Laura Van Wormer

-Grew up in a CT commuter town outside NYC
-Graduated high school 1974 (THE CLASS OF '74)
-Graduated Syracuse 1978.
-Started at Doubleday at secretary and worked way up to editor
-1985 Left to pursue my own writing, supporting myself by creating coffee-table books with the creators of DYNASTY, DALLAS & KNOTS LANDING
1988 My first novel RIVERSIDE DRIVE published, followed by 13 more.
2015 drunk driver hits me. My high school class did prayer chain. Eventually recovered but couldn't write a decent novel.
2024 50th high school reunion where no one could hear me (voice damaged by respirator too long). Came home frustrated, saying I wish I could have stood up and forced everybody to listen to a story I had written like in the old days (which I always did in high school, interrupting keg parties). Other half said, "Why not write them a story and read it as a podcast so they can hear you?"

Loved the idea. Knew analog sound editing from college and set up my computer as studio and opened the story of THE CLASS OF '74 on our first day of high school, September 8, 1971. (It is fiction, but classmates recognize the Brighton setting as Darien – where all the fathers boarded the train in the morning and all the mothers stayed home.)

I was surprised and pleased when people I didn't know started to listen. The time (pre-cellphones, Nixon, Vietnam War, the ERA bill, the Pill, rumblings that gay people existed) seems to be a draw.

It took me 25 (cliff-hanger) episodes to figure out I adored writing it but desperately needed to get organized! It’s not like writing a novel - more like a cross between a narrative radio soap opera and a bookstore reading. (Right, like I'm interrupting the party again to read everybody something I just finished writing!)

I started a Patreon page in December for access to my notes behind each episode (so now I guess I'm an historian, too) and have started starting promoting. Season 2, weekly episodes, begins Feb. 14th. It's a long story but when the accident happened, we were about to republish all my novels with new introductions and every time I've started it I've gotten overwhelmed. The Class of '74 doesn't have any baggage and is a complete joy because I'M WRITING FICTION AGAIN (thank you, God!)

I'm happy to talk about any aspect of book publishing but if we could just get THE CLASS OF '74 name in a couple of times I'd be very grateful.

I listened to your interview with Dr. Hwang this morning, and then Zoe Allison this afternoon. You have a gift for interviewing. Given your writing career, this is an embarrassment of riches! Your voice is fabulous.