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Upcoming events
Upcoming events
July Meeting
July Meeting
The Way of the Story
with
Tom Abate
The Way of the Story
A provocative storytelling workshop
Drawing on 20 years as a UC Berkeley Extension journalism instructor, Tom will lead a workshop to help us think about how to make an impact and attain our goals in these topsy-turvy times.
In this engaging session, Tom will share hard-won insights and invite you into a guided brainstorm to help you:
Clarify your creative goals
Understand how storytelling is evolving
Think differently about message, medium, and audience
Sample prompts from the session include:
If storytelling is humanity’s superpower, why do so many storytellers feel powerless?
If “the medium is the message,” is interactivity the message of the internet?
Are modern conspiracy theories any weirder than the printing-press-era myth that women were cutting off men’s penises?
Don’t miss this fun, thought-provoking session with a writer who’s done it all—and still has questions worth asking.
To learn more about Tom or sample his current writing, visit tomabate.com/ruminations
Saturday, July 12, 2025
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Where
Napa Valley Unitarian Universalists
1625 Salvador Ave., Napa
Open to the Public
NVW Members: $5
Guests: $10
Students: Free with ID
Tom Abate has worked since 1974 in nearly every medium of communication—from Navy broadcast operations in the South China Sea, to running a startup newspaper in Redwood Country, to covering Silicon Valley for the San Francisco Chronicle. He joined the Chronicle just as the internet exploded into public life, and spent nearly 20 years reporting on how tech was changing everything—from biotech to newsrooms.
Tom later became a science writer at Stanford and has taught journalism through UC Berkeley Extension for two decades. Now retired, he focuses on storytelling in the Attention Economy—where creatives struggle to find an audience as tech rewires how we think.
June Meeting
June Meeting
Author Branding 101
with
Claudette Shatto
Author Branding 101
What to Do Before (and after) You Publish
Your book is just one piece of your author brand. In this interactive workshop, Napa Valley College professor and children’s book author Claudette Shatto shares how she spent four years building her brand and establishing herself as a trusted voice before publishing her debut book, Gazill Hill. Now, she’s helping other writers do the same—whether you're pre-publication or already published.
This is not a lecture. It’s a working session designed to help you clarify your message, define your author identity, and explore ways to expand your visibility with purpose and confidence. Through guided prompts and take-home worksheets, you’ll begin building a brand that reflects who you are and what you stand for as a writer.
You’ll walk away with:
A personal brand statement that connects your work to your purpose
Three content pillars to guide your messaging online and offline
A list of partnership and outreach opportunities aligned with your goals
Tools to start building or refining your platform—no matter where you are in the publishing journey
Whether you write fiction, nonfiction, for children or adults, this session will help you think beyond the book and take practical steps toward a brand that builds trust, opens doors, and positions you for long-term impact.
Saturday, June 14, 2025
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Where
Napa Valley Unitarian Universalists
1625 Salvador Ave., Napa
Open to the Public
NVW Members: $5
Guests: $10
Students: Free with ID
Claudette Shatto is a business professor at Napa Valley College, a keynote speaker, and award-winning educator who specializes in leadership development. She is the author of Gazill Hill, a multicultural children’s picture book.
Claudette’s workshops blend storytelling with actionable business strategies, helping writers and creators clarify their message and expand their visibility. Her work bridges education and entrepreneurship, offering practical tools and inspiration for anyone looking to grow their brand with purpose.
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