Get to know our Youth Ambassadors: Jodey Brand
By Jodey Brand
Hi! My name is Jodey Brand, a non-binary reading and writing fanatic from Meanjin. When I’m not working as an ambulance dispatcher, my time is packed to the brim with anything and everything book related. From sharing passionate – and sometimes brutal, but mostly chaotic – thoughts on TikTok, to working on my very own novel, I love to live and breath the world of literature.
If you’re a writer, what kind of writing do you do? Are you working on anything right now?
I am a (so far) unpublished writer and always have something on the go whether it’s a short story or a bigger project. At the moment, I have a few short stories in the works, but most excitingly I have a Queer YA novel that I have finished and am priming to send out into the world in hopes of publication! I also have the beginnings of a sequel for it bouncing around chaotically in my brain.
What are your reading goals for 2023?
In 2024 I told myself I would read more widely in terms of both genre and author diversity. That being said, four out of the five I’ve read since January have still been my go-to (fantasy) but I’m working on it, okay!
What is your favourite genre and why?
I’m nothing if not predictable, my favourite genre is fantasy. The highest and most epic of kinds. I’m that reader that loves escapism and fantasy does exactly that for me.
What book or author do you always recommend?
‘Henry Hamlet’s Heart’ by Rhiannon Wilde! This is one of my favourite books of all time, my dearly beloved, I will ALWAYS recommend it and it has a place in my heart forever.
If you could meet any author, who would it be?
This varies day to day and obsession to obsession. But at the moment it would be a toss-up between Samantha Shannon (I’ve been obsessed with ‘Priory’ and ‘Fallen Night’ since forever) or James Islington after that colossal beast ‘The Will of the Many’.
If you could pick the world of one book or book series to live in, what would it be?
I would LOVE to be an Elf or a Dragon Rider in the world of Alagaesia in ‘The Inheritance Cycle’. Alternatively, I would accept being a High Sea Guard in the ‘Priory of the Orange Tree’/’A Day of Fallen Night’ world (yes, it’s another dragon rider. Yes, I really like dragons).
Do you have a book you always find yourself coming back to?
‘Light From Uncommon Stars’ by Ryka Aoki – that book enthralled me from the very first page and has had me trapped in its clutches ever since. I think about it more often than what would be considered normal.
Any upcoming releases you can’t wait to get your hands on?
STORMLIGHT ARCHIVE 5: ‘WIND AND TRUTH’!!! I am also very keen for ‘Celestial Monsters’ by Aiden Thomas, ‘Infinity Alchemist’ by Kacen Callender, and ‘Most Ardently’ by Gabe Cole Novoa.
Where is your favourite place to read?
Mica Bakery by the river in Newstead.
Do you prefer paperback, hardcover or ebook?
Paperback ALL the way.