Port Resident Publishes Novel Based in City

After moving around the country throughout her childhood, eventually graduating from high school and college in Georgia, Port Washington resident Meaghan Hoffmann couldn't wait to return to her childhood roots — and now she's also become an author partly as a way to thank the city she loves so much.

Hoffman, 33, recently published the novel, "My Life with the Movie Star." It's her first book that is aimed primarily at a female audience, and takes place in Port, according to a press release from Hoffman. Many of the city's shops, restaurants and festivals were inspirations for locations and events in the novel.

"What I really love about Port Washington is what a great small town feel it has.  The city has so much charm with all the old architecture, lake front and festivals that are very unique to the city," Hoffman said in an e-mail. "When I got the inspiration to write 'My Life With The Movie Star' I decided to have the main Character Abby live in Port Washington. I wanted to give something back to the city and thought having a novel based here might one day help with tourism like the Twilight series has helped Forks, WA." 

Hoffman first lived in Port when she was 8 years old. Her family moved around, spending time in Oconomowoc and eventually landing in Atlanta. 

"I always had very fond memories of growing up in Port, especially the lake front and Fish Day," she said. "While I was living in Georgia I met my husband, who was also from Wisconsin. In 2007, we relocated back to Wisconsin. One of my conditions about moving back to Milwaukee was we had to look for homes in Port Washington. We have now been living in Port since April 2008 and own a home by ()."  

The novel features fictional heartthrob actor Grayson Edwards and Port resident Abby Smith, who have a chance meeting that changes the path of Abby's life. It also features local businesses such as and , and the well-known is also celebrated in the novel.

The book is available on Amazon.com and learn more about Hoffman and her book on her Facebook page.