<p class="MsoNormal" style><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">For immediate release: Third Week of Berkshire Festival of
Women Writers</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Contact: For complete information about Festival events: </span><a href="http://www.berkshirewomenwriters.org" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">www.berkshirewomenwriters.org</span></a><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">                            
           
                      
</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">For further press information: Judy
Nardacci, </span><a href="tel:413-243-2382" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">413-243-2382</span></a><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">;
<a href="mailto:MssEnn29@gmail.com">MssEnn29@gmail.com</a>                             
</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> The third
week’s events include:</span></p>

<br><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Friday, March 15</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> <br>
<span style>WAM Theatre and Sisters for Peace
present: Screening: <i>Half the Sky: turning Oppression into Opportunity for
Women Worldwide </i></span></span><br>

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Based on Nicholas
Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn’s book, the film portrays women and girls living in,
and struggling to<span style> </span>change, extreme
conditions. After film excerpts, Kristen van Ginhoven, Caroline
Wheeler and the audience will explore actions we can take to support positive
change for women and girls.</span><br>

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Mahaiwe Performing
Arts Center, Great Barrington, 7-9:30 p.m.</span><br>

<br>

<br><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Saturday, March 16</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">  <i><br>

Writing for Tweens</i></span><br>

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Reading and discussion led by Lisa
Greenwald</span><br>

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Lisa will read from her newest novel
for tweens, <i style>My Summer of Pink and Green, </i>and
discuss her path to publication, the writing process, and why she chose to
write for tweens. A Q&A and book signing will follow.</span><br>

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Stockbridge Library, 11 a.m.</span><br>

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style></span></span></p>

<br><i style><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Writing Together: Moving out of the Garret</span></i><br>

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Panel discussion with Patricia Lee
Lewis, Ellen Meeropol and Jacqueline Sheehan</span><br>

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The three authors and writing
teachers discuss the many ways writers can work with others for mutual benefit.<span style></span></span><br>

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Lenox Library, 1-3 p.m.</span><br><br>

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""></span></p><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">
<i>R2W Talks: Interviews with Powerful Women</i></span>

<br><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Hosted by Serene Mastrianni. </span><br>

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Sheila Keator, Joanna L. Krotz,
Diane Patrick and Evelyn Resh join radio host Serene Mastrianni for a series of
intense interviews, followed by a Q&A session.</span><br>

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Kellogg Music Center, Bard College
at Simon’s Rock, 1-3 p.m. Admisson $25; free for students. Tickets must be
purchased in advance at <a href="http://radio2women.brownpapertickets.com">radio2women.brownpapertickets.com</a></span><br><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""></span></b></p>


<br><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Sunday, March 17</span></b><br>

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Film: <i style>Water Children </i>presented by The
Berkshire International Film Festival (Netherlands, 2011, 75 minutes,
Japanese/English with English subtitles)</span><br>

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Director
Aliona van der Horst follows pianist Tomoko Mukaiyama’s exploration of fertility
and the cycle of life through a multimedia art project that elicits unusual responses
from visitors. </span><br>

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The
Triplex, Great Barrington, 11 a.m<br><br><i>From the Top<br></i>Alison Lobron, journalist and founder/director of the Berkshire Writing Workshop at Bard College at Simon's Rock, leads short exercises to help writers craft great beginnings to stories important to them, and introduces them to the Writing Workshop. Bring a pen and notebook.<br>
Blodgett House, Bard College at Simon's Rock, 1:30-2:30 p.m.<br><br></span><br><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><i>Writing with Prompts.</i></span><br><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";background:white">Frances Roth leads a workshop for beginners interested in
writing but unsure of <span style> </span>how to get started.
Prompts and practice writing serve both novice and seasoned writer. Everyone is
welcome regardless of writing experience.</span><br>

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";background:white">Bushnell-Sage Library, Sheffield, 2-4 p.m.</span><br>

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";background:white"></span></p>

<br><i style><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";background:white">Orion
Magazine </span></i><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";background:white">presents: <i style>An</i> <i style>Orion Reading at the Intersection of Nature
and Culture</i></span><br>

