PAULA WHYMAN
The Virgin Fiction anthology: An unfortunate convergence of cover art with theme, given the plot of my story.
Who Is Paula RHYMAN?
When the first Virgin Fiction anthology was released--my first published story EVER--"The Middle Way" was singled out in the Publishers Weekly review.
Of course, I was grateful for the mention...but my name was MISSPELLED in the review. So, who is this Paula Rhyman, anyway, and what's her Amazon ranking? Who said she could have all the glory?
Of course, I was grateful for the mention...but my name was MISSPELLED in the review. So, who is this Paula Rhyman, anyway, and what's her Amazon ranking? Who said she could have all the glory?
Selected Works
Fiction
A young woman struggles with an unplanned pregnancy.
Sexual and racial tensions in a classroom threaten to explode as a young teen faces choices that will haunt her in adulthood. ORDER HERE
Two American teens go on their first European trip and get into trouble.
A young girl in Thailand is sold into prostitution by her mother.
A woman is haunted by events from the past that threaten to disturb her domestic life.
A man battles neighbors to build his dream house, while his son resists the pull of the family heritage.
A psychologist confuses fantasy and reality as she travels alone for the first time after her divorce.
Humor
Dining out with dietary issues, and Twizzlers. From the Washington Post.
KITCHEN SINK LINKS
Washington Independent Review of Books
Washington's nonprofit online book review
Semi-Charmed Life: Surviving at the Center of the Universe
first-person column on absurdities of suburban life
Bethesda World News
Bethesda's own parody newspaper
When the Menu Is a Minefield
Washington Post Food section, on dining out with dietary issues
Ode to the Hand Dryers of La Guardia
guest post for Susan Coll's blog
Rumpus Mini-Interview #19
I interview visual artist Tim Guthrie about his unusual anti-war project.
Work-in-Progress: A blog by Leslie Pietrzyk
Explores the Creative Process
Alternate Sides: A blog by Susan Coll
Adventures Along the Northeast Corridor
Finding Josephine
Writer Dionne Ford's blog
Poetry in the Arts
Publisher of the poetry journal, Ardent! - and fine books of poetry by invitation.
The Middle Way
Excerpt...
Nil leans forward, hands resting on her knees. Her toe traces abstract pictures in the dust. She sits in a molded plastic chair in front of a simple two-story house with a corrugated tin roof. She has been in this position so long, she could have traced a scene from the Ramakian. The air presses heavily against her cheek.
When Nil arrived with her mother, Pahnvadee, other girls around Nil's age were gathered outside, but they floated like seeds at the edges of her awareness. Now they have dispersed by prearranged signal from the house mother, Maylao. Nil straightens in her chair as Maylao examines her. As always, Nil wears an impossibly clean, white cotton blouse, short-sleeved with rounded collar, and a brown skirt.
Maylao leans close and finds that Nil smells like soap and ginger. And something else. She smells like a child. To Maylao, this is the best, and saddest, smell of all.
Nil leans forward, hands resting on her knees. Her toe traces abstract pictures in the dust. She sits in a molded plastic chair in front of a simple two-story house with a corrugated tin roof. She has been in this position so long, she could have traced a scene from the Ramakian. The air presses heavily against her cheek.
When Nil arrived with her mother, Pahnvadee, other girls around Nil's age were gathered outside, but they floated like seeds at the edges of her awareness. Now they have dispersed by prearranged signal from the house mother, Maylao. Nil straightens in her chair as Maylao examines her. As always, Nil wears an impossibly clean, white cotton blouse, short-sleeved with rounded collar, and a brown skirt.
Maylao leans close and finds that Nil smells like soap and ginger. And something else. She smells like a child. To Maylao, this is the best, and saddest, smell of all.