About
Emily St. James
Emily St. James is an award-winning writer and cultural critic who has worked in fiction, television, journalism, and podcasts. She grew up in the middle of nowhere South Dakota and now lives in Los Angeles, which is only slightly less lonely. She writes for television with her wife, Libby Hill, and adores speaking about herself in the third person.
Photo: Eliza Clark
Selected work
Fiction and otherwise
I've been writing since I was 4. Some of it has even been good!
Woodworking
My debut novel follows a recently self-accepting trans high school teacher in 2016 Mitchell, South Dakota, who starts bugging the only other trans woman she knows: one of her students. It was longlisted for the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize and a finalist for a Lambda Literary Award and the Edmund White Award for Debut Fiction. Now out in paperback. Also available as an audiobook.
Yellowjackets
My writing partner and I served as staff writers on the third and fourth seasons of the Emmy-nominated Showtime series about teen girl cannibals. Script credit on Season 3's "Thanksgiving (Canada)" and upcoming Season 4 episode.
Available for television work.
I write with my wife and creative sparring partner Libby Hill. TV writing samples are available upon request. We are represented by Sean Berard and Mica Andy at Untitled Entertainment.
Every Time a Bell Rings
A deep dive into perhaps my favorite movie ever made, character by character, covering everything from Frank Capra's illustrious career to World War II PTSD to the true angelic nature of Clarence Odbody. Available for preorder.
Lost: Back to the Island
A complete guide to the beloved TV show about castaways stuck on a mysterious island with a big ol' monster. Reviews of every episode, plus essays on other topics of note.
Monsters of the Week: The Complete Critical Companion to The X-Files
A celebration of the show that first made me obsessed with television, with reviews of all episodes and interviews with cast and crew. Published under the name Emily VanDerWerff.
Podcast Like It's...
Creator Phil Iscove and I talk about the movies of the 2000s with a bevy of very special guests. Releases weekly on Fridays.
Arden
A journalist and a private eye solve cold cases and try to avoid killing and/or kissing each other in this award-nominated comedy fiction podcast. I co-showran the first two seasons.
Vox, A.V. Club, NYT, etc.
I worked for over a decade as a cultural critic, including work as the inaugural TV editor of The A.V. Club and first culture editor of Vox. Select clips follow.
- I Saw the TV Glow’s ending is full of hope if you want it to be (Vulture)
- On Succession, there’s one thing Logan Roy can’t buy (New York Times)
- What’s so scary about a transgender child (Vox · WGA Award nominee · GLAAD Award nominee)
- How Twitter can ruin a life (Vox · Hugo Award nominee)
- The Catastrophist (Vox)
I still do occasional freelance work. If you have an idea you’d like to work on together, please reach out to me.
Representation
Contact & representation
Television & Film
Sean Berard & Mica Andy
Untitled Entertainment
sberard@untitledent.comMAndy@untitledent.com