Featured Interview With Author Emilia Fine
Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I hold a history major and have always been interested in women's history and empowerment. I started off wanting to become a teacher but decided against this career after a traineeship during my studies. I tried many things and ended up being a serial entrepreneur of admittedly small companies. My companies included a research company, a cashmere label, and a consultancy focussing on entrepreneurship and eCommerce. I guess once you’ve been your own boss, it becomes difficult to work for someone else.
I sold my last company and launched into writing books that combine my two passions, female history, and entrepreneurship. I aim to tell interesting true historical stories and draw on them for the merit of today's women entrepreneurs.
At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
For as long as I can remember, I have read a lot, particularly historical crime stories and fantasy and fiction. Once I started working, ready was very much confined to vaccation time. I read and wrote a lot professionally, but the texts I read and wrote tended to be technical, legal, or political, often lengthy with little entertainment value. With my books, I want to inform, educate and entertain at the same time. This is a very important objective!
Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
As you might have guessed, I enjoy reading history books, preferably 19th and early 20th century as well as classics. I am a big fan of Virginia Woolf and have edited my favorite books of hers, including Mrs. Dalloway and „To the Lighthouse“.
Tell us a little about your latest book?
I am very proud of my first book; it was quite a journey. I found it very hard to select the successful businesswomen to be portrayed. It was important for me that they not only were entrepreneurial trailblazers but also wanted them to come from diverse backgrounds, be disruptive and contributed to their community, as I aimed to create role models to inspire my readers. I wanted „my“ women to enterprise in the same period and place to be able to put the stories in a historical perspective.
Also, I wanted to draw on what crystallized as their success, such as their sheer determination, grit, perseverance, their growth-oriented, problem-solving mindset, the pursuit of their passion, or the pride they took from their roots. Some themes are common to all to all of the women, others are unique or more pronounced with some of the portrayed women.
I ended up portraying six wonderful businesswomen who, against all odds and rose to the top:
Helena Rubinstein introduced scientific research and development in formulating cosmetics and skincare products!
Elizabeth Arden, famous for her makeup innovations
Annie Turnbo Malone and Madame C. J. Walker, both created empires with hair products and to for African American women.
Anna Sutherland Bissell, America’s first female CEO of a mail-order company.
Hattie Carnegie, the style connoisseur who gave America a unique fashion identity
Do I have a favorite businesswoman in my book? No, I love them all! They are all very interesting individuals and influential businesswomen in their own right. I hope you enjoy the reading and get inspired to follow their tracks.
To discover a new awesome author, check out our Featured Authors page. We have some of the best authors around. They are just waiting for you to discover them. If you enjoyed this writer’s interview feel free to share it using the buttons below. Sharing is caring!
If you are an author and you want to find new readers come submit your book to our Awesome Book Promotion service.