Carrie Berk is an NYC-based journalist, content creator, and bestselling author. Her most recent book, My Real-Life Rom-Com, was a Barnes & Noble bestseller and peaked at #1 in the Dating & Intimacy category on Amazon. Carrie Berk freelances for several publications, including New York Post, Page Six, HuffPost, Women’s Health, and Newsweek.
Carrie Berk is a bestselling children’s book author with twenty-one books to her credit. She penned her first book, Peace, Love and Cupcakes, in 2012. The Cupcake Club series went on to publish twelve books (selling over 300,000 copies worldwide), and became an award-winning Off-Broadway show and featured selection in 2017’s New York Musical Festival. Her second series, Fashion Academy, stems from her passion for fashion. The six-book series also became an Off-Broadway production at Vital Theatre and is currently licensed worldwide by Concord Music Publishing. She also published a three-book series, Ask Emma.
She is a verified content creator with 3.8 million followers on TikTok and 880,000 on Instagram, with a combined engagement of more than 100 million. You can follow her @carrieberkk.
Hi Carrie! Tell us about who you are and where you are from.
I am born and raised in NYC and have been writing ever since I was eight years old! It has always been my passion, and I am blessed to have had the opportunity to publish books from such a young age.
You recently released a new book, Mindfire: Diary of an Anxious Twentysomething. What is it about, and what inspired it?
Mindfire is a road map for anyone struggling with their mental health and looking for guidance. It is fundamentally a memoir, as I share my own personal experiences struggling with anxiety and OCD. My mental health really began to suffer in 2020. I was the class of 2020, with no prom or graduation, and being alone at home caused severe anxiety and OCD surges. I realized that I really had no baseline education about mental health and had to start from ground zero in my recovery. In writing this book, I hope that people will be able to relate and learn something. I really wish that I had a tool like this back in 2020 when I was eighteen.
What was the writing process like for the book, and how long did it take you to complete it?
I started writing the book by putting together a bunch of diary entries that I kept hidden for the past five years. I never thought that I would publish them, but I feel like being an advocate for mental health is my greater purpose. If no one else is speaking out about their vulnerable experiences with mental health, then I want to assume that responsibility. We see hashtags like #MentalHealthMatters, but we don’t see enough real people sharing their real stories.
We know you advocate a healthy lifestyle. What got you into running marathons, and how many have you completed so far?
I found running at my darkest point in 2020. I was looking for an escape from intrusive thoughts and found freedom in putting in the work on the road. Running made me feel invincible. It made me feel strong, both physically and mentally, when at home, I felt weak. It has held that space in my life for years now, and I’m proud to be an endurance runner with two marathons under my belt.
What words of advice do you have for people with similar aspirations?
Lead with your passion and purpose. Never stop fighting for what you love and what you believe in.
Any other books or upcoming projects that we should currently be on the lookout for from you?
I will continue with my journalism work and tell other people’s stories as I have told my own. I am also looking to adapt my bestseller, My Real-Life Rom-Com, into a TV or movie series in the future.
Where can we follow you on social media?
@carrieberkk on all socials.
You can get Mindfire: Diary of an Anxious Twentysomething on Amazon and Barnes & Noble:
https://www.amazon.com/Mindfire-Anxious-Twentysomething-Carrie-Berk/dp/B0DPVGCKKH
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/mindfire-carrie-berk/1146656470
Before you go, let’s ask you some random questions:
What is your favorite food?
Sushi.
What is your favorite TV show?
Sex and the City.
What is your current obsession?
NBA playoffs (go Knicks!).
Thank you for the great interview; wish you much continued success!
