Penticton author Mehrnaz Massoudi.
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November 21, 2023 - 2:31 PM
Penticton author Mehrnaz Massoudi is exploring the ways in which grief and rage are uniquely felt by women through her upcoming book She’s Still Here.
It’s a series of short stories, and they’ll be coming to life during the book launch Thursday night thanks to Carl Meadows and Mia Harris, who will adapting parts of the book into live performances and readings.
Massoudi’s stories are fictional, but based on universal female experiences.
She also works as an emotional healing coach, and it was through her sessions with other women where she drew the inspiration for her book.
“I bring the readers right into the struggle so they can feel the emotional wave of what women are going through,” she said.
Each story is meant to create space for women who have something to say, but feel as though their voices are being muffled from the margins of society.
“These stories do not have Hollywood endings,” Massoudi said. “But they’re not bleak and sad. They end with women figuring out that happiness is not out there, it comes from the peacefulness and tranquility what’s within.”
Meadows will be embracing feminine energy by performing in drag as an angel.
“Events like this are the kind of creative thinking we can use to reinforce our commitment to equality and mental health,” he said in a media release.
Massoudi has her focus set on helping other women, which she’s able to do as an author and emotional coach. But beyond her scope, she’s grateful for the services offered by South Okanagan Women in Need Society, so 100% of proceeds from She’s Still Here will be donated to the organization.
Massoudi remembers having to save a friend from an abusive relationship three years ago. While the friend had family and other friends nearby, she was too scared to stay anywhere her partner could find her. But SOWINS was ready to pick her up and offer sanctuary.
“Mehrnaz Massoudi is literally putting her money where her beliefs are by donating all of the proceeds from the launch event for She’s Still Here: Healing Short Stories for Women to SOWINS and the Penticton Art Gallery,” Meadows said.
The event is happening at the Penticton Art Gallery on Nov. 23 at 6:30 p.m. Admission is by donation and proceeds will benefit the PAG. BRODO Kitchen will be there offering canapés.
— This story was originally published by the Penticton Herald.
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