Emma John is an award winning journalist and author. Her most recent book, Self-Contained, is a memoir which chronicles what it’s like to enter your 40s without having been in a serious long-term relationship. It’s a book that celebrates the fullness of single life – the highs and lows.

Our conversation is an unapologetic, unflinching look at the single experience, with a particular emphasis on how hobbies, interests and platonic relationships, as long as shorter-term romantic ones, can become centre stage – filling the space a relationship might otherwise. 

We also discuss:

• What it means to be ‘self-contained’
• The difficulty of trying to write a narrative as a single woman (Who hasn’t met someone at the end/without a happy ending) - What is my narrative arc- without the happy ending? 
• The one constant in your life is you
• The myth that it’s only OK to be single if you’re living a hedonistic, free lifestyle
• Why solo travel isn’t really solitary – especially if you’re in South Carolina
• Why following your passion can be a brilliant reason for doing things alone
• Why your life starts right now – not when you meet your ‘Other Half’

Emma John’s book, Self Contained, is available to buy now.

My book, Alonement: How To Be Alone and Absolutely Own It, is also out now from Amazon, Waterstones and all good bookshops. 

Social links:

Twitter:

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@ChezSpecter

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@em_john

Instagram:

@alonementofficial

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@ChezSpecter

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@emmajohnauthor

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Contact: [email protected]

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