We recently connected with Camille Cabrera and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Camille, thank you so much for joining us today. There are so many topics we could discuss, but perhaps one of the most relevant is empathy because it’s at the core of great leadership and so we’d love to hear about how you developed your empathy?
To me, empathy allows us to fully embrace our connection to humanity. We’re a species programmed to crave connection with one another. Yet somehow, it often feels like our empathy and ability to relate becomes misconstrued or intentionally muted during daily activities. This dissonance makes it difficult for individuals within society to function.
Reading copious amounts of fiction gave me the tools to develop my empathy. A recent study discovered that consistently reading fiction can improve a person’s empathy and creativity.
As a reader, I suppose my empathy evolved from an early age. I wasn’t always the most outgoing as a child. Books gave me an outlet. During recess, I spent countless hours perched on the school library steps, reading classics like Anne of Green Gables. I loved putting myself in the shoes of fictional characters. It gave me the opportunity to “feel” the emotions of people and creatures facing different life experiences.
As a creative, I’ve found that a certain level of empathy and emotional intelligence has the potential to feel draining but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. To feel is to live fully in the moment. In some ways, life is a continuous journey made richer by the ability to emotionally connect with the other travelers we meet along the way.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
Questions have always been at the heart of my existence. It makes sense that my curiosity would inevitably lead me to my career. I am now a 17-time #1 bestselling mystery author. Life holds an unlimited amount of possibilities and I often find that asking the right questions helps me to reach the best answers.
As a mystery writer, I spend most of my time plotting and pondering potential “what ifs.” It’s in my nature to sit with the hand of uncertainty. I like crafting mystery stories that vary both in depth and tone. For example, my cozy mysteries offer a lighthearted embrace while my thrillers provide readers with heart-pounding excitement. I like to diversify my writing because it allows me to continue asking questions in any direction my mind desires.
Currently, I am most excited to see how my upcoming novels perform. Broadcasting Christmas Cheer and A Very Coastal Christmas will come out before the end of 2024, just in time for the holiday season.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
As a writer, the most important areas to master tend to come in two parts. When writing a really excellent story, it’s crucial to understand how other people perceive their situations. It’s one thing to write an autobiography, but a completely different challenge to craft and navigate the world from the perspective of multiple fictional characters. To write is to comprehend the outer world while acknowledging your inner realm.
Self-awareness isn’t the easiest trait to embrace. I found it’s become easier to understand myself the longer I spend time alone in unique situations. For me, it’s important to set aside alone time where I’m free to untangle the threads of my thoughts. I like to sit on my own and organize the day. Put simply, I like to ruminate.
Outer awareness is a skill that lends itself to writing. I also believe it’s just good practice when attempting to navigate a highly social society. Sometimes I like to drive to a random coffee shop and just observe my surroundings in an effort to test my awareness.
Lastly, I’d say it’s important to have courage. I say this laughingly, but it takes a generous amount of courage to recognize and balance the inner and the outer realms. I’ve yet to find perfection, but ultimately I don’t believe achieving perfection is possible. Life dances to an imperfect song. Still, it’s a noble pursuit to consistently seek understanding.
Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?
Life happens. To avoid feeling overwhelmed, I like to break larger problems down into manageable bite-sized chunks. Or massively oversimplify a large problem to encourage positive momentum. Writing a book? Sure, just one task. Both strategies when used in combination, motivate me to write new worlds into creation.
In terms of advice, I would recommend building a strong team. I have an excellent group of personal and professional stars capable of lightening unexpected loads. I’d like to say running a business is glamorous, but I’m pretty sure I work more now than when I had a steady office job. As an indie author, I have to decide how to divide my time between several different tasks. While multitasking is useful, it’s not always the best way to maximize efficiency. Instead, I like to reach out and delegate tasks like marketing to ensure I can prioritize writing. Working with a strong team and having clear priorities helps me to navigate potentially difficult situations.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: thecamillecabrera
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