Latin School of Chicago

Shelby Brody '10 Since she was about 10 years old, friends, family and teachers have been aware that Shelby Brody is writing a book. It hasn't always been the same book, and a fair number of her projects have fallen by the wayside. But everyone who knows Shelby, knows there is a book in the works. "It never stops," she explains. "It really doesn't. Even when I put one project aside, there is always another one." Over the last two years, Shelby has completed six drafts of her first young adult novel. She has had a handful of readers, including creative writing teacher Billy Lombardo, provide input and criticism through each draft. After researching publishers and literary agents, Shelby has found a number of agents and editors who are now reviewing the manuscript. During the same time, she has written the first draft of another novel. "I've always written," Shelby says. In fifth grade she came up with her first book idea. "I just decided that I wanted to write a book. It had no real plot or character development. I never finished it. But I think that was mainly because I didn't have the tools to do it yet." Having been surrounded by people who enjoy writing, including her parents, and having had the lower school Author's Day experience year after year, Shelby says she was never intimidated by the idea of actually writing a "book." Later, with the help of teachers like Lori Kloehn in middle school and Billy Lombardo in the upper school, she was able to develop the skills she needed to make her ideas a reality. In addition, Shelby says, her work as an editor, and now co-editor in chief, for Polyphony H.S., a national high school literary journal that was started at Latin, has been invaluable in helping her become a better writer. Jennifer Sharp, Shelby's first novel, is the story of the increasingly complicated friendship between a girl and a boy – told from both their perspectives – as they help each other get over rocky romantic entanglements with others. Shelby remembers the exact day she began working on the book: January 19, 2007. "I woke up with an idea and wrote down the words 'girl defies social hierarchy at school by winning concert competition.' From that came the first very poorly written draft, then a rewritten draft, then a new plot, then a two-perspective version, and now here I am." "I woke up with an idea and wrote down the words 'girl defies social hierarchy at school by winning concert competition. '" Shelby's process is very clear. She is always reading, and she is always writing. "When I start to map out a book, I know how it is going to begin, and I know how it is going to end," she explains. "Everything in between is character driven. I get hooked on my characters, and I can't stop until I finish with them." Her next novel, Echoes of Avery, tells the story of a teenage boy's attempt at suicide and looking back at the year leading up to it. As Shelby is completing drafts of this project, she already is looking ahead – story lines are forming in her head, characters are coming to life, and the words are ready to be written. • Editor's Note: Shelby was featured recently in Chicago Magazine. You can find the article by visiting www.latinschool.org, clicking on under Latin Today and then on News. Latin School of Chicago 27

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