#149 From PR to Flight Attendant to Literary Publicist (Lynda Bouchard)

When Lynda Bouchard left her publicity job with CBS to become a flight attendant, she was chasing a dream. “I’ve always seen my life through the prism of story,” she says, “and I always want it to be a continual process of reinvention.” Her willingness to take a risk resulted in a 20-year career caring for passengers all across the world. In an eloquent and thoughtful conversation with Lesley Jane Seymour, Bouchard explains how her wanderlust led her to the American South, where she fell in love with the culture and history. After 9/11, Bouchard decided it was time to embark on another reinvention - another leap of faith - and another career change. After meeting hundreds of authors during her flights, she became aware of the common thread: New York publishing houses were not giving their authors exposure in the Southern markets. For Bouchard, this was an opportunity; she became the first literary agent to focus specifically on Southern authors, bookstores, and events. Her first client? James Patterson. Now, Bouchard is a sought-after resource for major publishing professionals. “There will be naysayers,” Bouchard advises, “but you know what? This is your dream, your passion, and it takes courage to be different. Hang on to that.”

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