I was immediately excited last summer when @lanikaps , the fabulously talented author of the bestselling book NORA EPHRON AT THE MOVIES, came to me and told me what she wanted to write next: an oral history of Dawson’s Creek.
Ilana and I are both long-time fans of the show, and we knew we were hardly alone. For so many viewers like us, the show was a formative cultural touchstone—a time capsule of friendships and first loves, shifting social norms, and the awkward, exhilarating process of growing up. And I knew that Ilana, a brilliant journalist who has been writing about Dawson’s Creek for nearly a decade, was the absolute right person to capture the story of the making of the show and its enduring impact on culture.
In December, we sold THE CREEK: A BEHIND-THE-SCENES HISTORY OF THE SHOW THAT TAUGHT US HOW TO FEEL to the fabulous Cindy Sipala at @hachetteus ’s @runningpressbooks . It was the very last deal I closed in 2025, and it felt like the perfect note on which to end the year.
Formally announcing the book today in a world without James Van Der Beek—who was the very beating heart of the show—is incredibly bittersweet. We hope that the book will be a fitting tribute to James and to the show that has meant so much to so many. ♥️ #DawsonsCreek
I have some news, which is so exciting and also incredibly bittersweet for obvious reasons. I sold my second book in December and it’s on DAWSON’S CREEK in honor of its forthcoming 30th anniversary, which I began working on last summer ✨✨
I first watched Dawson’s Creek as a 9-year-old (literally) and basked in the drama of the show’s hyperverbal teens, their love triangles and drama I yearned to be a part of. The series was my gateway into teen soaps and has remained extremely close to my heart since my millennial childhood. So much so, that I still return to the series finale every time I need a good cry (imo it is a masterclass in endings!)
I hope this book can not only be a celebration of the show that taught us how to feel and introduced us to an idyllic little town called Capeside, but a tribute to James Van Der Beek, who is inextricably at its center.
I’m so thrilled my book found a home with the team at @hachetteus / @runningpressbooks since I’ve loved so many of their pop culture books over the years. And I really could not have done any of this without my superstar agent @irisblasi of @arc_literary who has been a joy to work with and incredible every step of the way and to whom I owe a ton of gratitude.
The show, the characters and the people who made it have shaped so much of my life, and I can only hope this book will honor the impact it’s had on the fans who have loved it for as long as I have 💜
So excited to announce that my first book NORA EPHRON AT THE MOVIES is available for pre-order and will be out Oct. 29 via ABRAMS. It was an honor to write about one of my rom-com heroes and favorite writers.
NORA EPHRON AT THE MOVIES is the first illustrated monograph about writer, journalist and director Nora Ephron. It offers an unfiltered look at Ephron as a champion of the rom-com and as a feminist Hollywood trailblazer, exploring her life and work by pairing detailed criticism with exclusive interviews from key collaborators including Andie MacDowell and Jennifer Kaytin Robinson. As an added bonus, the inimitable @imjasondiamond wrote the foreword!
I’m really proud of this book, which I wrote over the course of two years and while I was planning my wedding to @dvsmethid (Nora even made it into my vows!) I couldn’t have done this book without his love, support and encouragement.
Thank you to everyone who put up with me throughout this process + I hope you enjoy the book.
Link in bio to pre-order! ✨
Wrote my first people print cover ✨
Spent an afternoon with Rita Wilson talking about how Nora Ephron inspired her second act as a musician, marriage, the legacy of one of my fav movies Now and Then, working with Lena Dunham and what another collaboration with Chet could look like. She is every bit as funny, charming and warm as you’d expect.
On newsstands Friday
📸 @mrmikerosenthal
Ty @nelson_jeff for the edits & @btprinc
“For this playlist, I not only wanted to spotlight some of my favorite artists, but also songs that unabashedly embrace vulnerability. I think one of the most powerful things a woman can do is be vulnerable, and while some of these tracks may on the surface be certifiable bangers, there’s a common thread of unflappable strength in their storytelling. I hope this playlist makes you dance, scream, cry and bet on yourself.”
Tap into our latest Women’s History Month playlist by People Magazine’s Music Editor Ilana Kaplan Schultz (@lanikaps ).
Thank you @elleusa for highlighting last years article on The Purgatory of Being a Fencesitter by @lanikaps . You can find a link to this fabulous article in my Bio. If you want 2026 to be the year you leave purgatory behind, @white_horse_v and I can support you with 1:1 coaching and workshops.
If you’re looking for a last minute holiday gift for a Nora Ephron fan, a film buff, a lover of beautiful coffee table books, or for yourself, might I suggest friend of the show @lanikaps Nora Ephron at The Movies?
The first illustrated monograph on writer, journalist, and director Nora Ephron “offers an unfiltered look at Ephron as a champion of the rom-com and as a feminist Hollywood trailblazer. It explores her life and work by pairing detailed criticism with exclusive interviews with Ephron’s key collaborators to add color and nuance to her life and legacy.”
If you want to know about Ilana’s writing/interview process for the book, you can listen to my interview with her wherever you get your podcasts, or read the interview on the Nora and New York Substack.
#noraephron #ilanakaplan #noraephronatthemovies
Author @lanikaps talks to Jason about @amh4real and how America fell in love with him despite the…problematic bits of this movie. Takes a lot of charm! #80smovies #sixteencandles
Author @lanikaps talks to Jason about the standout performance of Molly Ringwald and how complicated it was to nail Middle Child Syndrome. #sixteencandles
