Local author Mary Ann Claud will discuss “Writing the Dreaded Second Novel” at the Lanier Library, Tuesday, September 19 at noon.  She is author of “Whirlygig” and “The Dancin’ Man’s Daughter,” and just this month has released a collection of her newspaper columns.

Currently a resident of Tryon, Claud grew up in Lancaster, S.C., where her father was a senior executive in a major textile company.

She holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in music from Converse College in Spartanburg, S.C., and began writing professionally in the 1970s. Beginning in 1976 for a decade she wrote a front page Sunday column for the Hendersonville (N.C.) Times-News. Over the course of her writing career Claud has published everything from art and music reviews to travel pieces and personal profiles.

She has also taught adult education courses in creative writing, Southern literature, Henry James and William Faulkner.  She lives on Godshaw Hill with her husband, Olin Sansbury, Chancellor Emeritus of USC Upstate.  

Claud enjoys engaging readers in all settings, but prefers presentations such as Live @ Lanier that evolve into question and answer sessions about not only her fictional Ward family, but also about the creative writing process as a tool for self-expression and communication.

– submitted by Clare O’Sheel