Ellis Weiner

Ellis Weiner is an author and humorist who has previously worked as an editor of National Lampoon and a columnist for Spy Magazine. His humor has also appeared in The New Yorker , Paris Review, and the New York Times Magazine.
Ellis (known as "Otts" when growing up) was raised in Pikesville, Maryland. He attended Wellwood Elementary School, Sudbrook Junior High, Pikesville High School and the University of Pennsylvania. His theatrical and literary talent was obvious to all who knew him. In college, he played drums and sang in a rock band called Droylesden Wake.

His first produced work was the 1967 Pikesville High Junior Play, an original parody using music from H.M.S. Pinafore and other Gilbert and Sullivan operas.
Otts has an athletic history as well. He was a split end in the Development Football League from 1961 to 1964 with the Summit Park Colts Association (SPCA).
He works regularly as an editor and ghostwriter for Kevin Anderson & Associates Inc.

Books

Weiner's novels and other books include:

• National Lampoon's Doon
• Howard the Duck (novelization of the theatrical film)
• Yiddish with Dick and Jane
• The Joy of Worry
• Letters from Cicely
• Drop Dead, My Lovely
• The Big Boat to Bye-Bye
• The Northern Exposure Cookbook: A Community Cookbook from the Heart of the Alaskan Riviera
• The Great Muppet Caper!: The Making of the Masterpiece (behind-the-scenes book about the film The Great Muppet Caper)
• Decade of the Year (a collection of humorous essays)
• Santa Lives!: Five Conclusive Arguments for the Existence of Santa Claus

Essays

• Subject: Our Marketing Plan, published in The New Yorker