About NVW
History
In May of 2012 a group of writers with a variety of interests and genres met at the Napa library to explore the possibility of chartering a new chapter of the California Writers Club. In January of 2013 the dream became a reality.
Napa Valley Writers meets on the second Wednesday night of every month from 7 to 9 p.m. Our meeting format includes time for networking, announcements of classes and contests, a short reading by a member, and an invited speaker on craft and the challenges and successes of being a writer. See our events calendar for up-to-date information about meeting locations and for membership information. You can also visit our Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/nvwritersclub.
Click Here for links to the California Writers Club and all California Chapters.
Questions? Contact Us
2023-2024 Board Members
Board members are volunteers, elected by NVW members to serve for one year, from July 1st to June 30th. Any board member may be re-elected for additional years. All members are encouraged to participate on the Board and contribute their skills and gifts to NVW leadership and development.
The benefits of serving on the Board include increased networking opportunities, development of leadership skills, and building connections with the wider writing community.
Position titles are linked to descriptions of Board positions and their responsibilities.
Amber Lea Starfire
Amber Lea Starfire, MFA is an author, editor, and journaling expert whose passion is helping others tell their stories. She has authored two memoirs, Accidental Jesus Freak and Not the Mother I Remember, as well as several books on journaling, including Journaling for Dummies, released in Nov. 2022. Amber has been a member of the California Writers Club since 2010 and joined Napa Valley Writers when it began in 2013.
Kymberlie Ingalls
Kymberlie Ingalls has served on the NVW Board as program chair since 2021 and Vice President in 2021-22 and 23-24. She excels in bringing talented presenters of writing craft, publishing, and related genres
Kymberlie is a blogger and author, creator of the successful Writer of the Storm and Neuroticy = A Societal Madness sites. Her work focuses on personal topics such as love, relationships, grief and memory loss.
Geoffrey Leigh
Geoffrey K. Leigh taught and conducted social science research, published articles and co-edited a book, Adolescence in Families. He lives in Napa Valley and works at a local winery. He published a non-fiction book, Rekindling Our Cosmic Spark, a novel, Dancing With Audacity, and Prosetry Journey with co-author, Marianne Lyon.
John Petraglia
John Petraglia is a writer, editor and poet. He completed 10 years of service as a literary docent at American Poet Robinson Jeffers’ Tor House in Carmel, California.
In addition to serving on the Board as Secretary, John is editor of the OPUS IV, Napa Valley Writers' 2023 anthology.
Eli Potter
Eli Potter is an investor, advising startups on technology at scale. In the past, she served as an executive at Coinbase and Autodesk, fundamentally changing the product engineering culture.
Eli holds an MS degree from Carnegie Mellon. She writes poetry, fiction, non-fiction, and donates to NVW and SFWC.
Claudia Long
Member-at-Large (Publicity Chair)
Claudia Hagadus Long is the author of six published novels, ranging from historical fiction to modern mysteries. She frequently appears on panels regarding craft and marketing of fiction. Claudia is a practicing lawyer-mediator, a passionate weaver, and a doting grandmother. She lives in Northern Napa County.
Marty Malin
Marty has published a handful of poems and short stories online and in several print anthologies. His first book, Grandmother's Devil & Other Tempting Tales, is a collection of short stories. His debut novel, Transit, will be published in the Winter of 2023. The novel is being serialized in advance of publication on Substack and some of Marty's short stories may also be read there at https://martymalin.substack.com/p/short-stories.
