Our Man in Raleigh

Paul O’Connor is a veteran journalist who lives in Raleigh, N.C.  He has written news, political analysis, columns, travel stories, book reviews and editorials for a number of publications. He also teaches at the School of Journalism and Mass Communication of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Paul has wide-ranging interests, from American literature to military history and beyond. He’s an aficionado of quality beers; in fact, he’s a beer snob. As a personal note, he’s also the best journalist I was ever forced to fire, evidence of  the sorry state of 21st century newspapering. Fortunately, he knew the “downsizing” wasn’t my fault, and he contributes his skills and insights to Briar Patch Books.

Paul is available for free-lance writing assignments. Contact him at ocolumn@gmail.com.

Writer and Reviewer

Anne Clinard Barnhill has been writing professionally for more than 20 years.  Her debut novel, At the Mercy of the Queen, is forthcoming in 2012 from St. Martin’s Press.  Her first book,  At Home in the Land of Oz: Autism, My Sister and Me (memoir, Jessica Kingsley Publishers, London, 2007), has received good reviews, and her second book, What You Long For (short-story collection, Main Street Rag, has also been well received.  In her spare time, Anne enjoys playing piano and dancing around the kitchen to early Beatles’ music.

For more information, check out her website/blog at
www.anneclinardbarnhill.com.