Joan Meyerson is an award-winning writer/director/producer of documentaries and television programs for which she won two Writers Guild of America awards. The dramatic accounts she wrote about vets and military families reconfirmed her belief that the best stories come from real life, a belief she has followed in writing. Having told the stories of others, she now tells one of her own. Her first novel, Who Needs Paris, is inspired by the two times she lived in the city of lights and she joined me on Uncorking a Story to talk all about it. Key Takeaways Joan Meyerson's transition from being a secretary to taking on creative roles within the documentary film company where she worked, initially doing tasks she was not hired for, such as writing synopses and proposals for TV series. Her experience with her second boss at the company, David Wolper—a prominent figure in television who produced the famous series called "Roots"—who encouraged her to write proposals, leading her to become known as the "Princess of writing proposals." The pivotal moment in her career when she was recognized for her talent and writing skills, which eventually led to her becoming an associate producer after writing a comprehensive outline for the documentary "Big Cats, Little Cats." The inspiration behind her latest book, "Who Needs Paris?" which was drawn from her experiences living in Paris during the 1960s and the 1970s, as well as her career in producing and writing documentaries. The structure and thematic elements of her book, which involve a back-and-forth timeline that peels back layers of the main character, Kate's, life as she deals with past experiences and embarks on a journey of personal and professional growth. Buy Who Needs Paris? Amazon: https://amzn.to/3GwyHYW Bookshop.org:https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9798985057652 Connect with Joan Website: https://www.joanmeyerson.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/joanmeyerson Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joanmeyerson Connect with Mike Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@uncorkingastory Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/ If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.