Cheryl Della Pietra is author of the novel Gonzo Girl, inspired by her time as Hunter S. Thompson’s assistant in the early ’90s. She has recounted this experience on the Moth Mainstage and Radio Hour (“Under the Gun”) and at 92Y in New York City. She has also written for Redbook, Marie Claire, and Fast Company magazines and worked at Us Weekly, W Magazine, Elle, and ESPN. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, she currently lives in Branford, Connecticut, with her husband and son.
The Backstory
Gonzo Girl | San Francisco Moth Mainstage
Featured on the Moth Radio Hour, “Under the Gun.” Original performance on the Moth Mainstage, San Francisco, California
The Moment
My good friend Larry Smith has always encouraged me to own this story. There is an essay in his collection The Moment where I talk about the moment, at 3:00 a.m., that Hunter S. Thompson called me and invited me out for a “trial” to be his assistant.
Hunter College
POV magazine was a formative part of my career, both personally and professionally. I was the research editor in charge of the fact-checking department, but I also copyedited the magazine (which led to my sustained career as a copy chief, freelancer, and copyediting instructor). We were also encouraged to write. This essay, “Hunter College,” appeared in POV in 1997 and was subsequently reposted to the Smith Magazine website years later.