Salon at the Montage!

Comments

2010-10-15T11:14:00.000-07:00

"Have you ever felt as if you have entered a magical sphere? Yesterday,all my troubles seemed to fade away”---thank you! From the moment I floated down the stairs of the Montage Resort to the sounds of a violin and the visuals of exquisite baskets, scrumptious, rich paintings, flashes of the MOST PERFECT southern California day, I realized I was in an elegant salon! It wasn’t Virginia Woolf’s, it wasn’t Simone de Beauvoir’s, it wasn’t Charlotte Bronte’s, it was MaryAnn and Jann’s tea party!"

"... absolutely the best literary event I've ever attended!"

"It was a Cinderella moment from start to finish. I felt lifted from my day-to-day ordinary life into another sphere and came away enlightened and inspired."

"All your hard work showed in the details from the chocolate dipped strawberries to the champagne to the violinist. Bravo!!!"

"Superb! Magnificent! A perfect event!"

"The Salon event was without flaw - the place, setting, food, and entertainment superb. My guests loved every minute, as I did - top drawer all the way."

"Perfect! From beginning to end, it was the most delightful and wonderful experience! Please have another next year!"

Filled to Capacity!

2010-10-11T09:20:00.000-07:00

Over one hundred women attended the literary salon held at the beautiful Montage Resort in Laguna Beach on Saturday, October 9th. Ever since I read about the French salons of earlier centuries, I’ve wanted to sponsor such an event for women. Such salons, held to amuse, entertain, and refine the taste of the participants through conversations about literature and philosophy became an important part of the French literary movement.

This day belonged to YOU, a day to network with others and make new friends. Guests were treated to an art exhibit by Robin Wethe Altman, violin music by Jessica Haddy, inspiring conversation with authors Dodie Cross, Kathryn Jordan, Barbara Potter, Ricki Mandeville, Lynette Brasfield, Jeri Westerson, Barbara DeMarco Barrett, and Regina Louise.

Click the "links" section in the sidebar to the right to access authors and artists featured at the salon. Check back for salon updates. Let's stay connected.

"To read is to empower
To empower is to write
To write is to influence
To Influence is to change
To change is to live."
~ Jane Evershed

My co-coordinator, Jann Harmon, and I worked hard to make this an event to remember. Each speaker spoke on the theme of risk we take as women in our own unique ways. We started with our emcee, Barbara Potter, who described how she risked to find her birth daughter after 42 years, and we ended with Regina Louise captivating us with the story of how, after 40 years, she found her mother, a woman who wanted to adopt her as a child and couldn't because of racial differences.

Ricki Mandeville began the program by reading some of her marvelous poetry; Barbara DeMarco-Barrett gave everyone valuable tips on writing; Kathryn Jordan described how both she and her story heroines have risked; Lynette Brasfield revealed the courage it took to write the truth; Jeri Westerson discarded her seven page prepared speech and spoke of how she has risked all her life without realizing it; and Regina Louise brought everyone to tears with her dramatic story of growing up unwanted and unloved. All have risked in some way and are the better for it.

Congratulations to those who won the five gift baskets filled with expensive wines, coffee, jewelry, gift certificates and more valuable prizes as well as to the lucky winner of the trip to Los Gaviotas for a two-night stay in a fabulous artist's residence only steps from the sand!

I want to thank everyone who participated in this event and helped me bring my vision of a French literary salon to 21st Century Orange County women.

