BY MINDI SCOTT

Jessica Brody, author of 52 Reasons to Hate My Father, stopped by to share her book trailer and answer some Very Important Questions about herself and her new book! She is also giving away an “heiress” prize pack, so check out this link for more deets on that.

First, ze questions:

At age eight, what did you want to be when you grew up? And at age eighteen? And while you’re at it, what about at age twenty-eight?

Jessica Brody: When I was eight years old, I definitely wanted to be a writer. But then somewhere along the way, I managed to convince myself that being a writer wasn’t a “real job” so by the time I turned 18, I had changed career goals and was determined to become an international business woman. Which is why I majored in Economics and French in college. I graduated and got a job as a strategic analyst for MGM Studios and thought my life was right on track. Then I realized that I actually really hated being a strategic analyst and I rediscovered my love of writing. So by 28, I had quit my job and had sold my first novel and was back to wanting to be a writer. Which just goes to show, we should decide our career path at age 8. But then again, we may have way too many princesses and astronauts.

Which Breakfast-Club-style label would have best fit your teenage self? 

JB: In high school, I was definitely the brain. I was always studying. A total overachiever! I barely had a social life. I made up for it after college though.

Without giving away too much from your newest book, which character or scene from it are you the most pleased to have created, and why?

JB: There’s a scene in the book where Lexi has to take on her first job of the 52 jobs she’s forced to do. She has to work for a maid service that cleans houses. And her reaction to this job is pretty comical. This is a scene that I felt like I didn’t really write. Lexi wrote for me. I just transcribed. She took hold of the reigns and said, “move over, writer person, this is how it’s done.” To this day, I really love that scene. It’s Lexi in all of her glory.

Which are your favorite movies to watch again and again?

JB: Sliding Doors, Love Actually, and Arthur (the original!)

And, now, the most important question of all: Beatles or Elvis? Please support your answer. 😉

JB: Beatles!!! I never really got into Elvis. Definitely don’t see the appeal. But the Beatles, now we’re talking!

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About the book and the author:

52 Reasons to Hate My Father
Release Date: July 3, 2012
Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux/Macmillan Publishing Group

A spoiled teen heiress, famous for her party-girl antics and tabloid headlines, is forced by her ever-absent mogul father to take on a different low-wage job every week for a year, if she wants any hope of receiving her trust fund.

“The #1 reason you’ll love this book? Because  it’s tons of fun.” -Bestselling author Meg Cabot

Jessica Brody is the bestselling author of The Karma Club and My Life Undecided, as well as two books for adults: The Fidelity Files and Love Under Cover. In researching this book, she took on several minimum wage jobs, her favorite of which was working the drive-thru at a fast food restaurant. She splits her time between California and Colorado. Visit her online at: www.jessicabrody.com