Who is Naima Brown?
I am a writer, a producer, happy dancer and shower singer.
What would you do differently from what you do now?
I’m excited to say that the answer is: absolutely nothing. It’s taken me some time to get to a place where I feel I am in exactly the right place, doing exactly the right thing, surrounded by exactly the right people. But if I must imagine an alternate life, I’d be an astronaut.
Who inspires you and why?
My mom. She has been through the ringer, and spent a good portion of the last year in the hospital. Throughout all of it, she was cracking jokes, expressing her gratitude and finding reasons to smile. She’s doing so much better and today she sent me a photo of the bellbottoms she bought at a music festival, it doesn’t get better than that.
What would you do to make a difference in the world?
I take great joy in the young people in my life that I try to give my undiluted energy to. There are a handful of kids & teenagers in my life who I am deeply committed to. I think my job as I grow older is to support the next generation to make the world a better place.
Favourite holiday destination and why?
Living as an expat in Australia, my favourite holiday destination has become my hometown: Monterey, California. It fills me up in the way that only home can, and even though I know it like the back of my hand, the longer I live away from it the more I do sometimes feel like a tourist when I’m there, in the best possible way.
When friends come to town, what attraction would you take them to, and why?
The giant prawn in Ballina, of course!
What are you currently reading?
An advanced reading copy of Tracy Sorensen’s new book, The Vitals – and it’s absolutely brilliant.
What are you currently listening to?
Mona Awad’s Bunny on Audible. It was on a list of book recommendations for people who love the series Yellowjackets (which I do), and I’m devouring it.
Happiness is?
Watching my husband and dog play with each other.
What does the future hold for you?
If I’m lucky, more opportunities to write fiction and engage with readers.
Naima Brown is the author of The Shot (Pan Macmillan, out now)
Image: Naima Brown – photo by Ingrid Pullen Photography