Author Samera Kamaleddine Almost Forgot To Enter A Writing Competition. It Changed Her Life

Samera Kamaleddine’s home is filled with books, treasured objects and stories gathered over a lifetime. From her collection of The Great Gatsby covers to meaningful keepsakes, her home reflects a lifelong love of words and travel. 

In this episode of The Edit, Samera joins Home Beautiful Editor-in-Chief Elle Lovelock to share her journey from magazine editor to published author and children’s librarian, including the burnout that prompted her to start writing and the last-minute competition entry that led to a publishing deal. 

Plus, Samera opens up about writing from her Lebanese-Australian experience, her love of bookshops and clever ways to display books at home, even in a small space. She also shares the story behind her treasured evil eye talisman and why the things that make a home beautiful are often the ones with the most meaning. 

This episode covers: 

• Samera’s early career at The Bulletin, Dolly, Girlfriend and Women’s Fitness 
• How burnout inspired her to take time out and write 
• The last-minute competition entry that led to a publishing deal 
• Writing about Lebanese-Australian identity and cultural representation 
• Why she writes by the seat of her pants 
• Her work as a children’s librarian and the role libraries play in communities 
• Her collection of The Great Gatsby covers and love of bookshops 
• Clever ways to display books at home, even in a small space 
• The story behind her evil eye talisman 
• Why a home should reflect the people who live in it 

Check out Samera’s website here  

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Credits: 

Host: Elle Lovelock 

Guest: Samera Kamaleddine 

Edited by: Leah Porges 

Head of Vodcasting: Rachel Fountain 

With thanks to our wonderful Home Beautiful team. 

The Edit is a production of Home Beautiful and Are Media. 

https://www.homebeautiful.com.au/home-beautiful-the-edit-podcast/ 

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