Interview: Julia DeVillers, Author Of How My Private, Personal Journal Became A Bestseller

Julia DeVillers wrote How my Private, Personal, Journal Became a Bestseller. The book is about an ordinary teen girl who accidentally gets a book published when her journal is read out loud in class. The book is about a superhero named IS who fights to defeat the stereotypical popular people.The book is currently being made into a movie called Read it and Weep starring Kay Panabaker (Nikki from Summerland) as Jamie and her sister Danielle as IS. It airs on Disney Channel on July 21. Judging by the success of previous Disney Channel movies, such as High School Musical, Read it and Weep is sure to be the next success! Julia agreed to do an interview about upcoming movie, a possible sequel, and more of her books.

How did you get interested in writing and why did you decide to write the book, How my Private, Personal Journal Became a Bestseller?
I've been into writing for a long time! I won a local writing contest when I was six, for the masterpiece "Tommy the Turtle and Sally the Snake." I won a pack of markers and was in the newspaper, which I was very excited about.

You had your journal read aloud in English class. How big of a role did this moment play in writing the book?
When I was thinking of what to write about for my novel, I flashed back to that moment. And then what I would have wished to happen when I was 14. I have a list in one of my journals (yes, I kept my journals) that said I wanted to:
*Do something glamorous!
*Have the best friends ever!
*Win a shopping spree!
*Get published!
*Help the world!
*Get a really cute boyfriend!
And I put them in all my book!

It's good that you kept your journals. Do you have any advice for people like me who can't seem to kept writing in a journal?
Actually, I have a confession to make! I really did keep the traditional journal. I did have diaries, but they had only a few lines about my day (and a lot of ratings on how good my day was or how cute some boy was). What I DID write was long notes (and I mean, pages) to my friends — and some of my friends saved my notes and sent them to me to keep!

What did the journal entry say?
I was always passing notes to my friends in class. I kept a notebook full of messages to my friends and when I saw them I'd toss them a note. One of my notes got intercepted by my English teacher and it was read out loud in class. Yup, verrry embarrassing...with my crush's name and everything. I use a lot of my embarrassing moments in my books. (But don't think everything that happens in my books is true, please!)

Are you currently working on a new book? If so, tell me about it.
I'm working on a new one called LynnVisible. It's also for girls! My newest book just came out last month: The College Dorm Survival Guide.

Article Author: Maddy Pumilia

Maddy (Formerly CallmeMaddy) is going to start her Freshman year at Cal State Northridge to study journalism this fall. She has a twin and loves the Pittsburgh Steelers. She has a radio show (part of the BC Radio Network) on Wednesdays at 5 PM available at BlogTalkRadio. …

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