September 5, 2002 - Baton Rouge Advocate: South Africa RPCV Jennifer Read Hawthorne co-authors "Chicken Soup" books to help women

Peace Corps Online: Directory: South Africa: Peace Corps South Africa : The Peace Corps in South Africa: September 5, 2002 - Baton Rouge Advocate: South Africa RPCV Jennifer Read Hawthorne co-authors "Chicken Soup" books to help women

By Admin1 (admin) on Saturday, October 19, 2002 - 11:38 am: Edit Post

South Africa RPCV Jennifer Read Hawthorne co-authors "Chicken Soup" books to help women





Read and comment on this story from the Baton Rouge Advocate on South Africa RPCV Jennifer Read Hawthorne, the co-author of books to help women including "Chicken Soup for the Woman's Soul," "A Second Chicken Soup for the Woman's Soul," "Chicken Soup for the Mother's Soul" and "Chicken Soup for the Single's Soul." Hawthorne worked as a Peace Corps volunteer in South Africa for two years, where her appreciation for oral storytelling grew even more. Read the story at:

A week for women*

* This link was active on the date it was posted. PCOL is not responsible for broken links which may have changed.



A week for women

Breakfast talk by author to kick off celebration

By LAURIE SMITH ANDERSON
landerson@theadvocate.com
Advocate staff writer

photo: people

Advocate staff illustration by David Norwood

Jennifer Read Hawthorne has always loved a good story.

Growing up as the daughter of the late Brooks Read, a local journalist and master storyteller of original Brer Rabbit tales, Hawthorne said she developed an appreciation for language and stories early in life. That set the stage for her in recent years to co-author four of the popular "Chicken Soup" books including "Chicken Soup for the Woman's Soul," "A Second Chicken Soup for the Woman's Soul," "Chicken Soup for the Mother's Soul" and "Chicken Soup for the Single's Soul."

Hawthorne is the keynote speaker for a community breakfast at 7 a.m. Wednesday at the Baton Rouge Centroplex to kick off "Women! A Week-Long Celebration!" Presented by the Woman's Council of Greater Baton Rouge, the week will feature numerous seminars, presentations and receptions by area individuals, groups and organizations. (See related story.)

The kick-off breakfast will begin at 7 a.m. Wednesday, with the program scheduled for 7:45 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. The program will feature numerous other speakers and a video tribute remembering the victims of 9/11. Cost is $15 with breakfast included; for tickets, call 225-926-9447.

"I think it will be an amazing week and what better way to commemorate 9/11 than to have women come together in community," said Hawthorne. A professional speaker, she is a native of Baton Rouge and a graduate of Lee High School and LSU with a degree in journalism. She now lives in Iowa though her mother, Maureen Read, still lives here.



Jennifer Read Hawthorne

Week of events designed to help women in the community bond

After graduation, Hawthorne worked as a Peace Corps volunteer in South Africa for two years, where her appreciation for oral storytelling grew even more.

Later, she moved to Iowa, where she and Marci Shimoff co-founded The Esteem Group to offer self-esteem and inspirational programs to women. They approached Jack Canfield, creator of the "Chicken Soup" stories, about doing a book for women.

One book led to another to become four books and their success has been nothing short of phenomenal, she said. Together, the books have sold more than 10 million copies, and they have been translated into 35 languages.

"I feel like I'm a conduit," she said. "I didn't write these stories. I collected them, edited them and put them together, and the impact has been very powerful.

"People are naturally drawn to that which touches the heart, and they are drawn to positive, moving experiences. We all want to experience more love. We want to know that we are not alone, that we are in this journey together, and I believe that's the attraction of 'Chicken Soup.' "

Without giving away too much of the substance of her upcoming talk here, Hawthorne said she will encourage women to think about their lives, the way they think and the choices they make.

"Since I'll be speaking on 9-11, I will ask my audience to reflect on how we were all impacted by those events a year ago.

"Learning how to live without fear is a choice we can make, and I can illustrate that through the stories other women have shared with me."

A storyteller is a medium to connect people together, Hawthorne said.

"We all learn from each other's stories" and from the stories that are passed down through generations of families and communities.

"The message of love and mutual support is a universal one."



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