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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20211007T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20211007T200000
DTSTAMP:20260405T102628
CREATED:20210716T231418Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20210813T162746Z
UID:3546-1633633200-1633636800@sophfronia.com
SUMMARY:Alma MFA Open House featuring David Lynn\, Alma College\, Alma\, MI
DESCRIPTION:A reading by fiction writer and Kenyon Review editor emeritus David Lynn. Informational session on applying for the Alma College MFA in Creative Writing. \nUPDATE: I’m reading at this event too! I’ll read from The Seeker and the Monk. More details soon.
URL:https://sophfronia.com/event/alma-mfa-open-house-featuring-david-lynn/
CATEGORIES:Where is Sophfronia?
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://sophfronia.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/ALMA_creativewriting_MFAalone_color_logo.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20211016T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20211016T140000
DTSTAMP:20260405T102628
CREATED:20211010T231407Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211010T231407Z
UID:3606-1634378400-1634392800@sophfronia.com
SUMMARY:Madeleine Mornings\, Online Writers' Retreat
DESCRIPTION:Inspired by the late Madeleine L’Engle (A Wrinkle in Time)\, these virtual mini-retreats\, co-hosted by Sarah Arthur and Sophfronia Scott\,  are designed to spark insight\, foster connections\, deepen your reading\, and lend structure to your writing and spiritual life.
URL:https://sophfronia.com/event/madeleine-mornings-online-writers-retreat/
CATEGORIES:Where is Sophfronia?
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://sophfronia.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/madeleine-mornings-image-e1633907062243.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20211023T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20211023T163000
DTSTAMP:20260405T102628
CREATED:20210716T231737Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20210716T232132Z
UID:3548-1634979600-1635006600@sophfronia.com
SUMMARY:The Humanity of Thomas Merton - Retreat Day\, Holy Family Passionist Retreat Center\, West Hartford\, CT
DESCRIPTION:The Humanity of Thomas Merton\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nContemplative Enrichment Day\nSaturday\, October 23\, 2021\n9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (ET)\nSophfronia Scott\, M.F.A.\nThough Thomas Merton lived as a contemplative monk studying\, writing\, and praying\, he remained vulnerable in his humanity\, making him most accessible to us. Seen through the lens of grace\, Merton’s teaching can help us learn to reach for God through our imperfections. During our time together\, we will focus on developing a relationship with Merton’s spirituality that might deepen our own. \nThis program will be offered both in-person and online via Zoom. Information on how to access the program on Zoom will be sent to participants in advance. \nOffering: $65 (includes lunch) \nRegister at this link. 
URL:https://sophfronia.com/event/the-humanity-of-thomas-merton-retreat-day/
CATEGORIES:Where is Sophfronia?
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://sophfronia.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/CCE-Merton-e1626475417452.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20211031T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20211031T120000
DTSTAMP:20260405T102628
CREATED:20210716T232028Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20210716T232028Z
UID:3550-1635678000-1635681600@sophfronia.com
SUMMARY:Seeking Everyday Faith with Thomas Merton\, Christ Church Greenwich\, Greenwich\, CT
DESCRIPTION:Seeking Everyday Faith with Thomas Merton\n\nIn conversation with Deborah Goodrich Royce\, author Sophfronia Scott shares her deep dive into the private journals of the famous Trappist monk\, and the connection she found in his pages that led to her new book The Seeker and the Monk: Everyday Conversations with Thomas Merton. As a Black woman who is not Catholic\, Scott both learns from and pushes back against Merton\, holding spirited\, and intimate conversations on race\, ambition\, faith\, activism\, nature\, prayer\, friendship\, and love.\nSophfronia Scott is a Harvard-educated novelist\, essayist\, and leading contemplative thinker whose work has appeared in numerous publications and received a 2020 Artist Fellowship Grant from the Connecticut Office of the Arts as well as the 2021 Thomas Merton Award from the International Thomas Merton Society.
URL:https://sophfronia.com/event/seeking-everyday-faith-with-thomas-merton-christ-church-greenwich-greenwich-ct/
CATEGORIES:Where is Sophfronia?
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://sophfronia.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Christ-Church-Greenwich.jpeg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20211106T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20211106T143000
DTSTAMP:20260405T102628
CREATED:20210716T232820Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20210716T232820Z
UID:3554-1636203600-1636209000@sophfronia.com
SUMMARY:Seeking Hope with Thomas Merton\, River's Edge and Centering Space\, Cleveland\, Ohio
DESCRIPTION:Details TBD
URL:https://sophfronia.com/event/seeking-hope-with-thomas-merton-rivers-edge-and-centering-space-cleveland-ohio/
CATEGORIES:Where is Sophfronia?
