The fun thing about listening to a writer talk about the craft is getting to hear out-of-pocket, often self-deprecating phrases such as “Some days I have a case of mental constipation that could choke a horse.”

That and other gems were enjoyed Sunday night at Surflight Theatre in Beach Haven.

No. 1 New York Times bestselling novelist Harlan Coben, born in Newark and ever true to his Essex County roots, is known for his 38 thriller-suspense novels and adapted series for Netflix and Amazon Prime,…