Here’s one fact about Camille Booker: as one of the judges of the Hawkeye Publishing Manuscript Development Prize, she’s one of the reasons my dream to be a published author came true! Beyond that, she’s just an incredible human and a phenomenally clever author. Let’s see her take on The Proust Questionnaire.
What’s your idea of perfect happiness?
Any moment where I can put my phone away and be present; whether that’s swimming in the ocean with my family, travelling to a new city or place, sitting in a lecture theatre, having drinks with loved ones, or deep in a writing sesh, I am happiest when I disconnect from all the noise – I just need to get better at doing it.
What is your most treasured possession and why?
Probably my laptop – it’s got my whole life on it: all my uni work, all my past writing courses, all my novels and current wips. I probably need to update it, but I can’t seem to let go yet. Either that or my bed because it’s so comfy and sleep is the best.
What is your most marked characteristic?
I’ll have to ask my husband. He said sleepy! Lol. Then he said: thoughtful and considerate.
Who is your hero of fiction?
I’ll admit I do tend to be drawn to the anti-heroes of fiction – I think because they are more complex and, in a way, more relatable. I think it’s their flaws that make them compelling. Some favs that spring to mind are Tommy Shelby (of Peaky Blinders), Dracula, Tom Ripley… basically any morally-ambiguous character I find captivating.
Who are your heroes in real life?
Maybe someone from the past. Let’s make it related to my book and say the women who played essential roles during WWII, in uniform and at home, filling the void left by their sons, brothers, fathers, and husbands. During my research for Code Name Funnel Web, I learned just how brave women were during this time. How much they contributed to the war effort. How vital they were. Not only those who joined the SOE and the Resistance, but also the women who did industrial and agricultural work, who drove ambulances, or who were involved in code breaking and on the home front. Their unmatched courage, resilience, intelligence, and determination are so often overlooked, or overshadowed by men. Then, when the men returned from war, women were often forced to resume those traditional roles considered more suitable. However, the ingenuity, courage, and resilience that these women demonstrated during the war paved the way for the generations of Australian women that followed.
A bonus non-Proust question: What’s your story? aka your name, bio and book details including the best place to find you:
Camille Booker is a multi-award-winning author with numerous accolades in writing competitions across Australia, the UK and the US. She is also an editor, teacher, PhD candidate, and literary judge for the Hawkeye Manuscript Development Prize. She writes gothic historical fiction with morally grey female protagonists and unique Australian settings.