“That was happiness. Not the framed greatest hits, but the moments in between. At the time, I hadn't pegged them as being particularly happy. But now, looking back at those phantom snapshots, I'm struck by my calm, my ease, the evident comfort with my life. I'm happy in retrospect.”

American novelist and screenwriter

Maria Keogh Semple is an American novelist and screenwriter. She is known for her comic, sharply observed fiction and her work in television. Born in the United States, she has written novels and for a range of popular TV series. Her books include This One Is Mine (2008), Where'd You Go, Bernadette (2012), and Today Will Be Different (2016). Her television credits include Beverly Hills, 90210, Mad About You, Saturday Night Live, Arrested Development, Suddenly Susan, and Ellen. In 2013, she received an Alex Award.