Rochester gets to hear from thirteen local women (and a man) in the city’s first-ever “Listen to Your Mother” one night stand!
I’m in this awesome cast and in celebration of Mother’s Day weekend, we’ll be giving a one-night-only performance at the Memorial Art Gallery on Friday, May 8 at 7:30 p.m. Each of us will be reading a three to five minute story of our motherhood journey to a live audience. The show is 90 minutes with no intermission. Tickets can be purchased in advance for $17 from brownpapertickets.com, or at the door for $20.
I’m reading a slightly revised chapter from my book manuscript Mommy Musings (which is not yet published). The piece is called “Tangled In Leather” and describes my struggle with infertility and the ensuing mental gymnastics set off by an innocuous gift of black leather pants from my husband.
Interestingly, the story – initially, a standalone essay – was accepted for publication about eight years ago, but it never ran because the magazine closed due to financial struggles. Since then, I submitted it to many other print and online magazines, but all rejected the piece. Now, “Tangled” gets to be broadcast to the world via YouTube. Ah, rejection is an intractable part of the writerly life. Although my little motherhood essay bears no resemblance to bestselling authors whose works were initially rejected, I do find comfort in these literary rejection statistics.
Speaking of rejection, I’m so happy that this team of local women – Emily Horowitz (Brighton), Corrie Spike Carter (Fairport), Sarah Fitzgibbons (Rochester) and Monica Gebell (Brighton) – persisted in getting Rochester on the selected city list for LTYM. The group’s application was rejected last year, but they resubmitted and earned the opportunity to host LTYM. And I get to join the following fellow members of Rochester’s first-ever LTYM show: Amy Andrews, Julie Burns, Valerie A. Hall, Bernadette Lynch, Dr. Patricia H. Marino, Shira May, Mary Grace McAleavey, Katie Kilfoyle Remis, Andrea Richardson, Harry Roland, Leah Ruekberg, and Susan Vinocour.
LTYM is an acclaimed series created by founder and National Director Ann Imig in 2010. LTYM is now in 39 cities nationwide that will be hosting similar events on or around Mother’s Day, and all shows will be videotaped for LTYM’s YouTube channel.
Proceeds from LTYM Rochester will benefit two local organizations that support women and children, including the Society for the Protection and Care of Children and Parenting Village.
For more information, visit http://listentoyourmothershow.com/rochester/.
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