On Saturday, March 25, in timing with the final weekend of Women’s History Month, the event “Get Lit” will spotlight the book launches of author Melanie Mitzner and poet Elaine Sexton and feature readings from works-in-progress by memoirist/producer Roma Baran and playwright/author Elizabeth Primamore.
From 2 to 4 p.m. at Poquatuck Hall in Orient, join organization North Fork Women in listening to the writings of these esteemed authors, playwrights, poets and memoirists. The readings will be followed by book signings from Mitzner and Sexton.
North Fork Women is a non-profit organization offered to any self-identified North Fork-based lesbians and LGBTQ+ allies. The group is committed to health advocacy and education, developing programs that foster the social and community life of lesbians on the North Fork.
The idea for the event came when Mitzner, who is a resident of the East End, reached out to North Fork Women to talk about her upcoming novel.
“Our organization works within our community and listens to our members,” said Barbra Pfanz, administrative director of North Fork Women. “We had a book reading about six years ago and [Mitzner] and I thought it would be great to host another. There are so many writers within our community, getting a group together was easy.”
Mitzner will read from her 2022 novel, Slow Reveal, which takes place between New York City and the North Fork. The novel was inspired by the close alignment of the creative process and building vulnerability and trust through love. Set in the 1990s, Mitzner illustrates these aspects through a nuclear and chosen family of artists, exploring the fact that you can’t often control who you fall in love with and that feelings can be harder to reject than relationships.
“Writing unleashes the imagination in ways that are inconceivable to the conscious mind,” said Mitzner. “For me, [writing] is a way of transcending the ordinary and creating a world that doesn’t exist. Making art and building intimacy requires courage and authenticity, I explore that throughout the novel.”
Sexton, a North Fork poet, will read from “Drive,” a collection of poems that explore fragile points of connections to lovers and family, to the living and the dead, and to oneself, one’s own life’s work.
“I write every day as a form of documenting or making something of an experience. I’ve always been a maker and an avid reader,” said Sexton. “I’m excited to share the stage with these wonderful writers, hear them read their new work and support North Fork Women.”
The other two performers, who are also locally based, will read from their works in progress. Baran will read from her memoir “What I Write to the Dead,” which tells the story of how her deceased Catholic parents took the secret of their Judaism to the grave after barely surviving the holocaust.
“I spent many years both doing research and trying to sort out the effect on me of growing up in such an epic lie,” said Baran. “The book tracks both those aspects and I’m look[ing] forward to sharing an afternoon with other women writers.”
Primamore will read an excerpt from “Daring Lives, Crucial Art: Five Women Writers in the 1950s,” which tells the story of how these women came to New York to become writers, became friends, and despite the odds, were successful.
“I’m excited to be with fellow writers and hear their new work as well as read my own work-in-progress to the audience. I want to know their response to it,” said Primamore.
This event is free to attend, but donations to North Fork Women will gladly be accepted. To find more information about the event, author biographies and their websites, head to the North Fork Women’s website.
