“Women Who Write is not a writer’s group,” Abelson said. “It’s about sharing the experience of being women.”
Usually the readers who attend are women and often they are celebrities. Past participants include Marlee Matlin, MacKenzie Phillips, Elayne Boosler and Susie Essman from “Curb Your Enthusiasm.” Michael O’Keefe and Tom Bergeron from “Dancing with the Stars” have read as well. On these occasional Tuesday afternoons, the event is called Men Who Write and the Women Who Love Them.
How does Abelson attract such A-list talent?
“I just Facebook them and ask,” she said. But anyone who knows Abelson, knows that her dynamic, open-hearted personality, combined with her background as a tenacious rock ’n’ roll promoter, is what pulls them in. Most, if not all, of the participants are bowled over by the experience.
In one of the numerous testimonials on www. vickiabelson.com, MacKenzie Phillips shared, “I never expected to be moved to my very core.”
At Tuesday afternoon’s soiree, Laraine Newman of “Saturday Night Live” fame, read a hilarious piece on the horrors of carpooling and her “addiction” to Mommy and Me classes. Her funny but painful doubts about her validity and attractiveness as she ages had the audience shrieking with laughter through their tears.
It prompted a thoughtful and R-rated discussion with various perspectives coming from women of all ages, shapes and sizes.
Linda Watt, 59, of Montrose attended for the first time.
“It’s refreshing to see such energetic, vibrant older women,” she said.
Other guests drove in from the west side, Hollywood and as far away as Ventura, like Gina Angelone from Calabasas.
“I heard this was a happening event, so I had to come,” she said.
Angelone was not disappointed as the afternoon progressed, she said.