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";background:white">Hosted by Hannah Fries</span><br>

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";background:white">Multigenre readings with poet Andrea Cohen and essayists
Melissa Holbrook Pierson and Ginger Strand, all contributors to the
locally-based magazine with<span style> 
</span>international readership.</span><br>

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";background:white">Kellogg Music Center, Bard College at Simon’s Rock, 3-5 p.m.</span><br>

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br><b style><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";background:white"></span></b></p><b style><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";background:white">Monday,
March 18</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";background:white"></span><br>

<i style><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";background:white">The
Development of the Self</span></i><br>

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";background:white">Hosted<span style>  </span>by Brighde
Moffat and Kirsten Peterson</span><br>

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";background:white">Simon’s Rock students Georgia Cate Byler, Eleanor Cardell, Karishma
Singh Jani, Jaeme Poncin, Grace Rossman and Alexis Marie Wint discuss the
development of the younger female self in relation to forces such as culture,
religion, family and geography.</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""></span><br>

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Blodgett
House, Bard College of Simon’s Rock, 7-9 p.m.</span><br>

<br><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span><br>

<b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Tuesday, March 19</span></b><br>

<i style><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Writing for the Web</span></i><br>

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Susanna Opper, a pioneer in online
communications, provides guidance in making your story lively, interesting,
brief and easy-to-read. Come prepared with thoughts about something you want to
promote online in a newsletter, blog or website.</span><br>

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Lenox Library, 6-8 p.m. </span><br>

<br><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">
<span style>The Deb Koffman Gallery presents: <i style>IWOWWOW (In Words Out Words Women’s Own
Words)</i></span></span><br>

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">An open
mic event for storytellers, poets, musicians and performers. Each participant
is allotted three minutes (600 words or fewer). Men also welcome to
read/perform women’s writing. Sign up by email: </span><a href="mailto:deb@debkoffman.com"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">deb@debkoffman.com</span></a><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">. Reservations suggested. Snacks to share welcome.</span><br>


<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Deb
Koffman Gallery, 137 Front Street, Housatonic<span style> 
</span>7-9 p.m. $6 suggested donation.</span><br>

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><i style><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""></span></i></p>

<br><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Wednesday, March 20<br>
</span></b><i><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Writes of Passage and the Final
Journey: The End of Fertililty, Aging, and Death</span></i><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span><br>

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Led by
Ann-Elizabeth Barnies and Angela Vuagniaux</span><br>

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Workshop
participants will be invited to explore some of the most pivotal moments in
their lives, using writing prompts, discussion, freewriting and<span style>  </span>optional sharing.</span><br>

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Sruti
Yoga Center, 33 Railroad Street, Great Barrington, 7-9 p.m.</span><br>

<br><br>

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Women’s Interfaith Institute of
the Berkshires presents: <i style>Illumination:
Memoir Writing as a Path to Peace</i></span><br>

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Writer and teacher Laura Didyk will
lead memoir-writing exercises and give a short reading from her memoir in
progress. Potluck at 6 p.m., program at 7 p.m. Bring a dish to share.</span><br>

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Stockbridge Congregational Church,
6-8:30 p.m. Suggested donation, nonmembers, $5-$10. </span><br>

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></p>

<b style><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Thursday, March 21</span></b><br>

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Kripalu presents: <i style>Jump-Start Your Memoir: Write it from the
Heart</i></span><br>

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Nancy Slonim Aronie will help
participants take the “marrow” of their lives and transform it onto the page
with short, interactive writing exercises.</span><br>

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health,
Lenox<span style>  </span>7:30-9:30 p.m. Pre-registration
required. Call 800-741-7353.</span><br>

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""></span></p>

<br><i style><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Garbage into Gold</span></i><br>

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Workshop led by Laura Didyk</span><br>

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Writing practice, writing exercises,
and on-the-spot assignments will help us quiet our inner editors and help us
arrive at the “gold” of our own work.</span><br>

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Berkshire South/Jenifer House, Great
Barrington, 6:30-8:30 p.m.</span><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">
<br style>
</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></p><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""></span>