We had the good fortune of connecting with Carly Heath and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Carly, alright, let’s jump in with a deep one – what’s you’re definition for success?
A lot of us have been programmed to think of success as something that is achieved or acquired in a material sense—accomplishing a goal, acquiring wealth, or attaining a respectable job title… But to me, that all seems rooted in the capitalist paradigm and I don’t think “winning at capitalism” is anything to be necessarily proud of. If I had it my way, success would be measured in how much you do to dismantle the inequities in our current system. The time you put into exposing injustices and the work you create that illuminates the possibility of a better world both feel like things that should be counted as “success.” Even small daily activities where you might experience moments of acknowledgement—awareness that the current system exists to benefit a wealthy few rather than serves to make life better for the rest of us should be celebrated as a moment of success. Any activity you take part in that disrupts capitalism in any way should, indeed, be something to revel in.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My debut Young Adult novel THE RECKLESS KIND is a labor of love that took me more than seven years to eventually get published. It wasn’t easy. Though the initial draft was completed in a matter of months, I spent years getting feedback from my peers and making revisions until it finally found a home with Soho Teen. Along the way, I discovered the truth and heart of the story that I wanted to tell. So much of art is starting with a bit of inspiration and then letting the story unfold before you, but the revision process is all about figuring out “what am I really trying to say here?” And the more the work is refined, clarified and critiqued, the more the artist is able to get to the heart of what their original intention was. It’s a process of self discovery and a very spiritual process.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’d take them to the best restaurants in the Valley—Sun Cafe, Something Vegan, Lotus Vegan, and the Veggie Grill. We’d also hit up The Crooked Path Occult Apothecary for all the necessary witchy supplies and then Spellbound Sky for the vibes and amazing crystal and gemstone collection they have.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Shout out to OurHonor.org for the work they do to empower veterinarians to challenge unethical institutions and systems.

Website: www.carlyheathauthor.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carlylynheath/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/carlylheath

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/CharmingFilms

Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@carlylheath

Image Credits
Headshot by Brandy Yi

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