Sophfronia Scott

Spiritual Guidance Group Retreat, Wisdom House, Litchfield, CT
2024-04-05 - 2024-04-06

Let's Just Write! An Uncommon Writers Conference 2024, Chicago, IL
2024-03-21 - 2024-03-23
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.

Teaching Preaching Writing Colloquy
2024-03-03 - 2024-03-07

Episcopal Diocese of Michigan Clergy Conference, Detroit, MI
2024-02-25 - 2024-02-27

Nazareth University Shannon Lecture, Rochester, NY
2024-02-17 - 2024-02-18
Sophfronia Scott, M.F.A.
The Color of Thought and the Heart of Nonviolence: Developing a Personal Practice
Student Retreat — Registration Required
Saturday, February 17, 2024 • 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. with breakfast and lunch
Golisano Academic Center 151
Keep It Light, Keep It Moving: Riding a Wave of Joy to the Bright Shores of Change
Open to all
Sunday, February 18, 2024 • 3 p.m.
Forum, Otto Shults Community Center

AWP Conference and Book Fair, Kansas City, MO
2024-02-07 - 2024-02-10

Alma MFA Winter Residency, Veneto, Italy
2024-01-04 - 2024-01-13
In the spirit of powerful authors such as Lord Byron, Henry James and Daphne du Maurier, the Alma College Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Creative Writing program is going to Italy!

A residency at the Veneto region of Italy, including the historic city of Venice and its surrounding countryside, is scheduled for Jan. 4-13, 2024. There, you will learn what it means for your writing to be influenced by a setting — in one of the most beautiful settings on earth, a place that has influenced so many great writers in history.

Apply today for this exciting new venture at alma.edu/mfa

Veterans Writing Workshop, Alma College, Alma, MI
2023-11-18 10:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | Alma College, 614 W. Superior St, Alma, MI, 48801, United States
Veterans have stories to tell—stories that are powerful, healing, and inspirational. To honor those words and help bring them to light, the Alma College MFA in Creative Writing offers this no-cost one-day workshop for all who have served in the military. The event will feature:

Teaching sessions by award-winning MFA faculty
Writing prompts to get you started
Information on how to continue your work with the support of the MFA program.

Lunch will be served. Participants need to only bring their favorite writing tools.
Please register for the exact location.

The Episcopal Church in South Carolina Diocesan Convention, Charleston, SC
2023-11-02 - 2023-11-04
The 233rd Convention of the Diocese of South Carolina will be held November 2-4, 2023, at St. James Episcopal Church in Charleston (James Island). The theme of this year’s convention is Testify.
We are delighted to have Sophfronia Scott and The Very Rev. Michael Battle with us for Convention this year. Along with the descriptions of these special guests, we have added a special reading recommendation from each, selecting one of their own works. Both selections will be available at the Gifts of Grace Bookstore at Grace Church Cathedral, as well as at the link below. ​Books will be available for purchase and signing at Convention.
https://www.episcopalchurchsc.org/convention-speakers.html

A Circle of Quiet, the Madeleine L'Engle Writing Retreat, Litchfield, Connecticut
2023-10-26 - 2023-10-29
Join us this fall in New England for two full days of writing, reflection, and community.
We can’t wait to see you at Wisdom House in Litchfield CT near Madeleine’s beloved farmhouse, Crosswicks.
Program Registration includes two and a half days 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!
Come with your own writing projects or inspire yourself with our curated prompts inspired by Madeleine’s first Crosswicks Journal, A Circle of Quiet.
Details: https://www.lenglewritingretreats.com/autumn-retreat-page

Writers of Color Presentation, Fairfield, Connecticut
2023-10-21 14:00 - 15:00 | Fairfield County Story Lab, 85 Mill Plain Road, Suite F, Fairfield, CT, United States

Fall Clergy Day, South Hadley, Massachusetts
2023-10-17 09:00 - 14:00
Sophfronia will present to the Episcopal clergy in the Diocese of Western Massachusetts.

Wisconsin Writers Association Conference, Waukesha and Brookfield, Wisconsin
2023-10-06 - 2023-10-07
Sophfronia will represent the Alma College MFA in Creative Writing at a sponsorship table.

Thomas Merton and the Transformative Power of Love, The Meditatio Centre, London, England
2023-09-30
“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.”
–Thomas Merton
The 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. How do we make this connection and sense God’s love for us? How do earthly and spiritual love fit together? We will consider these questions during our time together.
10.30 am– 4.00 pm UK Time at the Centre and Online
Cost £40
Concessions £20
Online £25

Reading and Book Signing, Lorain, Ohio
2023-09-22 19:00 - 20:30 | Lorain Historical Society, 329 West 10th Street, Lorain, OH, United States
Sophfronia will be at the Lorain Historical Society on Friday, September 22nd at 7pm for a book signing event for her novel Wild, Beautiful, and Free. This event is free to attend and books will be available for purchase.

Inkubator Writing Conference, Cleveland, Ohio
2023-09-22 - 2023-09-23
The Alma College MFA in Creative Writing is a sponsor for this event. Sophfronia will be present to provide information about the program.
“Literary Cleveland’s Inkubator Writing Conference is one of the largest free writing festivals in the country.”

