THE THREE with Erin Carlson

An interview, a photo story, and Pop-Up Questions

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Erin Carlson is a San Francisco-based journalist and author of the books I’ll Have What She’s Having: How Nora Ephron’s Three Iconic Films Saved the Romantic Comedy and Queen Meryl, a tribute to the films of Meryl Streep. She is at work on her next, No Crying In Baseball, a history of A League Of Their Own. She's covered the entertainment industry for The Hollywood Reporter and The Associated Press as an editor and reporter, and her work has appeared in Vanity Fair, Glamour and The Los Angeles Times. 

I just relished reading Erin Carlson’s book, which centers around the making of Ephron’s three most iconic films- the title film as well as Sleepless in Seattle and You’ve Got Mail. It was an absolute relief to read something that wasn’t heavy but was also real- the real accomplishments and work of a smart and talented woman. I’m personally a big Ephron fan, and love all three of these movies, so this insider glimpse (packed with interviews with stars and producers) was brain candy. - Maggie

POP UP QUESTIONS

The writer picks five out of ten pop-up questions and answers them.

What do you think about when you are awake at 3 am?

First, I grab my phone off the bedside table and look at the time. It's only 3 a.m.! (It's only 3 a.m.) I put down the glowing rectangle and close my eyes, relieved. If I can fall right back asleep, I'll get another four hours of precious slumber. I'll take it.

What book do you wish you could read again for the first time and why?

Sam Wasson's masterpiece, Fifth Avenue, 5 A.M.: Audrey Hepburn, Breakfast at Tiffany's, and the Dawn of the Modern Woman. Wasson is a marvelous storyteller, capturing film and social history with novelistic brushstrokes. In Fifth Avenue, 5 A.M., Audrey and Capote and Mancini and Holly Golightly are his subjects, and he paints each with great style and depth. Read this book with popcorn (or a martini if you're so inclined), and prepare to be immersed in the glittering world of 1960s New York City. I'll be jealous: I wish I could read it with fresh eyes! Why? Reading Wasson is like reading Hilary Mantel: You never see the wheels turning. Every word is a surprise. As a writer, you want to know: How did he do that?

What writer romanticized being a writer for you as a young person?

Jo March, the fictional alter ego of Louisa May Alcott. I was introduced to her through Winona Ryder in the 1994 film adaptation of Little Women. At 13 years old, steeped in popular films starring men and boys, I had never, ever seen a character like that on screen. Jo was passionate and funny and strong-willed, with an artistic temperament. She was a revelation. 

What occupies your mind most often on being a woman in America?

As an elder Millennial born eight years after Roe vs. Wade, I often worry that my daughter will grow up without the rights that I had as a woman and girl. Democracy is fragile, and preserving it requires vigilance and intelligent and humane personnel at the local level, including whom we elect on our school boards. Speaking of: Vote, vote, vote! (Should I get off my soapbox now? Sorry not sorry! It had to be said!)

*What music do you love on road trips? Tom Petty was made for road trips. Crank up "Learning to Fly," baby!

PHOTO ROLL STORY

The writer picks a photo from her phone and tells us about it.

I snapped this shot in August 2018 during a trip to Marshall, California, where I stayed in a cozy cottage at Nick's Cove, a coastal getaway famous for its BBQ oysters (secret ingredient: Coca-Cola). This old cinematic fishing boat sat behind my cottage, begging to be photographed for its name alone. "NEVER TOO LATE." I don't know who named the boat, but they've got soul and I want to befriend them. The sentiment rings true: It's never too late to be who you want to be. 

THE INTERVIEW

The writer answers questions about her life and work.

How did you come to write a book about Nora Ephron and the making of When Harry Met Sally?

The route to I'll Have What She's Having was perhaps inevitable: About 10 years ago, while working as a journalist in New York City, I spent one Sunday each month leading a walking tour of the locations where Nora filmed her movies on the Upper West Side. Think Cafe Lalo (You've Got Mail) and Cafe Luxembourg (When Harry Met Sally), and, of course, Zabar's, the iconic grocery store that Nora frequented in her real life. My friend Jennifer Armstrong led the tour with me, and she, even more than Nora, inspired my career in writing narrative nonfiction books about pop culture. Jennifer wrote such gems as Seinfeldia and Sex and the City and Us. She helped me gain the confidence to believe that I might someday write a book, too. And when I thought about what that book would be, my subject was a no-brainer: I chose Nora and her iconic romcom trilogy, which heavily influenced my life and outlook on love.

I love all the anecdotes and small stories that you include in I'll Have What She's Having- what was the research like?

Thank you, and um, I maaaaay have gone a bit overboard in researching the book! So many juicy tidbits hit the cutting-room floor after I cut my 500-page draft by half to match my publisher's word count. The research was the most fun: I spent time on both coasts, interviewing many of Nora's colleagues and friends, and holed up in several amazing libraries (shout-outs to my favorites, the Margaret Herrick Library in L.A. and the Paley Center for Media in New York).

What is your favorite Nora Ephron story? The most surprising fact you learned?

When Nora was filming Sleepless in Seattle, she demanded that the crew wrap as many twinkle lights as possible around a lone sailboat on Lake Union — the scene involved the boat gliding across the water in front of Tom Hanks' houseboat. Crew members complained that the lights were excessive and unnecessary, but Nora stood her ground. "I want it the way I want it," she told her producer. I loved that! She knew that filmgoers would respond positively to the lovely, twinkling imagery, and she often risked being liked in order to achieve the look that she wanted in her films. For a woman navigating patriarchal Hollywood, that took guts. 

The most surprising fact? I mean, I discovered lots of intriguing aspects of her personal and professional lives, and yet I remain baffled by the trivial matter of her intense dislike for the color blue, which she forbade in her set decor. Purple or orange, sure, but how can you hate the color blue?

It was interesting to read how When Harry Met Sally plot came together, from how it was originally conceived to end (with Harry and Sally as friends) to the final result. What is your opinion as a fan about the ultimately chosen happy ending of the movie?

In the beginning, When Harry Met Sally's director, Rob Reiner, wanted Harry and Sally to part ways amicably. He felt that ending would be most realistic, but feedback from early viewers elicited a different response: Forget realism! They wanted Harry and Sally to end up together. With screenwriter Nora's full support, Rob chose the hopeful, happy ending. Every proper romantic comedy needs a happy ending, and the film was better for it. When Harry Met Sally is widely considered the greatest romantic comedy of all time, and the heartwarming grand finale — Harry running through the streets of New York to declare his love to Sally — sealed the deal. 

What tips do you have for non-fiction writers who have a subject matter they love and want to write a book about it?

With nonfiction, you'll need to write a proposal that shows publishers how the book might sell in the marketplace — books are a business, after all. (Do I sound like Joe Fox?) I would focus on putting together a dazzling proposal and read as much as you can in your category. If you're interested in writing a memoir, for instance, I'd check out books by authors whose work you admire for inspiration. If they can do it, so can you!

What are you working on now?

I'm currently writing my third book, No Crying In Baseball, about the making of the iconic sports movie A League of Their Own. It's been a lot of work, but a lot of fun! I can't wait to share it next year.