The excitement in the room was palpable as the women gathered on a late June morning for the monthly “Women Who Write,” an old fashioned bona fide “salon,” in Vicki Abelson’s Montrose, Calif. living room.
Women Who Write is a collective and a workshop welcoming women (as well as men) authors of all genres and experience levels.
The eclectic female audience at Abelson’s home ranged in age; were elegant, earthy, artsy, and academic; and all shared an eagerness to engage and be engaged. The evening’s speeches and readings by members would cover a wide swathe of ground.
Abelson, 50-plus and gorgeous, welcomed everyone with her New York razor-sharp wit and candor, joking about her new jacket, recommended by her stylist—whom she shares with William Shatner.
The first act, veteran folksinger James Lee Stanley, lulled the crowd into open-hearted submission with his melodic voice and guitar.
Josie Brown, author of “Complete Idiot’s Guide To Finding Mr. Right,” read from her new effort, “Secret Lives of Husbands and Wives.” This is a tale of the disillusionment and disintegration of a marriage. In vivid imagery, the verse she read was touching, biting, and sad. It depicts modern marriages’ “grass is always greener” syndrome, and how everyone desperately attempts to validate themselves, even at the expense of others.
Comedians Marc Maron and Paul Provenza read from their new books. Maron, with his usual penetrating and unabashed observation read from his autobiographical book, “Jerusalem Syndrome.” Provenza gives deeply touching insight into comedy and comedians in his new book, “Satiristas,” a compilation of photos and interviews from many of our great comics.
A Growing Group
Women Who Write, after a rocky start, “took off like a banshee in January 2009.” Suddenly, the group grew from 25 women to 40, and now a waiting list filled to capacity at 60, says Abelson.
“I am convinced I am divinely guided in every way,” says Abelson, who acknowledges that this is a combination of all her previous skills and experiences, from music promoter to performer.
The bonded community, which has grown out of her initiative “seeds so many people on so many levels,” she explains. “It is a place to get inspiration, ideas, network, and support—intellectually, spiritually, and socially.”
“Its much bigger than me,” Abelson acknowledges. “It is a sacred space to read.”
Some of the other presenters included Loraine Newnan, Marlee Matlin, MacKenzie Phillips, Elayne Boosler, and Susie Essman from “Curb Your Enthusiasm.”
From time to time, men do read as well, apparently, and on those occasional Tuesday afternoons, the event is called “Men Who Write and the Women Who Love Them.”
Women Who Write is a collective and a workshop welcoming women (as well as men) authors of all genres and experience levels.
The eclectic female audience at Abelson’s home ranged in age; were elegant, earthy, artsy, and academic; and all shared an eagerness to engage and be engaged. The evening’s speeches and readings by members would cover a wide swathe of ground.
Abelson, 50-plus and gorgeous, welcomed everyone with her New York razor-sharp wit and candor, joking about her new jacket, recommended by her stylist—whom she shares with William Shatner.
The first act, veteran folksinger James Lee Stanley, lulled the crowd into open-hearted submission with his melodic voice and guitar.
Josie Brown, author of “Complete Idiot’s Guide To Finding Mr. Right,” read from her new effort, “Secret Lives of Husbands and Wives.” This is a tale of the disillusionment and disintegration of a marriage. In vivid imagery, the verse she read was touching, biting, and sad. It depicts modern marriages’ “grass is always greener” syndrome, and how everyone desperately attempts to validate themselves, even at the expense of others.
Comedians Marc Maron and Paul Provenza read from their new books. Maron, with his usual penetrating and unabashed observation read from his autobiographical book, “Jerusalem Syndrome.” Provenza gives deeply touching insight into comedy and comedians in his new book, “Satiristas,” a compilation of photos and interviews from many of our great comics.
A Growing Group
Women Who Write, after a rocky start, “took off like a banshee in January 2009.” Suddenly, the group grew from 25 women to 40, and now a waiting list filled to capacity at 60, says Abelson.
“I am convinced I am divinely guided in every way,” says Abelson, who acknowledges that this is a combination of all her previous skills and experiences, from music promoter to performer.
The bonded community, which has grown out of her initiative “seeds so many people on so many levels,” she explains. “It is a place to get inspiration, ideas, network, and support—intellectually, spiritually, and socially.”
“Its much bigger than me,” Abelson acknowledges. “It is a sacred space to read.”
Some of the other presenters included Loraine Newnan, Marlee Matlin, MacKenzie Phillips, Elayne Boosler, and Susie Essman from “Curb Your Enthusiasm.”
From time to time, men do read as well, apparently, and on those occasional Tuesday afternoons, the event is called “Men Who Write and the Women Who Love Them.”
