Hal McDonald, a well-known poet and author of the detective novel “The Anatomists,” will speak during several events at Pfeiffer University Thursday and Friday, Nov. 13-14, hosted by The Friends of the Library at Pfeiffer. The public is invited.
A Stanly County native and graduate of Albemarle High School, McDonald will be the speaker during a brunch held at 10 a.m. on Nov. 13 on the second floor of the library. The cost is $10 and pre-registration is required by Monday, Nov. 10. To RSVP, contact Lara Little at 704-463-3353 or lara.little@pfeiffer.edu.
McDonald will also speak during a creative writing class at 3:30 p.m. During this time, a writer’s workshop is open to anyone interested. McDonald’s visit to campus will culminate at 10 a.m. on Nov. 14 when he is keynote speaker during Pfeiffer’s weekly Cultural Hour held in the Community Room of the Stokes Student Center. Both events are open to the public.
An author of fiction, poetry and literary criticism for decades, McDonald ventured into the crime fiction genre with “The Anatomists.” This detective fiction composition started with Court TV’s (now TruTV) 2007 “Search for the Next Great Crime Writer” contest. That opportunity prompted him to write an idea he had been mulling over for several years.
Entering the contest on a whim, he was surprised to learn later that he won, and that he had to complete the novel for HarperCollins in eight weeks. The result of those two months of hard labor resulted in “The Anatomists.”
The book takes the reader back to a time before crime scene investigation teams, DNA testing or even simple fingerprinting were mainstays in investigation. McDonald chose to set his book in an era that lacked such forensic advancements because he was fascinated by the human element of forensics and crime solving.
McDonald, a professor of English at Mars Hill College, writes on a variety of subjects including literature, linguistics, science and sports. He received both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Wake Forest University and earned his Ph.D. from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
Writers’ Workshop classes
The Writers’ Workshop is offering classes in Charlotte at the Jewish Community Center, 5009 Providence Road. Register in advance by mail, The Writers’ Workshop, 387 Beaucatcher Rd., Asheville, NC 28805. For more information, e-mail writers w@gmail.com or call 828-254-8111.
Nov. 8: Writing and Publishing Creative Nonfiction Articles with Mike Weinstein ó Beginning to intermediate writers will receive tips on interviewing, researching, writing the query letter and selling human-interest stories to newspapers and magazines. Participants may bring up to three pages of writing for in-class evaluation. Weinstein is features editor at The Charlotte Observer, and has won numerous awards for his editing work on lead articles. Meets Saturday, 12:30-5:30 p.m.; $75, or $70 for workshop members.
Nov. 22:Introduction to Playwriting with Heather Jones ó The class will learn the fundamentals of playwriting, including the structure of different formats such as the one-act and full-length play. Information will also be given on how to submit a play for production. Jones has an MFA in writing from Spalding University. Her plays have been produced by the American Theatre of Actors, Green Light Theatrical Productions and UNC-Asheville. Meets Saturday, 12:3-5:30 p.m.; $75/ $70 Workshop members.