Edgy Mama

You may have heard already about Mars Hill College English professor, Hal McDonald. He was named the “Next Great Crime Writer” by truTV, and he’ll read from his new novel tonight at the college. The event is scheduled for 7 p.m. in Broyhill Chapel.

His novel The Anatomists was released on March 25 (my birthday) by HarperCollins.

Here’s the great American dream part of the story: McDonald was one of more than 900 authors to submit entries in the TV network’s “2007 Search for the Next Great Crime Writer” competition. His story, “A Simple Case of Revenge,” was a mystery that took place in 1825 London. The grand prize included the opportunity to sign a book deal with HarperCollins. They liked his story enough to move forward, which gave McDonald just six weeks to develop the short story into the novel.

Check it out!

UPDATE: I saw McDonald’s novel at Malaprop’s this past weekend. The book looks like fun, although it clearly was quickly produced without much focus on aesthetics. Guess truTV doesn’t budget much for printed paper.

My column for this week’s Mountain Xpress explains the phenomenon of Momnesia. And I tell my most embarrassing Momnesia story. Wanna tell me yours?

Today’s Edgy Mama column for Mt. Xpress is all about dental trauma. When I told my pediatric dentist that I’d written about him and my boy’s reaction to him, he posited the theory that no one really likes having their face messed with. Since much of our experience of the world comes via mouth, nose, and eyes, this theory makes sense to me!

Supposedly, the great Ernest Hemingway once composed a complete story in six words: “For sale: baby shoes, never used.”

Wow.

Six word stories have been the rage lately, showing up all over the Internet and inducing creative excitement locally by describing photos.

Now I hear the six word memoir is hot (see NPR’s story on a new book titled Not Quite What I Was Planning: Six-Word Memoirs By Famous and Obscure Writers).

Here’s my six word memoir:

Writer, not as funny in person.

Here’s zen’s:

I came. I saw. I photographed.

What’s yours?

Here’s my column for Mountain Xpress this week. Better start getting ready for VD!

I’m writing here today. I interviewed a bunch of hilarious kindergarteners. Enjoy!
xoxoxo

This week, in my Mountain Xpress column, I offer party rules for parents. I’m giving you the gift of fun. If you’re willing to rise to it!

Happy Monday!

I’m writing here today for Mountain Xpress. It’s all about silly resolutions and stuff. So read mine and tell me yours, kay?

Happy New Year!

My weekly column is up at Mountain Xpress.

If you’ve read Eat, Pray, Love, you need to read the column. Hell, you should read it anyway. And comment. Because you’ve got nothing better to do the week before Christmas, right?

Happy Monday, all!

Here’s my article on speed dating. I went to one of the speed dating events to take photos–it was surprisingly uncreepy and the people seemed “normal.” Not the cougar crowd, as far as I could tell. It seems like a good format for meeting new people, without having to commit much time, money or emotional energy.