"There came a time when the risk to remain tight in the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom." - Anais Nin

"A word after a word after a word is power." - Margaret Atwood

"Your own words are the bricks and mortar of the dreams you want to realize. Your words are the greatest power you have. The words you choose and their use establish the life you experience," - Sonia Croquette

"A woman is the full circle. Within her is the power to create, nurture and transform." - Diane Mariechild

SALON SCHDULE:

10:30 am - Arrival, Networking, Art Exhibit, Champagne
10:50 am - Welcome, Introductions:
MaryAnn Easley, Windﬂower Press
Anthology Cover Artist: Robin Wethe Altman
Violin music: Jessica Haddy
Emcee: Barbara Potter, Columnist & Inspirational Speaker
11:15 am - Poetry Reading: Ricki Mandeville
11:30 am - Speaker: Barbara DeMarco-Barrett, Author
12:00 pm - Lunch
12:55 - 2:00 pm
- Drawing for Gift Basket #1.
Speaker: Kathryn Jordan, Author
- Drawing for Gift Basket #2.
Speaker: Lynette Brasﬁeld, Author
- Drawing for Gift Basket #3.
Speaker: Jeri Westerson, Author
- Drawing for Gift Basket #4.
Speaker: Regina Louise, Author
- Drawing for Gift Basket #5
- Drawing for the Los Gaviotas holiday.
2:00 - 3:00 pm:
Networking
Book signing
Art exhibit

LUNCHEON MENU
Assorted Tea Sandwiches:
Cucumber and Mint
Smoked Salmon on Pumpernickel
Chicken Curry
Egg Salad and Watercress
Asparagus and Prosciutto

PASTRIES & CONFECTIONS
Currant Scones
Strawberry Jam, Devonshire Cream, Lemon Curd
Assorted Mini Pastries and Cakes
Fancy Tea Cookies
Chocolate Dipped Strawberries
Dark and White Chocolate

BEVERAGES
Montage Assorted Deluxe Tea Boxes
Honey, Lemon Slices, Sugar Sticks, Sugar Cubes
Champagne ~ Mimosas
Coffee

Laguna Beach Violinist Booked for the Salon!

2010-10-07T18:09:00.000-07:00

Paul McIntire, our scheduled violinist, had emergency surgery last night and will not be able to appear on Saturday. We have booked another local musician you should know about.

Jessica Haddy is a freelance violinist in Southern California, performing with the Golden State Pops Orchestra, O.C., Fullerton, Downey, and Debut Symphonies. She graduated in 2004 with a degree in violin performance at California State University Long Beach.

Jessica has appeared in music videos with Elton John, Sheryl Crow, Sting, Il Divo and Randy Travis. She has made television appearances performing with Burt Bacharach for the Hollywood Tree Lighting Ceremony and performing with the Golden State Pops Orchestra at the Dorothy Chandler Pavalion.

We are delighted she is able to join us at the salon.

RESERVATIONS ARE CLOSED!

2010-10-07T12:42:00.000-07:00

Thank you for accessing our site. We are excited about the upcoming "She Writes" Salon. We expect stellar weather on October 9th at the beautiful Montage Resort in Laguna Beach.

Women writers, readers, and friends will gather at the Studio to network with others interested in the literary life.

There will be a drawing for valuable prizes, authors available to sign books, a featured artist, a violinist, and interesting people to meet plus a fabulous view. What could be better?

If you missed your chance to make a reservation or have any questions regarding the women's salon, please call MaryAnn at 949-285-3831 in case there's a last minute cancellation.

See you at the salon on Saturday!

Last Few Days at the Lower Price!

2010-09-20T10:22:00.000-07:00

If you're thinking about making a reservation for this elegant salon, do so now! Only a few days left at the lower price! You won't want to miss this opportunity to network with authors, talk about books, and become inspired. Speakers include Barbara DeMarco-Barrett, Kathryn Jordan, Jeri Westerson, Lynette Brasfield, and Regina Louise. Poetry reading by Ricki Mandeville, art by Robin Wethe Altman, and violin music by Paul McIntire. Enjoy a light champagne lunch as you meet new friends at the salon overlooking the sea.

There will be an opportunity to win gift baskets worth $500 each as well as a drawing for two days at an oceanfront estate in Los Gaviotas! Women writers will receive information about the upcoming women's anthology. Authors will be signing their books, and you'll have an opportunity to meet our featured artist and browse her paintings. All this and the Montage, too. What could be a better gift for yourself?

Don't delay! Only a limited number of seats left.

Doesn't this day belong to YOU?

Reserve Your Place at the Table Now!

