This is a Literary Feast. And by far Sanelli's most popular and sought after performance, especially for fundraising organizations.

The Immigrant's Table has raised thousands of dollars for The Board of Italian Studies at The University of Washington, The San Mateo Public Library (CA), The ArtsWest Theater (Seattle), The Sno-Isle Library System, The Port Angeles Fine Arts Center, The Whidbey Island Center For The Arts, The Land Trust of Port Townsend, The Jewel Box Theater (Poulsbo), & The Peninsula College Foundation, The Edmonds College Foundation, Washington State Women's Reciprocity Fundraising, The Tenement Museum in New York City, and Soroptimist International, The Bainbridge Island Arts Council, as well as many other venues (see contact page).

This staged reading dramatically and poetically tells a story of immigration, cultural adjustment and weaving Old and New Worlds together into a rich fabric of memoir. Sanelli’s staged reading from her book, The Immigrant’s Table, includes poetry, storytelling, Italian food & wine: all the elements she so enthusiastically writes about in her story of coming of age first generation American, born to parents from Italy. Sanelli introduces her audience to her family in the most Italian of settings: around a table. And in introducing her family, she also reveals those long-held family recipes for a great meal as well as those for a lively family.

"What a truly wonderful experience. Sanelli is inspiring."
—Lori Dillon, ArtsWest Playhouse, Seattle

"Mary Lou is by far the best speaker our organization has ever had."
—Diane Green, Soroptimist International

"We extend a rave review about the performance. The Immigrant's Table graced our conference."
—Elizabeth Guss, Director, Whidbey Island Writers Conference

"I feel compelled to say you how good, how radiant the performance of The Immigrant’s Table was."
—Director, Starbucks Corporate Event, Seattle

"The Immigrant’s Table" was one of the most enjoyable and
delightful evenings our AAUW group has ever had.
—Grace Lynch, President, AAUW

Contact MaryLou to view a video excerpt from The Immigrant’s Table.

Small Talk is a combination of dance (with Jazz Dance Master, Richard Jessup),

poetry, comedy and video. It's a reading in motion.

"Inspired by the intimate conversations of women, her performance expands the reach of the written word with video and dance, and a dramatic reading by the multi-talented Sanelli, whose engaging and dynamic stage presence stresses performance as strongly as literature. Sanelli’s readings win an audience with poignant insights and gentle self-effacing humor."
—Jake Seniuk, Port Angeles Fine Arts Center

Comments about Staging of Small Talk.

"You have inspired me beyond words. Mostly, I just want to have more fun in life."

—Julie McCullough

"Such great stage awareness! Sanelli has impeccable timing."
—Charles Duncan, Theater Director

This program is perfect for the Garden Club or Garden Tour Venue.

"Our Garden Club is still talking about you and
how much your presentation was enjoyed!"
—Helen Tafejian, Olympia Garden Club

Women in the Garden lights on a winning combination: cultivating the soil and renewing the language. The gardener’s routine, like that of the poet, sharpens observation and fosters the contemplative spirit. Though the book’s focus is in the garden, the situations are varied and as much outside the individual’s control as the elements. Wind, rain, and sun may help or hinder growth, but the key to success in both gardening and writing is a ready receptivity, something Sanelli brings to the ordinary happenings of each day.

Sanelli has been a guest of: The Medina Garden Show; The Wallingford Garden Tour; Bainbridge in Bloom; Kitsap In Bloom; The Port Townsend Secret Garden Tour; Sequim, Washington’s Lavender Festival; as well as many other gardening venues.

This talk is for the savvy women's bookclub or any group that wants to look at
life's tug-of-wars like those between age and time, male and female,
war and peace, place and belonging.

Mary Lou Sanelli has a personable and striking presence in her writings. Throughout her career—seven poetry collections, regular newspaper and magazine columns, and numerous radio commentaries—she brings a sharp eye and sophisticated wit not only to the sometimes disheartening, sometimes encouraging aspects of our current politics and culture, but also to issues specific to her home city of Seattle and home town of Port Townsend, Washington. Falling Awake chronologically compiles Sanelli’s inquisitive, savvy, and humorous commentary. Political relations, women’s issues, family dynamics, the intricacies of a writer’s life, what can go wrong at a Seattle dinner party—all are mulled over in this intelligently engaging collection that is a life-affirming journey in essays, a testimonial to the agelong process of questioning the status quo in order to find one’s honesty.

Perfect for the book club or any group of women willing to delve into the hodgepodge of emotions common to anyone who decides to befriend another.

Excerpt from the introduction of Among Friends:

Not too long ago, a dear friend, a visual artist, asked me a question that caused me to take a deep breath and pause: “What does friendship look like to you?” I remember trying to stumble through an answer and not being able to formulate my thoughts. In a way, this entire book is an effort to answer that question more clearly.

Today, my answer comes easily: I see laughter. Lots of it. And acceptance, of my friend and of myself, and a desire to learn from each other.

Newest Talk & Reading

This is a presentation about mothers and daughters, the life cycle, the mother/daughter evolutionary process that lasts your lifetime. This dynamic has wiggled it's way into so much of what I write. Reading from this work is the most fun. I look out into the audience and the women are nodding their heads, wiping their eyes, smiling. They know what I mean. If I didn't know they knew, I would have stopped writing long ago.

"There is still lots of work to do, apparently: learning to exchange our appreciation of each other instead of all the silly, useless gifts we buy one another to fill in the gaps of what we don’t know how to say, for one."