Q & A with Amber Dermont

Author Amber Dermont, a professor of English at Agnes Scott College, will be giving a reading at Eagle Eye Book Shop (2076 N. Decatur Rd.) this Saturday, March 31st, at 1 p.m.

The Starboard Sea was published a few weeks ago to critical acclaim in the Little Blog of Stories, received not one, but two rave reviews in The New York Times, a Washington Post review comparing it favorably to The Great Gatsby, and to The Catcher in the Rye and A Separate Peace by the Winnipeg Free Press.  It quickly found a place on the New York Times Best Sellers list.  This is a stunning achievement for a debut novel.  We’re incredibly fortunate to have such an amazing new talent right here in Decatur.

The Atlantic Ocean plays a major — and mostly dark — role in The Starboard Sea.  I understand that you grew up on Cape Cod, but was curious as to your relationship with the ocean?

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• Decatur Easter Egg “Hunt” March 31st on First Baptist lawn [Decatur Minute]
• Avondale thinking about allowing golf carts again [Patch]
• Atlanta transportation committee to hear Lake Claire traffic controversy [Patch]
• DeKalb “not ready” to lose approx. $27 million w/ a city of Brookhaven [AJC]
• Photo – The dream of the 1890s was alive in the Ride to the Capitol [Patch]
• Can a 100% private rail line turn a profit?  A new Orlando to South FL route [Streetsblog]

Map courtesy of All Aboard Florida

DM Exclusive: In tonight’s State of the City Address, Decatur Mayor Bill Floyd will call on Decatur residents to support changing the way the city elects it’s mayor, from one who is currently elected by his/her fellow commissioners to one who is popularly elected by the city’s voters.

Mayor Floyd sent along this snippet from the speech he will give tonight at 6pm at the Decatur Courtyard By Marriott Conference Center, which gives some insight into his call for the change…

The municipal landscape in DeKalb County is changing. In recent years we have added the City of Dunwoody and Chamblee has annexed a large area north of their old city limits to meet up with Dunwoody. There is legislation pending which calls for a referendum for the annexation of another large area south of Chamblee stretching south to I 85, and also legislation is pending to allow the Brookhaven residents (from Fulton county line east to Dunwoody and Chamblee and south to I 85) to vote this summer on becoming DeKalb’s newest city. I expect both of those to pass and the voters to approve them. Legislation is awaiting the Governor’s signature to annex into Decatur and Avondale Estates the unincorporated area that exist now between the two cities. Decatur could go, in just a few short years from DeKalb’s largest city to its 4th largest.

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E Howard and N McDonough, Decatur GA (pic courtesy of Shivani)

What are you singing?  What you hearing?  How are you dancing?  What are you eating?

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Speaking of arts…Angie at the Decatur Arts Alliance writes in…

Oberlin Steel (OSteel) is a steel band based at Oberlin College in Oberlin, Ohio. Originally known as the Oberlin Can Consortium until 2001, the group plays in the tradition of the great steel bands of Trinidad, but also performs arrangements of salsa, calypso, and jazz as well as original compositions  and Oberlin College commencement festivities, Parent’s Weekend, and other sponsored events.

OSteel is coming to Decatur! The band will play at the Bandstand on the Square Thursday, March 29  at 5 p.m. Cate Hughes, Decatur High School class of 2009, is a member of OSteel and will be in her  hometown to perform with the group. Come to the square on the 29th to hear OSteel and plan to wear your dancing shoes! Check it out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bX6ana5Cifg