How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Jodi Picoult Writes

The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience

#1 New York Times bestselling author, Jodi Picoult, spoke with me about writing for Wonder Woman, adapting books for musical theater, and the question of Shakespeare's true authorship in her upcoming novel BY ANY OTHER NAME.

Jodi Picoult is the bestselling author of 30 novels, including landmark titles such as Mad Honey – her most recent 1 million-copy bestseller – Wish You Were Here, A Spark of Light, and Small Great Things. 40 million copies of her books are in print worldwide and have been translated into 34 languages.

Her forthcoming novel is BY ANY OTHER NAME (on sale 8/20; Ballantine), described as a novel about two women, centuries apart – one of whom is the real author of Shakespeare’s plays – who are both forced to hide behind another name.

#1 New York Times bestselling author Kristin Hannah said of the book, “You’ll fall in love with Emilia Bassano, the unforgettable heroine based on a real woman that Picoult brings vividly to life in her brilliantly researched new novel.” Elle called it, “[An] inspiring work of feminist literature inspired by real historical accounts.”

Jodi was also co-librettist for the stage musical adaptation of her young adult novel Between the Lines (which premiered Off-Broadway in Summer 2022), the co-librettist of the musical BREATHE, the co-librettist of the musical adaptation of The Book Thief, and she is currently at work on an adaptation of Austenland.

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In this file Jodi Picoult and I discussed:

• What's changed and what hasn't for women (in theater) over 400+ years?
• The best time to break an arm for an author
• How she works in cycles for her books
• Why her kids made her write for Wonder Woman
• The conundrum of a famous playwright who didn’t own a single book
• And a lot more!

Show Notes:

• jodipicoult.com
• By Any Other Name: A Novel By Jodi Picoult (Amazon)
• Jodi Picoult Amazon Author Page
• WAS SHAKESPEARE A WOMAN? – Elizabeth Winkler for The Atlantic
• Jodi Picoult on Facebook
• Jodi Picoult on Twitter
• Jodi Picoult on Instagram
• Jodi Picoult on TikTok
• Kelton Reid on Twitter

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