DAPHNE MERKIN Crime: Hot-Rodding Daphne Merkin was a staff writer for The New Yorker for five years. She is currently a contributing writer for The New York Times Magazine, where she writes profiles and personal essays. Her work appears regularly in Slate and Elle and in a variety of other publications, including Vogue, Travel & Leisure and Allure. Ms. Merkin is the author of two books: an autobiographical novel, ENCHANTMENT, which won the Edward Lewis Wallant award in 1986 for the best new work of fiction based on a Jewish theme, and DREAMING OF HITLER, a collection of essays. She lives in New York City with her daughter.