Last Updated: May 20, 1999
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An American editor
Wendy Zomparelli
Birthday: Sept. 4, 1950
Hometown: San Diego, Calif.
Marital status: Married to Andre Spies, associate professor of
history, Hollins College
Children: Samuel Z. Spies, age 16
Self-portrait: Always straightforward, mostly tactful.
Newsroom motto: Local, local, local.
Bad habit: Talking more than I listen.
Pet peeve: Headlines that don’t sound like normal speech.
Luxury defined: A month at a cottage on a deserted beach with
no television, no telephone.
Best interview and why: Beverly Sills, who was giving a recital
tour just after being named director of the New York City Opera. Because
I asked first, she granted me the one interview she planned to do in Raleigh
— even though I worked for the much smaller afternoon paper. She gave me
two fascinating hours on opera, women in business, the arts, family — and
never looked at her watch once.
My newspaper’s strength: Capturing the things that make our region
unique.
Most admired writer: Anthony Trollope
Favorite publication: The New Yorker
Favorite comic: "Dilbert"
Best part of job: Getting to work with such a wonderful staff.
Worst part of job: When a reader is upset, and there’s nothing
you can do.
Vacation spot: Avon, N.C., on the Outer Banks.
TV program: Re-runs of "Absolutely Fabulous"
Books at bedside: "Glass, Paper, Beans" by Leah Hager Cohen and
"The Long Goodbye" by Raymond Chandler (an old favorite)
