Staying home, keeping silence.

Apr 212013
 

Every few months, I am blessed by the generosity of my dear friends, Dominka Spetsmann and Linda Mahoney, innkeepers at Le Vatout, in Waldoboro, Maine.  They welcome me to make retreat at their gorgeous and peaceful home, no fee asked.  It’s a beautiful and restorative place, and I highly recommend you stay there, yourselves, sometime.

I was meant to go there, tomorrow, and spend a week.  I had looked forward to this time, as I always do, with great anticipation.

I will be staying put.

We all have been effected by this last week, here in the Boston area, and around the world, each of us in our own way.  I too, am feeling the aftershocks.  And as much as Le Vatout is my home (you’d feel that same way once you’d been there), I need to be close to my partner, my pet, my community.  I need not to be far away from my home, here in Somerville.

I will be keeping prayerful silence, as much as possible, during this week.  I will only be posting quotes and perhaps pictures here on Facebook. I will be reading only Scripture and several other contemplative works.  I will only be using my phone to send the daily Mass blessings.  If you would like to be included in these intentions, and if you would like to receive the blessings.  Let me know, too, the best way to send them to you.

I am dedicating this silence and meditation to peace, and to healing.

In service,

Toni

COME OVER AND SPEND THE DAY WRITING, THIS SATURDAY, April 13th!

Apr 112013
 

ALL DAY WRITING WORKSHOP

9am – 9pm, Saturday, April 13th

Drop in and write for a while, or stay all day.
Three writing sessions and two meal breaks.

We will have art by members hanging!  And a special guest prompt run by Frances Donovan.
If the weather is nice, you can write on the back porch, or even down the street at Powderhouse Park!

There is a cat in residence.  I have an air purifier, and will be using it.

Snacks, basic lunch and dinner will be provided (menu below). Water,
coffee and tea will be available; bring your own (non-alcoholic) beverages if you want
to. Feel free to bring food contributions!

Suggested donation for each writing session is $25, more if you can,
less if you can’t. No one turned away for lack of funds.

The usual housekeeping and workshop rules apply, email me (toniamato@gmail.com) if you need them, or directions.

Please wear no scented products and do not smoke while you are here.

SCHEDULE:

9:00am – 12:00pm: Writing Session #1

· Please arrive no earlier than 8:55am.

· Muffins, fruit

12:00pm – 1:30pm: Lunch Break & Self-Run Writing

-Red beans and rice, cornbread

1:30pm – 4:30pm: Writing Session #2

4:30pm -6:00pm: Dinner Break & Self-Run Writing

· Lentil soup.  Fresh baked bread.

6:00pm – 9:00pm: Writing Session #3

Drag Bingo & WHWN

Apr 102013
 

Last Night, the Boston Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence dedicated their regular Drag Bingo event to support Write Here, Write Now. What a night! Here is Sister Sandra Musique’s report. Folks, I cannot tell you how humbled and grateful I am, and how very inspired to go forward with the rest of all our plans for 2013!:

 

The girdle’s off, the lashes are put away, and I’m off to the shower to turn back into a real boy (or as close as I ever come). Thank you all who came to Drag Bingo & RuPaul’s Drag Race with the Boston Sisters! and helped support Write Here Write Now (http://writeherewritenow.org/). With your help we were able to raise $1,310, making this our second highest Bingo ever!

April 8th – Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence & WHWN!

Apr 032013
 

I am getting all weepy as I type this, Monday the 8th, the fabulous Boston Sisters Of Perpetual Indulgence Drag Bingo, this month to support our work as well! Folks, I would not be alive today were it not for the SOPI, back in the day, in San Francisco. And if you have seen the WHWN Mass Altar, you know our relic is a postcard called The Crucifixion, with none other than San Francisco’s Sister Dana Van Equity stretching her glamourous arms out in a tree. Full circle, folks, full circle. Come join us!

Monday, April 8th
7pm-11pm
21+
209 Columbus Ave, Boston, Massachusetts

Second Monday is Sister Monday so the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence join us for BINGO! This month’s charity is Write Here, Write Now! WHWN began and remains grounded in offering literary services and continues to grow to offer more and varied pastoral and ceremonial care to the LGBTI community. You can learn more about WHWN here: http://writeherewritenow.org/

We’ll do both charity rounds and free rounds of bingo as always and a raffle after RuPaul and Untucked are over.

