I dropped by the Blue Ridge Country Store for lunch and, as expected, everyone and their salad bar-loving friend was yacking about Bono. (In fact, one person was raving about "Sunday Bloody Sunday" to his friend when the friend interrupted him: "I told you. I don’t know any U2 songs. Any.")
Sure, we’re all excited for Ireland’s most famous rock act to come to town. But you know what the Irish love? Writers. And no matter how quiet The Edge seems—he’s like the Teller of U2—even he’d tell you the same.
Coincidentally, I ran into sculptor Aaron Fein, who reminded me of this project that his wife, Dahlia Lithwick, is documenting on Slate (where she typically tackles Supreme Court news like a boss). During the last few weeks, Lithwick has posted chapters from her first attempt at "mommy lit," a genre she describes as "a cross between Bridget Jones and The Bell Jar."
Lithwick throws out a few caveats for the project about shoes and her return to Supreme Court reporting. ("I turn back into a pumpkin on the first Monday in October, whether I finish this book or not.) But she’s also throwing out hooks for any reader willing to bite: In the 15 chapters (as of today) of her novel, Saving Face, she’s already assigned names of characters (and pets) based on popular demand and reader request. Read today’s chapter here.
Tell me, loyal readers: If you had a month to write a novel, what would you commit to paper?