Bad On Paper Podcast
Episode: Elin Hilderbrand & Shelby Cunningham on Their New Mother/Daughter Book Collab
Hosts: Becca Freeman & Olivia Muenter
Guests: Elin Hilderbrand & Shelby Cunningham
Date: September 17, 2025
Episode Overview
This episode features a lively and revealing interview with bestselling author Elin Hilderbrand and her daughter, Shelby Cunningham, co-authors of the just-released novel The Academy. Host and self-described “Ellen-head” Becca Freeman, along with co-host Olivia Muenter, guides the conversation through the unique experience of mother-daughter collaboration, real-life inspiration behind the book (including never-before-told boarding school drama), and the generational blend that defines their new series. The authors discuss the writing process, inspirations from classic prep school stories, the upcoming adaptation, and their hopes for future projects.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
Introducing Elin & Shelby's Collaboration
- The Book: The Academy is Elin Hilderbrand’s 31st novel and her first co-written work, with daughter Shelby Cunningham.
- Setting: Fictional Tiffin Academy, a New England boarding school, during one tumultuous school year.
- Premise: The junior class returns after a classmate’s suicide to find their school unexpectedly ranked 2nd in the country, and a mysterious new student joins, sparking curiosity and chaos.
How the Collaboration Came to Life
- Origin Story: Shelby’s stories from her own boarding school days inspired her mom.
"I would cover her with stories every day. I mean, the things that go on you just literally wouldn't believe, which you will now because they're in the book...We joke all the time...straight to the fucking pages." – Shelby, [09:01]
- Writing Dynamic:
- Joint world-building and development of characters/arcs.
- Shelby provided lived-in details about the rhythms, traditions, and social life of boarding school.
- Shelby wrote or heavily edited all Gen Z and student-focused scenes for authentic dialogue.
"Every detail that goes into this book...came from Shelby's lived experience...She edited every single page of this book so that it sounded like it was authentically taking place in 2025." – Elin, [10:49]
Behind-the-Scenes of Real Boarding School Life
- Breaking News Moment: Shelby shares—for the first time publicly—the dramatic events that led to her being barred from attending her own graduation over a minor infraction.
"We have not talked about this with anyone at all...I immediately started bawling, crying...I didn’t get to say goodbye to anyone. It was the worst, probably like three days of my entire life." – Shelby, [13:56–19:17]
"And the thing that broke my heart was seeing on Instagram...Shelby has been completely erased after three years of having a perfect, like, great grades, wonderful grades, good college, perfect record, not one disciplinary problem. And she's been completely erased from the class of 2024. It was horrible." – Elin, [19:33]
World-Building & Literary Influences
- Building a New Universe: Elin discusses the joy and challenge of creating a new fictional world outside of Nantucket, inspired by her previous multi-POV narratives.
"It was world building and starting over...I wanted everybody to have a sort of a place in the universe and have it so well built that you want to be part of it." – Elin, [21:42]
- Not Just YA: The novel balances adult and student perspectives (about 50/50), making it appealing to both generations.
"I was expecting, I think it to feel more ya. But for our listeners, the book is actually, I would say like 50, 50, if not 60, 40 between the adults and the students." – Becca, [22:52]
- Literary Inspirations:
- Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld
- A Separate Peace by John Knowles
- Dead Poets Society (film)
- Distinctive Touch: Food, interior details, and “aspirational” elements remain trademark Elin, even as Shelby brings the voice of Gen Z.
"I wanted the most about Tiffin is I wanted everybody that read the book to be like, I wish I had gone to school here..." – Elin, [23:51]
Navigating Generational Dialogue
- Shelby as Chief Language Editor:
"Shelby...The notes that she sent me was like, nope, no, absolutely not. This is so cringe. Please take this out immediately...It was humbling." – Elin, [24:33] "I would be terrified to be writing Gen Z slang." – Becca, [25:17]
- What Not To Write:
"There was a lot of like, this is fire...She was like, absolutely. Take that, please...Just take it out." – Elin & Shelby, [25:34–25:56]
Adaptations & What’s Next
- TV/Film News:
- The Academy adaptation already acquired by a major streamer.
- Current productions for several other Hilderbrand novels, including a mention of working with high-profile talent like Jennifer Garner and Jenna Bush Hager.
"We can't announce it yet, but we ended up at a major streamer and we have a showrunner...And it should be announced right around the time the book comes out." – Elin, [32:04]
- Future Books:
- Book two in the Tiffin Academy world is underway; Shelby wants to explore college stories next, possibly as a spinoff or on her own.
"I really want to do a college one...The stories are even better...There's so much content..." – Shelby, [31:22–31:25]
- Elin’s “retirement” plans include maybe writing The Novelists, a book about MFA students, but only on her own schedule.
"I am going to write the Novelists at my own pace and then sell it to my publisher when it's finished, as opposed to taking a contract for it and having to deliver." – Elin, [34:47]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
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On Retirement:
"How can I miss you if you won't go away?" – Elin, on her supposed exit from publishing, [06:55]
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On Justice in Boarding School:
"That just feels like the punishment doesn't match the crime. To me, like, that feels like he was on a power trip." – Becca, [20:59]
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On Writing Together:
"What's so nice about writing, like, with my mom is...I can just talk to her and I just can tell her how it is. I don't have to be around the bush at all." – Shelby, [25:00]
-
Advice for Would-be Adversaries:
"Never cross a novelist. I think that's the lesson here." – Becca, [20:18]
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On Boarding School Aspiration:
"I wanted everybody that read the book to be like, I wish I had gone to school here." – Elin, [23:51]
Timestamps for Important Segments
- [06:29] Introduction of Elin & Shelby
- [07:41] The Pitch for The Academy
- [09:01] Where the Book Idea Came From
- [13:43] Shelby’s Boarding School Scandal (NEVER-BEFORE-TOLD)
- [21:42] World-Building Outside of Nantucket
- [24:33] Shelby Editing Elin's Dialogue for Gen Z Realness
- [29:12] Boarding School & Prep Novel Influences
- [32:04] TV Adaptation Announcements & Production Updates
- [34:47] Elin’s Future Writing Plans & “The Novelists” Project
- [36:35] What They’re Reading Now
What They’re Reading Now
- Shelby: A Thousand Acres by Jane Smiley
- Elin: Dominion by Addie Kitchens
"It is absolutely, like, beautifully written and evocative. And it's like To Kill a Mockingbird and Toni Morrison...it is so, so good. So highly recommended." – Elin, [37:39]
Episode Takeaways
- The Academy draws deeply from Shelby’s lived experience, giving the book a richly authentic voice, particularly in scenes featuring students and contemporary dialogue.
- The writing partnership is equal parts generational clash and creative synergy, ensuring a seamless blend of classic Hilderbrand storytelling with real Gen Z vibrancy.
- Personal stories—especially Shelby's intense last days at boarding school—influence both the themes and the emotional core of the novel.
- The novel bucks YA expectations, incorporating as much adult perspective and intrigue as student drama, inviting long-time Hilderbrand fans and a new generation alike.
- The mother-daughter duo is just getting started: more books and a TV series are on the horizon.
For updates on book tour dates and more, follow @elinhilderbrand and @shelbykcunningham on Instagram. If you crave boarding school vibes—equal parts tension, tradition, and intrigue—The Academy should be at the top of your list.