In this episode, Estelle Erasmus talks with Kerry Docherty, author of Selfish: Unlearning, Reclaiming, and Telling the Truth, about what it really takes to write a bold, emotionally honest memoir.

They dive into:

• Why "selfish" is a loaded word for women and how to reclaim it
• Starting a memoir with rupture to hook the reader
• Using dreams, spirituality, and what Estelle calls the "echo effect" to deepen narrative impact
• Writing about marriage, motherhood, desire, and identity without holding back
• The risks and consequences of telling the truth on the page
• How to balance scene, reflection, and tension to keep a memoir propulsive
• What gets cut and why it matters for the arc of the story

Kerry also shares how writing this book changed her, and the one piece of advice every aspiring memoirist needs to hear.

Kerry Docherty cofounded the lifestyle clothing brand Faherty with her husband and his identical twin. A graduate of Yale University and Pepperdine Law School, she is passionate about community building, sustainability, and creativity. Kerry is also the author of the children's book Somewhere, Right Now, featuring art by New York Times bestselling illustrator Suzie Mason. She lives with her husband and two children on the New Jersey shore, where she is constantly looking for sea glass.

Selfish: Unlearning, Reclaiming, and Telling the Truth is a memoir by Kerry Docherty, cofounder of the lifestyle clothing brand Faherty. Blending personal narrative and cultural critique, it explores what happens when a woman decides to prioritize her own desires and wellbeing after years of people-pleasing and overgiving.

Links & Resources:

Order Selfish: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/775631/selfish-by-kerry-docherty/
Estelle's website: https://estelleserasmus.com
Watch Estelle's TEDx Talk How to Get Noticed in Your Writing and Beyond https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpcWmjpzSIQ
Subscribe for exclusive info and podcast clips: https://estelleserasmus.substack.com

About Estelle Erasmus
Estelle Erasmus is an NYU writing professor, former magazine editor-in-chief, TEDx speaker, and the author of Writing That Gets Noticed, named a Best Book for Writers by Poets & Writers. She is also the host of the award-winning podcast Freelance Writing Direct, where she shares insider strategies on craft, publishing, and building a writing career.

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