Wall, Paula 1954- (P.S. Wall, Paula S. Wall)

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Wall, Paula 1954- (P.S. Wall, Paula S. Wall)

PERSONAL:

Born June 19, 1954, in TN.

ADDRESSES:

Home—TN.

CAREER:

Writer, humorist. Universal Press Syndicate, syndicated humor columnist, writing "Off the Wall"; previously worked in environmental sales.

AWARDS, HONORS:

Humor Columnist of the Year, National Society of Newspaper Columnists, 1997.

WRITINGS:

My Love Is Free … but the Rest of Me Don't Come Cheap (collected columns), Rutledge Hill Press (Nashville, TN), 1997.

If I Were a Man, I'd Marry Me (collected columns), Ballantine Books (New York, NY), 1999.

The Rock Orchard (novel), Atria Books (New York, NY), 2005.

The Wilde Women (novel), Atria Books (New York, NY), 2007.

SIDELIGHTS:

Paula Wall was born June 19, 1954, just outside of Nashville, Tennessee, but was primarily raised in Alaska. The move north resulted from a visit to her uncle, who had a homestead in Alaska and worked both as a game guide and a bush pilot. Wall's parents decided they liked the look of the region and the isolation, and the family moved there as well. In school, Wall majored in environmental science, then spent several years working in environmental sales. However, her sense of humor and love of writing eventually prevailed. Even while working in sales, Wall would take time to write little bits and pieces, things without much definition but that amused her and her family. Her significant other eventually convinced her to submit some of her more-well-honed pieces to the local newspaper, which ended up publishing them. Within a year, the National Society of Newspaper Columnists had awarded Wall with the title of Humor Columnist of the Year. She later was named as a finalist for the Thurber Prize. Her column, "Off the Wall," became nationally acclaimed after Universal Press Syndicate began to distribute it, and it was soon ranked as the third highest rated Internet column, falling right behind "Dear Abbey" and "News of the Weird." Approximately eight million people read her work each week. In addition to writing her columns, Wall has published several books. The first two, My Love Is Free … but the Rest of Me Don't Come Cheap and If I Were a Man, I'd Marry Me, are collections of her more popular columns. She then went on to try her hand at writing novels, with The Rock Orchard and The Wilde Women.

If I Were a Man, I'd Marry Me is Wall's second collection of columns, and was named a finalist for the prestigious Thurber Prize. Reviewers found the comical columns entertaining and witty. A contributor for Publishers Weekly praised the volume, remarking that "funny and amusing, Wall delivers her insights lightly and never takes herself too seriously." In a review of My Love Is Free … but the Rest of Me Don't Come Cheap, a reviewer for Publishers Weekly remarked that "Wall is a force to be reckoned with."

The Rock Orchard is a Southern love story that revolves around Charlotte Belle, a strong, sexy, independent female who has never really felt the need to keep a man around other than for sex, except maybe for her driver, Mr. Nalls, because someone needs to be around to lift anything that is too heavy for Charlotte. So when Charlotte suddenly finds herself fixating on a man, it is a complete surprise, leaving her to wonder just why it is that she cannot seem to get the Reverend Thomas Jones out of her thoughts. Wall's follow-up novel, The Wilde Women, revolves around the sexy, passionate Wilde sisters, gorgeous blue-eyed brunettes who have an unfortunate taste for bad boys, as well as a love of getting into trouble. They are inseparable and loyal to a fault, until the day that Pearl Wilde finds her sister Kat in the barn, getting a little too friendly with Pearl's fiancé, not to mention a pair of Pearl's favorite shoes. The situation leads to heartbreak, and to some raucous and sexy revenge years later, once Pearl has recovered from her shock.

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Publishers Weekly, September 22, 1997, review of My Love Is Free … but the Rest of Me Don't Come Cheap, p. 65; June 28, 1999, review of If I Were a Man, I'd Marry Me, p. 66.