Interview with Elizabeth A. Seibert for The Bro Code
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Fiction
Synopsis:
As a certified stand-up bro, Nick Maguire knows that some things in life are sacred: Do not skip ab workouts. Never back down from spicy foods. And always accept the outcome of Rock, Paper, Scissors. For these are the revered doctrines of The Bro Code, rules of conduct that have been passed down through the ages from bro to bro.
Heading into his senior year, Cassidy High’s star soccer player has his priorities straight and intends to spend his time playing sports, hanging out, and living by the code. But when his best bro Carter’s sister Eliza returns from studying overseas, the awkward, academic girl Nick remembers is different.
Carter might be Nick’s bro, but Eliza becomes his whole world—and he has to make a choice between them. Is being with the girl of your dreams worth breaking the most important rule: never date your best friend’s sister? Somehow, Nick never expected that following The Bro Code may have even bigger consequences than breaking it.
Can you briefly describe THE BRO CODE and its characters?
I wrote The Bro Code to be a satirical critique of “bro culture” that is accessible through a romantic comedy/coming-of-age story. It focuses on Nick, a “bad boy” bro who navigates his senior year of high school and whether or not to break The Bro Code for his best friend’s sister, Eliza. (The Bro Code specifically says bros are not to date their friends’ sisters.)
The main “bros” are Nick, Carter, and Austin. They are all hyperathletic, popular guys on the soccer team, love video games and country music, and are addicted to pizza and attention from girls. They also live by The Bro Code.
Carter is the most studious and responsible of the three, whereas Austin is the most reckless. Nick falls in the middle. Eliza is Carter’s slightly younger sister who is “off-limits” and Nick’s love interest. She is very studious, plays volleyball, and loves to paint.
Could you describe your story with emojis?
😎⚽🍕
Who would you say is your favourite character from the story and why?
I actually like Madison the best. Madison is a more minor character who is Nick’s love interest at the beginning of the story. She is really sassy and unafraid to go after what she wants, which I respect about her. Of the bros, Nick is my favourite; I’m very proud of him for how he develops through the story. (Can I say that? 😊)How did the story occur to you? Did you find inspiration anywhere?
I had heard of “the bro code” from a TV show, How I Met Your Mother, and the blatant sexism of it frustrated me, but I noticed that the TV show flaunted it through humour. I thought I could try that, too, but to have the opposite message (reverse sexism).The rules of The Bro Code were inspired by past guys at my high school and current teenagers. I noted some of the ridiculous things they did—like making fun of each other not liking spicy foods—and turned those into the code.
If you could choose one song to describe your book, which one would it be?
“The Boys are Back in Town” by Thin Lizzy (and not just because my name is Lizzie 😊).
If your book was going to be made into a movie, who would play your characters?
Nick – Graham Phillips
Carter – George Sear
Austin – Noah Centineo
Eliza – Florence Pugh
Madison – Katelyn Nacon
What drink and place do you think will go with your book to have a perfect book date?
It’s gotta be a pizza place. (You’ll understand why when you read the book!)
For the drink…let’s go with a root beer float.
Can you recommend your readers any other books in case they are left hungry for more once they finish THE BRO CODE?
Similar books to The Bro Code are The Kissing Booth by Beth Reekles and The Upside of Falling by Alex Light. (Also, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han.)Other young adult books I love are One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus, The Cheerleaders by Kara Thomas, and the Mistborn trilogy by Brandon Sanderson.
What would you say is the most difficult part of writing a book?
Honestly, having people read it! It feels like a book will never be “perfect” enough for the world to read, and the truth is that it won’t be. Authors have to be okay with letting the story be as it is and sharing it anyway. It’s also important to remember that not everyone is going to like your book, no matter how “good” it is.What’s next for you?
For the next two years I’ll be finishing up my courses at Harvard. I write screenplays as well as novels, and I’ll continue to hone those skills. I hope my career as a writer will be to explore social issues through fun and accessible stories.
I’m also currently working on a romantic thriller that explores the dark side of fairy tales. Very exciting! Title TBD.
Elizabeth A. Seibert is the author of The Bro Code and is featured in Imagines: Celebrity Encounters Starring You. Elizabeth has amassed over 30 million reads and two top awards on Wattpad.com and loves discussing feminism, waffles, and the Oxford comma.
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