Rereading Inspirations

It was around 21 years ago I sat on this Maine beach and read this book above, and decided to write Funny Ladies: The New Yorker’s Women Cartoonists, published in 2005. The second edition, Very Funny Ladies, came out in 2022. Now I am making a documentary based on my books, called Women Laughing. Writing the books was mostly a solo affair, with a wonderful editor and very helpful and supportive husband. Creating a documentary is a team sport. I am really enjoying the process, and we have put together a great team. Shooting has begun and we have more filming planned in October — the documentary should be finished by 2025.

I am rereading Judith Lee’s book because I wanted to refresh my memory on what it was that inspired me, what was the catalyst….even though I kinda know what it was. Knowing these things will help in structuring the film.

There’s another book I am revisiting this weekend: Thomas Kunkle’s Genius In Disguise, the biography of Harold Ross. Ross was the co-founder of The New Yorker in 1925 with Jane Grant. It’s a great read.

My husband, cartoonist and historian Michael Maslin, have read this book a lot, and used it in writing and teaching on The New Yorker.