“I’m always writing the book I most want to read in that particular moment.”

That’s a line from novelist Ellen Meister, offered in an exchange with podcast host Daniel Paisner. The two recently shared a stage at the Port Washington Public Library – a couple of Long Island authors talking about craft and career in front of a local audience. The event went so well, we’ve decided to repurpose the discussion here. Join us as we hear from both panelists on what it means to pursue a writing life, where to look for inspiration, and how to keep at it even when you might be falling short of your own expectations.

Ellen Meister is the author of several novels, including The Rooftop Party, Love Sold Separately, Dorothy Parker Drank Here, and Farewell, Dorothy Parker. Her most recent novel, Take My Husband, was published in August 2022 to wide critical acclaim and is the focus of much of this conversation.

Ellen is also an editor, book coach, ghostwriter, and frequent contributor to Long Island Woman Magazine. She teaches creative writing at Long Island University Hutton House Lectures and previously at Hofstra University.

The joint appearance, sponsored by the Friends of the Library and moderated by the library’s programming coordinator Jeff Zeh, was meant to also highlight Daniel Paisner’s new novel, Balloon Dog, which was published in June, 2022 to a somewhat narrower swath of critical acclaim and is also the focus of much of this conversation.

Listen. Support your local libraries. Read. Share.

A video version of this interview is available on the PWPL YouTube channel.

Learn more about Ellen Meister:

• Website
• Twitter
• Facebook

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