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Upcoming events
Upcoming events
October Meeting
October Meeting
Rhythm and Poetry
Rhythm and Poetry
with
"Excalibur" David Camper
with
"Excalibur" David Camper
Rhythm and Poetry
Rhythm and Poetry
An exploration of the technical aspects and literary techniques that bind poetry and rap together, and how techniques from either can enhance the other. Some are familiar with the acronym: Rhythm And Poetry as the breakdown of the hip-hop born musical style, but we aim to explore the interconnectedness of the two art forms. Our presentation will discuss the importance of poetry in writing rap music and the ways that rap encapsulates the heart of poetry while branching off into its own artistic genre due to its storied origins and history. We will explore writing techniques present in both, how exploring one can strengthen both, and what writers from all disciplines can learn from the two.
Saturday, October 11, 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
With a passion for authenticity and a willingness to stand out, Bay Area rapper, producer and poet Excalibur, delivers a range of messages through his art. Born in Vallejo, California, but a native of Suisun City, Excalibur began his artistic journey at fifteen writing rap verses and short stories. In 2019 he became a member of both MADDRAMA Performance Troupe and Outspoken Arts Collective during his collegiate journey, earning his B.A. in History at Jackson State University. After most recently completing his M.S. in Computational Social Science, he now performs and organizes live events across the Bay Area as the first ever Poet Laureate of Suisun City.
November Meeting
November Meeting
Insider Publishig Secrets Every Writer Needs to Know
with
Brenda Knight
The Art of the Book Deal
Insider Secrets to Navigating the Publishing Process
From the outside, book publishing can seem mysterious, but from the inside it is really quite simple. Twenty-two year publishing veteran Brenda Knight will teach you how to sell yourself and your book idea, who you are really selling, the importance of “comp titles,” how to craft the perfect proposal, and trend tracking. “I have acquired over one thousand books in my career, including a few New York Times bestsellers. One of the great joys in my life is to help authors get their work into print and published successfully,” says Knight. From the art of the pitch, the perfect proposal to mastering marketing, Knight shares the inside scoop on how to get a book deal.
Hook Your Book
Every book needs a fantastic sales hook.. One of the hooks also used in the selling and marketing of the book was that it was . for example “Random Acts of Kindness meets Pay It Forward,” the old Hollywood pitch. But you’ll notice that every comparison is to that of a bestselling book or movement or meme. This can take some time as you should try a few different hooks. Try them on your friends, try them on people in your writing group. Make friends with your local booksellers, buy them coffee and tell them what you’re doing because they can be enormously helpful. You will not always get it on first hook, but you can really hone in to what works. Great book hooks can really make a difference to sales people and editors.
Saturday, November 8, 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
Brenda Knight is a twenty-two year publishing veteran, starting at HarperCollins, where she fell in love with publishing. Today she is the publisher of Books That Save Lives President of the San Francisco Chapter of Women’s National Book Association. Knight is also the author of Women of the Beat Generation, which won an American Book Award, and The Grateful Table: Blessing, Prayers and Graces for the Daily Meal.
NAPA VALLEY BOOK FESTIVAL
NAPA VALLEY BOOK FESTIVAL
Just in Time for the Holidays
Just in Time for the Holidays
Calling all Napa Valley published authors.
Show us what you've got! On Saturday, November 8, 2025, we will be hosting our first-ever, Napa Authors Only Book Festival. It will be from 10 a.m. to noon at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 1625 Salvador Ave., Napa.
Space is limited. Members: $20, Non-members, $60
This event will be open to the public starting at 11 a.m.
To reserve your space, send your name, email and Book Titles to: lenorehirsch@att.net
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