Connecticut up and coming personality Claudette  Rothman has had many exciting careers.  She has been in fashion, real estate and technology industries, and is now in the publishing industry.  Claudette’s latest endeavor is as co-author of the book Greenwich Secrets with Gerald L. Jones.  The book is about sex and murder in tony Greenwich, Connecticut.  USmile Magazine interviewed this busy rising star to discuss her latest projects.

USM:  Tell us about your background:

Claudette:  I was born in St Vincent and the Grenadines and migrated to the US in 1970. As a young girl, I always dreamed of becoming a fashion designer so it was no surprise to my family and friends when I enrolled in FIT to study design.

After graduation, I began my career working in the fashion industry for many different designers and was kind of living the dream.

USM:  Why did you leave the fashion industry?

Claudette:  I didn’t really have the opportunity to do the things I wanted to do so I developed a love hate relationship with the fashion industry.   After being in the fashion industry for a number of years, I decided to take a break from the industry.

USM:  What was your next endeavor?

Claudette:  I decided to follow my husband into technology industry.  At that time the technology industry was growing rapidly so I took full advantage of it.  Once the industry stopped growing, it was my queue to exit because it was not exciting to me anymore.

USM:  What did you do next?

Claudette:  I wanted to do something that was fulfilling and rewarding.  I focused all of my time and attention on taking care of my niece and nephew.  I wanted to make sure that they received a good education so I got involved with the PTA at their school and the local community in Greenwich.

USM:  What made you go back into design?

Claudette:   I had a lot of free time on my hands after my niece and nephew graduated high school.  I wanted to do something to keep myself busy.  After much soul searching, I decided to do something that I really loved, thus, I made a decision to go back into design.

USM:  What is the connect ion between design and real estate?

Claudette: My dad has been in the real estate business for many years.  I thought that we could collaborate on home building and interior design.  It gave me the opportunity to work with my dad and do what I loved.

USM:  Why did you become a writer?

Claudette:  The recession impacted the real estate business significantly and no one wanted to build or buy homes anymore.   I started blogging about the black society in Greenwich.

USM:  How did the book came about?

Claudette:   I got bored blogging about the Black society and switch to blogging about crimes.

USM:  What inspired you to write the book Greenwich Secrets?

Claudette:   I first wrote about a little girl in New York that walk outside in her pampers during the night and died in the cold.

Then I blogged about the story of a hedge fund manager in Greenwich who got drunk and got into an altercation with the bar tender and the cops were called.

Those stories sparked my interest to write a book.

USM:  Greenwich Secrets has done really well, what do you plan on doing next?

Claudette:  I am hoping that it will turn into a movie or TV series.

USM:  Will there be a follow up to the first book?

Claudette:  I would like to have a series of books about Lizzy.  Lizzy is still alive and everyone is wating to see what happens to her.

USM:  What else have you been doing?

Claudette:  I did dancing with the stars for charity at the Stamford Palace Theater in Connecticut.

USM:  What is your secret to success?

Claudette:  I think everyone should figure out what they love to do in life and find a way to make money at it.  There is nothing like being paid to do what you love to do, and always be true to yourself.

USmile Magazine