Gwen Courtman Author

Who am I? Who is this person who posts all the time without ever really talking about herself?

This is me.

I’m a wedding planner, a photographer, and, most recently, a writer.

I am someone who thrives on creativity. I’m passionate about capturing special moments and telling stories through my lens and now my keyboard. Wedding planning, photography, and writing are not just jobs for me; they are extensions of who I am as a person.

Despite being British, I fled to Italy at the age of eighteen, spent a few years in Greece and Spain, and then returned to Italy. My life is spent on Lake Garda during the summer, and then I pop over to the exotic, dreamy island of Zanzibar for the winter, which is the African summer, so I guess I’m solar-powered as I get an all-year-round summer.

I’ve drawn to the warmth and contrast of these two places. In Zanzibar I can have time to write, something that in the summer, in between weddings and photography, is nothing more than a dream.

I’m happily divorced and clocking up notches on the bad luck-ometer on the men front. Despite my string of bad luck with men, I now think I’m lucky for the chance to explore new cultures as I travel alone or with friends, taste exotic foods wherever I go, and meet fascinating people along the way. I’m enjoying my independence, and I soak up every moment of this beautiful journey called my life.

Writing has been a cathartic outlet for me; it gives me the perfect way to express my thoughts and emotions in a way that is quite healing. Through the Raw Mistakes series, I have explored the complexities of love and relationships, delving into the highs and lows of my own romantic experiences. All I can say is that all of those bad dates, false starts and delusions have helped me process my own experiences and my many mistakes that I’ve made.

The stories I write about are based on so many of my own experiences, both emotional and travel inspired and have influenced the way I see the world. By weaving together elements of my own life into the books, they are a reflection of who I am. A British ex-pat, just muddling through life as best she can.

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