Eric Robert Nolan graduated from Mary Washington College in 1994 with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. He spent several years a news reporter and editorial writer for the Culpeper Star Exponent in Culpeper, Virginia. His work has also appeared on the front pages of numerous newspapers in Virginia, including The Free Lance – Star and The Daily Progress. Eric entered the field of philanthropy in 1996, as a grant writer for nonprofit healthcare organizations.
Eric’s poetry has been featured by Dead Beats Literary Blog, Dagda Publishing, The International War Veterans’ Poetry Archive, and elsewhere. His poetry will also be published by Illumen Magazine in its Spring 2014 issue.
Polka-dot beetles! (I have since come to understand that these are the nascent, dread lanternflies.)
Raccoons!
Spider-eating wasps. (I kid you not. I saw SOME kind of hymenoptera dragging a frikkin’ GIANT wolf spider along as takeout. I tried to get a picture of this clash of the Titans, but then the wasp dropped its meal and stated menacing ME. Got the hell out of there.)
The Mentally Oddcast returns for a sixth season! My friend and colleague Wednesday Lee Friday recently released a new episode of her intriguing podcast, which examines creative processes through the lens of addiction, recovery, mental and emotional health, trauma and treatment.
It is always a superb show, and her guest this week was Reverend Josh Hosler — a smart, articulate, funny and humble man with a variety of compelling insights. (You can find the episode right here on Zencaster and also here over at Spotify.) Wednesday and Reverend Hosler chatted about a number of subjects, including the differences among communities of faith — and how they may be positioned to help vulnerable people.
I think Wednesday was born for broadcasting. You might know her as an accomplished horror author and a leader in the independent literature community; The Mentally Oddcast is an outgrowth of her ongoing indie lit magazine, Sometimes Hilarious Horror. Wednesday can discuss topics from politics to zombie movies with humor and uncanny acumen, so her show is always a lot of fun.
I was saddened to learn this morning of the passing of Chris Kilmartin, PhD, a pillar of the University of Mary Washington community. News of Dr. Kilmartin’s death was shared to social media today by his wife, Dr. Allyson Poska.
“Dr. K.’s” accolades as an educator and psychologist are far too numerous to list here, but he is remembered fondly by so many alumni as a favorite professor. I feel certain that his loss will be felt far and wide.
Eric Robert Nolan, Author 