Jamie Weil

When I was 7, my teacher sent my poem Red to The Record Searchlight. From then on, I thought of myself as a published writer.

At UCLA, I studied literature about fascinating people and times, finding true stories even more captivating than fiction. As a teacher in Manhattan Beach, I taught Writer’s Workshop to my second graders and learned to love the process of writing, editing, and producing a finished book. Reading to my own two sons as they grew up, I fell in love with multicultural children’s literature.

Later, I became a journalist, writing many stories about cool people doing cool things and making the world a better place. I wrote some books, seven to be exact. I began to blog on my favorite topic: how to live a happy and healthy life mentally, physically, spiritually, and emotionally. I wanted to use my words to inspire people and help inspire them to live their best lives.

My current 2026 focus is rewriting two screenplays I wrote this year in UCLA's Professional Screenwriting Program. What a great experience! I just received an award as a finalist in a competition for my first screenplay, based on the true story of my babysitter who was a serial killer. Guess what it's called? You got it: My Serial Killer Babysitter. Fall 2026 will be film festivals and writing the novel to my second screenplay, a YA fantasy completely unique from anything I've done before.

That, and watching lots and lots of stories!