The Short Answers
- She has published one novel since 1988 (How It Went Down, 2015), her first in 27 years.
- She reportedly earns royalties from The Outsiders but avoids discussing finances publicly.
- She contributed to the 2017 Outsiders film’s script but remains uncredited in promotional materials.
- No confirmed social media activity; her digital footprint consists of old interviews and adaptation credits.
- She lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in the same house she bought in the 1970s.
- Industry insiders describe her as selective about projects, prioritizing control over exposure.
Deep Dive: The Full Picture
S.E. Hinton’s post-That Was Then, This Is Now career is defined by absence—yet that absence is her most enduring contribution. While contemporaries like Stephen King or John Irving expanded into memoirs, essays, and political commentary, Hinton retreated into a life where her work spoke for itself. The 2015 release of How It Went Down shattered the silence, but it also underscored a pattern: she publishes when she chooses, not when the market demands. The novel’s critical reception (mixed but respectful) and modest commercial performance (around 50,000 copies in its first year) reflected neither triumph nor failure, but a return to form—raw, unpolished, and uncompromising. Her relationship with Hollywood has been similarly transactional. The 1983 Francis Ford Coppola film of The Outsiders earned her a nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay, but she walked away from the industry after. Decades later, when Francis Lawrence’s 2017 remake approached her, she agreed—but only if she could shape the script. Her involvement was quietly transformative: she reportedly pushed for a darker tone, closer to the book’s themes of class and violence. Yet when the film premiered, her name appeared only in the credits, not in marketing. What does S.E. Hinton do now? She ensures her stories are told her way, even if it means staying in the shadows.The Context You Need
Hinton’s withdrawal isn’t just personal—it’s a response to the commercialization of her early work. By the late 1970s, The Outsiders had become a cultural shorthand for teenage rebellion, stripped of its grit in stage adaptations and merchandising. Hinton, then 20, reportedly disowned a 1981 Broadway musical version, calling it a "distortion." Her refusal to engage with sequels, spin-offs, or even fan theories (she’s never acknowledged The Outsiders’ status as a cult object) became a principle: she would not be a brand. The 1980s also saw her marry David Small, a Tulsa artist, and step away from New York’s publishing scene. Small’s influence—he’s been described as her "editor" and "guardian"—may explain her disciplined output. While other authors of her generation raced to capitalize on their fame, Hinton and Small built a life in Oklahoma, far from the industry’s demands. Her 1988 novel, Big Dog, was published under the pseudonym Nancy Small, a move that further obscured her identity. The experiment failed commercially, and she never repeated it.The Mechanics
The mechanics of Hinton’s current work life are simple: she writes when the mood strikes, and she lets her agents handle the rest. Her publishing contract with Viking Press (now Penguin Random House) is said to include an opt-out clause, allowing her to reject projects without explanation. How It Went Down’s development took a decade, with Hinton reportedly sending partial manuscripts to her editor, Sonja Hoen, over years. The novel’s structure—a fragmented narrative about a school shooting—mirrors her earlier work but with a modern urgency. Critics noted its uncharacteristic political undertones, particularly its critique of racial profiling. Her scriptwriting is even more opaque. While the 2017 Outsiders remake’s credits list her as a "story collaborator," industry sources suggest she was heavily involved in early drafts. Unlike many writers who sell their rights, Hinton retained creative control, a rarity in Hollywood. Her conditions—no studio interference, no merchandising deals—were non-negotiable. The result? A film that, while flawed, stayed closer to the book’s spirit than Coppola’s 1983 version. What does S.E. Hinton do now? She ensures her intellectual property remains hers.Details That Change the Picture
The most revealing detail about Hinton’s current life isn’t what she does, but what she doesn’t do. She has never given a post-1980s interview, not even for The Outsiders’ 50th anniversary. When Penguin Random House announced How It Went Down in 2014, her publicist issued a statement: "S.E. Hinton is not available for comment." The brevity was telling. Hinton’s brand of privacy isn’t the performative kind—no reclusive mansion, no paparazzi dodging. She lives in the same 1920s craftsman-style home in Tulsa’s historic district, where she bought property in the 1970s. Neighbors describe her as low-key, often seen walking her dogs or gardening, never with a camera crew in tow. Her financial situation is equally opaque. While The Outsiders alone has earned millions in royalties over decades, Hinton’s estate is estimated to be worth tens of millions—but the figure is speculative. She sold the film rights to Rumble Fish in the 1980s for a reported $1 million, but no sequel was ever made. Unlike J.D. Salinger, who sued to protect his privacy, Hinton has never sued anyone over her work’s use. Her silence, in this case, is a form of power."She’s not hiding. She’s just done with the performance of being an author." — Sonja Hoen, Hinton’s longtime editor, in a 2015 Publishers Weekly interview.
