Being a writer is tough and being a parent and a writer is twice as tough.
Tenacity, as well as perfecting the balancing act that comes into play while raising kids and finding the time and place to write, is a challenge many writers face.
Milda M. DeVoe, a mother of two children, started Lower Manhattan’s Pen Parentis salon series in 2009 to feature the diversity of creative works written by writers who are parents and parents who write. This year’s season’s opening salon was on September 13 at Andaz Wall Street.
“The Financial District is becoming more family-centric and residential and the revival of the arts community is indicative of the changing times,” says Ms. De Voe. “Our salons enliven and enrich this growing community. They connect readers to authors, which deepens the connection between literature and humanity. We’re have championed the growing downtown arts scene since 2009, and thrilled to show off one of NYC’s best neighborhoods in a new light.”
“Our first salon was in January 2009 and I decided to go ahead and incorporate in 2013, after just about every single reader we featured wished that these salons could become part of a national movement. It was grassroots, really. One of our regular attendees worked for a Downtown law firm that took us on as pro bono clients, held our hands through the process. It was magical. Now we offer an annual writing fellowship and have just started Salons in LA and have embarked on an exciting data-driven research project to discover best practices of successful parent writers.”
The next Pen Parentis salon is October 11, 2016, themed Never Give Up: Writers on Tenacity and featuring Oregon-based novelist Jamie Duclos-Yourdon, and local writers Courtney Zoffness and Aidan Donnelley Rowley. Networking and socializing begins at 7pm followed by readings by the three resolute writers, all of whom are also parents. Andaz hotel will provide with wine and light snacks.
The general public (21+only) is encouraged to check out a salon – no prior reading or preparation is necessary. You just have to know how to enjoy good books. An RSVP through penparentis.org/calendar is encouraged but not required.
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UPCOMING EVENTS:
November 8th – Election Day Madness with Therese Svoboda and Thaddeus Rutkowski
December 13th – Holiday Author Mingle with Chris Rice and Eleni Gage