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Nearly 100 members and potential members celebrated at the Boston Book Party and 30th Anniversary Celebration on Sunday, January 22. It was, as advertised, a double-whammy event that honored both the Boston NWU authors who published books in 2011 and the NWU itself on its 30th year of fighting for writers' rights.

Six 2011 authors read excerpts from their books. Congratulations to Jean Alonso, Helen Marie Casey, Michael Koran, Shelby Allen, Nancy Finn, and Lois Mathieu for delivering knockout literary nuggets to a rapt audience. Our guest speaker, Dan Kennedy, a local media commentator, talked about turning a book he had published some time ago into an e-book, giving it new life. His talk was followed by a lively Q&A that touched on the charged issues of paid and unpaid journalism and of authors' book rights.

NWU President Larry Goldbetter came from NY to help us celebrate the NWU's 30th. The good news is that the National Writers Union is slowly gaining members again, making new alliances, and developing national campaigns. The bad news is the reduced state of the labor movement in the face of an onslaught of attacks around the country. The high unemployment numbers are grim. Goldbetter notes:

"Working freelancers can't collect any unemployment insurance and aren't counted in the figures.. . . Low pay and rising poverty directly affect our membership. About 80% pay the minimum dues, and it's a struggle for them to maintain their membership.

"Our industry is in turmoil, caught between amazing technological advances, economic crisis, and the drive for maximum profits. Print newspapers and magazines are giving ground to digital publications. Tens of thousands of journalists are losing their jobs. What's more, the shift to digital journalism is driving down the pay scales of online journalists and creating a business model that rests on free labor."

The party's special highlight was Barbara Beckwith's ongoing multimedia display of captioned photos showing 30 years of Boston NWU activism, solidarity and campaigns. It was a remarkable stroll down memory lane constructed from her extensive union archives.

New members joined on the spot, past members renewed, present members networked and munched. And they all went home to work on their own writing, hoping to among those honored next year.

Three readers and one speaker gave exclusive quotes to eNews on how they felt after the party:

Larry Goldbetter: I was very impressed by how engaged the members are. The discussions afterwards were energetic, with many attendees telling me that they would join or renew. The Boston chapter Book Party is such a successful event each year that we should spread the idea to the other NWU chapters. Thank you all for having me.

Lois Mathieu, author of DEBUT: Thanks to you, Barbara, Charles and Larry for making the party a resounding success and for giving me an opportunity to participate in the reading. The three hours were so well balanced, rich with lively exchange among members and non-members, and chock full of information and reasons for having NWU membership. I so enjoyed meeting all of you after knowing you only by electronic means. My husband, Bill, said that he had a fine time and now he's looking forward to becoming a member.

Jean Alonso: Thanks again for a great party yesterday. My two potential recruit friends thought it was wonderful and informative. [The party organizers] make the local so warm, friendly and welcoming to all.

Helen Marie Casey: For me, the best part of the annual book party is the confirmation that, while we all inhabit our own space to create books, every book -- in whatever format -- needs an audience. Coming together to celebrate books and our professional organization is a feel-good experience.