Bestselling author Evelyn Skye joined us for this episode, and wow—what a ride. Evelyn is the author of ten novels, including The Hundred Loves of Juliet and her brand-new release The Incredible Kindness of Paper. Her books have been published in 16 languages, and she’s written for Netflix and Disney, but what we loved most about this conversation is how open she was about the rejection, risk, and a healthy dose of “delusion” it took to get here. From her early manuscripts that never sold, to switching genres mid-career, to finally finding her voice in stories rooted in kindness and joy—Evelyn’s path is a masterclass in perseverance.
We also dug into her writing process (spoiler: she cranks out a messy zero draft in 30 business days and then tears it apart), the courage it took to leave her legal career behind, and why she refuses to compromise on the heart of her stories. Evelyn also shares about her Substack community Creative Inspired Happy, where she hosts a book club, author interviews, and creativity challenges. If you’ve ever wondered what it really takes to sustain a creative career—or you just need a reminder to stay delusionally optimistic—this one’s for you.
Connect with Evelyn Skye:
📚 The Incredible Kindness of Paper – out now wherever books are sol
🌐 Website & Substack: creativeinspiredhappy.com
📸 Instagram: @evelyn_skye
Connect With Us:
📩 Email us at wasitchancepodcast@gmail.com
🎧 Follow Was It Chance? on your favorite podcast platform
📱 Connect with us on TikTok and LinkedIn
✨ More about Heather at her website, subscribe to her Substack and on LinkedIn, YouTube, and more
EPISODE TAKEAWAYS:
A “healthy dose of delusion” can be essential fuel for creative careers.
Rejection doesn’t mean failure—it’s feedback that the story hasn’t landed yet.
Sometimes success comes when you stop writing what you think the market wants and lean into what you want to create.
Creative longevity requires balancing input (reading, living life) with output (writing).Protecting the heart of your work is worth holding the line, even if it means saying no.
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