Caren Lissner

Caren Lissner
Born (1973-02-13) February 13, 1973 (age 53)
Elizabeth, New Jersey, U.S.
EducationCedar Ridge High School
University of Pennsylvania (BA)
Occupations
  • Novelist
  • essayist
  • newspaper editor
Websitecarenlissner.com

Caren Lissner (born February 13, 1973) is an American novelist, essayist, and newspaper editor. Her published novels include Carrie Pilby (2003) and Starting from Square Two (2004).

Early life

Caren Lissner was born on February 13, 1973, in Elizabeth, New Jersey. She grew up in Freehold Township, New Jersey, and attended Laura Donovan School and Barkalow Middle School. She graduated from Cedar Ridge High School in Old Bridge Township, New Jersey. She holds a BA in English from the University of Pennsylvania, which she attended from 1989 to 1993. While there, she wrote for the student newspaper, the Daily Pennsylvanian, and was a member of the Philomathean Society.

Career

Lissner has published essays, articles, and satire in The New York Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Atlantic, and McSweeney's Internet Tendency. She served as editor-in-chief of the Hudson Reporter group of newspapers based in Hudson County, New Jersey. Her novel Carrie Pilby was re-released July 1, 2010, by Harlequin Teen and was made into an independent film of the same name starring Bel Powley and Nathan Lane. The film premiered in 2016, was released to theaters in March 2017, and then ran on Netflix from 2018-2023. Lissner is currently a staff reporter for Patch focusing on the news of Hoboken, NJ. She is also working on a memoir about her experience of being homeless while attending the University of Pennsylvania.

References

  1. ↑ Melissa. "Birthdays in February". Retrieved 2019-07-08.
  2. ↑ "Local Author Watches Her Novel Come to Life". New Jersey Monthly. 2016-09-14. Retrieved 2019-07-08.
  3. ↑ Celano, Claire Marie (July 30, 2003). "Young author offers tips to audience at workshop: Caren Lissner says love of writing should be first ingredient toward success" Archived 2006-03-26 at the Wayback Machine. News Transcript. Accessed August 25, 2008. "Lissner, 31, grew up in Freehold Township and attended the Laura Donovan School and the Barkalow Middle School.... She later graduated from high school in Old Bridge."
  4. ↑ Dougher, Jamie. "Local writer will share her experiences, advice" Archived 2019-10-07 at the Wayback Machine, Suburban News, July 3, 2003. Accessed November 7, 2017. "Caren Lissner, a former Old Bridge resident and graduate of Cedar Ridge High School, recently wrote what critics are calling 'the anti-chick-lit novel.'"
  5. ↑ "Close Your Eyes". The Pennsylvania Gazette. 2025-04-24. Retrieved 2026-02-04.
  6. ↑ Steinberg, Becki (June 10, 2010). "College alumnus to re-release lauded novel" Archived 2010-06-22 at the Wayback Machine. The Daily Pennsylvanian. Accessed 13 June 2010.
  7. ↑ Ford, Rebecca (December 17, 2015). "Nathan Lane, Gabriel Byrne, William Moseley Join Bel Powley in 'Carrie Pilby' (Exclusive)". Hollywood Reporter"'. Accessed July 24, 2016.
  8. ↑ Felber, Susie. "Houdini's Latte Lab". www.weehawkengazette.com. Retrieved 2026-02-04.
  9. ↑ Lissner, Caren (2023-06-30). "From Up Here, You Can See Manhattan, and Houses Left to Crumble". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2026-02-04.
  10. ↑ "Close Your Eyes". The Pennsylvania Gazette. 2025-04-24. Retrieved 2026-02-04.