I’m the author of three books—a short story collection Beautiful Girls (MacAdam/Cage), and the young adult novels Rosie and Skate (Random House), which was selected for the New York Times Editors’ Choice list and Booklist’s Top 10 First Novels for Youth, and Jersey Angel (Random House) forthcoming in May 2012. I’ve been awarded fellowships from the Jerome Foundation and the New York Foundation for the Arts. I live in New York City but will always be a Jersey girl at heart.
What’s the upside of being a writer?
Staying in my pajamas until 3:00 PM
What’s the downside of being a writer?
Not getting out of my pajamas until 3:00 PM
What does all this mean?
I need better pjs, I think.
My lofty (forgive me) thoughts on writing:
Writing is hard. Writing well is harder. To give voice to someone’s experience is a big and daunting challenge. Sometimes I don’t like writing at all. When it’s going badly it’s frustrating, boring, lonely. Sometimes I love it. I love how I can get lost in it, how it enlivens me. I think it’s good for my soul. Any work, not only creative work, that uses us, demands from us, is good for us. It’s what we’re here to do—spend ourselves.
Some of the coolest places I’ve been:
Kenya, Madagascar, Zanzibar, Tangier, Denali National Park, Mumbai
Some of my favorite things:
Dogs (big dogs), meatballs, swing dancing/lindy hop, the Jersey shore
Some of my favorite novels:
Jane Eyre
Lolita
The Member of the Wedding
Some of my favorite YA novels:
Weetzie Bat
Catcher in the Rye
Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You
Some of my favorite children’s books:
Harriet the Spy
Matilda
Bridge to Terabithia
Anything by Kate DiCamillo
Beth Ann Bauman 
Comments on: "About Beth" (13)
Hi! My name is Samantha Bousquet and I am a book reviewer. I am the blogger of http://bundlesofbooks101.blogspot.com/. I was checking out your book and it looks so good! I was wondering if you had a review copy to send me? I hope to hear from you soon!
Hi Samantha,
Thanks for your interest in Jersey Angel! I’m forwarding your request to my publisher.
Best,
Beth
I read your book last spring after meeting your mom waiting for the bus to NYC on Mother’s Day. I really enjoyed it. And i really enjoyed speaking with your mom. Seems she knows my supervisor (I work in the library in Brick) who attends the same church.
Good luck to you!
Thanks so much, Judy! My mom told me about meeting you. Small world.
Hi Beth,
I know this is not the appropriate forum for my inquiry but I haven’t found another contact for you. I am interested in the writing class you’re teaching at NYUSCPS on Thursday evenings, and am wondering if it would be possible to audit the course this Thursday prior to registering. Please let me know. I would really appreciate it.
Thank you,
Lara
Hi! I tried leaving a comment for you yesterday but am not sure if it went through. I just wanted to ask if it would be possible to audit your course at NYUSCPS this Thursday. I am interested in enrolling in the class. Please let me know. I would really appreciate it. Thanks so much, Lara
Hi Beth, I live in Edison and worked with your Mother at Pharmacia years ago and was wondering how she is and how she made out in Sandy?
Hi, Ms. Bauman. I plan to register for your Intro to Fiction course this Fall in the Writer’s Voice program at the West Side Y. The info re: the course appears in two places on the Writer’s Voice website (list of programs; registration), but there are inconsistencies between the info in the two spots. How soon can I register, and what are the dates/times of the class meetings?
Thanks very much.
Hi Daniel,
I emailed you info.
Hi Beth!
I read Beautiful Girls this past winter and can’t get the story True out of my head. I am planning to make a short film out of it because of how important the story is to me. I really love your work and would love if you had any ideas either for how to stay close to the story you wrote or for short stories I plan on writing myself!
Molly S
Hi Molly,
Sorry for the slow reply. I love that you want to make a short film of “Beautiful Girls.” I based my YA novel Jersey Angel on the story. It’s different but has similar characters and the same vibe. You can read about how I went from the story to the novel on the News page under the Books Smugglers link. Thanks!
Hi, Beth:
I was thinking about you and found your website. I moved to San Francisco about two years ago because of a job opportunity. Big mistake. I miss New York. I hope you are doing well.
Jack
Hi Jack!
Nice to hear from you. Sorry about the job, but I hope the dancing is good at least. Drop me a line sometime. bethabauman at gmail dot com