Dani Shapiro

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Dani Shapiro
Shapiro at the 2018 Texas Book Festival
Shapiro at the 2018 Texas Book Festival
BornDaneile Shapiro
(1962-04-10) April 10, 1962 (age 62)
New York City

Dani Shapiro is an American writer, the author of six novels including Family History (2003), Black & White (2007) and most recently Signal Fires (2022)[1] and the best-selling memoirs Slow Motion (1998), Devotion (2010), Hourglass (2017), and Inheritance (2019).[2] She has also written for magazines such as The New Yorker, The Oprah Magazine, Vogue, and Elle.[3] In February 2019, she created an original podcast on iHeart Radio called Family Secrets.[4]

Early life and education[edit]

Shapiro was born Daneile Shapiro[5] on April 10, 1962, in New York City.[6] She is the daughter of Paul Shapiro, from an Orthodox Jewish family (who, she later learned through a recreational DNA test, was not her biological father[7]), and Irene Shapiro, from South Jersey. Shapiro attended a Solomon Schechter Jewish day school through 6th grade, after which she attended the Pingry School in New Jersey.[8] She attended Sarah Lawrence College, where she was taught by Grace Paley.[9]

Career[edit]

Writing[edit]

Shapiro's novels include Playing with Fire, Fugitive Blue, Picturing the Wreck, Family History, Black & White, and Signal Fires. [10] Her best-selling memoirs include Slow Motion, Devotion, Still Writing: The Perils and Pleasures of a Creative Life, Hourglass: Time, Memory, Marriage, and most recently, Inheritance: A Memoir of Genealogy, Paternity, and Love.[11]

Signal Fires was named a best book of 2022 by Time Magazine[12], Washington Post, and others, and is a national bestseller.[13]

Angela Haupt writes: "On a cold night in 2010, a retired doctor sits underneath an ancient oak tree with the unusual little boy who lives across the street. The boy points out the constellations, and what they represent. The man—unlike anyone else in the boy’s life—listens. Though the boy doesn’t know it, this isn’t the first time their lives have intersected, and they’ll soon become linked again in a way that will endure time and distance. Signal Fires, Dani Shapiro’s first novel in 15 years, follows the man and his family, and the boy and his parents, across decades, lyrically examining the ways a single event can alter many lives forever." [14]

In Inheritance, Shapiro writes about her experience of learning through a recreational DNA test that her biological father was not Paul Shapiro; rather, she had been conceived by the primitive practice of mixing Paul's sperm with that of an anonymous donor, whom she later was able to identify.[15] Inheritance debuted at #11 on the New York Times Best Seller list[16] and Ruth Franklin called it "beautifully written and deeply moving."[17] The San Francisco Chronicle described Inheritance as "as compulsively readable as a mystery novel, while exploring the deeper mysteries of identity and family and truth itself… a story told with great insight and honesty and heart."[18] And Pulitzer Prize winning author Jennifer Egan wrote that “Inheritance is Dani Shapiro at her best: a gripping genetic detective story, and a meditation on the meaning of parenthood and family.” The memoir was included on several best-of-the-year lists, including that of Vanity Fair,[19] Oprah Magazine,[20] Lit Hub[21] and Wired.[22] Inheritance is being adapted for film by Shapiro's husband, journalist and screenwriter Michael Maren,[23] in development with Killer Films.[24]

In addition to The New Yorker,[25] The Oprah Magazine,[26] Vogue,[27] and Elle[28], Shapiro's writing has also appeared in Salon,[29] and n+1,[30] among others.

Screenwriting[edit]

Shapiro has also written for the screen; in 1999, she adapted Oscar Wilde's The Happy Prince for HBO and in 2000, she co-wrote a screenplay based on her memoir, Slow Motion, with Michael Maren.[31] Shapiro is currently adapting Sue Miller's bestselling novel Monogamy for film for Killer Films and Yellow Bear Films.[32] She is also adapting Signal Fires for its television adaptation.

Teaching[edit]

Shapiro has taught writing classes and workshops at NYU, Wesleyan University and Columbia University[33] as well Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health,[34] 1440 Multiversity,[35] and Fine Arts Work Center.[36] On March 31, 2020, she launched her first digital course, "Writing for Inner Calm: Methods & Exercises", on the Skillshare online learning platform.[37]

She also co-founded Sirenland Writers Conference[38] which takes place annually in Positano, Italy.

