Two screenwriting BFFs write their first novel together

Amy Adelson and Emily Meyer have been best friends ever since a modern-dance class in their Los Angeles middle school, where the two bonded over the “horror of wearing head-to-toe spandex.” In their early 20s, they began writing scripts together and sold their first one, a contemporary adaptation of “The Great Gatsby,” to Sony. They went on to become screenwriters for the “Step Up” franchise, penning “Step Up 2 the Streets” and “Step Up 3D” for Disney, among many other titles. But this winter, they’ve collaborated together on a different sort of project: their first novel, “Layover” (Crown Books). “It’s a youngadult novel about a blended family in free fall — a stepbrother, stepsister and their shared halfsibling,” Adelson tells The Post. “They’re on a layover at LAX to meet their parents, and the little one tells them the parents are going to be sharing the news that they’re getting a divorce. They decide to throw out their cellphones and embark on a 24-hour adventure in LA.” The process of writing the book, they say, was identical to that of screenwriting; they outline everything together and then split up to write separately, even though they’re in touch throughout the day. They get back together when it’s time for edits. “We don’t really disagree on creative issues. It would be so much better if we had two brains, but at this point we can’t even tell who wrote which lines,” says Adelson with a laugh.

“The book is dedicated to families — the ones you’re born into and the ones you choose,” says Meyer. “It’s about finding your people in the world and that can come in all different ways.” —