Matthew J. Gilbert on The New Norm, Stranger Things, and Writing for Middle Grade Readers | Reading in the Middle
About this episode
Annisha Jeffries interviews bestselling author Matthew J. Gilbert about his new middle-grade novel and his journey from television writing to children's books.
What happens when an ordinary middle school kid suddenly becomes internet famous? In this episode of Reading in the Middle , host Annisha Jeffries talks with bestselling author Matthew J. Gilbert about his new middle-grade novel, The New Norm , a funny and relatable story about viral fame, friendship, identity, and surviving middle school. Matthew shares how his career evolved from an award-winning television writer at Nickelodeon to an author of more than 40 books for young readers. We also discuss his work writing stories set in the worlds of Stranger Things, The Nightmare Before Christmas, and other beloved franchises, as well as the challenges and rewards of writing for today's middle-grade audience. Whether you're a fan of humorous middle-grade fiction, pop culture adventures, or stories about finding your place in the world, this conversation is packed with insight, laughter, and inspiration. In This Episode: The inspiration behind The New Norm Writing about social media and middle school life Creating stories for popular franchises From television writing to children's books Why humor matters in middle-grade fiction Advice for aspiring young writers Connect…
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