About Lainey

I’m a digital nomad, creator and host of The Best of Women’s Fiction Podcast, part-time resident of the beautiful city of San Miguel de Allende in Mexico, avid instagramer, and full-time writer of women’s fiction.

Click here for a Short Bio or scroll to end of page.

My first novel draws from my experience as a tech insider where, for over a decade, I experienced being the only woman in the boardroom (in Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer roles).

A few years ago I made the bold decision (or feel free to call it crazy, fearless, or privileged) to do what smart people in the writing world never advise; quit my job in San Francisco and start writing novels.

Since then it’s been a crazy journey.

I can tell you with confidence that of every trip I’ve taken (and I’m lucky to have visited fifty plus countries) the writing journey is by far the scariest.

Scarier than hunting with stoned-out-of-their-minds tribesmen in Tanzania. Scarier than sitting on a beach in Indonesia when the Tsunami alert goes out. Scarier than riding a a blow-up banana boat through a storm in Croatia (all true stories, that might make it into a book some day).

I started the first draft of my first novel knowing I wasn’t skilled enough, or industry savvy enough, to know where the story would end. But, I took a leap of faith that the journey itself would teach me what I needed to know.

But after completing that first draft, I did the worst thing any new writer can do. I read every craft book I could lay my hands on. And froze.

Did you know that almost all writing advice ultimately contradicts itself?

So I sought help. I joined Women’s Fiction Writers Association and found my community. Through their recommendations, I took editing classes with Margie Lawson’s writing academy, and I signed up for weekly book coaching with an amazing coach Kemlo Aki at Jennie Nash’s Author Accelerator.

Simultaneously, my tech consultant fiancé (now husband) and I realized we couldn’t afford to live in expensive San Francisco and decided to became digital nomads (working people with no fixed abode).

First, we tried living in an RV for six months. I share in this post Why (the Dream) of Writing from an RV Wasn’t for Me.

Next we tried Mexico, and Colombia, and I won two awards and that gave me the confidence to stick with writing.

And then, after over a year more of editing the book, I started looking for an agent. You can read more here in Tales from the Querying Trenches about how the hummingbird became my spirit animal.

Was my journey over? No, this book still had one more year of editing and revisions to go (this time working with Tiffany Yates Martin an amazing developmental editor), and then I queried again; which resulted in over 130 tough rejections, including 30+ on the full manuscript, before I found my publisher.

My advice to other writers, a few years into the journey? 

First, I wish that someone had told me earlier that the hardest part of this journey may be tackling your own demons.

Guilt. Doubt. Shame. For me, there’s been guilt over wasting time, guilt over passing on the opportunity to make good money in my prior day job, fear of lacking the necessary talent, shame over being privileged enough to afford to do this (to clarify: I am living off income from my prior life in tech, not my books). Fear that no one will ever read what you write. Or fear that they will and hate it! And the biggest challenge: questioning why am I, of all people, deserving of success? 

Yes, if you wish to writer a novel, you need to improve your skills (join the writer’s group, attend the conference, take the classes) but to me the hardest aspect was developing the confidence to know when I was good enough to share my work with the world. The first time my work was read in public (to a tiny group doing Margie’s immersion masterclass at her house), I literally wanted the ground (or in this case her living room floor) to swallow me.

So my advice?

Find ways to bolster confidence in your own talent.  For me the first award helped, but beta readers who love your book, who believe it deserves to be in the world can serve the same role.

Find your Community. And be the virtual helper in the room. It’s a cliche but find your community and pitch in. Whether it’s a regional writer’s forum or conference, or a genre specific organization like Women’s Fiction Writer’s or a local chapter of your library, get your nails dirty and become part of the group not just a bystander.

The reality is that it’s only by bonding with other writers— all of whom face the same obstacles— that you’ll overcome the rejection, guilt and doubt. And stick with it long enough to see your work make it into the world.

And lastly, avoid at all costs calling yourself an aspiring writer, a term I’d love to obliterate, because in my opinion it saps creative confidence and plays to our insecurities. See my blog post on Why I’m Begging You to Stop Calling Yourself an Aspiring Writer.

And there you have it. What else might you want to know about me?

I’m not sure if I live to travel or travel to live, but I’m an avid instagrammer and enjoy sharing my travel tips and insights. I now live part of the year in our house in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico.

Originally from Scotland, I have a soft spot for kilts, good malt whisky, and anything equine (donkeys rock!). Several years ago I completed my first triathlon, much to my own surprise as a lifetime non-athlete. 

When I’m not writing (or reading), you’ll find me hunting down new single malts, and checking out rooftop bars (I have popular blog posts about the Rooftops Bars of San Miguel and Best Place to Watch Sunset in Cartagena).

I’d love to connect with you on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook.

Longer:

Lainey Cameron is an award-winning author, a marketing expert, a digital nomad, and host of the Best of Women’s Fiction podcast. A recovering tech industry executive, her first novel, The Exit Strategy, has won fourteen book awards and became an Amazon #1 bestseller.

Inspired by a decade of being the only woman in the corporate boardroom, The Exit Strategy is fun feminist fiction, that has been called a “rallying call for women to believe in themselves and join together”. It 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 and loves to share her travel tips and insights with readers.

She created the The Best of Women’s Fiction podcast to showcase books and authors she admires. It has become a popular and prestigious opportunity for authors, rating among the top 5% of all podcasts. Lainey is also 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, she has a soft spot for kilts and good malt whisky, and when she’s not writing (or reading), you’ll find her hunting down new single malts, checking out rooftop bars, and when possible, hanging out with anything equine (donkeys rock!).

Find her online at www.laineycameron.com , on Instagram, or sometimes making a fool of herself on TikTok. Subscribe to The Best of Women’s Fiction podcast at www.bestofwomensfiction.com

Short:

Lainey Cameron is an award-winning author, a marketing expert, a digital nomad, and host of the Best of Women’s Fiction podcast. A recovering tech industry executive, her first novel, The Exit Strategy, has won fourteen book awards and became an Amazon #1 bestseller.

She’s the 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.

A digital nomad—meaning she picks locations around the world to live (and write) for months at a time—Lainey is an avid instagramme and loves to share her book and travel insights.

Originally from Scotland, she has a soft spot for kilts and a good malt whisky.

Connect with her at www.laineycameron.com or subscribe to The Best of Women’s Fiction podcast at www.bestofwomensfiction.com