White House Correspondents Insider

Behind the scenes of the most powerful city in the world — Washington, D.C. — and those who cover it.

Volta Insider: Rachel Greenberg Interviews Oscar-winning Writer Graham Moore

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On the latest episode of the Volta Insider podcast, host Rachel Greenberg had a conversation with novelist and screenwriter Graham Moore, one of the most sought after young writers in America. Moore’s latest, the historical novel The Last Days of Night, tells the tale of the early days of electricity in America and the rivalry between Thomas Edison, George Westinghouse and Nikola Tesla that led all the way to the Supreme Court. Moore won the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay in 2014 for his Alan Turing biopic The Imitation Game and gave an emotional acceptance speech about overcoming self-doubt that has become a viral video hit. He is also the son of Susan Sher, former Chief of Staff to First Lady Michelle Obama.

Moore recently announced that The Last Days of Night is being turned into a feature film which is currently in preproduction. Greenberg asked the admitted perfectionist what it was like to adapt his own novel for the screen. “I’m on draft 12 of the screenplay right now. There will be 30 by the time I’m done.”

Greenberg asked Moore about his inspiration for the new novel and his obsession with scientists and mathematicians. “They’re passionate, they’re driven, and they’re obsessive. They devote their lives to these subjects that the general public might think are arcane and I identify with that.”

Moore also gave some insider tips in case you want to win an Oscar. “Your clock doesn’t start until you step to the podium, so if you need a moment to compose yourself on stage you can take the trophy, pause, then step up to the podium.”

You can watch the full interview with Graham Moore here.

Washington Celebrates Oscar Winner Graham Moore’s Latest Novel

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Graham Moore Book Party 9/28/16

DC’s biggest names descended on the house of Hilary Rosen to celebrate the latest novel from The Imitation Game screenwriter Graham Moore, The Last Days of Night. Moore’s last project, The Imitation Game, which tells the story of mathematician and codebreaker Alan Turing, won the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay, and his heartfelt acceptance speech has become the stuff of legend.

Moore’s latest novel tells the story of the rivalry between Thomas Edison and George Westinghouse, the early days of electric light in America, and the eventual billion dollar lawsuit that went all the way to the Supreme Court. The novel also features appearances from other historical figures such as Nikola Tesla and JP Morgan.

Susan Sher, former Chief of Staff to First Lady Michelle Obama and Moore’s mother, was there to celebrate her son’s accomplishments with assistance from Valerie Jarrett, Senior Advisor to Barack Obama. Tammy Haddad interviewed Moore about his new book and the reaction to his Oscars acceptance speech.

Also in attendance were Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson, former California Rep. Jane Harman, Tony Fauci and Christine Grady, author Sally Quinn, Executive Vice President for Time Warner Carol Melton, corporate consultant Juleanna Glover, Howard Fineman and Amy Nathan, Director of the White House Visitors Office Ellie Schafer, S&R Foundation Artistic Director Septime Webre, Director of Branding & Communication at Lafayette 148 New York King Chong, Shinola’s Tom Forrest, Bloomberg’s Washington Bureau Chief Megan Murphy, Marc Adelman, VP of Communications for CNN Matt Dornic, Managing Editor of Bloomberg News Craig Gordon, and BSA President Victoria Espinel.

You can also purchase Graham Moore’s new novel The Last Days of Night here.

Graham Moore Tops The Black List

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Nikki Finke, of Deadline Hollywood, breaks the story about Graham Moore’s screenplay The Imitation Game winning the top spot on the coveted “Black List” by film executive, Franklin Leonard. Moore, the son of former FLOTUS chief of staff Susan Sher, first novel, The Sherlockian, was a fiction hit in 2010.

The Imitation Game by Moore is “the story of British WWII cryptographer Alan Turing, who cracked the German Enigma code and later poisoned himself after being criminally prosecuted for being a homosexual” and is based off the book “Alan Turing: The Enigma.”

