I’ve gotten to know Mary Ann, two of the bloggers at Silver Sage Sisters, through her brother Tim and his husband Ron. They’ve become dear friends with me and Frank. We often go to the theater together at Lambertville’s Music Mountain Theatre, and then head out for dinner. We’ve also been graciously invited to Ron and Tim’s house in New Hope for special feasts, and the lovely Mary Ann is always there. Enjoy their blog! Soak up some wisdom, by women for women about women.

“Silver Sage Sisters are friends near or in retirement who have been sharing the wisdom of their experiences with each other. Glimmers of hope, ideas, learnings and failures are components of each of our lives. Freely and openly, we share our insights and experiences with other women so each and all of us know we are never alone.”

And we’re off! I’ll be holding two 2-hour online Guided Autobiography introductory workshops on Wednesday, May 29, from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. eastern and Monday, June 3, from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. eastern (for the morning  people!)

THEY’RE FREE! My introductory workshops are always complimentary.

Register here for Wednesday, May 29

Register here for Monday, June 3

What is Guided Autobiography? Let’s begin with its description from the Guided Autobiography website:

“Guided Autobiography (GAB) has been researched and developed by Dr. James Birren over the past 40 years as a method for helping people document their life stories. Guided by a trained instructor, participants are led through themes and priming questions that evoke memories of events once known but filed away and seemingly forgotten. Each participant writes a two-page story on a particular theme each week, brings the story to class and reads it to a small group of receptive classmates. Writing and sharing life stories with others is an ideal way to find new meaning in life and to put life events into perspective. While connecting with one another on their journeys of self-discovery, participants feel enlivened by the group experience and gain a greater appreciation of their own lives and of the lives of others. GAB can be a powerful catalyst for improved self-esteem, self-confidence and communication within communities and within families.”

Read more about Guided Autobiography here.

These workshops are limited to 6 people*, so RSVP and grab your spot now.

*I’ll add additional online workshops as each one fills up. First come/first reserved. – Mark

VIEW THE WORKSHOP SLIDESHOW/HANDOUT HERE.

“In this episode of Biographers in Conversation Gabriella chats with Bernadette Brennan about her book: A Writing Life. Helen Garner and her Work, a literary portrait of one of Australia’s most vital and revered authors.”

CLICK TO LISTEN

About Biographers In Conversation

Biographer Gabriella Kelly-Davies chats with biographers across the world about the multiplicity of choices they make while researching, writing and publishing life stories.

In each episode she explores elements of narrative strategy such as structure, use of fiction techniques, facts and truth, beginnings and endings and to what extent the writer interpreted the evidence rather than providing clues and leaving it to readers to do the interpreting themselves.

She also asks writers how they researched their books; how they balanced a subject’s public, personal and inner lives; and ethical issues such as privacy and revealing secrets.

I’m pleased to share that my Twist Podcast co-host Rick Rose was recently interviewed on the Where Do Gays Retire? Podcast, hosted by Mark Goldstein. LISTEN HERE.

Summary (from Where Do Gays Retire?)

Rick Rose, a retired producer, writer, and director, discusses his move from Shreveport, Louisiana to Madison, Wisconsin. He shares his reasons for choosing Madison and talks about the climate and amount of snow in the area. Rick also discusses the LGBTQ+ community in Madison and the absence of a specific gayborhood.

He highlights the growth and economy of Madison, the ease of making friends, and the presence of arts and culture in the city.

Rick also mentions the local food and dining scene in Madison. Madison, Wisconsin has a vibrant arts and entertainment scene, with a thriving comedy community and a diverse range of performances and events.

The city also has a strong public transportation system, with options for biking, electric transportation, and plans for an Amtrak center.

Healthcare in Madison is highly regarded, with access to quality providers and affordable insurance options.

While crime exists, Madison is considered a safe city overall. The city also has a significant Native American community and is working towards preserving and promoting Native American culture and tourism.

Things are kicking into high gear. I’ll be offering four more 2-hour workshops (May 4 Fiction Essentials is full!). Follow the links beneath each description to register. Two are online, two are in-person (the Fiction Essentials workshop on June 9 is for congregants of the First Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Hunterdon County, where I’m a member).

“Storytelling is healing. As we reveal ourselves in story, we become aware of the continuing core of our lives under the fragmented surface of our experience. We become aware of the multifaceted, multi-chaptered ‘I’ who is the storyteller. We can trace out the paradoxical and even contradictory versions of ourselves that we create for different occasions, different audiences… Most important, as we become aware of ourselves as storytellers, we realized that what we understand and imagine about ourselves is a story. And when we know all this, we can use our stories to heal and make ourselves whole.”

—Susan Wittig Albert, Writing From Life