Local author Mary Ann Hoyt to sign books at Browseabout Aug. 28

Browseabout Books will host author Mary Ann Hoyt for a book signing from 1 to 3 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 28. Her two collections of humorous essays are titled “In Heaven There’s No Money, No Stuff – and No Porta-Potties,” and “Hashtags and Zoom Bewilder This Boomer.”

Both books are filled with tongue-in-cheek views of Hoyt’s everyday observations and quirky experiences. Anecdotes cover her fear of hummingbirds, her Catholic grade school mishaps in the ‘50s, awkward nursing school situations in the ‘70s, and the burial of the family cat in a cardboard box decorated with her son’s Grateful Dead pencil drawings.

Surviving an interstate move after retirement, with all its challenges and four adult children weighing in, gave her fodder for writing. Hoyt finds humor in most of life’s situations, including the pandemic. With a mixture of satire and sentiment, these books will coax a smile and maybe a tear or two from even the most serious reader, who will identify with many if not all of her stories.

“Hashtags and Zoom” was awarded first place in the Delaware Press Association’s 2021 communication contest for adult nonfiction humor, followed by an honorable mention in the National Federation of Press Women’s national communications contest in the same category.

Now retired from hospital nursing, Hoyt lives with her husband Paul in Millsboro where they are closer to their 10 grandchildren.

Having had work published in nursing magazines years ago, she now devotes her time to writing humor. She’s had essays published in Delaware Beach Life magazine and is a member of the Rehoboth Beach Writers’ Guild.

Browseabout Books is at 133 Rehoboth Ave., Rehoboth Beach. For more information, go to maryannhoyt.com or browseaboutbooks.com.