Candace Bushnell, otherwise known as “the real Carrie Bradshaw,” will be performing her one-woman show at Canoe Place Inn & Cottages on Thursday, August 17th at 8:00 p.m. Candace is the New York Times bestselling author and creator of Sex and the City, among several other bestselling novels, popular TV series, and blockbuster movies.
During her new one-woman show, she takes the audience on a rollercoaster ride of life in New York City, and all the landmarks of the setting that inspired her most popular work, including Studio 54 and beyond. Candace will delve into some of her most fascinating stories whether they be about fashion, sex, or literature.
She spoke more about her successful career as an author, how it differs from performing, and what the audience can expect from her upcoming show at Canoe Place Inn & Cottages.
What was your main goal or message you wanted to get across when you wrote Sex and the City?
CB: I’d been writing about women, power, money, and relationships in New York since the early 80s and I’d been working to get my own column for years. Creating the Sex and the City column in The New York Observer felt like my big break—after 15 years of paying my dues in the city. Of course, I knew exactly what to do with the column as I’d already been doing a form of it for years, and, happily thanks to all those years of hard work, it was an instant success.
Have all your characters been influenced by your own life?
CB: All of my characters have been influenced by the characters I’ve encountered during my years in the City, from the late 70s to now.
How would you describe your writing style?
CB: Humorous, sharp, insightful.
When did you know that you wanted to be a writer?
CB: At age eight.
Were there any big obstacles you faced early in your career?
CB: Of course! There was a lot of sexism in publishing. Much more than there is now.
Has your writing style evolved over time as your experiences and the world around you have changed?
CB: It hasn’t changed. I’ve always had a strong voice as a writer and a strong point of view about the world.
How do you define success as a writer? And what has it been like finding success in this industry?
CB: For me it’s taken an enormous amount of work and dedication to be successful in publishing. Writing is the number one pursuit in my life.
Are there any writers or other creatives who have influenced you in a significant way?
CB: The classics. Edith Wharton, Tolstoy, Flaubert.
What do you think is the hardest thing about writing? What is the easiest?
CB: Writing is like playing an instrument. The more you do it the easier it is to get into the flow. The hardest part is getting back into it if I haven’t done it for a while.
What do you like most about performing and how does it differ from expressing yourself through writing?
CB: Performing is much easier than writing. With writing you have to come up with something new every day. With performing, you’re honing what’s already there.
Do you have any pre-show rituals?
CB: I do a vocal warmup that’s also meditative. The great thing about performing is that you can’t think about anything else when you’re doing it!
What are you most looking forward to for your show at Canoe Place Inn & Cottages?
CB: Connecting with the audience! During the show I play a game with the audience—Real or Not Real—because everything that happened on the TV show is a little bit better or a little worse than my real life—and the audience has to figure out which is which. I also love Canoe Place. So many famous people have performed there, it’s thrilling to be able to bring my show there.
Be sure to check out Candace Bushnell’s one-woman show for a delightful evening of wit, fun, and engagement at Canoe Place Inn & Cottages on Thursday, August 17th at 8:00 p.m. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit https://canoeplace.com.
