February 25, 2007

"Writing Humor—the Secret Formula"

Mary Hanna is a columnist for the San Mateo County (CA) Times. Her weekly column, Second Half, is aimed directly at her own generation and plays up the absurdities of everyday life. Mary's lighthearted approach to the particular joys of being an aging Baby Boomer have her readers responding with comments like, "You're the best thing to read since we lost Erma Bombeck." A collection of 60 favorite columns, You May Already Be a Winner Wiener has just been published by Bird Legs Press.

Mary was born in Springfield, Mass and graduated from the University of Arizona with a degree in Anthropology (and just to make sure she was unemployable, a minor in Philosophy), After inheriting five acres of Indiana farmland, Mary moved to the Midwest with her first (or "Starter") husband to raise children, sheep, and a feral cat that turned out to be a serial chipmunk killer.

The Earth Mother years were full of great material. Mary began writing it down and the first piece she ever wrote was published by The Chicago Tribune.

She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband, James "Keeper" Hanna, and Mr. Bobo the Wonder Cat. She has two grown sons and a serious Diet Pepsi habit. Visit her website: www.maryhanna.net.