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://sophfronia.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Merton-Illustration-by-Mike-Brennan-e1626476719709.jpeg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20211108
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20211113
DTSTAMP:20260405T102628
CREATED:20210716T225836Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20210716T225836Z
UID:3539-1636329600-1636761599@sophfronia.com
SUMMARY:Writing For Your Life Conference\, Online
DESCRIPTION:Sophfronia Scott will present an informational session on the Alma College MFA in Creative Writing graduate program. Exact date and time TBD.
URL:https://sophfronia.com/event/writing-for-your-life-conference-online/
CATEGORIES:Where is Sophfronia?
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://sophfronia.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Screen-Shot-2021-07-16-at-6.20.53-PM-e1626475162498.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20211109T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20211109T210000
DTSTAMP:20260405T102628
CREATED:20210716T233304Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20210716T233304Z
UID:3556-1636488000-1636491600@sophfronia.com
SUMMARY:Second Tuesdays Writers Discussion Group\, Online
DESCRIPTION:Sophfronia Scott will be the featured author for November discussing a writing topic for this group hosted by Brian Allain. Details TBD. Registration at this link.
URL:https://sophfronia.com/event/second-tuesdays-writers-discussion-group-online/
CATEGORIES:Where is Sophfronia?
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://sophfronia.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Second-Tuesdays-for-website-768x402-1-e1626478366539.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20211114T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20211114T120000
DTSTAMP:20260405T102628
CREATED:20211010T230946Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211010T230946Z
UID:3604-1636884000-1636891200@sophfronia.com
SUMMARY:Seeking Everyday Faith with Thomas Merton\, St. Bart's Church\, New York\, NY
DESCRIPTION:Seeking Everyday Faith with Thomas Merton\n\nAuthor Sophfronia Scott shares her deep dive into the private journals of the famous Trappist monk\, and the connection she found in his pages that led to her book The Seeker and the Monk: Everyday Conversations with Thomas Merton. As a Black woman who is not Catholic\, Scott both learns from and pushes back against Merton\, holding spirited\, and intimate conversations on race\, ambition\, faith\, activism\, nature\, prayer\, friendship\, and love.\nSophfronia Scott is a Harvard-educated novelist\, essayist\, and leading contemplative thinker whose work has appeared in numerous publications. She has received a 2020 Artist Fellowship Grant from the Connecticut Office of the Arts as well as the 2021 Thomas Merton Award from the International Thomas Merton Society. \nNote: If this event is in person\, it will also be livestreamed.
URL:https://sophfronia.com/event/seeking-everyday-faith-with-thomas-merton-st-barts-church-new-york-ny/
CATEGORIES:Where is Sophfronia?
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://sophfronia.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/St._Bartholomews_Church_Summer_Streets-e1633907046676.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20211227
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20220107
DTSTAMP:20260405T102628
CREATED:20201219T020955Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20201219T020955Z
UID:3173-1640563200-1641513599@sophfronia.com
SUMMARY:Alma College MFA in Creative Writing Winter Residency\, Roscommon\, MI
DESCRIPTION:As director of Alma’s MFA program\, Sophfronia is pleased to announce its winter residency. Residency is the heart of the MFA experience. Students\, faculty\, visiting writers\, and guest speakers from the publishing industry come together to form a diverse and dynamic artistic community teeming with the energy of a shared commitment to writing. \nWe’ll convene for our winter residencies at the Ralph A. MacMullan Conference Center on the shore of Higgins Lake in Michigan’s gorgeous northern woods. The center\, known for its modern facilities with rustic décor\, has a legacy of conservation education. We’ll be able to appreciate Michigan’s abundant natural resources and sparkling winters with activities such as ice fishing\, sledding\, snowshoeing\, cross-country skiing and downhill skiing. Guests will have access to miles and miles of groomed cross-country ski trails located across the main road of the facility.
URL:https://sophfronia.com/event/alma-college-mfa-in-creative-writing-winter-residency-roscommon-mi/
CATEGORIES:Where is Sophfronia?
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://sophfronia.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/MacMulllan-e1608343522274.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20220121T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20220121T140000
DTSTAMP:20260405T102628
CREATED:20211010T232936Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211010T232936Z
UID:3614-1642770000-1642773600@sophfronia.com
SUMMARY:Eat and Read at Melba's\, New Orleans\, LA
DESCRIPTION:Sophfronia Scott will sign copies of The Seeker and the Monk: Everyday Conversations with Thomas Merton\, as part of a communal literacy awareness project. The books will be given away to community members.
