<p style="text-align: left;">As we hang out together in Ojai, we want to share our creative visions and of course we want to share our words! We are proud to announce an authentic creative alliance with <a href="http://www.listentoyourmothershow.com">Listen to Your Mother</a>, the brainchild of <a href="http://www.annimig.com">Ann Imig</a>.  So take advantage of this most perfect atmosphere in which to read your heartfelt work and words to one of the most supportive audiences ever!</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Details from Ann on how to submit your words to the inaugural Listen to Your MO</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img class="aligncenter" src="http://nwdesignsit.com/designimages/finalsalonbutton.JPG" alt="" /></p>
Listen To Your Mother began as a Mother’s Day production originated by Ann Imig at The Barrymore Theatre in Madison, Wisconsin. 12 local writers read their own words about their experience of Motherhood. They took the audience on a literary journey that inspired, validated, gave voice and bore witness to the bittersweet work of mothering--the beauty, the beast, and the barely-rested.

Listen To Your Mother is growing. While she finds communities and stages across the country for new productions, LTYM presents her scaled-down, more intimate, less rehearsed side of herself--Listen To Your Mother: Salon

<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salon_%28gathering%29">Wikipedia</a> defines a salon:

A salon is a gathering of people under the roof of an inspiring host, held partly to amuse one another and partly to refine the taste and increase their knowledge of the participants through conversation. These gatherings often consciously followed Horace's definition of the aims of poetry, "either to please or to educate" ("aut delectare aut prodesse est"). Salons, commonly associated with French literary and philosophical movements of the 17th century and 18th centuries, were carried on until quite recently, in urban settings, among like-minded people.

Our "inspiring host" will be Creative Alliance '10 and the Ojai, California sunset--and we will “please and educate” by laughing beyond the capacity of our post-childbearing bladders, crying, and who knows-- perhaps speaking in tongues!

<a href="http://mw2.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/salon">Merriam-Webster online</a> defines salon as
a fashionable assemblage of notables (as literary figures, artists, or statesmen) held by custom at the home of a prominent person.

PLEASE JOIN OUR FASHIONABLE ASSEMBLAGE OF NOTABLES and submit your post to read for the LTYM: Salon campfire keynote. For our purposes, this fashionable assemblage of notables means creative on-line Moms in jeans, wrapped in pashminas and sipping something tres-sophisticated (Yoohoo, virgin or with just a splash of Bailey’s) NO SPANX PERMITTED.

Although Listen To Your Mother: Salon is NOT the full-fledged stage production, the tone is similar. You can get an idea by watching the show <a href="http://vimeo.com/11826943">online here</a>.

Submission Process:
If you are interested in reading for Listen To Your Mother Salon at CA'10, please submit your original writing (meaning written by you, fine if previously posted or published as long as you retain rights/permissions) about motherhood to Listen To Your Mother National Director, Ann Imigannimig@yahoo.com by Sept. 30th, 2010 midnight CST.

* You must register and attend CA'10 to submit
* Please paste your post of 500 words or less in the body of the email. No attachments please.
* Include your name, email, phone and blog url
* Put the words "mom salon" in the subject line
* Readers will be posted on Monday Oct. 11th
* No auditions, no rehearsals needed
* A hint from my experience casting last year--choose a piece you feel passionately about that focuses on some aspect of mothering over one that showcases your writing chops. This show is all about heart and humanity and FUNNY FUNNY sad very sad poignant FUNNY, and does NOT require professional writers or performers.
* Think PG-13 rating

Listen To Your Mother’s mission aims to support mothers in both creative and tangible ways. A $5.00 suggested donation per person will be requested at the event as a contribution for a LA/community non-profit that supports mothers in need (TBD).

Humongo thank you to CA '10 for providing Listen To Your Mother: Salon this opportunity. I am so excited to hear the next group of Mamas share their words, and use their outside voices. Testify!

Off to set my powder wig in preparation,

<a href="http://www.annimig.com">Ann Imig</a>