Figuring out how to throw a party for a 15-year-old could be challenging–unless that 15-year-old is a magazine. The magazine celebrating its anniversary is Wilton-based Brain, Child: The Magazine for Thinking Mothers, and to mark the milestone the publication will hold its first “Literary Salon: An Evening of Conversation and Community” on Thursday, May 21 at Cobb’s Mill Inn (12 Old Mill Road, Weston) at 7 p.m..
Brain, Child was founded in 2000 and took a literary approach to the topic of motherhood, showcasing personal essays, short stories, fiction, poetry, pictures, games, cartoons, book-reviews, and in-depth feature stories on the subject. Famous contributors include Cheryl Strayed, Ann Hood and Barbara Kingslover.
Readers refer to the award-winning magazine as “the New Yorker for mothers,” according to Marcelle Soviero, Brain Child‘s editor-in-chief and owner, who says, “I am honored to work with such wonderful writers.”
Wilton resident Soviero is an award-winning writer, author of An Iridescent Life: Essays on Motherhood, and a mother of five. She purchased Brain, Child in 2012 as part of her Erielle Media LLC. Since then the magazine has expanded to include e-books, a website, a forum, and an award winning blog, run by Randi Olin.
The evening will feature the editors of Brain, Child and some of the leading writers in the country. Mothers, subscribers, and writers from Fairfield County and beyond are invited to join in the evening of short readings, prizes, giveaways, and a special price fixe menu.
The event on Thursday will honor Tracy Mayor, the 2015 inaugural recipient of Brain, Child Writers’ Hall of Fame. She is a Boston-based writer/editor who has dozens of essays and featured stories since the magazine’s inception. Mayor’s piece, “When Good Mom’s Go Bawd,” appeared in the magazine’s inaugural issue, and her feature story for the magazine, “Losing My Religion,” won a Pushcart Prize.
“As a Brain, Child writer I’ve had the honor to connect with so many amazing writers whom I admire. I’m grateful for the warm, talented community of contributors Brain, Child has fostered over the years,” Mayor said.
The magazine will also announce its partnership with a joint project of the “New York Says Thank You” (NYSTY) Foundation. Founded by Jeff Parness in the wake of 9/11, NYSTY fosters the idea of “Paying it Forward.” The Foundation’s Stars of HOPE® In-A-Box program empowers children to transform communities impacted by disaster through artful messages of HOPE. Brain, Child is proud to be the launch partner for Stars of HOPE ® In-A-Box.
Admission is free and the event is open to the public. Walk-ins are available, but reservations are highly encouraged. Please RSVP via e-mail with ‘RSVP’ in the subject line.