and government access programming and services on Cox Communications Channels 18 and 19, as well as on AT&T.
Open to the public free of charge and hosted at the Oceanside Civic Center Library, the event featured 32 local published authors and poets, reading from their works, sharing tips and offering inspiration for those wanting to become authors and know more about the publishing business. The Community Room was filled to capacity with eager attendees sponging up the information shared.
Library Director Deborah Polich welcomed everyone to the event, and congratulated the NCAP members and guests, adding her thanks for keeping the passion for reading and writing alive and healthy. She was followed by Anna McElroy, Head Librarian, making her welcoming remarks, and introducing the day’s Moderator, Dr. Elizabeth Yahn Williams.
PUBLISHING: Then-and-Now
Keynote presenter was Dr. Robert Goodman, owner of Silvercat, a San Diego based publishing firm. His comments addressed publishing then-and-now, with all the changes that have occurred in the industry, and technology’s part in that. Twenty years ago, some 70,000 books were published each year, whereas in 2007 there were 412,000. "Marketing has become a major challenge…the average shelf-life of a book in stores is three weeks. There are fewer bookstores, replaced by megastores (CostCo, WalMart) which carry books." He also addressed eBooks, On-Demand printing, On-Line Readers (Amazon’s Kindle), On-Line Review Journals, and Virtual Book Clubs. Boldy predicting "The bookstore of the future, in 10-15 years, will be a vending machine," with much of the audience agreeing with him. Goodman is the co-founder and past president of Publishers & Writers of San Diego, co-founder and faculty member of the La Jolla Writers Conference, and a Board Member of the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), formerly the Publishing Marketing Alliance (PMA).
The morning’s readings were offered by authors and poets: Roger Conlee (Counterclockwise), Jennifer Kise (The Birthday Surprise), L. Curt Erler (Southside Kid & Mantilla Lady); Janie Lancaster (Julie & The Lost Fairy Tale); Teresa Gonzalez-Lee (Love Was Born During The Dance); and Sheryl Roush (Heart Book Series).
Native San Diegan author Sheryl Roush, internationally recognized inspirational speaker, and 12-time published author shared her process for creating her for Heart Book Series (five books in the past two years, featured in Borders). 
The series has also added Music CDs to accompany the titles for Heart of a Mother and Heart of the Holidays. Sheryl is the President of Sparkle Presentations, Inc., and a member of the IBPA. www.SparklePresentations.com
Sheryl invited Dharlene Fahl-Brittian to the stage to read her touching Tea Prayers published in Heart of a Woman in Business and Heart of a Mother. Dharlene, "The Tea Lady," and expert, is also the author of Take Up the Cup, and a line of inspirational laminated Tea Prayer cards.
Sheryl then invited Mary Lenore Quigley read her poems published in the Heart of a Woman in Business and Heart of a Woman, including one dedicated to her retired husband, Patrick, who was delightfully surprised, seated in the audience. Mary is also the author of Indelible Ink: A Memoir.
Dr. Teresa Gonzalez-Lee, Professor at Mira Mesa College, eloquently translated and read in Spanish the opening poem to Corazon de Mujer (Heart of a Woman), "Renacimiento de una mujer" penned by Consuelo Sanchez.
Following the mornings readings, the wealth of knowledge panel included
Poet: Marjorie Stamm Rosenfeld
Collaborative: Composer David Lewis (Director-San Luis Rey Chorale); Author/Poet Dr. Bob Lundy(Partners-In-Rhyme-Hither & Yahn); Author/Editor Rose E. Magyar (Mira Costa College); Artist Marion Wong; Author/Poet Dr. Elizabeth Yahn Williams (Partners-In-Rhyme-Hither & Yahn)
Editor: Lois Winsen (Editor-On-Tap) with "Helpful Do’s and Don’ts for New Writers"
Resources: Author/Teacher Marie Giordano (Mira Costa College)
Translators: Professors Dr. Teresa Gonzalez-Lee (Mira Costa College); and Dr. Edith Jonsson-Devillers (UCSD)
Marketer: Karla Olson (Owner of BookStudio), offered valuable tips and a handout for a Marketing Plan/Proposal Template
Pictured here, KOCT-TV reporting assistant holding some of the BOOKS published by those at the event!
The afternoon’s readings were offered by authors and poets: Carol Ann Lindsay (Songs From a San Diego Morning); Glenn Jacobs (The Samson Process); Marie Giordano (I Love You Like A Tomato); David Valley (The General’s Women); Maggie Chantiloupe (Iraq-The War That Shouldn’t Be-You Decide); Barbara Deming (The Quilt Maker); and Dr. Elizabeth Yahn Williams and Robert T. Lundy (Hither & Yahn).
Faamasani S. Unutoa of KOCT-TV shown here interviewing Moderator Dr. Elizabeth Yahn Williams, regarding the success of the event, and future plans of the North County Authors & Poets.
November 3rd, 2008 at 3:28 am
I wish to congratulate the speakers of the National Authors Day event on Nov. 1 on their highly impressive, effective and informative presentations.
The organizers should all be given a mighty big pat on the shoulder for their efforts in making this a pleasurable and successful event.
The speakers’ eloquence, clarity, sincerity and willingness to share their expertise, was overwhelmingly positive and received in the spirit intended.
Thank you all.
November 4th, 2008 at 7:14 pm
Thanks, Sheryl.
Oceanside Library and all participants can celebrate this success and be grateful for your and KOCT’s coverage.
Elizabeth Yahn Williams with Bob Lundy of the Partners-in-Rhyme, Hither & Yahn
November 5th, 2008 at 6:56 pm
Congratulations to all on the professionalism, talent and camaraderie everyone exhibited at National Authors’ Day! NCAP authors led by Mary Lenore Quigley spoke enthusiastically and inspirationally on their craft. From the inception Librarians Anna McElroy, Cathy DiMento and Deborah Polich were supportive… I can’t thank the panelists enough for their absolutely outstanding expertise! MCC and PWSD helped with the publicity and KCOT really put forth an amazing effort in recording the day! I can’t wait to see their TV show!
– Elizabeth Yahn Williams
November 14th, 2008 at 1:29 am
Sheryl, your books are an inspiration to my family and I and I am grateful that I had the opportunity to meet you.
Fa’afetai tele lava,
(Thank you very much),Sani
-Fa’amasani S. Unutoa
KOCT “The Oceanside Channels”
January 3rd, 2009 at 8:01 pm
Sheryl,
Thank you for a fantastic recap of an awesome event.
National Authors’ Day was unforgettable for NCAP. When North County Authors & Poets began in 2004 we were a dynamic force of nine. At the Nov. 1st event over twenty-five A&Ps participated.
NCAP’s mission statement is to: “Promote and encourage the works of ALL San Diego published authors and poets, small or large press, chapbook or novel. We come together as family to celebrate who we are and what we have accomplished.”
And to San Diego’s Dynamic Dozen who kept audience and authors glued to their seats, thank you – especially our Madame Chair, Elizabeth Yahn-Williams.
With the enthusiastic support of Anna McElroy, Cathy “CJ” DiMento and Deborah Polich of the Oceanside Library, NCAP’s mission was accomplished in grand style.
Mary Lenore Quigley,
Founder North County Authors & Poets of San Diego
Author: “Indelible Ink,” “By Fools Like Me,” “God Danced.”