Annenberg Beach House Artist in Residence

Chinyere Nwodim chats with Teresa Lo, Dr. Shubha Venugopal, and Thea Monyee during Saturday's pre-event
luncheon meeting in the Marion Davies Guest House. (Not pictured Desiree Zamorano)

Tomorrow is the second public event! I cannot believe this residency is moving so fast, and I'm grateful for all the quick-witted, intelligent, and "woke" writers I'm working with to realize the three programs under the Women of Color Fiction Writers banner. The best part of Saturday was introducing last month's panelists to this month's panelists and having them all connect further over coffee after our meeting.

Chinyere and Shubha came to write for the afternoon, which all the panelists are invited to do for the duration of my residency. It is one small way to demonstrate my appreciation for their contributions to the public programs and for ensuring as many women have an opportunity to create, write, and to think in this gracious guest house. Bringing them together also affords a time for casual chatting, resulting in new story ideas. The generosity of information and shared desire for each of us to be successful brings me to an Oprah "aha" moment several times a day. 

I'd like to believe Marion Davies would be pleased and that if she were here, she'd put her feet up, join us for tea, a walk on the beach, and would laugh at some of our raunchiest humor.

The topic this month is identity. Seems simple enough in concept, but self-identity, which is our specific umbrella topic is way more involved than it sounds. We are mothers, wives, partners, have professional identities outside of writing, are volunteers, social activists, female, cis-gender, binary, lesbian, immigrants, children of immigrants, bilingual translators for family, physically able-bodied or have unseen challenges that draw dotted lines around our lives, and the list is almost never-ending. 

In addition to fiction writers, the women on this panel self-identify as a blogger, professors, a college counselor, a popular spoken word artist, and they may write in the following genres: screenwriting, erotica, young adult fiction/speculative fiction, mystery writer, essayists, and journalist. Some have MFAs; some do not. A couple are actors. I can tell you they like cheese, fruit, and veggies, because we noshed during our entire meeting. :) None are shy. All are talented and dedicated to their craft.

Thea will read from her current book being shopped by her big time NY agent--a young adult speculative fiction work taking place in Leimert Park. Ah, yes, oh, so yummy, and as is often the case, YA fiction is taking the lead on broaching new areas in fiction.

Desiree will read from The Amado Women--her critically acclaimed women-centered novel about family, while Teresa will read from her essay, The Flood.

Please join Desiree Zamorano, Thea Monyee, Teresa Lo, Dr. Shubha Venugopal (moderator), and me for a thought-provoking, informative, and entertaining evening.

6:00 pm Reception / 6:30 pm program commences in the Marion Davies Guest House parlor. RSVP via Event Brite.