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with the world has been “very, very difficult
… a really humbling, exciting but
scary process.”
But it’s all worth it because women and
men in similar situations have been able
to connect with her story.
“I’ve received hundreds of incredible
messages from a lot of people, mostly
women, who have been through similar
experiences,” she said. “They’ve actually
said in these messages, ‘This book saved
my life.’ Getting a message like that is
very powerful, and the fact that people
are connecting with it so deeply and it’s
resonating with them and helping them is
so amazing.”
Waite has considered pursuing a graduate
degree to become a licensed therapist,
and she hasn’t ruled out penning
another book.
“I’d really love to write a thriller novel,”
she said. “From writing the memoir I realized
that I figured out how to set up the
structure of a psychological thriller, so if
I could get the right story in my head, I
would love to try a novel next time.”
For now, though, Waite said she is enjoying
a “lull” after her book finally came
out.
“I’m just back to my day-to-day life now,
so it’s funny because we just got reviewed
in The New York Times, which is amazing,
but at the same time I’m just at an insurance
company, taking care of my daughter on a
day-to-day basis,” Waite said. “For now, it’s
a little bit of down time, which is really, really
nice. I’m enjoying that right now.”
Photos courtesy of Jen Waite
ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT
JEN WAITE’S FAVORITE
READS
WAITE SHARED SOME OF HER
FAVORITE NOVELS AND MEMOIRS
WITH BORO:
NOVELS
“I KNOW THIS MUCH IS TRUE” -
Wally LAMB
“ON BEAUTY” - Zadie SMITH
“FINGERSMITH” - Sarah Waters
“THE FIRST BAD MAN” -
Miranda JULY
“The Vegetarian” - Han Kang
MEMOIRS
“OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS” -
Anne LAMOTT
“BRAIN ON FIRE” -
Susannah CAHALAN
“DRESS YOUR FAMILY IN CORDUROY
AND DENIM” - David SEDARIS