Rising Stars: Meet April Peveteaux of Pasadena

Today we’d like to introduce you to April Peveteaux.

Hi April, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I worked as a writer and editor in New York, then relocated to Los Angeles. As my life began here, I began to experience debilitating symptoms of an unknown illness. Having two small children and working from home in a new city, I chalked it all up to “stress,” as did my doctor. It wasn’t until I wound up in the hospital that I was referred to a GI doctor who dug in and eventually diagnosed me with celiac disease. I had never heard of celiac or gluten, but learned quickly how to avoid gluten and to recreate favorite meals from my Southern background and Cajun family recipes. Thus began my blog, “Gluten Is My Bitch,” which became popular and attracted the attention of literary agents. My diagnosis came at a time when gluten-free dining was spreading, and luckily, I lived in Los Angeles, which was on the early side of adopting new ways of dining out.

The next thing I knew (I mean, a lot of things happened, but none fascinating enough to write about), I had a book deal to pen my debut book, “Gluten Is My Bitch: Rants, Recipes, & Ridiculousness for the Gluten-Free,” and my career took off from there.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Writing about myself and the celiac world at large has meant putting my personal challenges out in front of everyone. This was helpful in the beginning of my diagnosis, as was knowing I was helping other people face their new and disappointing gluten-free lives. Today, I’ve been living with celiac disease for 14 years, and the challenge is less about the lifestyle and more about my career. I will always be in the celiac community and in touch with other writers and guides, but I’m no longer interested in writing about my life as a gluten-free person.

I’ve been working in publishing for a long time, and the industry has changed so much that it feels like I’m not even in the same career any longer. One thing remains true—a good story is a good story, no matter if it’s told in print, video, or TikTok. But making a living wage as a writer has gotten more difficult.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Before my first book was published, I was working in lifestyle journalism. I began in music journalism, interviewing bands, reviewing albums, and live shows, and having a blast. It was the perfect way to start a career as a young person who had always been a devoted music fan. I didn’t realize how much my career would change with my life stages, but it has felt like a natural progression.

When my daughter was born, I was working in the entertainment space, still spreading my wings in culture writing in New York City, and personal essays. After I began writing for the online parenting magazine “Babble,” I was hired as an editor. I joined an amazing, award-winning team that connected with the Gen X and Millennial parenting audience. I became interested in food writing as I launched a food blog for “Babble,” then moved on to other parenting sites where my beat included food, celebrity, and general news writing through the parenting lens. My diagnosis of celiac came as I was leaning into food writing, and it was initially upsetting as I realized my beat would have to change. Little did I know there was a brand-new audience looking for gluten-free writing, and as I complained about gluten-free bread and tried to make my own gluten-free beignets, I grew my audience and got a career boost.

While people were writing about gluten-free eating and cooking before me, when I came onto the scene, I was a bit cranky about the whole situation. I used my voice to humorously complain about the entire thing, and teach people how to make gluten-free fried Oreos instead of the usual quinoa and kale recipes, which seemed to be all the rage in the gf food world. I wanted fried foods, cheese, fried cheese, and cake, and I wasn’t afraid to say it. I also was (and remain) gobsmacked that a disease exists for which the only cure is not to eat the best food in the world. It’s crazy.

Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
Trust your gut. Which may be a funny thing for someone whose gut has tried to kill them to say, but it’s true. If you find yourself unable to stop thinking about a topic, that’s your beat. If you find yourself wanting to tell everyone about the most amazing film, or super soft t-shirt, or politician who is turning Mississippi upside down, that’s what you need to write about. Be true to yourself and know that your passion is what attracts people to your work. Also, get a mentor if you can. I never had one, and realized how rad it would’ve been to bounce ideas off someone else when I was unsure which direction I should be headed in, professionally.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.aprilpeveteaux.com
• Instagram: @peveteaux
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peveteaux/

Image Credits
Photos by Cecily Brown