The Daily Home Edit

26 Oct 2026 05:05

Author Samera Kamaleddine Almost Forgot To Enter A Writing Competition. It Changed Her Life

We’re so chuffed to bring you this episode of Home Beautiful’s The Edit, where we explore beautiful homes and the people who create them. If you’re loving this, come on over and hit follow in your favourite podcast app! Links are right here for you:

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Now onto today’s episode:

Samera Kamaleddine’s home is filled with books, treasured objects and stories gathered over a lifetime. From her collection of The Great Gatsby covers to meaningful keepsakes, her home reflects a lifelong love of words and travel.

In this episode of The Edit, Samera joins Home Beautiful Editor-in-Chief Elle Lovelock to share her journey from magazine editor to published author and children’s librarian, including the burnout that prompted her to start writing and the last-minute competition entry that led to a publishing deal.

Plus, Samera opens up about writing from her Lebanese-Australian experience, her love of bookshops and clever ways to display books at home, even in a small space. She also shares the story behind her treasured evil eye talisman and why the things that make a home beautiful are often the ones with the most meaning.

This episode covers:

Samera’s early career at The Bulletin, Dolly, Girlfriend and Women’s Fitness
How burnout inspired her to take time out and write
The last-minute competition entry that led to a publishing deal
Writing about Lebanese-Australian identity and cultural representation
Why she writes by the seat of her pants
Her work as a children’s librarian and the role libraries play in communities
Her collection of The Great Gatsby covers and love of bookshops
Clever ways to display books at home, even in a small space
The story behind her evil eye talisman
Why a home should reflect the people who live in it