Not by Accident [Paperback]

Samantha Dunn used to live for the feeling of wind blowing in her hair and the powerful intoxication of her horse's steady gallop. A tug of Harley's leathery reins could instantly eradicate mounting bills, unfinished work, and the reality of a troubled marriage from her mind. But one day, as she was leading Harley across a stream in a picturesque California canyon, he panicked, knocked her to the ground, and trampled her—nearly severing her leg in the process. Dunn had always been “accident prone”—but in the aftermath of this incident, she began to analyze the details of her life and her propensity for accidents. Was she really just a klutz? Or could there be some underlying emotional reason she was always putting her life in danger? A blend of personal narrative and of research about what drives some people to have more accidents than others,Not by Accidentis an insightful, incisive memoir that helps bridge the gap in understanding that exists on the concept of accident proneness.Samantha Dunn is the author ofFailing Paris, a finalist for the PEN West Fiction Award in 2000, and the memoirFaith in Carlos Gomez: A Memoir of Salsa, Sex and Salvation. Her essays have appeared in numerous national publications, including theLos Angeles Times, O Magazine, Ms., andSalon. She teaches at the Idyllwild Arts Center and in the UCLA Extension Writers Program, where she was named 2011 Instructor of the Year. Dunn lives in Orange, California.“Dunn’s clear prose and lively recall of her calamities make for an effortless read.”
—People

“Witty, smart, droll, moving, and always entertaining, Dunn’s book is nothing short of a thoroughly enjoyable triumph . . .”
—The Oregonian

“I loved this book.”
—Rosie O’Donnell

“Samantha Dunn pulls no punches in this tough, witty, and deeply personal memoir of a brave womlãw