URL:https://sophfronia.com/event/eat-and-read-at-melbas-new-orleans-la/
CATEGORIES:Where is Sophfronia?
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://sophfronia.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Melbas-New-Orleans-e1633905027766.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20220129T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20220129T140000
DTSTAMP:20260405T102628
CREATED:20211010T231615Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211010T231615Z
UID:3608-1643450400-1643464800@sophfronia.com
SUMMARY:Madeleine Mornings\, Online Writers' Retreat
DESCRIPTION:Inspired by the late Madeleine L’Engle (A Wrinkle in Time)\, these virtual mini-retreats\, co-hosted by Sarah Arthur and Sophfronia Scott\,  are designed to spark insight\, foster connections\, deepen your reading\, and lend structure to your writing and spiritual life.
URL:https://sophfronia.com/event/madeleine-mornings-online-writers-retreat-2/
CATEGORIES:Where is Sophfronia?
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://sophfronia.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/madeleine-mornings-image-e1633907062243.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20220222T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20220222T200000
DTSTAMP:20260405T102628
CREATED:20210716T233658Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20210716T233658Z
UID:3559-1645556400-1645560000@sophfronia.com
SUMMARY:16TH Annual Thomas Merton Black History Month Lecture\, Bellarmine University\, Louisville\, KY
DESCRIPTION:Sophfronia Scott will deliver a lecture\, TITLE TBD\, at this annual event hosted by the Merton Center. \nThe event is free and open to the public.
URL:https://sophfronia.com/event/16th-annual-thomas-merton-black-history-month-lecture-bellarmine-university-louisville-ky/
CATEGORIES:Where is Sophfronia?
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://sophfronia.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Merton-Birthday-Meme-Facebook-e1615335715365.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20220407
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20220410
DTSTAMP:20260405T102628
CREATED:20211010T232518Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211010T232518Z
UID:3612-1649289600-1649548799@sophfronia.com
SUMMARY:The Thomas Merton Society of Great Britain & Ireland Conference\, Oakham School\, Rutland\, England
DESCRIPTION:Oakham Conference 2022 \non the theme ‘Where is Our Hope?’ \nOur Residential Conference will be held at Oakham School from Thu 7th April to Sat 9th April 2022. \nIn his journal entry of April 15\, 1965\, Thomas Merton asks the question: ‘Where is our hope?’ He argues that if our hope is in a temporal and secular humanism of technological and political progress\, we will be participating in the stupidity and barbarism of the despoiling of God’s creation. \nFor Merton\, ‘our hope must be in God.’ For us in one of the wealthiest countries in the world\, this answer can all too easily be equated with Christian optimism. \nBut for the many people who live precarious lives\, not even knowing where the next meal will come from\, this question is meaningless – There is no hope in this world. The very structures and support that we in the affluent West take for granted are absent. The only hope can be in heaven\, in the riches of the world to come\, further embedding the view that they are never for the here and now. \nIf\, for Merton\, ‘the real root of Christian hope is the presence of the Risen Lord among us’ (Merton’s circular letter of Lent\, 1967)\, how might this be worked out in our lives\, in our communities\, in our world? \nSophfronia Scott. will deliver a workshop on Bearing Witness to Hope: Merton’s Reach for Simplicity
URL:https://sophfronia.com/event/the-thomas-merton-society-of-great-britain-ireland-conference-oakham-school-rutland-england/
CATEGORIES:Where is Sophfronia?
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://sophfronia.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Oakham-School-e1633905012296.jpeg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20220507T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20220507T140000
DTSTAMP:20260405T102628
CREATED:20211010T231758Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211010T231758Z
UID:3610-1651917600-1651932000@sophfronia.com
SUMMARY:Madeleine Mornings\, Online Writers' Retreat
DESCRIPTION:Inspired by the late Madeleine L’Engle (A Wrinkle in Time)\, these virtual mini-retreats\, co-hosted by Sarah Arthur and Sophfronia Scott\,  are designed to spark insight\, foster connections\, deepen your reading\, and lend structure to your writing and spiritual life.
URL:https://sophfronia.com/event/madeleine-mornings-online-writers-retreat-3/
CATEGORIES:Where is Sophfronia?
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://sophfronia.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/madeleine-mornings-image-e1633907062243.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20220616
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20220627
DTSTAMP:20260405T102628
CREATED:20220514T025412Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220514T030855Z
UID:3732-1655337600-1656287999@sophfronia.com
SUMMARY:Alma College MFA in Creative Writing Summer Residency\, Alma\, MI
DESCRIPTION:As director of Alma’s MFA program\, Sophfronia is pleased to announce its summer 2022 residency. Residency is the heart of the MFA experience. Students\, faculty\, visiting writers\, and guest speakers from the publishing industry come together to form a diverse and dynamic artistic community teeming with the energy of a shared commitment to writing. Visiting writers Deborah Copaken\, Matthew Dickman\, and S. Kirk Walsh will join the residency with craft talks\, informal talks for students and public readings in the evening.
