Author targets humor in first book
By Michelle Rupe Eubanks
Staff Writer, TimesDaily

WANT TO GO?
What: Georgia Richardson will be signing copies of her book, "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Throne"
When: 10 a.m. Saturday
Where: Cold Water Books, 101 W. Sixth St., Tuscumbia
Details: 381-2525
 
Even as a one-time budget analyst at Teledyne-Brown in Huntsville, Georgia Richardson said she made it her goal in life not to be boring.

As a result, she said she's parlayed her life experiences into the humorous narratives that comprise her first novel, "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Throne."

"I had a father who came up with all these one-liners, and that's what I grew up with," Richardson said. "As a middle child, that's where I got a lot of my inspiration -- that and my sons."

Richardson, a native of Sheffield who now calls Athens home, got her start in writing three years ago when she sold an article to a quarterly magazine. Since then, her career has blossomed and includes writing for national Web sites as well as public speaking.

"All I ever wanted was for the reader to pick up the book and get a laugh, put it down for a while, pick it up again and laugh all over," she said.

With at least a grain of truth to each of the narratives, Richardson said she hit her stride with humor, writing in a style similar to that of famed columnists Erma Bombeck and Lewis Grizzard.

Dina Howard grew up with Richardson in Sheffield, and they rekindled their friendship after graduation and life had taken the two in different directions.

Howard was among the friends and relatives who read the rough draft of "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Throne," and she said she loved it immediately.

"The stories in the book are very similar to the way she talks," Howard said.

"She always makes me chuckle when I'm around her."

But Howard said she recognized Richardson's need to write and create.

"There's something in her that makes her do it," Howard said.

Despite the success she's had with her debut -- "I don't think I've had any bad reviews yet" -- Richardson said she's ready to move on to another genre, perhaps mystery.

"Either way, it will be more narrative," she said. "I lean toward the mystery world, especially if it's written with a tinge of humor."

Howard said she's prepared to get in line among the legion of fans her friend is accumulating.

"We don't see enough of each other as it is," she said. "We have to make appointments if we want to do that."
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