Thomas Merton Retreat, Wisdom House, Litchfield, CT
2023-09-09
The Humanity of Thomas Merton and the Key to Grace for an Impossible World
With Sophfronia Scott
The Thomas 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 in love. In other
words, he was completely human and in the vulnerability of that messy humanity he most felt
the grace of God. That humanity can take Merton beyond the realm of mystic/saint, making
him more accessible to us so that through him we may learn how to reach for God in the midst
of our own imperfections. Author Sophfronia Scott considers this connection and, recognizing
that so many of the issues of Merton’s time (race, peace, ambition, materialism, love) are,
sometimes frustratingly so, still our issues today, will discuss how Merton’s work helps us to see
through a lens of grace, allowing us to love the impossible world even as we seek to redeem it.
During our time together Sophfronia will also work with us on how everyone can develop our
own relationship with Merton’s spirituality in a way that will help deepen our own and allow us
to tune into the unity Merton sensed during his life changing epiphany at 4 th and Walnut.

Thomas Merton Quiet Day Retreat, Adelynrood Center, Byfield, MA
2023-08-09
The Humanity of Thomas Merton and the Key to Grace for an Impossible World: A Meditative Day of Writing and Reflection

The Thomas 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 in love. In other words, he was completely human and in the vulnerability of that messy humanity he most felt the grace of God. That humanity can take Merton beyond the realm of mystic/saint, making him more accessible to us so that through him we may learn how to reach for God amid our own imperfections. Author Sophfronia Scott considers this spiritual connection and will discuss how Merton’s work helps us to see through a lens of grace, allowing us to love the impossible world even as we seek to redeem it.
During our time together Sophfronia will provide participants with writing prompts and meditations that will lead them to consider their own grace and spirituality and how they might cultivate a deeper sense of unity and connection.

Glen Workshop, Seattle, WA
2023-07-16 - 2023-07-22
At the Glen, daily morning workshops offer artists at all skill levels an opportunity to develop their craft in a wide variety of genres with acclaimed faculty. Meanwhile, morning seminars offer substantive conversation and engagement with art, mystery, and faith. Afternoons and evenings feature a smorgasbord of readings, field trips, panel conversations, concerts, open mics, and worship services incorporating the arts.

Sophfronia will be on the faculty teaching a workshop for this year’s event.

Breaking the Academic Mold Workshop, Lake Junaluska, NC
2023-07-10 - 2023-07-16
A jointly sponsored Wabash Center/Collegeville Institute workshop.
This 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.
Many 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.

Alma College MFA in Creative Writing Summer Residency, Alma, MI
2023-06-15 - 2023-06-25
As director of Alma’s MFA program, Sophfronia is pleased to announce its summer 2023 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 will join the residency with craft talks, informal talks for students and public readings in the evening.

Historical Novel Society, San Antonio, TX
2023-06-06 - 2023-06-09

Madeleine Mornings, Online Writers' Retreat
2023-05-06 10:00 - 14:00
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.

The Sacred Art of Writing, Western Theological Seminary, Holland, MI
2023-04-25 - 2023-04-27

Eat and Read at Melba's, New Orleans, LA
2023-04-14 12:00 - 14:00
Sophfronia Scott will sign copies of her new novel Wild, Beautiful, and Free, as part of a communal literacy awareness project. The books will be given away to community members.

Woodstock Bookfest, Boiceville, NY
2023-03-31 - 2023-04-01
Panel: Spiritual Practice and Social Consciousness
In these complex and troubling days many of us yearn for a stronger connection between our social consciousness and our spirituality. Knowing that real sustainable change is ultimately up to each of us, what then are the spiritual practices that can inspire and sustain us, empowering us to have lasting impact during this turbulent era? Luminary teachers, activists, and writers, bring their knowledge, heart, and soul to shed light on the intrinsic connection between spirituality and social change. How are these demanding times the perfect catalyst for deepening both our practice and our social impact?

Let's Just Write! An Uncommon Writers Conference, Chicago, IL
2023-03-25 - 2023-03-26

The Mystical Experience of Everyday Living - Retreat Day, Holy Family Passionist Retreat Center, West Hartford, CT
2023-03-18 09:00 - 16:30
The Mystical Experience of Everyday Living

Saturday, March 18, 2023
9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (ET)
Sophfronia Scott, M.F.A.
Mysticism 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.
This 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.
This program will include a morning and an afternoon session of Centering Prayer.
Offering: $65 (includes lunch)

Episcopal House of Bishops Retreat, Camp McDowell, Nauvoo, AL
2023-03-11 - 2023-03-14
Sophfronia will address the bishops on discipleship and making faith connections through various forms of storytelling.

Sophfronia in Conversation with Dahlma Llanos-Figueroa, Virtual Event, Mark Twain House and Museum
2023-03-07 19:00 - 20:00
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.
Virtual: $5 non-members and members. Admission price will be deducted from your signed copy of the book with purchase. REGISTER HERE.
Copies 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.

ABOUT 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.
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.
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.

ABOUT 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.
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.
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Programs 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.
