In this episode, author Camille Perri talks about why a book must first and foremost entertain – even when talking about issues like student debt and wage inequality and how she overcame her fear of failure and developed the self-confidence to really become a writer.
Camille, wrote the first draft of her debut novel The Assistants while working full time as the assistant to the Editor-in-Chief of Esquire. Camille holds a bachelor of arts from NYU and a master of library science from Queens College.
Episode Highlights
• 1:00 – Overeducated and underpaid: Camille’s protagonist in The Assistants faces a bind many working women find themselves in
• 2:52 – How Camille’s journey as a successful, published, bestselling author began as a librarian
• 5:13 – Her big break as a fiction writer: “An internship at Esquire was a scary opportunity but I couldn’t not take it”
• 8:15 – Want to live a fully well-lived life? Do therapy. It helped with her mother’s death and owning her sexuality
• 11:00 – How Camille overcame her fear of failure and developed the self-confidence to really become a writer
• 14:15 – On using journaling to discover and hone your writing voice and create breakthroughs
• 18:00 – Camille talks about the joy of persistence and grit: “Even with so many hurdles I wouldn’t change anything”
• 24:21 – Camille on why a book must first and foremost entertain: “I had to “Trojan Horse” issues like student debt and wage inequality”
1. Favorite book for women?
- The Beggar Maid: Stories of Flo and Rose by Alice Munro
2. Favorite self-care hack?
- Watching 80’s workout videos on VHS
3. Best piece of advice and who gave it to you?
- “What would you do if you weren’t afraid?” (her friend’s mother)
4. Female CEO or thought leader you’re into right now?
5. One piece of advice you’d give your 5 years younger self?
- “Keep your head up. All your hard work will turn out to be worth it”