Naturally we’ll watch RuPaul at 9, and them more BINGO! Restaurant gift cards, theatre tix! We’ll have great prizes! Who knows what the sisters will bring!

Tony & German on bar! Mikey, Matty & Maureen keeping you in Absolut. Come see us at the friendliest night in Boston!!!!

March WHWN Open Mic CANCELED due to weather

Mar 072013
 

Readers, music-makers, avid listeners, and shy writers: I’m canceling tonight’s Queer Open Mic. Be safe during your commutes and travels tonight and, hey, here’s an idea for some of you: spend tonight wrapped in a soft blanket by a window overlooking the snowy streets and write! write! write! something to read at the NEXT Queer Open Mic on Thurs., April 4th.

March Writing Workshops!

Mar 042013
 

Hey Folks, Wednesday Night Writers will meet on the 13th and the 27th, this month. That’s March 13th and 27th for the WHWN Wednesday Night Writing Workshop. Watch here for April’s dates soon, and be sure to always check the calendar atwww.writeherewritenow.org.

February Workshop!

Feb 062013
 

Writing Workshop dates are Wednesday, February 6th, and 20th. Please email Toni for more information.

Thank you!

Jan 052013
 

Dear Folks-

In response to our end of year donation requests, this amazing community has donated nearly $2,000 toward the work of Write Here, Write Now in 2013.  I cannot thank all of you enough; you who sent checks and payments, you who helped spread the word through your contacts and social media, you who encouraged me to learn to ask for support, and all of you who have given me the honor of being of service.  Thank you!  And please do keep spreading the word!

Here’s a little information from our website (www.writeherewritenow.org) to let you know how these donations support my work and enrich the community.

One time gifts:

$5-10 – it helps!

$25 – a writer for one night of workshop

$60 – one hour of coaching/editing/pastoral care

$360 – one month of weekly coaching

$500 – specialized group workshop for existing writers groups or organizations

$1500 – development and revision of a full book-length manuscript

 

Ongoing Gifts:

$5/month – it helps!

$50/month – a writer for a whole year of workshop

$50/month – refreshments and food for writing workshop

$360/month – a writer for one full year of coaching

 

In Service,

Toni

January Writing Workshop!

Jan 022013
 

January Writing Workshop dates are Wednesday January 9th and 23rd. Please email Toni for more information.

Please Donate and Support Write Here, Write Now.

Dec 302012
 

Dear Friends and Community Members-

As I complete one full year back in service, I am asking you to consider making a donation to support the further work of Write Here, Write Now.  Let me tell you a  little about what 2012 looked like.

In 2012, I was honored to help bring several new books into the world including:  Sassafras Lowrey’s acclaimed Roving Pack, Melissa Griffin’s This City of Shadows, and Sarah Pearlman’s Mother Talk.  Susan Corso also released her Spiritual Intuitive mystery novel series, The Mex Books. I have been lucky to serve as editor for all these projects.  Several other novels and short stories are nearing completion and will be published in 2013.  Expect at least two poetry chapbooks soon as well!

The WHWN Writing Workshop met twice a month all throughout the year, averaging twelve writers a night!  We ate homemade soup and fresh baked bread, drank gallons of tea and coffee, and worked on our novels, or poems, essays,  or journal entries.  Much of this work has also gone on to be published and performed in Boston and throughout the United States.

The year brought an active roster of some two dozen on-going writing clients, working on novels, short stories, plays, poems, and memoirs.

Pastoral care and ministry included daily Mass intentions being sent to individual community members in need, along with an average of fifteen hours a week of private conversation and witness.  This year I was blessed to Celebrate one wedding and to welcome in twin babies!

All of these services were offered on a sliding scale and many on a  pro bono basis.  Many of these writers and community members would not otherwise have been able to access such services.

I am asking you to consider making a donation to ensure that these vital services of Write Here, Write Now continue and expand in 2013.

To make a contribution visit us online at www.writeherewritenow.org.  Donations can be made via PayPal at the Support page.  Every amount counts!  Reposting this to your own social media contacts, friends, and family would be of great service and benefit to the Write Here, Write Now ministry as well.

Thank you for all of your support!

Toni

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