Oct 21, 2021 4 min read

The Peters Township Library Foundation welcomes author Taylor Jenkins Reid for Novel November 2021.

Reid, whose body of work includes three New York Times best-selling books, is featured in a program from 7 to 10 p.m. Nov. 4 at Peters Township High School. Masks are required at this event

Look for Reid’s novel “Daisy Jones & the Six” for its adaptation as an Amazon limited series. Her other books include “Malibu Rising,” “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo,” “One True Loves,” “Maybe In Another Life,” “After I Do” and “Forever, Interrupted.”

The Los Angeles-based author provides some insight about herself and her writing in advance of her visit.

Q: The main characters of “Daisy Jones & the Six” and “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” both are strong, slightly unconventional women. What’s your inspiration? Is there anyone in your real life from whom you took inspiration? What do you hope people take away from these women?

A: I take inspiration from a lot of places. Obviously with those two books, and really all of my books lately, I’m looking at popular culture: actresses, rock stars, models, all sorts of public figures. I’m interested in what it costs these sorts of women to hold our attention the way that they do.

I try to pull from a lot of different types of women that existed during the time I’m writing about. So Evelyn Hugo, for instance, seems a little like Elizabeth Taylor because of the marriages. But I think as you read you can see there is also Rita Hayworth and Ava Gardner and Joan Crawford and Marilyn Monroe, and a number of other strong women in there, too.

Q: How did you transition to writing? Do you have any advice for those wanting to make a significant career shift?

A: Writing is unique in that you only need yourself and a computer to get started. So for me, I started writing on nights and weekends. It was this quiet, entirely unflashy thing I did on my own when I had time. I didn’t even tell anyone that’s what I was doing. That time allowed me to practice. And then, after a while, I had a finished piece that I was ready to show people.

One of the things I like about storytelling is that you get to hold onto it for as long as you want. It is yours, and you get to decide when you invite people in. I found that priceless at the beginning. So I suppose my advice for people looking to become a writer is to take that time.

This is a passion that can fit into your spare time if you make the effort. When you have spare moments, dedicate yourself to telling a story. Write it for you; make it something you love. And then decide when to let others in.

Q: What’s it like seeing one of your hit novels be adapted for the screen?

A: Entirely surreal! I can’t tell you how many times in the past few months I’ve had a moment in which I’ve seen a table read or a rehearsal or met an actor, and my brain nearly short circuits. “Wait, this all existed in my head, how is it now in three dimensions?”

But more than anything, it’s such a welcome opportunity to go back to these worlds that I’ve left behind. With something like “Daisy Jones & the Six,” I finished that book four years ago. I’ve written two more books since then. But experiencing this process of seeing it become a TV show means I’m thrown right back into that world with these characters that I’ve missed a whole lot. It feels like getting to see an old friend.

I’m very, very lucky.

For Novel November tickets, visit ptlibrary.org.