Emma Brodie has worked in book publishing for a decade, most recently as an executive editor at Little, Brown’s Voracious imprint. She graduated from the Johns Hopkins University’s Writing Seminars program, and is a longtime contributor to HuffPost and a faculty member at Catapult. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and their dog, Freddie Mercury.
Today, Emma Brodie is on the blog to answer a few of our questions about her debut novel, Songs in Ursa Major. Read on …
Emma Brodie
Please tell us about your book, Songs in Ursa Major!
EB: Songs in Ursa Major is the story of Jane Quinn, an up-and-coming singer songwriter whose career is launched into the stratosphere when she’s pulled on stage to fill in for mega-star Jesse Reid after a motorcycle crash. This story tracks their rises to fame and their relationship, which leads to Jane’s seminal confessional album, Songs in Ursa Major.
Where did the idea for this novel come from?
EB: I was first inspired to write this book when I learned that James Taylor actually wrote “You Can Close Your Eyes” for Joni Mitchell. I didn’t even realise that they had dated; turns out, both of them had huge impacts on each other’s’ careers at pivotal moments. The whole idea for the book flowed from there.
Why do you think the late ‘60s and ‘70s era of music is still so fascinating today?
EB: It’s a time that’s very romanticised for a lot of different reasons, but I think most people would agree that the music that came out of it is just so good. It’s also a time when female artists were really pushing to have their authentic voices heard—their success is still inspiring today.
This is a love story between two musicians, Jesse Reid and Jane Quinn, but it’s also about Jane’s rise to artistic fame and freedom in her own right. How did you find the balance between these two facets of the story?
EB: This is a great question. To me, authentically exploring the relationship between Jesse and Jane involved negotiating the inherent competitiveness of the situation. Jane is much more aware of maintaining the balance than Jesse; as a woman, she sees how she will be reduced to a part of his image if she doesn’t stand apart, and takes that threat much more seriously than Jesse does. It’s real for her in a way it’s not real for him. A lot of women have to deal with that.
Can you tell us about some of the music you listened to as inspiration for this book?
EB: I listened to a ton of Blue by Joni Mitchell and Mudslide Slim and the Blue Horizon and Sweet Baby James by James Taylor. Also: Linda Rondstadt, Carol King, Carly Simon, Grace Slick and Jefferson’s Airplane, Etta James, Odetta, Nina Simone, the Mamas and the Papa’s, CSNY. John Martin was someone I discovered while researching this book, and I absolutely adore him.
‘To me, authentically exploring the relationship between Jesse and Jane involved negotiating the inherent competitiveness of the situation.’
You work as the Executive Editor for the imprint Voracious Books. What’s it like to now be on the other side of the publication process?
EB: It is a TRIP! I’ve been lucky enough to be a part of many publications, but there is no amount of experience that can prepare you for going through it yourself.
Who do you most admire in the writing world?
EB: SO MANY PEOPLE. I love Maggie Shipstead, Kevin Kwan, Taylor Jenkins Reid, and Sally Rooney. Madeleine Miller is the absolute tops. And I also love Sarah Jarosz and Lin Manuel Miranda—because they’re poets and I love to read them as well as listen to them.
What is the last book you read and loved?
EB: Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. It’s pretty, and creepy, and fun, and interesting.
What do you hope readers will discover in Songs in Ursa Major?
EB: An escape. This book is all about psychic shelter, and I hope that it will provide that for some folks!
And finally, what’s up next for you?
EB: I’m working on a new book now but it’s too soon to share! Maybe I’ll do a TSwift style album drop and post a photo with coded messages in it. ‘Til then …
Thanks Emma!
—Songs in Ursa Major by Emma Brodie (HarperCollins Australia) is out now.
Songs in Ursa Major
Behind every greatest hit, is an even greater love story.
From the moment Jane Quinn steps barefoot onto the main stage at Island Folk festival, her golden hair glinting, her voice soaring into the summer dusk, a star is born – and so is a passionate love story. Jane’s band hits the road with none other than Jesse Reid, the musician whose bright blue eyes are setting hearts alight everywhere. And as the summer streaks by in a haze of crowds, wild nights and magenta sunsets, Jane is pulled into the orbit of Jesse’s star. But Jesse’s rise could mean Jane’s fall...
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