About Lainey

I’m an author of women’s fiction, creator and host of The Best of Book Marketing Podcast and The Best of Women’s Fiction Podcast, avid instagramer, and resident of the beautiful city of San Miguel de Allende in Mexico.

Click here for a Short Bio or scroll to end of page.

My first novel draws from my experience as a tech insider where, for over a decade, I experienced being the only woman in the boardroom (in Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer roles).

In 2016, I made the bold decision (or feel free to call it crazy, fearless, or privileged) to do what smart people in the writing world never advise; quit my job my career in Francisco and start writing novels.

Since then it’s been a crazy journey.

I can tell you with confidence that of every trip I’ve taken (and I’m lucky to have visited fifty plus countries) the writing journey is by far the scariest.

Scarier than hunting with stoned-out-of-their-minds tribesmen in Tanzania. Scarier than sitting on a beach in Indonesia when the Tsunami alert goes out. Scarier than riding a a blow-up banana boat through a storm in Croatia (all true stories, that might make it into a book some day).

I started the first draft of my first novel knowing I wasn’t skilled enough, or industry savvy enough, to know where the story would end. But, I took a leap of faith that the journey itself would teach me what I needed to know.

But after completing that first draft, I did the worst thing any new writer can do. I read every craft book I could lay my hands on. And froze.

Did you know that almost all writing advice ultimately contradicts itself?

So I sought help. I joined Women’s Fiction Writers Association and found my community. Through their recommendations, I took editing classes with Margie Lawson’s writing academy, and I signed up for weekly book coaching with an amazing coach Kemlo Aki at Jennie Nash’s Author Accelerator.

Simultaneously, my tech consultant fiancé (now husband) and I realized we couldn’t afford to live in expensive San Francisco and decided to became digital nomads (working people with no fixed abode).

First, we tried living in an RV for six months. I share in this post Why (the Dream) of Writing from an RV Wasn’t for Me.

Next we tried Mexico, and Colombia, and I won two early book awards and that gave me the confidence to stick with writing.

And then, after over a year more of editing the book, I started looking for an agent. You can read more here in Tales from the Querying Trenches about how the hummingbird became my spirit animal.

Was my journey over? No, this book still had one more year of editing and revisions to go (this time working with Tiffany Yates Martin an amazing developmental editor), and then I queried again; which resulted in over 130 tough rejections, including 30+ on the full manuscript, before I found my first publisher, The Wild Rose Press (without an agent).

My advice to other writers, a few years into the journey? 

First, I wish that someone had told me earlier that the hardest part of this journey may be tackling your own demons.

Guilt. Doubt. Shame. For me, there’s been guilt over wasting time, guilt over passing on the opportunity to make good money in my prior day job, fear of lacking the necessary talent, shame over being privileged enough to afford to do this (to clarify: I am living off income from my prior life in tech, not my books). Fear that no one will ever read what you write. Or fear that they will and hate it! And the biggest challenge: questioning why am I, of all people, deserving of success? 

Yes, if you wish to writer a novel, you need to improve your skills (join the writer’s group, attend the conference, take the classes) but to me the hardest aspect was developing the confidence to know when I was good enough to share my work with the world. The first time my work was read in public (to a tiny group doing Margie’s immersion masterclass at her house), I literally wanted the ground (or in this case her living room floor) to open up and swallow me.

So my advice?

Find ways to bolster confidence in your own talent.  For me the first award helped, but beta readers who love your book, who believe it deserves to be in the world can serve the same role.

Find your Community. And be the virtual helper in the room. It’s a cliche but find your community and pitch in. Whether it’s a regional writer’s forum or conference, or a genre specific organization like Women’s Fiction Writer’s or a local chapter of your library, get your nails dirty and become part of the group not just a bystander.

The reality is that it’s only by bonding with other writers— all of whom face the same obstacles— that you’ll overcome the rejection, guilt and doubt. And stick with it long enough to see your work make it into the world.

And lastly, avoid at all costs calling yourself an aspiring writer, a term I’d love to obliterate, because in my opinion it saps creative confidence and plays to our insecurities. See my blog post on Why I’m Begging You to Stop Calling Yourself an Aspiring Writer.

And there you have it. What else might you want to know about me?

I’m not sure if I live to travel or travel to live, but I’m an avid instagrammer and enjoy sharing my travel tips and insights. For nine years, Hubby and I were digital nomads, but we now live in our house in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico.

Originally from Scotland, I have a soft spot for kilts, good malt whisky, and anything equine (donkeys rock!). Several years ago I completed my first triathlon, much to my own surprise as a lifetime non-athlete. 

When I’m not writing (or reading), you’ll find me hunting down new single malts, and checking out rooftop bars (I have popular blog posts about the Rooftops Bars of San Miguel and Best Place to Watch Sunset in Cartagena).

I’d love to connect with you on Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook.

Longer (200 words)

Lainey Cameron is an award-winning author, a book marketing expert, and host of the Best of Book Marketing Podcast. A recovering tech industry executive, her first novel, The Exit Strategy, was inspired by a decade of being the only woman in the corporate boardroom. It’s been called a “rallying call for women to believe in themselves and join together” and tells the story of a Silicon Valley investor who first meets her husband’s mistress across the negotiating table.

The Exit Strategy won fifteen book awards including the American Fiction Awards, Chanticleer Somerset Award for Literary & Contemporary fiction, National Indie Excellence, Readers' Favorite, and became an #1 Amazon bestseller in feminist books. Her second novel is planned for release in 2026.

When she’s not writing, Lainey teaches book marketing to authors on her podcast, The Best of Book Marketing, and her frequently sold-out group program, 12 Weeks to Book Launch Success.

A digital nomad for a decade, she recently settled full-time in San Miguel de Allende in Mexico.

She’s originally from Scotland, and has a soft spot for donkeys, kilts, good single malt, and rooftop bars.

Connect with her at www.laineycameron.com

Short (125 words):

Lainey Cameron is an author of women’s fiction and recovering tech industry executive. Her award-winning novel, The Exit Strategy, was inspired by a decade of being the only woman in the corporate boardroom.

The Exit Strategy won fifteen book awards and became an Amazon #1 bestseller in feminist books. Her second novel is planned for release in 2026.

When she’s not writing, Lainey teaches book marketing to authors on her podcast, The Best of Book Marketing, and her frequently sold-out group program, 12 Weeks to Book Launch Success. 

A digital nomad for a decade, she recently settled full-time in San Miguel de Allende in Mexico.

She’s originally from Scotland, and has a soft spot for donkeys, kilts, good single malt, and rooftop bars.

Extra Short (50 words):

 Lainey Cameron is an award-winning author, a book marketing expert, and host of the Best of Book Marketing Podcast. A recovering tech industry executive, her novel, The Exit Strategy, was an Amazon #1 bestseller in feminist books, and won fifteen book awards.

She lives in San Miguel de Allende in Mexico.