Lainey Cameron
Author Interview - Lainey Cameron
Author of The Exit Strategy
Silicon Valley investor Ryn Brennan is on the verge of achieving everything she dreamed. She’s succeeded in the sexist venture capital world, has a supportive husband, and is about to close the deal of her career. Everything is going exactly as planned, until she meets her husband’s mistress, across the negotiating table.
Author Interview - Lainey Cameron
Author I draw inspiration from: For the last decade I’ve been a big fan of women’s fiction, in fact, before I even knew what that term meant. Liane Moriarty and specifically her book “The Husband’s Secret” was an author who first inspired me to think “Maybe I, too, could write that type of story?”
Since then, I’ve met so many amazing and supportive writers in the genre.
It's not a coincidence, being such a lover of this genre that I created a podcast called The Best of Women's Fiction, that showcases authors I admire.
Author Interview - Lainey Cameron | Author I Draw Inspiration From
Favorite place to read a book: In my hammock on the rooftop terrace of my house in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico.
Book character I’d like to be stuck in an elevator with: I recently read Maggie Smith's 2022 debut, The Truth and Other Lies, and she does a wonderful job with the characters. Jocelyn Jones is a Pulitzer winning journalist who's been accused of plagiarism, and I'd love to be stuck in an elevator and quiz her on whether she really did it, and if so why?
The book pits her against a young journalist for whom Jocelyn is her heroine. I loved how the novel examined the millennial-boomer divide on idealism versus doing whatever it takes. It's a subtle and thoughtful novel.
Author Interview - Lainey Cameron | Book Character I’d Like to be Stuck in an Elevator With
The moment I knew I wanted to become an author: The moment my debut won its first award as an unpublished novel - The Rising Star Award from Women's Fiction Writers Association.
That may sound odd, right? But my story is that I took a sabbatical away from my old career as a tech executive in Silicon Valley to see if I had it in me to be a successful author.
I had a story to tell about a wife meeting a mistress and them being forced to work together, but I didn't yet know if I could develop all the skills needed to write a page turner and books that readers would love. This award was the moment I first thought "Okay, maybe I can do this?".
Hardback, paperback, ebook or audiobook: This one is a hard question, because I prefer paperback. But as a digital nomad who travels around the world that isn't practical.
Although, I have been known to pay a guy to bring ARCs of author friends' books down to Mexico from Texas (in his pickup truck!) that's not something I can do frequently! So mostly, I settle for reading ebooks.
The last book I read: Maggie Giles debut coming in April 2022, The Things We Lost.
It's a tale of switched realities where a heroine is thrown back to her mid-twenties, with clever writing with a complex plot. The novel has major Gone Girl vibes, verging on suspense, with dark secrets, including memories the heroine is missing.
Author Interview - Lainey Cameron | The Last Book I Read
Pen & paper or computer: Computer. I'm a big fan of the flexibility of using the Scrivener application for writing. It lets me move scenes around, and take snapshots of my work in progress, so I can delve into previous versions if I ever need to.
Book character I think I’d be best friends with: One of my all time favorites is Libby Miller in Life and Other Near Death Experiences by Camille Pagán. She's up against a worst case scenario where she is battling cancer and isn't sure whether to continue. She escapes to Vieques, a small island near Puerto Rico, and I love how even in the worst of situations, she still approaches life with humor and resiliency.
Camille recently brought her back 13 years later in Don't Make Me Turn This Life Around. She returns to Vieques with her family and all does not go well. Both books are filled with zest for life and humor and make me smile every time I think of them.
Author Interview - Lainey Cameron | Book Character I’d be Best Friends With
If I weren’t an author, I’d be a: I'm having a lot of fun as host of The Best of Women's Fiction podcast, where I interview authors I admire. So perhaps journalism, or a chat show host could have been a blast?
Or anything with horses. I do adore anything equine including donkeys. I could certainly run a donkey and alpaca rescue farm and be happy until the end of my days.
Place I’d most like to travel: Oh man, I have so many answers to this. Being a nomad I'm lucky enough to actually get to pursue my travel dreams.
Before the pandemic, Hubby and I had booked tickets to a festival in Argentina, close to the border with Chile. Both countries are still high on my list of places I’d like to visit, including the city of Ushuaia, right at the tip of South America.
My signature drink: Being Scottish, I have a fondness for single malt whisky. I like the ones that are sherry casked, so Macallan, The Dalmore, Aberlour. Although I'd never mix them with anything other than a small splash of water, no ice.
But if you want a mixed drink, my living in Mexico side would say a decent mezcal, fresh grapefruit juice and a splash of soda water over ice. Delicious! And a gorgeous pink color, too.
Favorite artist: I'm a big P!nk fan, perhaps because when I got divorced a decade ago, I felt like I was relating to every single one of her anthems.
I actually created a playlist for the main character in The Exit Strategy, who is going through an ugly divorce during the novel. It follows her emotional path from disbelief to anger to resiliency, self-love and ultimately, woman-power and was inspired by many of my own favorite songs during that time.
You can find it on my page full of reader extras (along with Nutella recipes and a travel guide with the locations in the book).
Number one on my bucket list: Horseback riding with the gauchos in Argentina.
Anything else you'd like to add: I'm so excited that you, Ashley are going to be joining me as a cohost on The Best of Women's Fiction podcast in 2022 and beyond!
This podcast has really been an act of love, a way for me to give back to the community of writers and readers, and I know you feel the same way.
This is one of the things I am most excited about as we enter 2022!
Find more from the author:
https://www.instagram.com/lainey_cameron
https://www.facebook.com/laineycameronauthor
https://twitter.com/lainey_cameron
Author Bio: Lainey Cameron is a digital nomad and author of women’s fiction. A recovering tech industry executive, her 12-time award-winning novel, The Exit Strategy, was inspired by a decade of being the only woman in the corporate boardroom. It’s been called a “rallying call for women to believe in themselves and join together” and tells the story of a Silicon Valley investor who first meets her husband’s mistress across the negotiating table.
A digital nomad—meaning she picks locations around the world to live (and write) for months at a time—Lainey is an avid instagrammer.
She’s also founder and host of The Best of Women’s Fiction podcast, a proud member and volunteer with Women’s Fiction Writers Association, believes community makes the author's life worthwhile, and is on a mission to obliterate the term aspiring writer.
Originally from Scotland, Lainey has a soft spot for kilts and good malt whisky.
