Millburn-Short Hills Magazine Spring 2020 | Page 38

looking back 2011
Catching Up with
Joanne Fisher
I
n 2011
2011, Maplewood resident Joanne Fisher
became the editor of Millburn & Short Hills
Magazine. Five years later, she stepped down to
pursue her lifelong dream of becoming a novelist.
Her first book, Good Neighbors, was released in
2018 by Twelve/Grand Central Publishing under
her maiden name, Joanne Serling. The story centers
around a group of neighboring families whose superficial
friendships threaten the welfare of a child. She is now
at work on her second novel, a story about a mysterious
painting, a childhood secret and the reverberations of
both on a new marriage.
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SPRING 2020 MILLBURN & SHORT HILLS MAGAZINE
When she’s not hiding out in a café writing fiction,
Fisher is working closely with rising high school seniors
to help them pen their college essays. “Connecting with
teens and guiding them to find their voice is among the
most gratifying work I’ve ever done,” she says. “I love the
moment when the light bulb goes off, and they realize
they have something important to say.” Besides working
with private students, Fisher also does pro bono work
with Columbia High School’s Minority Achievement
Club. ■
—CINDY SCHWEICH HANDLER
FROM NONFICTION
TO FICTION Former
Millburn & Short Hills
Magazine editor Joanne
(Serling) Fisher at a
book-signing event.