Author Paul Mandelbaum's first novel, "Garret in Wedlock," received rave reviews from The Washington Post, Baltimore Magazine, LA Times Book Review and Philadelphia Weekly. However, a smaller character in the book was calling for her own novel, and that is where his newest piece began, he explained.
Mandelbaum read an excerpt from his upcoming novel, "Adriane on the Edge," to Towson students Monday evening in the University Union Potomac Lounge. The book will be released on Dec. 6, and he plans to return on Jan. 11 to the Borders in Lutherville.
The chapter he read for the audience was titled "Adriane and the Fibroid Tumor," and was also published in the Colorado Review.
It took Mandelbaum nearly five years to write this novel, which was shorter than his first. The reasoning for this, Mandelbaum said, was because the first time around he was "still learning to write."
When he wrote "Adriane," Mandelbaum made each chapter in the novel able to stand alone as a short story, but also wanted each chapter to fit together with a common thread to form a fluid story. The novel makes references to Baltimore and Towson.
In the chapter Mandelbaum presented, the setting is Baltimore City Hall and the character gives a tour to a group of young students.
Additionally, sprinkled throughout the piece are mentions of University of Maryland and shopping at Towson Town Center. While in his 20's, Mandelbaum lived nearby and worked for Baltimore Magazine.
Like all fiction writers, Mandelbaum wants his novel to entertain.
But he said he would also like it to reach out to his readers and comfort them, to let them know other people go through the same roller coaster of emotions that they do.
Mandelbaum then explained the hardest part of writing is relating to the audience.
"Trying to write something that will resonate with people I don't know, but not be overly familiar" is difficult, he explained.
Even though he has spent so much of his life writing, that isn't his only talent.
He proved this by having an impromptu piano concert before the reading for people who arrived early.
Mandelbaum told the audience he started lessons when he was just 6-years-old and continued for about eight to 10 years, but only "dabbles" now.
The event was sponsored by the department of English.
To learn more about Mandelbaum and his upcoming novel visit his Web site: http://www.paulmandelbaum.com/.
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