URL:https://sophfronia.com/event/alma-college-mfa-in-creative-writing-summer-residency/
CATEGORIES:Where is Sophfronia?
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://sophfronia.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/alma-e1505837031554.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20220707T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20220707T153000
DTSTAMP:20260405T102628
CREATED:20220514T031810Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220514T031810Z
UID:3741-1657202400-1657207800@sophfronia.com
SUMMARY:Chautauqua Institution Summer Lecture\, Chautauqua\, NY
DESCRIPTION:Sophfronia’s reflections on Thomas Merton’s wisdom and personal journals\, as related in her book\, The Seeker and the Monk: Everyday Conversations with Thomas Merton\, will inform her lecture on the theme\, “Reconnecting with the Natural World.”
URL:https://sophfronia.com/event/chautauqua-institution-summer-lecture-chautauqua-ny/
CATEGORIES:Where is Sophfronia?
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://sophfronia.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/20581-chautauqua-new-york-1c-e1652498077142.jpeg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20220715T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20220715T130000
DTSTAMP:20260405T102628
CREATED:20220709T212537Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220709T212537Z
UID:3787-1657886400-1657890000@sophfronia.com
SUMMARY:MFA Nation\, Featured Panel\, Online\, 1455 Summer Literary Festival
DESCRIPTION:Over the last fifty years or so\, the Master of Fine Arts degree in creative writing has become one of the important ways that writers study the craft of writing\, gain entry to the literary world\, and connect with the world of literary agents\, book publishers\, and magazine editors. Join us in looking at current trends\, new developments and future challenges in the world of the MFA. This session is for writers considering applying to MFA programs and also for writers looking for alternatives to the MFA but all are welcome!\n\n\nREGISTER FREE at 1455litarts.org/summerfest.
URL:https://sophfronia.com/event/mfa-nation-featured-panel-online-1455-summer-literary-festival/
CATEGORIES:Where is Sophfronia?
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://sophfronia.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/MFA-Nation-e1657401677778.jpeg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20220725
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20220801
DTSTAMP:20260405T102628
CREATED:20220514T032139Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220514T032139Z
UID:3743-1658707200-1659311999@sophfronia.com
SUMMARY:Breaking the Academic Mold Workshop\, Collegeville Institute\, Collegeville\, MN
DESCRIPTION:Applications for this jointly sponsored Wabash Center/Collegeville Institute workshop are closed. \nThis writing workshop is for scholars of religion and theology who have written exclusively or primarily in the scholarly genre for other scholars of religion but long to share their knowledge or personal experience in a more creative way with a wider audience. \nMany scholars yearn to speak to a broader audience through creative nonfiction\, blogs\, op-eds\, and memoir. Many scholars want to write with more clarity and imagination. Participants in this workshop will develop their writing voice in service to topics they care about\, and for which they have passion and curiosity. A combination of plenary\, small group and individual instruction\, our week together will help scholars free the creative spirit\, structure their writing more effectively\, and speak on the page in a truer\, more engaging voice. Our focus will be on releasing the professors’ voice to the public square\, giving permission to be imaginative\, and finding new ways of being inspired.
URL:https://sophfronia.com/event/breaking-the-academic-mold-workshop-collegeville-institute-collegeville-mn/
CATEGORIES:Where is Sophfronia?
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://sophfronia.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Collegeville-Institute-slope-scaled-e1652498064324.jpeg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20220901T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20220901T153000
DTSTAMP:20260405T102628
CREATED:20220514T030814Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220514T030814Z
UID:3734-1662040800-1662046200@sophfronia.com
SUMMARY:Merton on Thursday\, Online Talk
DESCRIPTION:This is an online presentation of the talk originally planned for the UK Merton conference scheduled for April 2022 that was cancelled. \nGo to https://www.thomasmertonsociety.org.uk/ \nfor Zoom link details. \nIn his journal entry of April 15\, 1965\, Thomas Merton asks the question: ‘Where is our hope?’ He argues that if our hope is in a temporal and secular humanism of technological and political progress\, we will be participating in the stupidity and barbarism of the despoiling of God’s creation. \nFor Merton\, ‘our hope must be in God.’ For us in one of the wealthiest countries in the world\, this answer can all too easily be equated with Christian optimism. \nBut for the many people who live precarious lives\, not even knowing where the next meal will come from\, this question is meaningless – There is no hope in this world. The very structures and support that we in the affluent West take for granted are absent. The only hope can be in heaven\, in the riches of the world to come\, further embedding the view that they are never for the here and now. \nIf\, for Merton\, ‘the real root of Christian hope is the presence of the Risen Lord among us’ (Merton’s circular letter of Lent\, 1967)\, how might this be worked out in our lives\, in our communities\, in our world? \nSophfronia Scott. will deliver a workshop on Bearing Witness to Hope: Merton’s Reach for Simplicity
URL:https://sophfronia.com/event/merton-on-thursday-online-talk/
CATEGORIES:Where is Sophfronia?
