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Among the highly anticipated titles featured at this year’s London Book Fair is Anne Meredith’s Jaded. This novel marks the debut for Meredith, a WGA Award-winning screenwriter known for her work on films like Bastard Out of Carolina and Losing Chase. The literary rights for the book have garnered considerable interest, with Judy Clain at Summit securing world rights. Moreover, foreign language rights have been sold in several languages, including French, German, Hungarian, Portuguese, and Spanish. Described as a blend of “Donna Tartt meets E.L. James set on a 1980s college campus,” the narrative revolves around two long-married professors who draw a student into their lives each year, until they make a fateful choice with one particular young woman. Ahead of the London Book Fair, Meredith engaged in a conversation about her transition to fiction, the insights her screenwriting background provided, and her journey as a debut novelist at 40.
What prompted you to shift from screenwriting, after over three decades, to writing your first novel?
During the relentless summer of 2020, amidst the pandemic’s chaos, I found myself out of work and permanently living in the Hudson Valley after relocating from Los Angeles. In that solitude, I sought a creative outlet. The ongoing #MeToo Movement weighed heavily on my mind—while men in powerful positions continued to exploit their authority, I contemplated the enablers surrounding them. What if a married couple, professors, were complicit in this abuse? And what if they ultimately faced consequences—not from the authorities, but from the very students they exploited?
Did your experience in screenwriting shape your approach to writing Jaded? What elements from that craft did you carry over into your book?
Absolutely, my background in screenwriting greatly influenced the writing of Jaded. Good screenplays need to capture a reader’s attention and maintain it throughout; the key lies in knowing when to start and end a scene, and how to connect them seamlessly. It requires understanding pacing, maintaining focus, and being concise. While screenplays and novels differ significantly—the former being a blueprint for others to build, and the latter being a solitary construction—the aim remains consistent: to present a strong voice and an engaging story, equipped with memorable characters and authentic dialogue.
Jaded is receiving notable international attention, with rights sold in multiple languages. What elements of your novel do you believe resonate universally across varied cultures?
The intricacies of human behavior transcend language barriers. We all understand the complexities of power dynamics, feel the frustrations of unaccounted misbehavior, and experience the joy of justice when it’s served. Additionally, everyone embarks on a journey of sexual identity at some point, sharing experiences related to desire, intimacy, and passion, which can manifest in various forms—be it through nature, cuisine, art, or romantic relationships.
Jaded contributes to the tradition of “campus novels.” In what ways does it align with or redefine that genre?
Indeed, Jaded fits into the established category of “campus novels.” However, it distinguishes itself by featuring a reversal of power dynamics—wherein the students hold the power rather than the professors—and by its unabashed approach to sexuality.
You join a number of celebrated women authors who released their debut novels after turning 40, including the likes of Marilyn French, Toni Morrison, and Elizabeth Strout. Could you share your reflections on embarking on this journey later in life? What challenges and unexpected aspects have you encountered?
It is truly an honor to be part of this lineage of remarkable women who debuted their literary careers after 40. It’s an interesting experience—having aged out of Hollywood as an older woman. That transition was challenging. Previously, I could easily write speculative scripts whenever inspiration struck. But by 2020, as agents and producers fell away, I realized that writing Jaded as a screenplay would lead to it being overlooked. The most surprising aspect is that Jaded actually came to fruition; the greatest joy has been the opportunity to share it with readers around the world.
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