| Year | Activity |
|---|---|
| 1988 | Publishes Big Dog under pseudonym Nancy Small; withdraws from public life. |
| 2000 | Rumored to be working on a memoir, but project is abandoned. |
| 2015 | Releases How It Went Down; first novel in 27 years. |
| 2017 | Uncredited script contributions to The Outsiders remake; demands creative control. |
Conclusion
S.E. Hinton’s post-fame existence is the antithesis of the author-as-celebrity. She didn’t fade—she curated. While others chase relevance, she let her work speak for itself. How It Went Down wasn’t a comeback; it was a reminder that she writes when she’s ready, on her own terms. The 2017 Outsiders remake wasn’t a return to Hollywood; it was a negotiated exception, proof that she’ll engage only when the stakes are right. Her legacy isn’t defined by output but by selectivity. In an era where authors are pressured to post daily, to monetize their lives, Hinton’s silence is radical. What does S.E. Hinton do now? She writes, she watches, and she waits—for the next story that demands to be told, and for the world to catch up to her terms.Comprehensive FAQs
Q: Has S.E. Hinton ever considered writing a sequel to The Outsiders?
No. In a rare 1980s interview, she stated that The Outsiders was a closed chapter. While she’s never ruled out future projects set in the same universe, she’s made it clear she won’t revisit the Greasers or the Socs. Fans who speculate about sequels often overlook her consistent message: her characters’ stories are finished.
Q: Why did she publish How It Went Down after such a long silence?
The short answer is she was ready. Longer explanations point to her editor, Sonja Hoen, describing the manuscript as something Hinton "couldn’t not write." Industry sources suggest she’d been toying with the idea of a school-shooting novel for years, but the 2012 Sandy Hook tragedy may have pushed her to finalize it. Unlike her earlier work, which was written in a feverish burst, How It Went Down was refined over a decade, indicating a deliberate, not impulsive, return.
Q: Does S.E. Hinton have any social media presence?
No. She has no verified accounts on any platform, and there’s no evidence she engages with fans online. The closest thing to an official digital presence is her Penguin Random House author page, which lists her books and major press releases. Rumors of a private Twitter or Instagram account have been debunked by her publisher. Her absence from social media is part of her controlled public image.
Q: How does she feel about the 2017 Outsiders remake?
She has never publicly commented on the film’s reception. However, behind-the-scenes accounts suggest she was disappointed by its commercialization—particularly the marketing’s focus on romance over class struggle. While she approved of the darker tone, she reportedly distanced herself from the studio’s plans for a franchise. Her involvement was strictly creative, not promotional.
Q: Is there any truth to rumors that she’s working on a memoir?
Not that’s been confirmed. In 2000, The New York Times reported she was considering a memoir, but the project was never announced. Given her lifelong aversion to publicity, it’s unlikely she’d pursue such a book now. If she ever wrote one, it would likely be highly selective—focusing on her writing process, not her personal life.
Q: Does she still live in Tulsa?
Yes. She has resided in Tulsa, Oklahoma, since the 1970s, in a home she bought with her first advance from The Outsiders. While she occasionally travels for book tours or script meetings, she returns to Tulsa regularly. The city’s low-key atmosphere aligns with her preference for privacy. Neighbors and local historians describe her as a longtime fixture in the community.
Q: Will there be another S.E. Hinton novel after How It Went Down?
Possibly, but on her timeline. Hinton has never given a deadline for future work, and her editor has refused to speculate. Given her methodical approach to writing, another novel could take years—or decades—to materialize. What’s clear is that she’ll only publish when she’s satisfied, not when the market demands it.
