BALTIMORE — Michelle Paris has turned the central tragedy of her life into a darkly comic romantic novel.
Her debut book, "New Normal," is a fictionalized account of her own abrupt widowhood at age 40. Written over 15 years, with the support of friends made in a Howard Community College writing class, it is a tale of friendships, mid-life dating, and the embarrassing missteps of daily life.
“This book is not specifically for people who have had a similar experience,” says Paris, who grew up in Laurel, Maryland, and lives in Elkridge. “It’s for anybody who wants to laugh and feel good and just enjoy the ride with a character who has had some real-life experience.”
