Women Who Write Will Read at Bernardsville Library

Enjoy poetry as well as prose, refreshments and conversation with local poets and authors—all members of Women Who Write—who will give a reading of their work at 2:00 pm on Saturday, April 16 at Bernardsville Public Library.

Formed to encourage both beginning and experienced women writers with every phase of the writing process, Women Who Write is a nonprofit writers’ collective with members throughout north-central New Jersey. The organization holds a variety of educational programs, readings and other literary events throughout the year. Writing groups meet twice a month, providing members with a supportive space in which to share, give and receive feedback on their writing.

Among the readers on April 16 will be Lisa Honecker, a novice poet, published last year in Goldfinch and The Bernardsville News. Ms. Honecker is currently the co-coordinator of the Madison Group for Women Who Write and is active in local and county politics. She is a lifetime resident of Bernardsville, where her husband is Mayor. Vivian Fransen of Scotch Plains, NJ, will read a few of her poems, including "A Bird's-Eye View" published in the 2010 issue of Goldfinch and a poem about her recent face-to-face encounter with actress and author Marlo Thomas. Lisa Tognola's weekly humor column in TheAlternativePress.com, "Main Street Musings," reflects on life in the suburbs—the good, the bad, and the ugly. Ms. Tognola lives in Chatham, and she will read one of her columns, "I'm Keeping Victoria's Secret." Marcia Ivans of Chatham, NJ will be reading poems from her book Over Easy and a new poem or two. Ms. Ivans has facilitated Poetry and Pastries, an open poetry reading in Chatham, NJ, for seven years. Debby Forte of Budd Lake, who has been published in Goldfinch and the The River Poet's Journal, will read some of her rhyming poetry. Prachi Jain of Basking Ridge is a writer of short stories. Her work has appeared in Foliate Oak, Six Sentences and Goldfinch magazine. She plans to read her short story about human disposition as part of the event. Ronnie Hammer, facilitator of the Madison Group of Women Who Write, is the author of a blog, morristownmemos.wordpress.com. It consists of several shots of short stories with a twist of humor. Ms. Hammer has been published in The New York Times' Metropolitan Diary; Executive Female magazine, and North Jersey Orchid Society. Alice Mendelsohn of Denville will read excerpts from her latest book Let's Celebrate. This book is a compilation of verses from greeting cards created over the years for family, friends and co-workers. Dorothy Ryan of Basking Ridge, NJ has poems online, in journals, newspapers and anthologies. She will read a selection of her published work.

There is no charge to attend the program, but advance sign-up is requested. Register online at http://www.bernardsvillelibrary.org/ and follow the link under Adult Programs, or call the library at 908-766-0118 to sign up.