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| Photo by Myra Klarman |
Camille Pagán is the author of three other novels: Forever is the Worst Long Time, The Art of Forgetting, and the #1 Amazon Kindle bestseller Life and Other Near-Death Experiences, which was recently optioned for film. A journalist and former health editor, Pagán’s work has appeared in Forbes, O: The Oprah Magazine, Parade, Real Simple, Time, WebMD, and many other publications and websites.
When Camille is not at her computer, you’ll find her with her nose in a book, running after her two kids and their nutty dog, or planning her next trip (most likely to Puerto Rico, where her husband was born and raised). After nearly a decade in Brooklyn and a stint in Chicago, Camille and her family live in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Visit Camille online:
Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram
At fifty-three, Maggie Harris has a good marriage and two mostly happy children. Perpetually anxious, she’s also accumulated a list of semi-reasonable fears: falling air conditioners, the IRS, identity theft, skydiving, and airbag recalls. But never once did Maggie worry that her husband of nearly thirty years would leave her.
On the day Adam walks out the door, everything that makes Maggie secure goes with him. Only then does she realize that while she’s been busy caring for everyone else, she’s become invisible to the world—and to herself.
Maggie cautiously begins to rebuild her life with a trip to Rome, a new career, and even a rebound romance. But when a fresh crisis strikes and an uncertain future looms, she must decide: How much will she risk to remain the woman she’s just become?
What was your inspiration for Woman Last Seen in Her Thirties?
Like most of my novels, this book was inspired by an everyday experience. I was standing in Whole Foods when a college-aged man bumped into me. He was busy talking to the friend he was shopping with and glanced up at me with a look that said he had just looked right through me. Then he continued on his way. Maybe he was simply rude—but the encounter made me think about how women, in particular, often become invisible to those around them as they get older. (I believe this is changing—but I still see it happen more than I’d like.)
In that moment, the idea for Woman Last Seen in Her Thirties was born: I realized I wanted to write a book about a woman who feels like she’s become invisible to the world—and maybe even herself—and finds the courage to be seen again on her own terms.
What is one piece of advice you would like to share with someone writing their first novel?
Write the novel you want to read. I let that advice guide me when I was writing my first novel, The Art of Forgetting—and I’ve continued to follow it for every novel I’ve written since. If you don’t like what you’re writing, you can’t expect anyone else to! When I’m not sitting down to my computer excited about what I’m about to create, I’m working on the wrong book. (This has happened a few times.)
If Woman were to become a movie, who would you cast in the lead roles?
I love this question! Maura Tierney comes to mind—she’s so expressive in The Affair. Since Woman is humorous, I’d also be happy to see an actress with comedic chops—like Sandra Bullock, Jennifer Aniston, or Taraji P. Henson—play Maggie. I can see Edward Norton or Eric Bana playing Maggie’s husband Adam. Dame Judi Dench is my ideal Jean—I have no doubt she could pull off a southern accent—and Chiwetel Ejiofor would be an amazing Charlie.
What, in your opinion, is the best thing about being in your thirties?
Your thirties are when you stop caring quite so much what other people think and do what’s right for you. And if you’re lucky, you still have many years ahead of you, so it can feel less intimidating to make a change if you’re heading in the wrong direction. It’s a refreshing time of life.
What is your most unique trait?
My husband is better suited to answer this than I am, so I asked him. He said, “Your sense of humor and your sheer doggedness.” (Technically that’s two traits, but the man does know me better than anyone.)
What is the last book you read that you would recommend?
Gail Honeyman’s Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine. It’s such a wonderful and unexpected story—I’ve been recommending it to everyone I know.
Thanks to Camille for chatting with us and to Kathleen Carter for sharing her book with our readers.
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My 30s seem so long ago. But I believe it was when I started not caring what people thought of me. I wanted to be myself and not what other people wanted me to be. I learned to think of myself first and not give into every request people asked of me and not let people walk all over me. I learned to say no more often and that the quality of friends was more important than the quantity of them. I also learned that staying home on weekend nights can be more fun than going out to clubs. Now that I am in my 50s, some people don't like what I have become, but I really don't care. I am honest and true and say what I want. I am no longer someone's doormat or puppet.
ReplyDeleteIn my thirties, I was newly married, enjoyed my job and had great friends in a great city! Fun time!
ReplyDeleteIn my 30's life was busy and filled with interesting moments.
ReplyDeleteMy 30’s was a great, but stressful time. I still felt energetic and young. I was busy relishing my married life and raising our daughter. Very busy. Aside from the effects of aging, my 40’s were better years. More wisdom, less care about what other people think, and more time to enjoy the things I love and having time to spend with my husband of 23 years. Now if I could just have the energy I had in my 30’s to go with it.
ReplyDeleteAnd I agree that we can feel invisible to this generation once we age. Sad. So many of us have so much knowledge and wisdom to offer.
The best thing for me about being in my 30’s was that I had finished having children and the time ahead was to enjoy and spend family time with them. I think I myself finally felt like an adult and could start to achieve some of the goals I had set out for myself. Not saying I accomplished many because my family always came first.
ReplyDeleteI had 3 lovely daughters by the time I reached my 30s, and I felt I had really found myself and began to relax and enjoy life
ReplyDeleteI was very busy in my 30s...becoming a single mother, buying a home, raising my son, working full-time to advance my career. We came through that period strong. Not going to say it was easy, though.
ReplyDeleteThe 30s was a great time. I was a busy mom, I was healthy and had all kinds of energy. It is the best age to be.
ReplyDeleteMy 30's were good and bad. It was a time when I found my inner strength and grew up a lot.
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ReplyDeleteI went through some very difficult times in my thirties, but I learned so much too. I am thankful I was able to overcome the challenges presented to me, and come out a better person.
ReplyDeleteThe best thing has been having my son and watching him learn about the world.
ReplyDeleteI started on my journey of being a strong, independent women when I was in my 30's.
ReplyDeleteThe best thing that happened in my thirties was having birthed two children by the time I was 30 and being a mother to two very active ones and volunteering much time to school and church. It was also the best time before psoriasis and arthritis attacked me in my forties and fifties.
ReplyDeleteThe best part of being in my 30s was having fun with my 3 children.
ReplyDeletenot sure
ReplyDelete"What is/was the best thing about being in your thirties?" Still having a shred of youth before the ultimate decline.
ReplyDeleteI began my weight loss journey in my 30's
ReplyDeleteThe best thing about being in my 30s... I'm actually fumbling to find an answer, as my 30s have thus far been awful (I'm 36).
ReplyDelete(It's taking me so long to write even this!) I suppose... if I'm not "tied down" with anything at this point in my life, I'm "free" to try and figure things out, and to explore new things.
--Ann
I didn't want to leave this lovely blog post with such a downer of a comment, no matter how true it may be. So... I'm baaaack! :-p
ReplyDeleteOver the past few hours, as I was just going about my day, I thought how flippin' sweet it is to not be tethered to the path that I blindly set out for myself in my late teens. Now I have a much broader view, and I can say "screw it" to what I'd set out to do. Now I can actually figure out what I want (and pursue it!), rather than just continue to put one foot in front of the other.
--Ann