Tasmina Perry - 2011 Mentor

Writer Tasmina Perry started life as a solicitor, had a stint as a magazine editor and now commands six-figure sums for her bestsellers about the global glitterai

Writer Tasmina Perry started life as a solicitor, had a stint as a magazine editor and now commands six-figure sums for her bestsellers about the global glitterai.

We caught up to talk inspiration and her own experiences of mentoring.

What fired your ambition? I had always wanted to write, but ended up studying law at university. After training as a solicitor and building up a portfolio in my spare time, I applied for a job as a junior writer at More magazine. I got the job and within 18 months was editor. I went on to have a 10-year career in journalism. After struggling to find a book to take on my honeymoon, I knew I wanted to write a novel myself.

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What’s been a career high? Getting my first editor job was incredibly satisfying. I had given up my life for 18 months and didn’t have a bean to my name so I felt validated and that everything had been worth it. Going into the Sunday Times Bestseller List with my first novel was incredible.

What’s the best careers advice that you’ve been given? For aspiring novelists, it’s important to actually sit down and write. It can be difficult to find that level of discipline when you have a full-time job so you need to be 100% committed.

What makes a good mentor? A good mentor should be a confidence builder. They should inspire you to achieve your potential by sharing their experiences and mistakes.

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