De Gramont, Nina

PERSONAL:

Married David Gessner (a writer); children: one daughter. Education: Colorado College, B.A.; University of North Carolina, Wilmington, M.F.A.

ADDRESSES:

Home—Cape Cod, MA. Agent—Regal Literary, 1140 Broadway, Penthouse, New York, NY 10001.

CAREER:

Writer. Harvard Extension School, teacher; Ecotone, published by the University of North Carolina, Wilmington, fiction editor.

WRITINGS:

Of Cats and Men: Stories, Dial Press (New York, NY), 2001.

Contributor of fiction to periodicals, including Nerve, Exquisite Corpse, Cream City Review, Isotope, Post Road, and Seventeen.

SIDELIGHTS:

In her first book, Of Cats and Men: Stories, author Nina De Gramont presents ten stories featuring a woman protagonist who learns a lesson about life and/or love from a cat. For example, in "The Wedding Bed," Camille, who grew up in a wealthy family, is now married to a less-than-successful man, lives in a rundown rented house, and sleeps on a mattress on the floor. The only thing Camille has left from her previous life is a pampered Persian cat named Penny. However, when a stray cat comes through an open window, Camille's charitable caring for the cat teaches her about the real meaning of love, loyalty, reliance, and trust. De Gramont's collection of stories generally received widespread praise from the critics. "The characters, including the cats, come alive in this well-written collection," wrote Robin Nesbitt in the Library Journal. Several reviewers also commented that one of the author's strengths is her attention to detail. Noting that most of the stories take place on Cape Cod or in Colorado, a Publishers Weekly contributor praised the author for "evoking the atmosphere of each region with deft assurance." Denise Hoover, writing in Booklist, commented: "This is a funny, thoughtful collection, deceptively light, but lasting in its impact."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Booklist, April 1, 2001, Danise Hoover, review of Of Cats and Men: Stories, p. 1447.

Library Journal, April 15, 2001, Robin Nesbitt, review of Of Cats and Men, p. 134.

Orlando Sentinel, September 14, 2001, Kathy Roe, review of Of Cats and Men.

Publishers Weekly, March 26, 2001, review of Of Cats and Men, p. 59.

Washington Post Book World, July 18, 2001, Michele Slung, review of Of Cats and Men, p. C12.