After a remarkable career as a copywriter spanning over decades, Bonnie Garmus has now made a name for herself as a literary sensation with her debut novel, “Lessons in Chemistry,” which hit the bookstores in April 2022. The book has been on The New York Times bestsellers list for 56 weeks now and has been translated into 40 languages. This fall, the novel is set to release as an Apple TV+ series starring Academy Award winner, Brie Larson. At the age of 66, Garmus has now become a popular figure among literature enthusiasts, a far cry from her early struggles.
During her initial attempts at writing, her first finished book was rejected 98 times. Despite this setback, Garmus persevered and started writing a new novel. She derived her inspiration from a frustrating meeting at work when a male colleague took credit for one of her ideas. This led to the creation of “Lessons in Chemistry,” a groundbreaking book set in the 1950s and early ’60s, featuring chemist and mom, Elizabeth Zott, as the protagonist.
The book has been praised for its subversive tone, a fact that Garmus agrees with. Garmus wanted the character of Elizabeth Zott to be taken seriously, and she never wanted to doubt herself. The book is about women being true to who they are, something Garmus believes her mother would have been proud of. Garmus herself is a wife and mother of two daughters. She juggled her full-time copywriting job, taught herself chemistry, and rowed in her spare time during the five years it took her to write her groundbreaking novel.
Despite encountering rejection earlier on in life, Garmus’s story has a happy ending. When she finished writing “Lessons,” she found herself in the middle of a bidding war. The experience overwhelmed her, and it almost felt like she was imagining things. However, letters of appreciation from readers since the book’s release have helped Garmus realize that her dreams are finally a reality.
One of the lessons from the book is that you can change your story and story ownership. Garmus believes that this is a message that anyone can relate to, and that is why so many people identify with Elizabeth Zott’s story.
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