The Mechanics’ Institute will host a panel discussion Tuesday evening, June 29 at 6 p.m.: Bay Area writers will discuss the dramatically changing directions and paradigms of the book publishing industry. Explore traditional publishing routes and take advantage of innovations like e-books, self-publishing, social media, and the Web. Panelists include writing coach Lisa Alpine (leader of the Self-Publishing Boot Camp), travel writer/journalist Laura Fraser (All Over the Map), internet to print scientist/writer Ransom Stephens (The God Patent) and Twitter to print author Matt Stewart (The French Revolution).

MODERATED by: Constance Hale, book editor and author of Sin and Syntax.

LOCATION: Mechanics’ Institute, 57 Post Street, San Francisco

TRANSPORTATION: Montgomery BART/MUNI station

RESERVATIONS & Information: 415-393-0100   •    Reservations by email:  rsvp@milibrary.org

Free for Mechanics’ Institute members   •   $12 for the general public

Photo: Creative Learning

Here’s an organization that’s working to promote peace by supporting American volunteerism in mostly-Muslim parts of the world. That’s a cause worth supporting!

And they have  announced an essay contest and a video contest. If I had done anything that qualified, I’d definitely enter this contest. The prizes are real ($2,000 for the 1st place video; $1,000 for the first place essay) and my guess is that there won’t be a huge number of competing entries. Deadline is July 15, 2010.

“America’s Unofficial Ambassadors

Did you teach English to villagers in Morocco, deliver disaster relief in Indonesia, or train women candidates to run for election in Kuwait?

Were you a medical volunteer in Uzbekistan, an art teacher in Afghanistan, or a mediation trainer in Niger?

Did you coach a basketball camp in Mali or run a photography workshop in Jordan?

If you are an American who worked or volunteered in the fields of education, unmet human needs, justice and rights, or creative expression in a Muslim majority country in Africa, the Middle East, or Asia please take a few minutes to join our Community of America’s Unofficial Ambassadors. Read more

We are excited to announce our first annual video and essay contests, with prizes that include cash awards and publication! The contests run along the themes of the impact of service, representing America, and remarkable local partners. The deadline for entry is July 15. Please click here for full details.”

More about AUA:

“AUA is based upon the premise that traditional diplomatic efforts and official development assistance are not sufficient to combat the root causes of the major challenges that face the United States and the Muslim World, ranging from failing states and the spread of extremist ideologies to the harmful stereotypes of the “other” that exist on a popular level.

“In addition to top down governmental approaches, a key to building and sustaining peace between America and the Muslim World are efforts that foster people-to-people relationships and help to alleviate human development challenges at the grassroots level where they receive the least dedicated resources. There is untapped potential among American citizens to support the initiatives of local leaders throughout the Muslim World with their volunteer service, technical expertise, and resources. At the same time, such high impact service dissipates negative stereotypes between Americans and Muslims and improves relations between the United States and the Muslim World.”

AUA is a program of the Washington, DC-based non-profit Creative Learning, which is another organization that looks like it’s worth checking out.

• David Page’s post on Matador
• C-Monster.net‘s take
• The Writing Coach’s tips from the conference
• More TK (the post is titled Writing for the Screen)

And a perspective on writing for free, this one from Advertising Age.

Check out the comments after the articles, too.

Time to make your plans for the 19th Annual Book Passage Travel, Food, & Photography Conference. It promises to be better than ever this year, with inclusion of food writing classes and panels, as well as expert advice and instruction for travel writers and photographers. The conference runs from August 12 to 15, 2010. Call Book Passage in Corte Madera (800-999-7909, ext. 239) for more information or to register.

From the website:

The Book Passage Travel Writers & Photographers Conference covers all aspects of travel writing and photography. Students select a morning session of intensive study for each day of the Conference. The afternoons provide a variety of panels and workshops, followed by special evening presentations and late night informal sessions.

Mornings: Students select a morning workshop for intensive instruction:

• Newspaper & Magazine Writing
• The Personal Essay
• The Longer Narrative
• Guidebook Writing
• Travel Photography
• Advanced Newspaper Writing
• Advanced Magazine Writing

Afternoons: A variety of workshops open to all attendees including:

• Travel Photography for Writers
• Selling that First Story
• Writing for Guidebooks
• Making a Living as a Freelancer
• On-Line Publishing and Resources
• Working with a Book Agent
• Photographing People
• Advice for Published Writers
• The Business of Travel Photography

Evenings: The opening evening features dinner for participants and faculty outside on the patio. Each evening features a presentation by faculty members.

