Amanda Stern

Who is Amanda Stern?

Amanda Stern is the author of the critically acclaimed novel The Long Haul ISBN 1932360069, whose metaphors, the San Francisco Chronicle called, "so fresh they are almost jarring." In 2003 Stern founded the highly acclaimed and popular The Happy Ending Music and Reading Series. A permanent resident of New York City, Stern makes her living writing children's books, and producing and hosting literary events for cultural organizations such as The National Book Foundation, for whom she hosted the National Book Award's first ever "5 Under 35" ceremony, and The PEN American Center, Yaddo, the French Embassy, MASS MoCA and others. Her fiction, non-fiction, and poetry have appeared in, among other places, The New York Times, The New York Times Magazine, Filmmaker, The Believer, Post Road, St. Ann's Review, Salt Hill, Hayden's Ferry Review, Five Chapters and Spinning Jenny.

Stern launched her series, "Happy Ending," in 2003 out of a small Chinatown bar. Cited by critics of The Village Voice, New York Magazine, NY Press and The New Yorker as the best series in NYC, with Time Out New York calling it the "most vital authors' series in NYC," and "consistently one of the most entertaining literary events in the city.", Stern's reputation as a skilled host and discerning curator grew, and in 2006, she was profiled in the "New York" issue of the New York Times Magazine as one of ten "New Bohemians, helping to keep downtown New York alive." The Happy Ending Series quickly became a required stop for authors and musicians on tour;. On January 7, 2009, after five years in the small bar, the well-loved series moved to uptown to NYC's premiere performance venue, Joe's Pub at the Public Theater becoming the pub's first ever ongoing literary series. She has welcomed over 600 artists, including: Laurie Anderson, Aimee Mann, James Salter, Moby, A.M. Homes, Rick Moody, Amy Hempel, Mary Gaitskill, My Brightest Diamond and Mark Eitzel.