Mormon Women’s Lit On Tour!

by Kathryn Soper (03/13/2010 5:59 pm)

Sometimes I really hate that time-sucking, Farmville-ridden, ever-present vehicle of procrastination we know as Facebook. But I’ve gotta credit the site for reconnecting me with many long-lost friends, some of whom I’m actually glad to hear from. One of these is Joanna Brooks. When we got in touch twenty years after our BYU days, I was delighted to hear about her beautiful family as well as her considerable professional success (none of which came as any surprise). And I was absolutely thrilled when I heard about her latest project: a multi-state tour of Mormon women writers. Titled Our Visions, Our Voices: A Mormon Women’s Literary Tour, the event begins in less than two weeks. Check out the itinerary:

Monday, March 22, 7 p.m.: Claremont Graduate University
Featuring Susan Scott, Lisa Van Orman Hadley, Joanna Brooks, Holly Welker, Elisa Pulido

Tuesday, March 23, 7 p.m.: Arizona State University
Featuring Judith Curtis, Whitney Mower, Whitney Nelson, Danielle Dubrasky, Joanna Brooks, Susan Scott, Lisa Van Orman Hadley, Holly Welker

Thursday, March 25, 5 p.m.: Southern Utah University
Featuring Zoe Murdock, Judith Curtis, Whitney Mower, Whitney Nelson, Danielle Dubrasky, Joanna Brooks, Susan Scott, Lisa Van Orman Hadley, Holly Welker

Friday, March 26, 12 noon: Utah Valley University
Featuring Julie Nichols, Lee Mortenson, Terisa Humiston, Whitney Nelson, Whitney Mower, Judith Curtis, Elizabeth Pinborough, Kathryn Lynard Soper, Cassandra Eddington, Joanna Brooks, Zoe Murdock, Lisa Van Orman Hadley, Susan Scott, Danielle Dubrasky, Laura Nielson Baxter

Saturday, March 27, 7 p.m.: University of Utah
Featuring Holly Welker, Elizabeth Pinborough, Lisa Van Hadley, Victoria Burgess, Kathryn Lynard Soper, Joanna Brooks, Zoe Murdock, Cassie Eddington, Susan Scott, Judith Curtis, Whitney Nelson, Whitney Mower, Terisa Humiston, Danielle Dubrasky, Laura Nielson Baxter

Some Segullah readers may be surprised to see writers from other Mormon denominations in this line-up. Others might wonder they’d feel at home amongst the scholars, feminists, and professional writers in this company. I asked Joanna to describe what this event has to offer a mainstream, average-Jane Relief Society sister, and this is her reply:

It’s really important to us that Segullah readers know that this event is about celebrating the beauty and richness of the Mormon tradition. We want Segullah readers to come and share their own thoughts and responses and contribute their writings to the “Our Voices, Our Visions” archive we’ll be building and donating to the University of Utah library. Whatever differences there are between Mormon women–whether we think of ourselves as plain Janes or scholars, professional writers or amateurs, feminists or conservatives (or some combination of these!)–are far outweighed by the strength of our common experiences and heritage.

Maybe we do ourselves a disservice if we let the differences between us get in the way of positive shared experiences. Just speaking from my own experience, I am a scholar, feminist, and writer, but I am also deeply connected to Mormon women who are stay at home moms and have more conservative outlooks on life. They do a great job at loving and accepting me, and I value and love them tremendously as well. When I write, I write to express my love for the whole of our tradition and community.

We hope all Mormon women who attend this event will come away feeling a new sense of joy and pride in being a Mormon woman in the twenty-first century.

Indeed. This is a groundbreaking opportunity to build community and celebrate achievements amongst a colorful variety of Mormon women, and I’m honored to be included. If you’d like more information, read my interview with Joanna at BCC and check out the group’s website, which includes bios of all participants. Then mark your calendars and get ready for an awesome literary experience–I’d love to see you there!

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