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://sophfronia.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/CCE-Merton-e1626475417452.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20220918
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20220925
DTSTAMP:20260405T102628
CREATED:20190918T174124Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211120T175536Z
UID:2591-1663459200-1664063999@sophfronia.com
SUMMARY:The Write of Your Life Writers' Retreat\, Veneto\, Italy
DESCRIPTION:Join Sophfronia in the idyllic countryside of Italy for ‘The Write of Your Life’ – A one week Writers Retreat. Our home will be at the luxurious Hotel Villa Margherita in Mira. \nUPDATE FROM JANET SIMMONDS: \nI’m pleased to say we are all systems go for the Writer’s Retreat in Italy next September. Sophfronia and I have been delighted by the response we’ve had from our writer friends and colleagues. \nHere are the important pieces of information that you need to know: \nDates of trip: 18-24 September\, 2022 \nProgram Director: Sophfronia Scott \nFull program here: https://wp.me/p97CFs-ee \n\nThe cost of the retreat is as follows: \n\nUS $ 4500 / Euros € 3950 – Double room for single use (one person)\nUS $ 4800 / Euros € 4300  – Junior Suite per person (two people sharing)\nUS $ 3900 / Euros € 3500 – Smaller Twin room per person (two people sharing)\n\n\nTo reserve your place a deposit is required of US $ 1500. You can make the payment by clicking on the following ‘Pay Pal’ link – paypal.me/GrandTouristLtd \nPlease complete the attached booking form and return it to us – a scanned copy is fine. \n\nDon’t hesitate to let me or Sophfronia know if you have any questions\, we’d be delighted to help. \n\nAlways remembering the poetic and magical words of Lord Byron\, \n\n‘But words are things\, \nAnd a small drop of ink\, \nFalling\, like dew\, \nUpon a thought \nProduces that which makes thousands\, \nPerhaps millions\, think’ \n\nFeel free to reach out to us via zoom\, e-mail\, text or even the old fashioned telephone\, if you have any questions at all. \nOnce you are signed up we will invite you to join our private ‘Alumni Facebook Page’ where we share ideas\, thoughts\, book recommendations etc \n\nKindest regards \n\nJanet Simmonds \njanet@grand-tourist.com \nwww.grand-tourist.com \nView the full brochure at this link.
URL:https://sophfronia.com/event/the-write-of-your-life-writers-retreat-veneto-italy/
CATEGORIES:Where is Sophfronia?
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20220930
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20221002
DTSTAMP:20260405T102628
CREATED:20220514T032425Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220514T032425Z
UID:3745-1664496000-1664668799@sophfronia.com
SUMMARY:A Circle of Quiet\, the Madeleine L'Engle Writing Retreat\, Litchfield\, CT
DESCRIPTION:Join us this fall in New England for two full days of writing\, reflection\, and community.\nWe’re finally gathering in person! We can’t wait to see you Friday and Saturday\, Sept 30 and Oct 1\, at Wisdom House in Litchfield CT near Madeleine’s beloved farmhouse\, Crosswicks. \nProgram Registration includes two full days (9 AM to 5 PM) of thoughtful content\, facilitated cohorts\, solo writing time\, and refreshments\, all at the gorgeous retreat center buildings and grounds.* Depending on your lodging choices\, your time on location can stretch to three or even four days–a true retreat! \nCome with your own writing projects or inspire yourself with our curated prompts inspired by Madeleine’s first Crosswicks Journal\, A Circle of Quiet. \nDetails: https://lenglewritingretreats.com/?page_id=126
URL:https://sophfronia.com/event/a-circle-of-quiet-the-madeleine-lengle-writing-retreat-litchfield-ct/
CATEGORIES:Where is Sophfronia?
