How do you turn personal experience into a powerful memoir that names names?
Estelle Erasmus talks with Hannah Selinger, author of Cellar Rat, about transitioning from essayist to memoirist while tackling the dark side of the restaurant industry.
In this episode:
-
How Hannah’s viral essay led to a book deal
-
What it means to write a memoir that’s also investigative
-
Naming names and dealing with backlash
-
The role of narrative in exposing abuse and toxic culture
About Hannah:
Hannah Selinger, author of Cellar Rat: My Life in the Restaurant Underbelly, is a James Beard Award-nominated lifestyle writer and mother of two based in Boxford, MA. Her print and digital work has appeared in the New YorkTimes Magazine, the Boston Globe, the Washington Post, Eater, Travel + Leisure, Food & Wine, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, and elsewhere. Her 2021 Bon Appétit essay, "In My Childhood Kitchen, I Learned Both Fear and Love," is anthologized in the 2022 Best American Food Writing collection, published by HarperCollins and edited by Sohla El-Waylly.
Connect with Hannah
Website: www.hannahselinger.net
Instagram: https://instagram.com/druishamericanprincess
🎙️ Hosted by Estelle Erasmus
Award-winning journalist, author of Writing That Gets Noticed, NYU professor, and 2025 Podcast of the Year (Education) winner.
📚 Learn more: estelleserasmus.com
📘 Buy the book: Writing That Gets Noticed
📰 Subscribe: estelleserasmus.substack.com
Get Cellar Rat on Estelle’s bookshop
Mentioned in the episode: Estelle’s substack post Why Taping My Podcast Reminds Me of Working in Magazines
https://estelleserasmus.substack.com/p/why-taping-my-podcast-reminds-me
Read Estelle’s latest post on Substack (and an editing offer for paid subscribers): 5 Hard Truths about Essay Writing
https://estelleserasmus.substack.com/p/5-hard-truths-about-essay-writing
Apply to be on Freelance Writing Direct in a coaching episode: email freelancewritingdirect@gmail.com and state three of the issues you are dealing with that you would like Estelle’s help with.
Sign up for Estelle’s NYU Classes
https://www.sps.nyu.edu/professional-pathways/faculty/e/1068-estelle-erasmus.html
Popular Podcasts
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show
The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis, to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.