An award-winning interior designer and creative entrepreneur, Amanda Hamilton is celebrated for her tenacious entrepreneurial spirit and vibrant persona. Her bold and unorthodox approach to both design and business has made her one of the most sought-after creative minds in Canada. Now, Amanda is turning her unconventional eye to her childhood years, in a hilarious, touching, and spirited memoir, out in Fall 2021.

Read on to learn more about Amanda and her unique (and riotously funny) perspective on life.

Which three words best describe you?
80’s shoulder-pad devotee. (I cheated and hyphenated)

What is your book about?
A satirical memoir, Not That Likable, At First, chronicles my childhood exploits of growing up in a less-than-conventional upbringing in a multi-generational family of seven, crammed into a modest bungalow with one washroom. Pivotal moments include various failed entrepreneurial pursuits and a boycott on panties—an effort to disregard my young mother’s authority. Horrifying self-inflicted teenage drama results in a visceral experience of how to survive bullying in a pre-helicopter parenting world.

Whether I was creating a trash-bag smock stapled with garbage to wear to school on Earth Day, or learning when not to trust my guts with IBS-D, the book is ultimately a story of discovering self-worth in a reality where I was, in fact, Not That Likable—at least, not at first.

Whom do you most admire?
My grandfather. He has the kindest baby blue eyes, which we share. Except mine are less kind and more like, “COME AT ME BRO.”

What is the last book you read?
The Art of Memoir by Mary Karr. Karr provides practical advice on writing memoir, but in a way that is totally poetic. She has also officially scared the sh*t out of me with her comment that if you enjoy writing, you are very likely a hack. Can’t one sit down at a typewriter and bleed while simultaneously enjoying the pain seeping from the fingertips of their soul like a modern-day sadist? (Hemingway, you bloody liar.)

What is your favorite city?
Copenhagen or Amsterdam. I’m convinced my 23andMe results of being only 5.1 percent Scandinavian are wrong. It felt like home. (Minus the bikes. The people on the bikes are crazy.)

What is the last thing you bought online?
Hangers, because driving anywhere to buy hangers further than seven minutes from my home requires car snacks, a first aid kit, and a curated playlist. Amazon Prime, Praise Be.

Who is your favorite author?
Right now, I’m really digging Samantha Irby. She’s seriously funny. Irby takes self-deprecation to a whole new esoteric level that even I can’t even fully comprehend.

Beer or wine?
Wine. Skinny jeans don’t allow for bloat.

What is your personal motto?
“Get a grip.” It works well internally when you need to check yourself, and it’s equally effective directed at someone else. Say it out loud: “GET. A. GRIP.” Damn that feels good.

Where do you find inspiration?
On the toilet. Seriously, I get my best ideas mid-stream.