You’re guaranteed lots of personal attention from Carried Away founders Vikki and Dianne, long-time Bay area residents who are known for knowing — and going! Introductory pricing is good through August, 2010.

Trips include:

• Hills & Valleys
• Urban Legends
• Retail Therapy
• Breakfast by the Bay
• Champagne time
• Northern Exposure
• City Sampler

Here’s a customer response from the Carried Away website:

PAW (Protect Animal Welfare) Cat Sanctuary and Humane Society on Caye Caulker (pronounced Key Corker) in Belize Central America needs a long-term volunteer and a long-term veterinary volunteer. Stay three months helping the sanctuary and your beach-side accommodations plus a continental breakfast are provided for the duration of your stay. Check out the PAW website to see these great accommodations right on the ocean. Volunteers work around 2 hours in the morning and 2 in the afternoon with some flexibility in the schedule to explore the great dive sites of the region or work on your own projects, writing, reading…

NOTE: PAW Founder, Madi Collins asked me to help her find one animal-loving volunteer and one veterinarian (possibly retired or…) volunteer during an interview for The Voluntary Traveler podcast. That interview will be available next week, but the sanctuary needs help ASAP. The details of this long-term volunteer position are NOT on the PAW website, but it is a great starting place to learn about the sanctuary and sink into their beautiful photos from the island.

Please send/link people to the Voluntary Traveler’s website Voluntourism News page, to read about this long-term volunteer program. PAW is desperate for help and Collins has not had a day off in several years. Let’s all volunteer from home to spread the word and get the sanctuary some help.

Interested volunteers can contact Madi Collins via the PAW website, or through her email at: pawanimalsanctuarybelize@yahoo.com

Bye the way, if you are going to Caye Caulker to dive and don’t wish to volunteer, these adorable accommodations in the heart of the island are also available to rent with the proceeds helping the sanctuary.

Congratulations to journalist, poet, essayist, traveler, and writing instructor Joanna Biggar, whose new novel, That Paris Year, has inspired a lively west coast debut. All are invited to celebrate with food, music, and Paris-style ambiance at the reading.

SF Book Passage at the Ferry Building, Monday, July 12, beginning at 6 p.m.

Joanna will read from That Paris Year, a “novel in which intellect, eroticism, and art reverberate from the page to the heartbeat of the City of Light, Joanna Biggar has written an American book with the sweep and elegance of French literary tradition.”

“Written with heart, humor, and an ironic, yet humane hindsight, That Paris Year is a must-read for anyone of any age who has dreamt of escaping the confines of her or his personal reality – whether geographic, cultural, or psychological – to embark on a journey of self-discovery and renewal.” — Joan Mitric

James J. Patterson will read from his newly released Bermuda Shorts at the same event.

Create A “Foodoir”  Of Your Own at Cap Maison
“The Spice Necklace Experience” Package

Cap Estate, St. Lucia, West Indies, June 23 — Inspired by today’s release of Ann Vanderhoof’s newest book,  The Spice Necklace: My Adventures in Caribbean Cooking, Eating, and Island Life, Cap Maison is giving guests the chance to create a “foodoir” memoir of their own. Now through December 18, 2010, St. Lucia’s popular boutique hotel will offer a 3-night “Spice Necklace Experience” package for two, which includes a Villa Suite, guided tour of the Castries Central Market and all meals cooked by Executive Chef Craig Jones of Cliff at Cap restaurant, using the array of island spices and fresh local ingredients that Vanderhoof deliciously discovers during her journey by sailboat through the Eastern Caribbean. Cap Maison is even including the St. Lucian aphrodisiac cocktail the author refers to as “island Viagra”.

Helpful Links:

Link to package offer:http://www.capmaison.com/special-offers.html  
Link to Cap Maison image library:
www.photoshelter.com  
Login:
info@capmaison.co.uk
Password: capmaison

The Spice Necklace Experience
Available through December 18, 2010
US $2400 per couple includes:

• Accommodation for 3 nights in a Villa Suite with pool
• All meals, beverages (US$75 per room per day credit)
• Personalized shopping tour of the Castries Central Market for West Indian produce and spices shopping
• Complimentary copy of The Spice Necklace; My Adventures in Caribbean Cooking, Eating, and Island Life, published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
• Airport Transfers

*Additional night(s) and Upgrades available
*Package price does not include 18% tax and service

For bookings and more information, guests may call Reservations toll free at 1-888-765-4985 or send an email to reservations@capmaison.com or visit the website at www.capmaison.com.

U.S. Press Office
ConranPR
Gayle Conran, gconran@conranpr.com
Alexis Harrison, aharrison@conranpr.com