The Everyday Superwoman

.In the plethora of books we were consuming during the pandemic, Stockholm Syndrome, a little book with big ideas from first-timer Jaime Blaise, seemed to find its mark with readers hungry for a different kind of female protagonist. Despite a job that takes her to the world’s most exotic destinations - collecting a dizzying number of sex partners on the way - and being able to achieve the seemingly impossible, (effortlessly changing into a glamourous Tom Ford gown in the back of moving car, for example), Brea James is filled with self-doubt, has chipped fingernails and doesn’t even know how to fire a gun. I recently sat down with Jaime Blaise to discuss Stockholm Syndrome, and why the book’s protagonist is very much a heroine for our times.

 What was the impetus for writing Stockholm Syndrome? Was there something about this particular genre of fiction that especially appealed to you?

 I think with Stockholm Syndrome I really wanted to, in some way, revive the idea of the adventure romp. Something that could be transportive, escapist and, well, just fun. 

 Did you see a gap for storytelling with strong female character role?

Yes, and I really found it hard to find any representation of the kinds of women I actually know; strong, capable, able to be creative in adversity. It really seemed that be a strong woman you either have to possess alien super powers, or a trained killer like… Sarah Conner, Hanna, or the character of Lucy in the Luc Besson film. I disliked the narrative that a woman had to be in some way enhanced, damaged, victimized or vengeful to be taken seriously.   

 Do you think that kind of role exists anywhere in today’s fiction?

 Actually, I do. I think it abounds in YL for instance - if you think of Katniss Everdeen, Bella Swan - even Hermione Granger, but those characters don’t seem to have a life that extends to adult fiction.

 How would you describe Brea James?

 I think at some point we all question ourselves, wonder how we’d behave if faced with extraordinary circumstances, and that’s really the dynamic I wanted to explore with Brea. She is very much everywoman, but forced to deal, both physically and mentally, with some extraordinary and rapidly changing