Grant Ginder

American author (born 1983)

Grant Ginder

Born	1982 or 1983 (age 40–41)
Occupation	Novelist
Education	University of Pennsylvania (BA) New York University (MFA)
Period	2009–present
Website
grantginder.wordpress.com

Grant Ginder (born 1982/1983)^[1] is an American novelist, academic, and former political aide.

Background and education

Ginder grew up in Laguna Beach, California.^[2] He received a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Pennsylvania and a Master of Fine Arts from New York University. At the latter, Ginder studied under novelists Junot Diaz and Colson Whitehead.^[3]

Career

While in college, Ginder worked as an intern in the offices of U.S. Representative Loretta Sanchez.^[4] Upon completing his education, Ginder served as a speechwriter for John Podesta at the Center for American Progress.^[5] In 2009, he published his first novel, This is How it Starts, a story of young government employees and interns working in Washington, D.C. Politico called the novel an examination of Washington's "power elite" -- "sharply observed" and "packed with sly humor."

In 2013, Ginder published the novel Driver's Education. In a starred review, the industry publication Booklist called the book, "lively, funny, gritty, and achingly real," comparing Ginder to novelists Junot Diaz and Michael Chabon.^[6] In The Boston Globe, critic Karen Campbell called the work "engaging, colorful, direct, and imaginative," and "a stirring, memorable trip."^[7] The New Yorker magazine called the work "a sensitively observed story," about "lessons that bear repeating."^[8] As of 2020^[update], Ginder lives in Brooklyn, and teaches writing at New York University, his alma mater.^[9]

Novels

This Is How It Starts. Simon & Schuster. 2009. ISBN 9781416599944.
Driver's Education. Simon & Schuster. 2013. ISBN 9781439187357.
The People We Hate at the Wedding. Flatiron Books. 2017. ISBN 9781250095206.
Honestly, We Meant Well. Flatiron Books. 2019. ISBN 9781250143150.
Let's Not Do That Again. Flatiron Books. 2022. ISBN 9781250243775.

References

^ Chris Rovzar, "Grant Ginder Will Drink Whatever Is on Top of the Fridge," New York Magazine, June 3, 2009.
^ Peter Larsen, "Author from O.C. hits the road with 'Driver's Education: A Novel,'" The Orange Country Register, January 18, 2013.
^ Chris Rozvar, "Grant Ginder on His New Novel, Driver’s Education, the Value of an M.F.A., and Writing an Immortal Cat Named Mrs. Dalloway," Vanity Fair, January 8, 2013.
^ Washington Examiner, "Pick and Roll: A Brief Peak Behind TMZ's Curtain," March 4, 2008.
^ Andie Collier, "John Podesta speechwriter tries his hand at fiction," Politico, May 5, 2009.
^ Booklist, Driver's Education, November 1, 2012.
^ Karen Campbell, "‘Driver’s Education’ by Grant Ginder," The Boston Globe, January 7, 2013.
^ The New Yorker, "Driver's Education," March 4, 2013.
^ "Grant Ginder". Authors Answer. April 17, 2020. Retrieved September 24, 2021.