Naked and Hungry Goes to Pittsboro!

Posted on by Ashley Harris

A BIG thanks to all our attendees and to the Spa at Bell House in Pittsboro for hosting last evening’s reading. About 20 folks gathered to hear a short reading highlighting the character of Margaret Freeman, the highly stressed manager of McMullen Quality Pre-Owned Automobiles.

And boy, should Margaret have been there!

Not only did we enjoy tea, lemonade, and lemon-blackberry squares, Spa at Bell House gave chair massages to all attendees! Three lucky folks won 20-minute sauna retreats and we also gave away another crepe pan, which is as dear to H.T. as his nail gun.

We hope that everyone—from Type As to Type Zs—enjoyed the fellowship of friends in a relaxed, stress-free setting! And if you missed it, no worries, the spa has invited back for another event on October 21. And this time, we’re making crepes! So mark your calendar.

In the meantime, check out more photos in our August 19 album on the Naked and Hungry Facebook Page or check out Melissa’s blog for photographs taken by a true artist!

The Answer to Our Poll and More…Countdown to August 19 Event!

Posted on by Ashley Harris

A big thanks to all who answered our poll. And 100% of all respondents got it right! Just what is the source of Margaret’s stress? Herself! She doesn’t take time out to take care of her body, mind and spirit. So no wonder her stress meter is off the charts. Can you relate?

What treatment would be best for Margaret? Personally, I recommend the Spa at Bell House pedicure. It’s relaxing, pampering and presents a fun opportunity to try out a new color of polish. I also recommend the foot reflexology treatment, which helps restore balance and energy flow. But there’s also the facial, the body scrub, and last but not least, a variety of soothing massages. Take my word for it, Spa at Bell House offers a wealth of treatments that live up to their promise of Southern hospitality and exceptional care.

As for Margaret, unfortunately, her hometown doesn’t offer a wonderful retreat like Spa at Bell House. And you better believe there’s a lot  more trouble ahead for her in Naked and Hungry, including the hold-up of the car lot, the disappearance of her boss, and the threat that H.T.’s meddling mother will acquire the car lot and sell it.

Will Margaret toss in the towel or emerge a winner? For more of Margaret’s story, great conversation, and a special dessert of pastries and blackberry sauce, join us for Tea on the Front Porch on Friday, August 19 from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.–just one week away. I’ll read a short excerpt from the book, and you’ll have the opportunity to learn more about the perfect remedy for your Type A woes!

Calling all Type A’s!

Posted on by Ashley Harris

Are you a Type A person? Trying to do too much? If you’re like Margaret Freeman, the office manager of McMullen Quality Pre-Owned Automobiles and one of the main characters in Naked and Hungry, you may be on STRESS OVERLOAD!

To be fair, poor Margaret suffers from stress on all sides. For an example, read this exchange between Margaret and H.T.

“You’re late again,” said Margaret. “And why can’t you just once dress up for work?”

“What’s wrong with my T-shirt?” asked H.T. “Is it the saying you object to?”

“ ‘I refuse to have a battle of wits with an unarmed opponent.’ C’mon H.T., some people might take that as an insult.”

“Not our customers. They want one just like it., ” says H.T. “Hey, where’s Julio?”

“Out back, where else? You know he’s been like a man possessed, working on that Chevy. We’ve got other vehicles we need to fix up, H.T. In fact, we’ve had at least two people stop to ask about that Bobcat, but you know as well as I do that its engine needs to be rebuilt.”

For fun, and in celebration of our upcoming reading at Spa at Bell House on August 19, take a moment to participate in our trivia contest and identify the  major stress factor in Margaret’s life.

Tune in next time for the answer, the recommended Spa Bell House treatment for Margaret, and more details. In the meantime, RSVP for the event and make plans to join us on Friday, August 19. We’ll be reading a section from the book, giving away a special prize, but most importantly, enjoying some great food and conversation in the company of friends. Now that’s the ultimate stress-buster!

