The annual San Francisco Writer’s Conference open-to-the public free events are listed below:

These great events will be at the Mark Hopkins Hotel during the San Francisco Writers Conference and we invite you to come check them out. The SFWC Exhibit Hall in the lobby is also open to the public from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday.  Meet with representatives of companies offering writing related products and services.

Wednesday, February 10 at 7:30 p.m. in the California Room                  

CELEBRATING DIVERSITY: Opportunities for Writers of Color
Regina Brooks, Carolina De Robertis, Ayize Jama-Everett, Bharti Kirchner, Innosanto Nagara, Brooke Warner. Moderator: Aya de Leon

Thursday, February 11 at 11:00 a.m.-11:45 a.m. in the California Room

A WORKING MARRIAGE: How an Agent Works with a Bestselling Author
Hollywood agent Ken Sherman will be in conversation with his client…internationally bestselling author Anne Perry! This session is just hours before the official start of the SFWC, so no registration is needed. If you are in the area, take an early lunch break and spend it here.

Friday, February 12 at  8:30 p.m.         

AN EVENING OF POETRY & JAZZ
Free and Open to the Public     Café Ferlinghetti, Lobby Level
Open mic with Our Poetry Pros, Diane Frank, Joan Gelfand, Andy Jones, Richard Loranger, Susie Meserve, Jane Ormerod, Lissa Provost, Dean Rader, Attendees, and Guests. Emcee: Andy Jones. Music by Don Alberts.

Friday, February 12 at 8:30 p.m.         

INSPIRING VOICES OF HOPE: The Afghan Women’s Writing Project
 Free and Open to the Public                     California Room
SFWC Scholarship winner Parwana Fayyaz; Special Guests Humaira Ghilzai, Afghan Friends Network; and Lori Noack, Director, The Women’s Afghan Writing Project.  Bonus! There will be a fundraising clothing boutique in the back of the room. Moderator: Kate Farrell

Saturday, February 13

We have to close this event! Thank you all so much for your enthusiastic response.

10:00-10:45 a.m.    IVY + BEAN + ANNIE BARROWS!
Free and Open to the Public by RSVP
Annie Barrows, author of the bestselling Ivy + Bean series, will discuss her books with her young fans.
Admission is FREE, by reservation ONLY.    The session is geared to beginning readers, but we encourage all of Annie’s fans to attend.  A parent or adult chaperone must accompany children. Chronicle Books is providing posters to the first 150 children.
We are very grateful to Youth Event Coordinator Kate Farrell and WNBA for helping to organize this event.

6:30-7:30 p.m.

MEET & GREET PARTY & SIGNING FOR SPEAKERS & AUTHORS
Free and Open to the Public           Room of the Dons
Get speakers to autograph their books and snap a selfie with them. The place to meet independently and traditionally published speakers and attendees.Our thanks to Bookshop West Portal for the bookstore.No-host bar. Music by The Slush Pile: Patrick von Wiegandt, guitar/vocals; Steve Levine, harmonica

Sunday, Feb. 14

2:00-3:15 p.m.      Free and open to the public                     Peacock Court

JOINING THE WRITING COMMUNITY: Connecting with Other Writers
Members of local and national writer’s organizations will bring literature and speak for a minute about their organization and meet with attendees. Nina Amir, National Nonfiction Writing Month; Cara Black, Mystery Writers of America; tba, Goodreads; Zoe Fitzgerald Carter, San Francisco Writer’s Grotto; Stephanie Chandler, Nonfiction Authors Association, Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators; Randy Dotinga, American Society of Journalists and Authors; Lee Foster, Bay Area Independent Publishers Association, Bay Area Travel Writers Association; Jane Glendinning, California Writers Club; Ransom Stephens, Litquake; Kate Farrell, Women’s National Book Association; Kathleen Antrim, International Thriller Writers.
If you would like to represent a writer’s organization to know someone who would like to, please write to Mike Larsen at sfwriterscon@aol.com.