For the full story by Deadline Hollywood click here.

Susan Sher, Graham Moore and Valerie Jarrett at a book party celebrating the publication of Moore's "The Sherlockian"

Graham Moore Sells Alan Turing Script to Warner Bros

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Graham Moore (right) with Vice President Joe Biden and Susan Sher

Graham Moore, the New York Times best-selling author for his first novel, The Sherlockian, has scored a 7-figure deal with Warner Bros for his script about math genius, Alan Turing, titled The Imitation Game.   The script, just like his book, is receiving rave reviews and is reported to have been picked up due to Leonard DiCaprio “chasing the project.”

Moore is no stranger to DC, as his mother, Susan Sher, spent over two years in the White House as Chief of Staff to First Lady Michelle Obama.  The family even celebrated the release of his first novel at the Vice President’s residence (pictured right).

Read the whole report from Deadline Hollywood here.

"Other Mom" Jarrett fetes Graham Moore

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For the second time in a week, author Graham Moore graciously thanked his supportive mother, Susan Sher – soon departing the East Wing as the First Lady’s Chief of Staff – while celebrating the publication of his first novel “The Sherlockian,” a new take on the characters of Sherlock Holmes.

Moore was surrounded by friends during the relaxed evening at the home of Hilary Rosen. The party was thrown by his “other mother” Valerie Jarrett who in true mother form told the crowd how Moore had a wild streak growing up. The other “mother” co-hosts were Anita McBride, Tammy Haddad, Rhoda Glickman, Anne Fleming and Anita Dunn.

There to wish the young novelist well and have a few books signed were US Ambassador to Israel Michael Oren and wife Sally, Tom Oliphant, Wolf Blitzer, Sally Quinn, Winston Lord, Lynne Wasserman, John Coale, Mark Leibovich, Jodi Kantor and Mark Ein. Most of the East Wing staff took photos with proud mama and son.

Graham Moore Plays the Vice President's House

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Vice President and Dr. Jill Biden brought together a small gathering of friends, family and media at the Vice President’s residence to celebrate FLOTUS Chief of Staff Susan Sher’s son, Graham Moore, on the publication of his first novel, The Sherlockian, a twist on the Sherlock Holmes characters.

It was a family affair with Moore’s younger brother Evan, Sher’s husband Judge Neil Cohen, and grandfather – young and spry at 92 – Dr. Charles Steiner. Vice President Biden told Moore how Sher told everyone at the White House about her son the novelist and his brother, Evan, a music executive.

The residence glowed with holiday decorations and cheer spread through the intimate crowd as Sher remarked The Sherlockian would make a great Chanukkah or Christmas gift! Friends and fans gathered to greet Christopher Hitchens who helped the first time author and wrote a back cover blurb praising the book. Moore told WHCInsider how proud he is to have ” the great writer Christopher Hitchens as a friend and supporter.”

Also seen: Andrea Mitchell and Alan Greenspan, Robin Sproul, Amy and Rome Hartman, Claire Shipman and Jay Carney, Courtney O’Donnell, Kathy Russell, Howard Fineman and Amy Nathan, and Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor. SELF‘s new Washington Editor Marc Adelman must have been telling the Vice President a laugh riot joke because he was shaking with laughter.

The Sherlockian is published by TWELVE, the home of the great Christophers – Hitchens and Buckley. For more about the book, check out Graham Moore’s web site thesherlockian.com.

Sherlockian's Graham Moore On Sherlock

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Graham Moore at the White House with actress Rita Wilson and mother, FLOTUS COS Susan Sher, at the screening of HBO’s The Pacific.

Susan Sher’s son, Graham Moore, makes his HuffPost debut!

Graham Moore, is a first time novelist, but to Washingtonian he is the younger son of First Lady Michelle Obama’s Chief of Staff, Susan Sher.
Moore’s first  novel, The Sherlockian, will be published in December by 12 Books, home of the great Christophers — Hitchens and Buckley.

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