Write What Fascinates You 📚 Stuart Gibbs on Spy School, FunJungle, and Writing An Adventurous Life

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Most writers are told to “write what you know.” Stuart Gibbs encourages authors to write what fascinates them...

In this fascinating episode of A LITERAL JOURNEY, I sit down with bestselling author Stuart Gibbs—the author behind Spy School, FunJungle, Charlie Thorne, Once Upon A Tim, and The Last Musketeer series. Stuart shares his incredible journey from writing stories as a child (showcasing his first, "homemade" book), to working in Hollywood (Anastasia, anyone??), to becoming an author of more than 40 books.

Along the way, we talk about his real-life adventures: cage diving with great white sharks, facing down a charging elephant, and rescuing children from drowning, and how his experiences and real-life adventures have influenced his stories.

Stuart chats about persistence, and why success in publishing is often a slow, steady climb—not a single breakthrough moment. He also shares one of the most powerful pieces of writing advice I’ve ever heard: don’t write what you know… write what fascinates you.

Whether you’re a reader, writer, parent, teacher, or an adventurer, I hope this episode encourages you to open a book (or pick up a pen) and embark on your own literal journey.

About STUART GIBBS:

A few interesting things that Stuart Gibbs has done: Worked at a zoo. Researched capybaras (the world's largest rodents). Climbed Mount Kilimanjaro. Cage dived with great white sharks. Faced down a charging elephant. Swum with penguins in the Galapagos. Ice-climbed a glacier in Patagonia. Visited the cockpit of the Space Shuttle Atlantis. Helped rescue sixteen children from drowning off the coast of Israel. Written a few movies that actually got made (See Spot Run; Repli-Kate; Showdown). Worked on a few animated movies (Anastasia; Open Season 3; Mickey, Donald, Goofy: The Three Musketeers).

He is currently at work on several more books -- and the screenplay for Spy School the movie/series.

💻 VISIT Stuart Gibbs's official website: https://stuartgibbs.com/

📖 READ Ape Escape: https://amzn.to/3PmV0I7

📖 READ Spy School: https://amzn.to/4cUPQNi

📚 CHECK OUT Stuart Gibbs's other books: https://amzn.to/4rHIbp6

🎧 LISTEN to more episodes of A LITERAL JOURNEY: https://aliteraljourney.buzzsprout.com/

🎥 WATCH more episodes of A LITERAL JOURNEY: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRTQ34vyf-9NkrTcSH0KEwXPOhdVqZRVZ

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My name is Seth Adam Smith. I’m a husband, father, and author who believes in the power of stories to inspire people forward.

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