We had a fabulous and inspiring day of writing and creating!

Stay tuned for more on our next in-person gathering.

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The Book and Beyond

A One-Day Creative Retreat & Marketing Workshop for Authors

DATE: Saturday, November 1, 2025
TIME: 9:00am-5:00pm PST
LOCATION: Metro Hotel, 508 Petaluma Blvd. S., Petaluma, CA
COST: $149*

* Includes free membership in the BYTS online writers’ community. Does not include meals, but snacks and coffee/tea will be provided.

As a storyteller, you love dreaming up scenes and spinning words into plots.

But it’s not always easy to tap into your creative wellspring or find inspiration. Time away from your regular routine and a supportive community can foster creativity and help you share your voice.

Once you’ve found the path to creation, nothing beats the high of finishing your first draft.

Then the reality of marketing and self-promotion hits.

Suddenly, you’re hiding under the covers, wondering how your book will ever be discovered.

What if you could take a day for yourself to nourish your creativity and transform those scary thoughts about selling into compelling stories that connect with readers? What if marketing wasn’t a dreaded afterthought, but a joyful, creative, and integrated part of the process from the very beginning? Imagine telling the story about your story with the same excitement you felt when writing it.

This is your chance to learn from two inspiring and passionate author teachers with decades of wisdom and practical experience.

Our goal is to help you become a more confident writer, self-promoter, and marketer by doing what you already love: telling great stories!

In this workshop, you will:

• Dive deep into your creativity with prompted writing sessions.
• Vanquish fears that hold you back from sharing your voice.
• Learn essential marketing principles to consider before you begin writing.
• Discover how to write the hook before the book.
• Practice telling the story about your story.
• Draft or edit an elevator pitch/book blurb.
• Take your creativity beyond the book to inspire others.
• Leave inspired for your next step, wherever you are in your writing journey.

Join Audrey Kalman, author and co-creator of Birth Your Truest Story, and Shawn Langwell, author, marketing expert, and confidence coach to transform how you approach getting your creative project started and weave creativity with marketing throughout the entire writing process. All writing levels/stages are welcome.

We’d be thrilled for you to bring a friend–because creating is always better together! If you register and refer a friend who attends, you’ll get $20 off the regular $149 registration. Just let us know who your friend is; we’ll credit you after they register.

Questions? Message or email us!

Hosted by Audrey Kalman of the Birth Your Truest Story Writers’ Community and author, marketing expert, and confidence coach Shawn Langwell.

More About Your Hosts

Audrey Kalman writes fiction with a dark edge about what goes awry when human connection is missing from our lives. She’s published three novels and a short fiction collection, Tiny Shoes Dancing and Other Stories; her stories and poems have appeared in numerous print and online literary magazines. With Jennifer Browdy, she co-created the free online Birth Your Truest Story writers’ community. She holds an undergraduate degree in creative writing and a master’s degree in journalism, worked in marketing communications for several tech firms, and now offers editing and author coaching services. Audrey is past president of The California Writers Club (CWC) SF Peninsula branch. She lives in Northern California and is (perpetually) at work on another novel. Find her at her website and on Substack.   

Shawn Langwell is an author, marketing mentor, and confidence coach on a mission to empower you to break free from self-doubt and live boldly. He doesn’t just teach these strategies—he lives them and gets real results. Using his proven five-step method, he can help you overcome limiting beliefs, habits, and patterns so you can step confidently into your true potential. Shawn has written several inspirational books including Beyond Recovery: Ten Seconds of Boldness and the companion workbook, Morning Motivation, and Chill.  He’s also the past president of The California Writers Club (CWC) Redwood Writers branch, 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.