Jessica Brody is the author of the well-known writing book Save the Cat! Writes a Novel and teaches classes on this writing method, but she has published over 20 books for all ages, including middle grade. Her most recent, titled Amelia Gray is Almost Okay, came out in March of this year.

Amelia is a kid who moves around a lot due to her father’s job as a hotel renovator and reimaginer. Like a lot of middle schoolers, she is trying to figure out who she is and what she’s good at.  During one memorable summer in a new town, she decides to try on different personas to see which one fits best.  Is she an athlete, a theater kid, or a reporter?  What I loved about this book is that I could relate to it even as an adult.  I still try different versions of myself sometimes.

Jessica talks to us about what words in the English language really get under her skin, how being fired from MGM Studios gave her the writing opportunity she needed, and her overwhelming passion for spreadsheets.

You can find Jessica at her website www.Jessicabrody.com and on her instagram at @jessicabrody.

Books Mentioned in this Episode:

1- Amelia Gray is Almost Okay by Jessica Brody

2- Save the Cat! Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody

3- Save the Cat! The Last Book on Screenwriting You’ll Ever Need by Blake Snyder

4- Save the Cat! Writes a Young Adult Novel by Jessica Brody

5- Addie Bell’s Shortcut to Growing Up by Jessica Brody

6- Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo

7- Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

8- Magic, Lies, and Deadly Pies by Misha Popp

9- The It Girl by Ruth Ware

10- Big Tree by Brian Selznick

11- The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick

12- Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick