Joyce Maynard Biography

Joyce Maynard is the New York Times best-selling author of 11 books, including her latest novel Labor Day (William Morrow).

She first came to national attention with the publication of her New York Times cover story, "An Eighteen Year Old Looks Back on Life", in 1973, when she was a freshman at Yale.

Since then, she has been a reporter and columnist for the New York Times, a contributor to the CBS program "Spectrum", a syndicated newspaper columnist whose "Domestic Affairs" column appeared in over 50 papers nationwide, a regular contributor to NPR and national magazines including O, The Oprah Magazine, Newsweek, the New York Times Magazine, Forbes, Salon, San Francisco Magazine, USA Weekly, and many more.

She is currently a contributing writer with More magazine.

Maynard has appeared on ABC's Good Morning America, NBC's Today Show, CNN, Chris Matthews' Hard Ball, Charlie Rose, and NPR's Fresh Air.

She has also been a regular contributor to National Public Radio's All Things Considered. Maynard is a sought after speaker at universities, schools, MFA writing programs, literary festivals, lecture series, and Jewish Community Centers.

She is also a performance storyteller and has appeared with The Moth in New York City and in New Haven, and with Porchlight -a similar performance/storytelling series - in San Francisco.

She has taught both nonfiction and fiction writing, and because her novel The Usual Rules was discovered by young readers - and some teachers - she frequently speaks at schools about reading and writing.

As a writer of fiction, Maynard has published five novels, including Baby Love, Where Love Goes, The Usual Rules, The Cloud Chamber, and To Die For, a black comedy based loosely on the Pamela Smart murder case.

That novel was made into a movie of the same name, directed by Gus van Sant and starring Nicole Kidman (Maynard plays the role of Kidman's lawyer in the film).

Her novel, The Usual Rules - a story about surviving loss - has been a favorite of book club audiences of all ages, and was chosen one of the 10 best books for young readers for 2003.

Her YA novel, The Cloud Chamber, was chosen Best Young Adult Book of the Year by the Commonwealth Club of California.

Her best-selling memoir, At Home in the World, which revealed how her relationship with J.D. Salinger shaped her young life and, in many ways, even her later years, was published in 1998.

When asked to name the single common thread that links her long and varied list of work, Maynard says, "The single bond is my abiding fascination with family and relationships, and what makes people do what they do."

For the last 19 years, since the death of her mother, Maynard has maintained the practice of teaching pie making (specifically, the art of making good pie crust).

She has taught the art and craft of pie making all around the country (sometimes at gatherings hosted by longtime readers, and always to raise money for a good cause).

Pie making plays a central role in her latest novel, Labor Day. The instructions for making a good pie that Frank offers to the narrator, Henry, are exactly what Maynard has been offering to her pie students, (and the lessons her mother taught her).

In addition to providing a good reading experience, Labor Day will also provide the reader with everything he or she needs to make a great pie.

Maynard is the mother of three grown children.

She makes her home in Mill Valley, California, and at Lake Atitlan, Guatemala, where (since 2002) she has been running the Lake Atitlan Writing Workshop.

As a renowned expert and highly sought-after speaker, Joyce Maynard's expertise is in high demand. To book Joyce Maynard for your next event, conference, or workshop, please contact our speaker booking agency. Our experienced team will work closely with you to understand your specific needs and help secure Joyce Maynard's participation. With our professional guidance and seamless booking process, you can ensure a memorable and impactful experience for your audience. Don't miss the opportunity to engage your audience with Joyce Maynard's compelling insights and inspire positive change within your organization. Fill out the booking request form to take the first step in securing Joyce Maynard for your next speaking engagement.