Podcasting[edit]

In collaboration with iHeart Radio, Shapiro launched the original podcast Family Secrets in 2019. Each episode of this iTunes Top 10 podcast features a conversation between Dani and a guest who's experienced a family secret and its effects.[39] The podcast's seventh season premiered on September 1, 2022[40] the podcast has over 30 million downloads.[41]

In addition to Family Secrets, Shapiro created and hosted another podcast with iHeart Radio, The Way We Live Now, which launched in April 2020 and concluded in July 2020. The podcast examined the way people from all walks of life have coped during the COVID-19 pandemic.[42]

Personal life[edit]

Shapiro has been married since 1997 to screenwriter Michael Maren,[43] and they have a son, Jacob.[44] In the early 2000s, Shapiro and her family moved from Brooklyn, NY to Litchfield County, Connecticut.[45]

Books[edit]

  • Playing with Fire Doubleday Publishing Group, 1990, ISBN 9780385267229
  • Fugitive Blue Nan A. Talese, 1992, ISBN 978-0385421072
  • Picturing the Wreck Doubleday, 1995, ISBN 978-0385472630
  • Slow Motion: A True Story Random House, 1998 ISBN 978-0-307-82800-2
  • Family History: A Novel Knopf, 2004 ISBN 978-0-307-42585-0
  • Black & White Knopf, 2007 ISBN 978-1-4000-3212-9
  • Devotion: A Memoir Harper, 2010 ISBN 978-0-06-162834-4
  • Still Writing: The Perils and Pleasures of a Creative Life Atlantic Monthly Press, 2013 ISBN 978-0-8021-9343-8
  • Hourglass: Time, Memory, Marriage Knopf, 2017 ISBN 978-0-4514-9448-1
  • Inheritance: A Memoir of Genealogy, Paternity, and Love Knopf, 2019 ISBN 978-1524732714

Appearances (selected)[edit]

Awards[edit]

