Thanks for stopping by my site—and if you’ve picked up one of my books, for reading my work.
I’ve been telling stories as long as I’ve been able to hold a pen, but I didn’t write a novel until about ten years ago. I had just given birth to my first child and a dear friend was battling terminal cancer; I guess you could say life’s big questions were on my mind. I began writing at night after my daughter went to bed, and after many tough but exhilarating months, completed the draft that would become my debut, The Art of Forgetting. The experience changed me—even before I typed “The End,” I knew I wanted to do it again (and again and again).
Still, it took me several years to write another novel that made it to print. A cross-country move, the birth of my second child, and a heavy dose of second book self doubt had me ready to throw in the towel. Then I sat down and began working on a story just for myself, which put the joy back in my writing. Less than a year after handing that book, Life and Other Near-Death Experiences, to my agent, it became the #1 all-category Kindle bestseller and remained there for more than three of the first four weeks after its publication. Life was recently optioned for film by Jessica Chastain’s Freckle Films.
Not long after Life was published, I was plodding along on a new draft when I suddenly had the idea for my third novel, Forever is the Worst Long Time. I knew it was supposed to be my next book—and luckily my publisher, Lake Union, agreed. Forever was published at the beginning of 2017, and was an RT Reviews top pick and named a best book of the month by Amazon, InStyle, and RealSimple. This year, I’m thrilled to introduce you to Woman Last Seen in Her Thirties and its protagonist, Maggie Halfmoon, who was a delight to write. I just finished my fifth novel (and hope to be able to share more news about it with you soon!).
It took a few books for me to realize my fiction focuses on love, loss, and making the most of this messy and wonderful life. I write to figure out how I feel about the world—and to connect with others thinking about the same things. Nothing makes me happier than hearing from a reader who says, “Your novel helped me through a tough time,” or “That’s exactly how I felt.”
I tell true stories, too; I’m also a journalist specializing in health. (You might have seen my articles in Forbes, O: The Oprah Magazine, Parade, Time, or WebMD.) I’ve been on staff at several publications and websites, and most recently served as the health editor at Real Simple magazine.
When I’m not at my computer, you’ll find me with my nose in a book, running after my two kids and our nutty dog, or planning my next trip (most likely to Puerto Rico, where my husband was born and raised). After nearly a decade in Brooklyn and a stint in Chicago, my family and I live in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Drop me a line or connect with me on Facebook; I’d love to hear from you.
—Camille