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20221210T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20221210T150000
DTSTAMP:20260405T102628
CREATED:20220709T212926Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220709T212926Z
UID:3789-1670673600-1670684400@sophfronia.com
SUMMARY:Thomas Merton and the Transformative Power of Love\, Online Retreat
DESCRIPTION:This retreat is part of The Abbey of the Arts’ 10 month series The Mystical Heart: Love as a Creative Force. Register for each retreat individually or for the full series with an additional facilitated forum for sharing between retreats. \n“To say that I am made in the image of God is to say that love is the reason for my existence\, for God is love. Love is my true identity. Selflessness is my true self. Love is my true character: Love is my name.” –Thomas Merton \nLove\, as Thomas Merton learned\, truly is a many splendored thing. He loved God and trusted in the love of God\, but he realized love’s true nature only when he fell in love himself. It changed the contemplative monk to the core and made him view God’s grace and his relation to it in new ways that he felt impelled to share in his writing. \nThe Merton who lived as a contemplative monk studying\, writing\, and praying was also a man who could be impatient\, rambunctious\, charming\, deceptive\, in pain and\, yes\, in love. In other words\, he was completely human and in the vulnerability of that messy humanity he most felt the grace of God. Merton came to understand that when we can express ourselves as beloved children of God\, we acquire a wholeness that allows us to bring the best of who we are into the world. How do we make this connection and sense God’s love for us? How do earthly and spiritual love fit together? \nJoin us on December 10th\, Merton’s feast day. We will consider these questions through close readings\, journaling from writing prompts\, and exploring images of ourselves in which we look and feel beloved. Recognizing that so many of the issues of Merton’s time surrounding love are\, sometimes frustratingly so\, still our issues today\, we will also discuss how Merton’s work helps us to see through a lens of grace\, allowing us to access love for ourselves\, for others\, and even for the impossible world. \nThe retreat will be recorded for those who register and made available within 48-72 hours of the program. We will send a notification when it is ready for viewing.
URL:https://sophfronia.com/event/thomas-merton-and-the-transformative-power-of-love-online-retreat/
CATEGORIES:Where is Sophfronia?
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20230103
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20230114
DTSTAMP:20260405T102628
CREATED:20220514T032818Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220514T032818Z
UID:3747-1672704000-1673654399@sophfronia.com
SUMMARY:Alma College MFA in Creative Writing Winter Residency\, Roscommon\, MI
DESCRIPTION:As director of Alma’s MFA program\, Sophfronia is pleased to announce its winter residency. Residency is the heart of the MFA experience. Students\, faculty\, visiting writers\, and guest speakers from the publishing industry come together to form a diverse and dynamic artistic community teeming with the energy of a shared commitment to writing. \nWe’ll convene for our winter residencies at the Ralph A. MacMullan Conference Center on the shore of Higgins Lake in Michigan’s gorgeous northern woods. The center\, known for its modern facilities with rustic décor\, has a legacy of conservation education. We’ll be able to appreciate Michigan’s abundant natural resources and sparkling winters with activities such as ice fishing\, sledding\, snowshoeing\, cross-country skiing and downhill skiing. Guests will have access to miles and miles of groomed cross-country ski trails located across the main road of the facility.
URL:https://sophfronia.com/event/alma-college-mfa-in-creative-writing-winter-residency-roscommon-mi-2/
CATEGORIES:Where is Sophfronia?
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20230124T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20230124T180000
DTSTAMP:20260405T102628
CREATED:20221224T003628Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20221224T003819Z
UID:3894-1674576000-1674583200@sophfronia.com
SUMMARY:Growing your Writing Career\, Alma College\, Alma\, MI
DESCRIPTION:Soon you’ll earn your undergraduate degree. What’s next? If you have a passion for writing\, join us in learning more about Alma’s MFA in Creative Writing program. A light dinner will be served. \nReserve your spot here! \n\n\nJoin Sophfronia Scott\, the director of Alma’s Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Creative Writing program\, and faculty mentor Robert Vivian for this in-person event. Learn about the program’s curriculum\, its low-residency model\, the exciting locations where the residencies take place\, and how an MFA may fit with your interest in writing\, teaching\, and publishing.
URL:https://sophfronia.com/event/growing-your-writing-career/
CATEGORIES:Where is Sophfronia?
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20230128T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20230128T140000
DTSTAMP:20260405T102628
CREATED:20221224T004418Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20221224T004418Z
UID:3897-1674900000-1674914400@sophfronia.com
SUMMARY:Madeleine Mornings\, Online Writers' Retreat
DESCRIPTION:Inspired by the late Madeleine L’Engle (A Wrinkle in Time)\, these virtual mini-retreats\, co-hosted by Sarah Arthur and Sophfronia Scott\,  are designed to spark insight\, foster connections\, deepen your reading\, and lend structure to your writing and spiritual life.