Announcing New Facebook Page for Naked and Hungry!

Posted on by Ashley Harris

All, I followed the very wise advice of my fellow writer, Rick Bylina, and recently created a Facebook page for Naked and Hungry. Please help us spread the word by “liking it” and let’s get to 50 fans by the end of the weekend! Stay tuned for trivia, contests and much more fun.

By the way, today Rick debuted his his new mystery novel, One Promise Too Many, on Smashwords. Read about it and order it here. From the description, the book offers plenty of suspense and knowing Rick, you can count on healthy doses of wit, humor, and style. I can’t wait to dive in!

Have a nice weekend! Stay cool by staying inside and enjoying a great book.

Goats, Dogs, Ducks, Chickens and More!

Posted on by Ashley Harris

Today my friend and photographer extraordinaire Melissa Kotacka and I made a special trip to Rougement to visit Elodie Farms. It’s even more beautiful in person; in fact, it’s reminiscent of Marie Antoinette’s Petit Hameau in France. But unlike that fabled retreat, Elodie Farms is an authentic dairy, where owner Dave Artigues milks his goats by hand twice each day.

Gus, a brown lab and Lulu, a loquacious Chihuahua mix, greeted us first. As we wound our way to the dairy, we encountered roosters and ducks. The “kids” (teenagers, really) were the first of the goats to peek out. Curious, playful and friendly, they clambered to the gate for a first-hand view. A protective doe circled, not so sure. We soon made the acquaintance of Dave himself, who years ago decided to trade his clinical psychiatry work for dairy farming and hasn’t looked back since. His journey sounds a little like that H.T., the reluctant hero of Naked and Hungry.

So where was Bermadean, the fictional goat in Naked and Hungry? You decide! If you want to know for sure, join us on August 6, for a tour of the farm and a special reading of the book in celebration of sustainable agriculture in North Carolina.

For more, check out Melissa’s beautiful photo-essay on our trip.

August 6 – Naked and Hungry Goes to Elodie Farms!

Posted on by Ashley Harris

Save the date! On August 6, Naked and Hungry is delighted to be the guest of Elodie Farms, the Piedmont’s premier goat farm and maker of delicious farmstead goat cheese.

This partnership is inspired by Myrtle, my main character’s mother, who never goes anywhere without her pet goat, Bermadean.

At this special event, we’ll have a reading from Naked and Hungry (featuring the appearance of Bermadean), followed by a tour of a tour of Elodie Farms, which is situated on 21 acres of beautiful farmland in northern Durham County. The rustic charm is reminiscent of Winnabow County, the fictional setting of Naked and Hungry. Details are still emerging, so please stay posted to this blog for more information. We hope you’ll plan to join us!

Ten Ways to Beat Summer Boredom

Posted on by Ashley Harris

As summer sets in and those interminably long days drag by—especially in a small town like Yatesville—you may find yourself the victim of something far worse than a raging case of poison ivy. Boredom! If so, H.T., the main character of Naked and Hungry offers the following tips:

  1. Give a stray dog a square meal and a dry place to sleep—you’ll have a friend for life.
  2. Buy a failing business and hire the two most desperate people you can find—you’ll be forever entertained by their bickering.
  3. Move a sleeping bag to the porch and fall asleep to the cacophony of cicadas.
  4. Make friends with someone worse off than you…even if you have to travel to the other side of the county to find him.
  5. Treat yourself to fried chicken, ketchup potatoes, squash pickles and strawberry congealed salad.
  6. Call up your best friend and relive your favorite high school prank. When the laughter dies down, embellish accordingly.
  7. Pretend you have amnesia for the weekend. Try not to forget.
  8. Threaten three men with a nail gun and spend the night in jail.
  9. Find your fourth-grade tonette and see how many variations of “Hot Cross Buns” you can play.
  10. Attend the Art4Aid.org Charity BBQ on May 28!