11.20.05: SUSAN ORLEAN

Susan Orlean is an American journalist whose feature writing drolly but affectionately considers "softer" subjects than some of those covered by her colleagues. She has been a staff writer for The New Yorker since 1992, and has contributed articles to Vogue, Rolling Stone, and Outside.

Orlean is the author of several books, including The Orchid Thief, a profile of Florida orchid grower, breeder, and collector John Laroche. The book formed the basis of Charlie Kaufman's script for the Spike Jonze film Adaptation. Orlean (portrayed by Meryl Streep) was, in effect, made into a fictional character; the movie portrayed her as becoming Laroche's lover and partner in a drug smuggling operation, in which orchids were ground into a cocaine-like substance.

She also wrote the Women's Outside article, "Life's Swell" (published 1998). The article, a feature on a group of young surfer girls in Maui, was the basis of the film Blue Crush.

Listen to Susan on The Lit Show (RealMedia Streaming)