2010-09-07T10:00:00.000-07:00

Seats are filling fast for this popular event, so don't delay. Only days left to book your reservation at the regular price! If you are a woman who loves to read or write, this salon is for YOU! Don't you deserve an artist's day all for yourself? Isn't it time you started living the literary life? Enjoy meeting new friends, a light champagne lunch, violin music, an art exhibit, poetry reading, and some dynamic featured authors. What could be better after the summer crunch and before the holiday frenzy than a fall day at the Montage in Laguna Beach to network and talk about books and writing? Book online. Five dollar handling fee for online booking will be refunded at the salon.

This Salon is for YOU!

2010-06-25T07:33:00.000-07:00

"Anyone who says they have only one life to live must not know how to read a book." ~Author Unknown

Salon Topic: How women must risk and what they must risk to achieve their creative goals will be the theme of the October 9th event. Every featured speaker will offer insights into the journey all women must take as heroes of their own stories.Whether we are writers or readers, we can relate to being a woman and the courage it takes to follow our dreams.The stories we like best involve protagonists determined to make a difference in their own lives and the lives of others. Conflict makes stories, builds lives, and dewelops character.

Limited to only 100, our "She Writes" Salon scheduled for October 9, 2010, 10:30-2:30, at the fabulous Montage in Laguna Beach promises to be a day to remember for writers, readers, and friends. Women interested in writing, reading, networking, and publishing will be welcomed at the Studio with a light champagne lunch, poetry reading, guest speakers, an art display by Laguna Beach artist Robin Wethe Altman, the unveiling of the cover art for the soon-to-be-released women's anthology, music by violinist Paul McIntire, book signing by featured authors, special gifts, and more!

This special day is designed for YOU! Readers, writers, and their friends will interface in an intimate gathering designed to encourage networking, creativity, and empowerment.

"A good book on your shelf is a friend that turns its back on you and remains a friend." ~Author Unknown

Sponsored by Windflower Press, publisher of Interstices: An Anthology, an added pre-salon feature will be the opportunity for attendees to submit manuscripts of 10-15 pages for detailed written critique. The buzz has already started about this upcoming event. Check back often for further details.

“The greatest gift is a passion for reading. It is cheap, it consoles, it distracts, it excites, it gives you knowledge of the world and experience of a wide kind. It is a moral illumination.”
– Elizabeth Hardwick

Limited seating still available!
Begin to live the literary life. Make your reservations today!

Regular Price - $85; Late reservations - $125
Reservations Closed October 5th or when full. Book Early!

Information Regarding Speakers & Reservations
Contact MaryAnn - 949-285-3831

Information Regarding Gift Baskets & Advertising
Contact Jann - 949-291-3977

Book your reservation by mail with a personal check to Windflower Press:
Windflower Press, Box 7089, Laguna Niguel, CA 92607

You will receive a salon confirmation online or by mail for your records.

“Reading is a discount ticket to everywhere.”
- Mary Schmich

SHOULD YOU ATTEND? TAKE THIS QUIZ & FIND OUT!

1. Do you read books, magazines, and/or newspapers? Yes/No
2. Do you enjoy mingling with interesting & dynamic people? Yes/No
3. Do you blog, journal, or dabble in the arts? Yes/No
4. Do you own books, a Kindle, Sony Reader, or Nook? Yes/No
5. Do you enjoy events, socializing, networking? Yes/No
6. Do you want to write a memoir, poem, or novel? Yes/No
7. Do you visit the library or bookstores? Yes/No
8. Do you like getting books signed by authors? Yes/No
9. Do you belong to a book club or literary guild? Yes/No
AND bonus question: *** Are you a woman writer or reader? Yes/No

If you answered YES to any of the questions,come to this salon!

"Words mean more than what is set down on paper. It takes the human voice to infuse them with shades of deeper meaning.'
– Maya Angelou

“Real luxury is time and opportunity to read for pleasure.”
– Jane Brody

"If there's a book you really want to read but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it." ~Toni Morrison