In Your Next Beach Read, we want to introduce you to a new author every day in June in the hopes that you’ll find the next book you want to take with you to the beach, the pool, or the comforts of air conditioning.

Today’s author is Leslie Halpern, author of Scantily Clad Truths: Essays on Life with Clothes (and without).

What’s your name and where are you from?

Leslie C. Halpern, Oviedo, Florida

How long have you been writing? How did you start?

My first poem was published when I was in the third grade, and I have been writing ever since. I still write poetry, but my published work expanded to include essays, articles, reviews, and books.

Who are some of your influences?

One of the most important influences on my writing is O. Henry (William Sydney Porter). I admire his wit, playfulness, and plot twist endings…