We had the good fortune of connecting with Peppur Chambers and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Peppur, maybe we can start at the very start – the idea – how did you come up with the idea for your business?
I’m a writer and content creator at heart; my marketing degree helps me think creatively. I came up with the Brown Betties ™ brand — which originally was solely the name given to the four Black female characters in my burlesque dinner-theater show — by 1) combining my love of vintage with 2) my love of Bettie Boop + Betty Page with 3) my desire to show Black women in a positive, yet sultry, sassy and sophisticated way. Over the years, I kept looking for ways to create content for women that embodied the messaging of the brand. This included theater, webseries, workshops and most recently, my novels Harlem’s Awakening and Harlem’s Last Dance (March 2023).

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Early in my career, I studied advertising and marketing at Marquette University in Wisconsin and worked for a mutual fund firm in Chicago until I decided to pursue my artistic and creative passion. I’ve lived in Chicago, New York, LA, Prague and now Chandler. Each move was in pursuit of my career. I’ve produced work on stage, film and in novels as an actor, dancer, writer, director and producer. At the center of my work, usually, are my words. I often produce what I write or my words guide me to projects.

Being a creative isn’t easy; there is great sacrifice — financial, relationships, etc. Yet, there is fantastic, joyful satisfaction over and over again from the smallest and simplest things. I think this is what I appreciate most about being an artist. There is freedom – freedom to excel and freedom to fail. Freedom can hurt, but it can also be very healing.

The lessons I’ve learned along the way:
1. Believe in yourself — even when you don’t know how you’re going to do something, just believe that you will and the way will be shown to you.
2. Surround yourself with other artists and those doing things you don’t do as you build your community — community is really important; community helps keep you connected to resources and inspiration. When that community is diversified, it becomes stronger.
3. Being an artist is hard work. You will feel lonely, you will feel like a failure, you will wonder why you started doing any of this at all. BUT, because something is hard work doesn’t mean we don’t do it. We take a rest when it gets really tough and we jump right back in. It’s critical to jump right back in. And this all leads back to having community — they will support you when you’re up and when you’re down. And believing in yourself will help you stay focused and connected to your passion as you journey on.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’m new to Chandler, AZ after nearly 15 years in LA. I’m still learning about all the great things Chandler and Arizona have to offer. With a week-long trip, I’d take a friend to Downtown Chandler for a martini at DC Steakhouse; Sals Pizza for some home-style, family atmosphere Italian food; to The Gilbert House for breakfast; to Hidden Track Bottle Shop and Wine bar in Phoenix for a nice, unique glass of wine before heading to a Suns Game; and to Southwest Wine Center and Page Springs Cellars in Cornville, AZ for wine tasting followed by a trip to Sedona for some hiking and walking around.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I started the Brown Betties in 2004. Twenty years later, I’m in the phase of having completed and now marketing my novel, Harlem’s Last Dance (which features main character Harlem, and the Brown Betties.) My biggest thank goes out to our online writing community, London Writers Salon. Without this community and daily writing sessions, not only would I not have finished my novel, I also would have had a harder time at getting educated about the publishing industry. I also wouldn’t have had the emotional support to get through the ups and downs (read: rejections), that we writers in particular face with our work. I also shout out my publisher, friend and fellow writer, Nate Ragolia of Spaceboy Books. Harlem’s Last Dance would not be out in the world if not for him believing in me and my words.

Website: www.peppurchambers.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/peppurthehotone/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peppur-chambers-29972b1/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Peppurthehotone

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@herwordshiswine1924

Other: https://vimeo.com/user197405536 https://penandpeppur.com/

Image Credits
Leticia Rey Landi Maduro Lola Rolla

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutArizona is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.