Patti Smith Previews Upcoming Book The Melting
The 79-year-old author discussed her next work with novelist Nelio Biedermann at a Cherry Lane Theatre BookTalk event in New York City.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Books
Patti Smith discussed her upcoming book The Melting with author Nelio Biedermann on Nov. 5 at Cherry Lane Theatre in New York City, as part of the venue's BookTalk series. Biedermann also discussed his 2026 novel Lázár at the same event.
Why it matters
The Melting extends Smith's M series, which began with M Train and Year of the Monkey, and gives readers an early look at a work still in progress. The event offered a public preview of a book that Smith says is in the final stages of editing.
Smith's stated truth shares across the M series fell from 75% for M Train to 55% for Year of the Monkey and 22% for The Melting. The source does not provide sales figures or a release date for the upcoming book.
The players
Patti Smith
Patti Smith is a 79-year-old American singer, songwriter, poet and author whose National Book Award-winning memoir Just Kids chronicled her early years with photographer Robert Mapplethorpe in New York City.
Nelio Biedermann
Nelio Biedermann is a 23-year-old author whose 2026 novel Lázár follows a multigenerational Hungarian aristocratic family.
Cherry Lane Theatre
Cherry Lane Theatre is a historic off-Broadway venue in Greenwich Village, New York City, that hosts the BookTalk series of author conversations.
The details
Smith said The Melting focuses on climate change in a tragic, mystical way and began as a serialized prose piece she published on her Substack during the COVID-19 pandemic. She is 79 years old and best known for her National Book Award-winning memoir Just Kids.
Timeline
2025: Smith published her memoir Bread of Angels, which describes her childhood in post-World War II New Jersey.
During the COVID-19 pandemic: Smith began writing The Melting as a serialized prose piece.
2026: Biedermann published his novel Lázár.
Nov. 5, 2026: Smith discussed The Melting at Cherry Lane Theatre in New York City.
Legacy Series
The Melting continues the M series that began with M Train, which Smith has said was 75% true, and Year of the Monkey, at 55% true. Her stated truth share for the new book, 22%, marks a continued move toward fiction within the series.
The source does not state when The Melting will be published or where it will be available. Readers can currently access Smith's Bread of Angels and Biedermann's Lázár, both of which are available now.
The takeaway
Smith's serialized approach to The Melting, first published on her Substack, shows how authors can preview longer work to readers before a full release. Readers interested in the M series can follow its progression from fact-based to more fictional writing across its three books.
Further reading
Explore more Books coverage for New York City readers.
Source note: This article includes information reported by People.
