When I knew I wanted to write a novel that would be a twist on a

"When I knew I wanted to write a novel that would be a twist on a conventional romantic comedy, I re-watched 'When Harry Met Sally,' as well as the other two films in the indomitable Ephron trifecta - 'Sleepless in Seattle' and 'You've Got Mail.'" These words from Camille Perri ring out like the call of an artist seeking not just to create, but to reimagine, to transform a beloved form of storytelling into something fresh and revolutionary. The essence of Perri’s journey lies in the interplay between reverence for the classics and the courage to breathe new life into them. She seeks to mold a timeless genre, one that has captivated hearts for generations, into something that is hers—both a nod to the greats and a bold innovation in its own right.

To understand this pursuit, let us first turn to the great composers and writers of the ancient world. Consider Homer, whose Iliad and Odyssey were not merely the telling of tales, but the reshaping of the very fabric of epic storytelling. In the tradition of the bards, Homer would have heard countless stories passed down through generations. Yet, he did not simply repeat them—he reinvented them. He drew upon the known, the familiar, and wove a tapestry that would become the foundation for all future epics. In much the same way, Perri does not discard the influence of Nora Ephron’s iconic films, but rather, she uses them as a springboard to propel herself and her work forward, to reclaim the genre and twist it into something new.

The films that Perri mentions—'When Harry Met Sally,' 'Sleepless in Seattle,' and 'You've Got Mail'—are not just cinematic milestones; they are legends in the genre of romantic comedy. They captured a moment in time when love was depicted not as a fleeting whim, but as an enduring, evolving force. These films laid the foundation for how love was portrayed on screen: complex, messy, and joyously human. Yet, as with all classics, their influence cannot be contained by the limitations of time. Like an ancient statue that begins to wear and show the passage of centuries, the romantic comedy genre, once defined by these films, began to feel formulaic—its magic diluted by repetition. This is where Perri’s genius lies: in recognizing this truth and choosing not to abandon the genre but to reshape it, to twist it into a form that speaks to today’s world.

In Perri’s choice to re-watch these films, we see the importance of the ancient practice of reflection. The great philosophers, such as Socrates, often engaged in self-examination through dialogue, asking questions and seeking deeper truths. Perri, too, seeks answers by revisiting these beloved works. She watches them not just for nostalgia or pleasure, but with an eye toward reinterpretation. In doing so, she embraces the wisdom of the ancients: to truly create, one must understand what has come before and acknowledge its place in the world. Then, from that foundation, one can step forward, re-envisioning the future without forsaking the past.

The films Perri references are part of a tradition that dates back to the beginnings of human storytelling. In ancient Greece, theatre was a means of both preserving and transforming society’s stories. Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex, for example, took themes of fate, free will, and tragedy that were already known to the people and shaped them into a story that would resonate for millennia. Likewise, Perri’s choice to engage with the works of Ephron is not a mere homage, but an act of artistic alchemy—she is taking what was once golden and forging it into something new, with its own unique brilliance.

What can we learn from this act of revisiting and transforming? Reflection is essential to growth. Just as Perri revisits those films, we too must revisit the roots of our own craft, the principles that guided us in the beginning. Whether in art, in business, or in personal development, our ability to reimagine is rooted in our ability to understand. And while it is easy to follow in the footsteps of those who came before, it requires true courage to step beyond them, to twist and turn what we know into something new and meaningful.

The lesson here is one of bravery and innovation. Do not simply accept the world as it is, nor the genres and forms that have been handed to you. Use them as your foundation, as Perri does, but do not be afraid to reshape them. Draw upon the wisdom of the past, but allow yourself the freedom to transform it, to make it yours. The ancients knew that true greatness lies not in imitating the past, but in reinterpreting it—creating something timeless, something that resonates for generations to come. Let this be your charge: to rewatch, to reflect, and to remake the world through your own eyes, leaving behind something beautiful for those who will follow.