Thursday, August 30, 2007

Meet the Authors, Meet the Agents

Just a reminder that the 54th Bi-Annual IWWG Big Apple Writing Workshops & Open House will take place on October 13th and 14th at the Scandanavia House on 58 Park Avenue (at 38th Street) in New York City. You can sign up for the whole weekend or single sessions. (For instance, the Meet the Agents Open House is on Sunday the 14th from 3-6 pm and costs $55.) If you didn't receive a brochure and would like to register, click here.

Tuesday, August 28, 2007

National Bestselling Author to speak on Sept. 8

Multi-published author Jane Goodger aka Blackwell will present a program on switching genres on Saturday, September 8th at the monthly meeting of the Connecticut Romance Writer's of America. After her presentation, Jane will sell/sign her latest release BETWEEN YOU AND ME, written as Jane Blackwood. Published and non published writers from all genres are welcome. Non members may attend free to check us out.For more information and directions, please contact Susan Rowley at 860-460-1861 or at suzie7rowley@yahoo.com.

CTRWA meets on the second Saturday of every month, except July and August, at 11:00 a.m. at the Holiday Inn, Washington Ave. (RT 5), North Haven, CT in the Executive Suite. Our membership meeting begins at 11:00 AM, followed by our speaker, book signing, and a pay your own lunch at the Holiday Inn. Check out our website at www.ctrwa.org.

Psychosynthesis Workshop

From CT IWWG member Cynthia Pincus Russell:

Psychosynthesis is an empowering system in use all over the world, and classes involve clarifying our meaning & purpose through writing. IWWG members Carol Cooper Garey, Rosalind Till and Cynthia Russell are all involved. The CT Center for Psychosynthesis offers classes for beginners; CEUs for professionals; and coaching and consultations on creative retirement, career, and personal issues.

We are also sponsoring a year-long fund raiser for wounded vets. If you would like to learn more, we are holding a free OPEN SUNDAY on September 9th from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in Stratford Center (convenient to I-95, train & bus) with mini-sessions, mini-workshops, videos, light refreshments, etc.

For more information and to reserve your space, contact

Cynthia Pincus Russell, PhD at psynnie@aol.com, or call 203-337-2421.

Thursday, August 23, 2007

Writing Workshop with June Gould

June Gould, IWWG workshop leader for the last 25 years, will be teaching an advanced writing workshop for poets, short story writers and novelists at the Shetler Studios in Manhattan.

What: Writing exercises, time to write in class, homework writing assignments, time to read in class, critique sessions and motivating readings of writers' works.

Where: Shetler Studios: 244 W 54th Street; between Broadway and 8th Ave. Room 1209, 12th floor.

Time: 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Dates: Oct. 22, 29. Nov. 5, 19, 26 and Dec 3 and 10th.

Many of the participants this summer and last at IWWG have been and are participants in this workshop. To register, send a $25 deposit to June Gould, 84 Hilary Circle, Fairfield, CT 06825.

For more information about the content of the workshops, and whether it is for you, write to JuneGoul@optonline.net.

The cost is $250 for 8 sessions.

Three Events with Judith Barr

SISTER CT IWWG MEMBERS: Below are three events based on my new book Power Abused, Power Healed. I’d love you to join me. My best to you, Judith Barr

WORKSHOP ($80 per session; $160 for both)
"The Roots of Our Relationship with Power:
Early Decisions and The Feelings They Defend"


Saturday, October 13, 2007
1st Session: 9:30 am-12:30 pm
2nd Session: 2:00 pm-5:00pm
Brookfield, CT

BOOK SIGNING & TALK (Free)

Saturday, November 10, 2007
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Pymander Bookstore
Norwalk, CT

BOOK SIGNING & TALK (Free)

Saturday, December 1, 2007
11:00 am – 12:30 pm
Gunn Memorial Library
Washington, CT

For more information & directions, contact me at:

JudBarr@JudithBarr.com
JudithBarr@PowerAbusedPowerHealed.com
(203) 775-5006

Monday, August 20, 2007

NY Times Interview: CT IWWG Member Mary Carroll Moore

The New York Times
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Connecticut Section

For a Writer-Painter-Singer, Secret's in Her 'Chemistry'
by Susan Hodara

Mary Carroll Moore, a resident of Bridgewater, radiates such calm that it is hard to believe the extent of her accomplishments. Since 1977, her essays, articles and award-winning short stories have been published in magazines, newspapers and literary journals. She is the author of 10 published non-fiction books, two of which are memoirs, and a novel, “Qualities of Light,” which is being shopped to publishers. Her soft pastel paintings – impressionistic studies of the light and color in nature – have been exhibited nationally since 2002, and are in the permanent collections, including that of the Pacific Street Gallery in New London. Ms. Moore sings with the group Keystone, whose music she described as “New Age pop,” and whose 2003 CD, “No Limitations,” includes her song “Melody;” she is also a member of the Connecticut Women’s Chorus.

She says her triple vision is focused on common themes. One is the relationship between health and self-expression. The second is what she calls “Deserved Happiness,” which she defines as “a fascination with the choices we make after personal disaster or suffering.”

Both concepts are rooted in Ms. Moore’s own experience, most notably two bouts of cancer – thyroid in 1988, breast in 1999. “Treatment for breast cancer was traumatic,” she said. “Chemotherapy forced me to a full stop.”

Her creative work, she believes, hastened her recuperation. “Art and writing bolstered my belief that life was essentially supportive rather than victimizing.” She emerged with a fortified commitment to her work.

She began writing “Qualities of Light,” whose main character is a young artist grappling with the notion of deserved happiness. She started painting after a 20-year hiatus, and wrote her first songs. “Cancer forces you to re-evaluate your life,” she continued. “I began to make choices, weeding out what was not sustaining, making room for creative work. I can’t say my cancer was a blessing, but it certainly was a wake up call.”

She expanded her work to include teaching, starting with a class at the Loft Literary Center in Minneapolis for breast cancer survivors who wanted to use writing to heal. She returns to Minneapolis regularly to lead a variety of writing workshops, which she also offers at the Litchfield Community Center and at the Hudson Valley Writer’s Center in New York.

“I enjoy deconstructing a process and then simplifying it so others can understand,” she said of her approach to teaching.

Ms. Moore divides her weeks into three days of money-generating assignments and two days of personal projects; her medium is determined by the seasons. She concentrates on writing during the winter, when painting outdoors is impossible. “Painting takes precedence in summer,” she said, “and I toggle between the two in spring and fall.” Ongoing Keystone rehearsals are determined by members’ availability. Last year, that schedule was displaced by the demands of completing both her novel and a master’s degree in creative writing from Goddard College.

“It’s taken years to integrate all the paths of my life,” Ms. Moore said. Rejecting the suggestion that perhaps she has more energy or ability than others, she added, “I’m just a normal, struggling person with a focused chemistry.”