David D. Schmidt, author of the new book San Francisco Bay Area: An Environmental History, will talk about his 31-year journey of inspiration, research, writing, finding a publisher, and finally getting this book into print in 2025.  

San Francisco Bay Area: An Environmental History has 20 chapters, covering 20 aspects of the Bay Area's environmental history, including Native Tribes, Wildlife, Fisheries, Agriculture, Logging, Mining, Transportation, Water Supply, Urbanization, Parks and Land Conservation, Saving the Bay and Coast, the Environmental Movement, Earthquakes, Wildfires and more!

Saturday, March 14, 2026
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM 

Where 

Napa Valley Unitarian Universalists
1625 Salvador Ave., Napa 

Open to the Public 

NVW Members: $10
Guests: $15
Students: Free with ID 

David D. Schmidt is an environmental historian and retired writer and editor who worked in the Pacific Southwest Regional Office of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency from 1991 to 2021. He is the author of Citizen Lawmakers: The Ballot Initiative Revolution, published in 1989 after only seven years of effort.  He lived in San Francisco for more than 50 years and now lives in Santa Rosa.  

The Art of Presence: Pro Marketing & Self-Promotion Tips for Writers

Contrary to what we often tell ourselves, sales and self-promotion aren’t nearly as scary as they seem. With more than three decades in advertising sales and marketing—and over a decade as a published author, Marketing Mentor, and Gap Mindset Coach—Shawn Langwell will walk you through five practical, proven steps to help you move past the fear of “selling yourself.”

You’ll leave feeling more confident doing what you already do best: telling great stories. This session will show you how to flip the script—how to tell the story behind your story—so you can connect authentically with new readers and build self-confidence along the way. The goal isn’t to push or pitch—it’s to shift your focus from what you want to what you can give, starting by simply showing up as yourself: passionate, present, and proud of what you’ve created.

Saturday, April 11, 2026
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM 

Where 

Napa Valley Unitarian Universalists
1625 Salvador Ave., Napa 

Open to the Public 

NVW Members: $10
Guests: $15
Students: Free with ID 

Shawn Langwell is an Inspirational Author, Speaker, and Sales & Executive Gap Mindset Coach/Consultant. He has written several transformational books including, Beyond Recovery, Ten Seconds of Boldness and its companion workbook, Morning Motivation, and Chill. He’s also the Past President of The California Writers Club (CWC), Redwood Writers and Past President of Toastmasters of Petaluma. Shawn lives in Northern California with his wife Crissi, and Maine Coon cat Cleo.

Find him at www.shawnlangwell.com