I came across this interview with Elmore Leonard today. It’s old – from 1996 – but I’d never seen it. My favorite lines: “I am what you call an overnight success … after writing almost anonymously for 30 years.” And “[Writing students] have their pads out and their pens, and they’re ready to hear the secret, to write it down. There isn’t any secret. You sit down and you start and that’s it.” (emphasis added) – Meg
Meg Waite Clayton
Meg Waite Clayton is the New York Times and internationally bestselling author of nine novels, including the forthcoming TYPEWRITER BEACH (Harper, July 1, 2025), the Good Morning America Buzz pick and New York Times Book Review Editors' Choice THE POSTMISTRESS OF PARIS, the National Jewish Book Award finalist THE LAST TRAIN TO LONDON, the Langum-Prize honored THE RACE FOR PARIS, and THE WEDNESDAY SISTERS, one of Entertainment Weekly’s 25 Essential Best Friend Novels of all time. Her novels have been published in 23 languages. She has also written more than 100 pieces for major newspapers, magazines, and public radio, mentors in the OpEd Project, and is a member of the National Book Critics Circle and the California bar. megwaiteclayton.com