URL:https://sophfronia.com/event/madeleine-mornings-online-writers-retreat-duplicate-1/
CATEGORIES:Where is Sophfronia?
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20230216T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20230216T200000
DTSTAMP:20260405T102628
CREATED:20221224T005111Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20221224T005420Z
UID:3899-1676574000-1676577600@sophfronia.com
SUMMARY:Learn about the MFA Creative Writing Residency: Virtual Open House
DESCRIPTION:Join Alma College MFA faculty\, students\, and program director as they share highlights from the recent winter residency and preview the summer residency set for June 2023 and the Venice\, Italy residency set for January 2024! The discussion will also cover how to apply and join this diverse and dynamic artistic community teeming with the energy of a shared commitment to writing. \nRegister here to receive the Zoom link! \n 
URL:https://sophfronia.com/event/learn-about-the-mfa-creative-writing-residency-virtual-open-house/
CATEGORIES:Where is Sophfronia?
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20230306
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20230308
DTSTAMP:20260405T102628
CREATED:20230224T005301Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230224T005301Z
UID:3989-1678060800-1678233599@sophfronia.com
SUMMARY:Writing for Your Life Conference\, Atlanta\, GA
DESCRIPTION:Sophfronia will be available at a sponsored table at the conference to provide information and discuss the Alma College MFA in Creative Writing with interested writers.
URL:https://sophfronia.com/event/writing-for-your-life-conference-atlanta-ga/
CATEGORIES:Where is Sophfronia?
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20230307T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20230307T200000
DTSTAMP:20260405T102628
CREATED:20230224T222555Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230224T223128Z
UID:3992-1678215600-1678219200@sophfronia.com
SUMMARY:Sophfronia in Conversation with Dahlma Llanos-Figueroa\, Virtual Event\, Mark Twain House and Museum
DESCRIPTION:Award-winning author and called “one of the best writers of her generation\,” by Dr. Henry Louis Gates\, Jr.\, Sophfronia Scott is back with Wild\, Beautiful\, and Free\, a fresh retelling of Jane Eyre that follows a mixed-race woman fighting for her freedom and her inheritance in a nineteenth century America that does not believe she deserves either. Joined by fellow award-winning author\, Dahlma Llanos-Figueroa\, Scott will discuss her novel and how she brought the Civil War era to life and delivered a powerful story of perseverance\, identity\, and self-empowerment.  \n Virtual: $5 non-members and members. Admission price will be deducted from your signed copy of the book with purchase. REGISTER HERE.  \nCopies of Wild\, Beautiful\, and Free are available for purchase through the Mark Twain Store; proceeds benefit The Mark Twain House & Museum. Books will be shipped after the event. We regret that we are NOT able to ship books outside the United States as it is cost-prohibitive to do so.  \n\n  \n\n\n\n\n\nABOUT THE AUTHOR: Sophfronia Scott grew up in Lorain\, Ohio\, a hometown she shares with author Toni Morrison. She holds a BA in English from Harvard and an MFA in writing from Vermont College of Fine Arts. She began her career as an award-winning magazine journalist for Time\, where she co-authored the groundbreaking cover story “Twentysomething\,” the first study identifying the demographic group known as Generation X\, and People. When her first novel\, All I Need to Get By\, was published by St. Martin’s Press in 2004 Sophfronia was nominated for best new author at the African American Literary Awards.  \n Sophfronia’s other books include The Seeker and the Monk: Everyday Conversations with Thomas Merton\, Unforgivable Love\, Love’s Long Line\, Doing Business By the Book\, and This Child of Faith: Raising a Spiritual Child in a Secular World\, co-written with her son Tain. Her essays\, short stories\, and articles have appeared in numerous publications including Yankee Magazine\, The Christian Century\, North American Review\, NewYorkTimes.com\, and O\, The Oprah Magazine. Her essays “Hope On Any Given Day\,” “The Legs On Which I Move\,” and “Why I Didn’t Go to the Firehouse” are listed among the Notables in the Best American Essays series.   \n Sophfronia is the recipient of a 2020 Artist Fellowship Grant from the Connecticut Office of the Arts.  She has taught at Regis University’s Mile High MFA and Bay Path University’s MFA in Creative Nonfiction. She’s also delivered craft talks and held workshops at the Yale Writers’ Workshop\, Meacham Writers’ Workshop\, and the Hobart Festival of Women Writers. Currently\, Sophfronia is the founding director of Alma College’s MFA in Creative Writing\, a low-residency graduate program based in Alma\, Michigan. She lives in Sandy Hook\, Connecticut where she continues to fight a losing battle against the weeds in her flower beds.  \n  \nABOUT THE MODERATOR: Dahlma Llanos-Figueroa was born in Puerto Rico and raised in New York City. She is a product of the Puerto Rican communities on the island and in the South Bronx. She attended the New York City public school system and received her academic degrees from the State University of New York at Buffalo and Queens College–City University of New York. As a child she was sent to live with her grandparents in Puerto Rico where she was introduced to the culture of rural Puerto Rico\, including the storytelling that came naturally to the women in her family\, especially the older women. Much of her work is based on her experiences during this time. Dahlma taught creative writing and language and literature in the New York City public school system before becoming a young-adult librarian. She has also taught creative writing to teenagers\, adults\, and senior citizens throughout New York while honing her own skills as a fiction writer and memoirist.   \n  The hardcover edition of Daughters of the Stone was listed as a 2010 Finalist for the PEN/Robert W. Bingham Prize.  In 2020\, the self-published the paperback edition of Daughters of the Stone won the 16th Annual National Indie Excellence® Awards for Multicultural Fiction. In 2021\, she was awarded the NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellowship for Fiction\, a City Artists Corps Grant\, and the Letras Boricuas Fellow. Her short stories appear in several anthologies\, including: Bronx Memoir Project\, Latina Authors and Their Muses\, Chicken Soup for the Latino Soul\, Breaking Ground: Anthology of Puerto Rican Women Writers in New York 1980-2012\, and Growing Up Girl. Dahlma’s work also appears in various literary magazines such as the Afro-Hispanic Review and Kweli Journal. English and Spanish language editions of her second novel\, A Woman of Endurance\, were released by Amistad\, HarperCollins. The paperback English edition of A Woman of Endurance will be released April 25\, 2023. Since her retirement\, Dahlma continues to dedicate herself to her writing\, speaking engagements\, panels\, and workshops. She resides in the Bronx with her husband\, photographer Jonathan Lessuck.  \n_____________________________________________________________  \nPrograms at The Mark Twain House & Museum are made possible in part by support from CT Humanities; the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development\, Office of the Arts; Ensworth Charitable Foundation\, Bank of America\, N.A.\, Trustee; the Greater Hartford Arts Council’s United Arts Campaign; The Hartford; The Mark Twain Foundation; The National Endowment for the Humanities; and Travelers.  \n  \n\n\n\n\n\n 
URL:https://sophfronia.com/event/sophfronia-in-conversation-with-dahlma-llanos-figueroa-virtual-event-mark-twain-house-and-museum-march-7-7pm-et/
CATEGORIES:Where is Sophfronia?
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20230311
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20230315
DTSTAMP:20260405T102628
CREATED:20230224T004009Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230224T004009Z
UID:3984-1678492800-1678838399@sophfronia.com
SUMMARY:Episcopal House of Bishops Retreat\, Camp McDowell\, Nauvoo\, AL
DESCRIPTION:Sophfronia will address the bishops on discipleship and making faith connections through various forms of storytelling.
URL:https://sophfronia.com/event/episcopal-house-of-bishops-retreat-camp-mcdowell-nauvoo-al/
CATEGORIES:Where is Sophfronia?
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20230318T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20230318T163000
DTSTAMP:20260405T102628
CREATED:20221224T043142Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20221224T043322Z
UID:3901-1679130000-1679157000@sophfronia.com
SUMMARY:The Mystical Experience of Everyday Living - Retreat Day\, Holy Family Passionist Retreat Center\, West Hartford\, CT
DESCRIPTION:The Mystical Experience of Everyday Living\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSaturday\, March 18\, 2023\n9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (ET)\nSophfronia Scott\, M.F.A.\nMysticism is often viewed as the privileged experience of a few chosen\, holy individuals. But German Jesuit\, Karl Rahner\, wrote about “everyday mysticism\,” and Carmelite Sister Ruth Burrows described the mystical life simply as “God touching the depths of our being.” God is closer than we think–to all of us. We’ll explore everyday mysticism as life events filled with God’s unmistakable presence. Sharing Thomas Merton’s experiences and her own\, Sophfronia will help attendees notice\, identify\, and appreciate mystical encounters in their everyday lives. \nThis program will be offered both in-person and online via Zoom. Information on how to access the program on Zoom will be sent to participants in advance. \nThis program will include a morning and an afternoon session of Centering Prayer. \nOffering: $65 (includes lunch)
URL:https://sophfronia.com/event/the-mystical-experience-of-everyday-living-retreat-day-holy-family-passionist-retreat-center-west-hartford-ct/
CATEGORIES:Where is Sophfronia?
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