Friday, I was invited to Brenda Webster's home in the Berkeley Hills for her seasonal PEN party.  It's a beautiful location where you can see the sunset from her living room and take in a panoramic view of the entire bay!  A number of other writers were present and we were each given a few minutes to talk about our books which Brenda had prominently displayed for everyone to inspect.  She herself is an amazing author (Vienna Triangle, The Beheading Game) and translator (Letters to My Mother), and has garnered the respect of the entire writing community.  It was a thrill to ride there and back with fellow NCBR members as well as with this year's NCBA fiction winner (Ivan and Misha), Michael Alenikov who regaled us all with his marvelous stories.  Joyce Jenkins from Poetry Flash was also in attendance along with other familiar faces.  The wine, food and conversation all made for a delightful evening.