  • 2023: National Jewish Book Award winner in the JJ Greenberg Memorial Award for Fiction category for Signal Fires[49]
  • 2019: National Jewish Book Award winner in the Autobiography and Memoir category for Inheritance: A Memoir of Genealogy, Paternity, and Love [50]
  • 2019: Inheritance named a finalist for the Goodreads Choice Award in the Memoir category [51]
  • 2020: Inheritance named a finalist for the Wingate Prize for a non-fiction book "to translate the idea of Jewishness to the general reader."[52]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Rankin, Seija (October 27, 2021). "Dani Shapiro is publishing her first novel in 15 years: 'It was like a lightning bolt'". EW.com. Retrieved November 1, 2021.
  2. ^ "Contact & Bio". Dani Shapiro. August 26, 2013. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
  3. ^ "Barnes & Noble Interview & Writer Details". Archived from the original on March 19, 2008. Retrieved February 28, 2019.
  4. ^ "Podcast Spotlight: Nothing Stays Hidden For Long on "Family Secrets" | iHeartRadio Blog". blog.iheart.com. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
  5. ^ Shapiro, Dani (1019). Inheritance. Knopf. p. 228. ISBN 1524732710.
  6. ^ Maran, Meredith (2016). Why We Write About Ourselves: Twenty Memoirists on Why They Expose Themselves (and Others) in the Name of Literature. Plume. ISBN 978-0142181973.
  7. ^ a b "Author Dani Shapiro discovers her dad isn't her biological father after DNA test". www.cbsnews.com. April 6, 2019. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
  8. ^ Mindell, Cindy. "Q & A: Author Dani Shapiro", Jewish Ledger, January 12, 2011. Accessed February 11, 2011.
  9. ^ "Dani Shapiro | Inspiring People | Living Louder | DanaRoc.com". www.danaroc.com. Retrieved February 28, 2019.
  10. ^ "New Dani Shapiro Novel Coming in 2022". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
  11. ^ "Books by Dani Shapiro (Author of Inheritance)". www.goodreads.com. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
  12. ^ "The 100 Must-Read Books of 2022". Time. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
  13. ^ "Signal Fires". Dani Shapiro. March 28, 2022. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
  14. ^ "'Signal Fires' Is One of the 100 Must-Read Books of 2022". Time. November 14, 2022. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
  15. ^ Ridley, Jane (January 12, 2019). "I'm the result of a secret sperm concoction". Retrieved February 28, 2019.
  16. ^ "Hardcover Nonfiction Books - Best Sellers". The New York Times. February 3, 2019. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
  17. ^ Franklin, Ruth (January 15, 2019). "March's Book Club Pick: Dani Shapiro's New Memoir Uncovers a Life-Changing Family Secret". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
  18. ^ Brandeis, Gayle (February 18, 2019) [February 5, 2019]. "True blood: A review of 'Inheritance,' a memoir by Dani Shapiro". San Francisco Arts & Entertainment Guide. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
  19. ^ "The Best Books of 2019, So Far". Vanity Fair. July 8, 2019. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
  20. ^ "Calling It Now: Everyone Will Talk About These 4 Books All Year Long". Oprah Magazine. January 7, 2019. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
  21. ^ "Lit Hub's Most Anticipated Books of 2019". Literary Hub. December 28, 2018. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
  22. ^ "12 Science Books You Should Read Right Now". Wired. ISSN 1059-1028. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
  23. ^ Gillette, Sam (March 28, 2022). "Dani Shapiro Shares Excerpt From Her Upcoming Novel Signal Fires, Her 'Most Personal Book' Yet". PEOPLE.com. Retrieved March 29, 2022.
  24. ^ "Cami Delavigne Penning Feature Adaptation of Dani Shapiro's "Inheritance" for Killer Films". womenandhollywood.com. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
  25. ^ "Dani Shapiro". The New Yorker. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
  26. ^ "What Nobody Tells You About Painful Regrets". Oprah.com. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
  27. ^ "Dani Shapiro". Vogue. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
  28. ^ "Dani Shapiro". Elle. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
  29. ^ "Dani Shapiro | Salon.com". www.salon.com. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
  30. ^ "Shapiro/Dani". n+1. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
  31. ^ "Dani Shapiro". IMDb. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
  32. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (May 4, 2021). "Killer Films & Yellow Bear Films Close Deal For Sue Miller Bestselling Novel 'Monogamy', Holly Hunter In Talks To Star". Deadline. Retrieved July 26, 2021.
  33. ^ Shapiro, Dani (June 15, 2011). "#amwriting". NPlusOne. Retrieved June 16, 2011.
  34. ^ "The Stories We Carry Meditation and Writing". Kripalu. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
  35. ^ "The Stories We Carry - 1440 Multiversity". www.1440.org. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
  36. ^ "Transforming Chaos into Art: A Workshop in Fiction & Memoir". Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown. January 9, 2020. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
  37. ^ "Writing for Inner Calm: A Mindset, Methods, and Daily Exercises for All | Dani Shapiro". Skillshare. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
  38. ^ Barberich, Christene. "Dani Shapiro On How Writing Saved Her Life — & How It Can Save Yours". www.refinery29.com. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
  39. ^ "The Family Secrets Podcast", Severance Magazine, September 2, 2019
  40. ^ "Family Secrets: Season 7 Trailer - Family Secrets". iHeart. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
  41. ^ "Family Secrets". Dani Shapiro. February 9, 2019. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
  42. ^ "Dani Shapiro's New Daily Podcast "The Way We Live Now" Will Keep You Company While Practicing Social Distancing | iHeartRadio Blog". blog.iheart.com. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
  43. ^ Weddings: "Dani Shapiro, Michael P Maren", The New York Times, June 8, 1997.
  44. ^ "Dani Shapiro's 'Hourglass' Explores A Marriage Over TimeLitchfield County resident and bestselling memoirist Dani Shapiro discusses her latest book, Hourglass". www.ruralintelligence.com. May 9, 2017. Retrieved April 3, 2020.[permanent dead link]
  45. ^ Shaw, Dan (October 24, 2013). "Dani Shapiro's Provident Move to the Country". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
  46. ^ "Dani Shapiro Archives". SuperSoul.tv. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
  47. ^ Dani Shapiro Opens Up About DNA Shocker That Changed Her Life | TODAY, retrieved April 6, 2020
  48. ^ "'Inheritance' author Dani Shapiro answers your questions". PBS NewsHour. March 31, 2020. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
  49. ^ "Signal Fires | Jewish Book Council". www.jewishbookcouncil.org. 2022. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
  50. ^ "Past Winners". Jewish Book Council. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
  51. ^ "Announcing the Goodreads Choice Winner in Best Memoir & Autobiography!". Goodreads. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  52. ^ "Grant, Shapiro and Jacobson make Wingate Prize longlist | The Bookseller". www.thebookseller.com. Retrieved May 3, 2020.

External links[edit]

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