Journeying from business academic writing to penning an intimate memoir, a sweeping historical saga, and a titillating book of short stories, Marlena Fiol talks about her upcoming novel CALLED
Conducting this interview is Nita Sweeney, author of the running and mental health memoir, Depression Hates a Moving Target and co-creator of You Should Be Writing.
Nita Sweeney (NS): Before I ask about things specific to writing, tell our members, with the world still on a bit of a pandemic roller coaster, how have you been taking care of yourself?
Marlena Fiol (MF): I am very fortunate to be ‘locked up’ with my best friend and soulmate, Ed.
NS: Your memoir, Nothing Bad Between Us, dives into your complicated relationship with your father and the healing that took place over the years. What prompted you to write about that relationship?
MF: Initially, I began journaling as a way to confront and acknowledge the abuse and suffering that occurred when I was a kid, as well as to honor the healing that eventually took place. I published a number of those journal entries as literary essays. My readers asked me to share more of my journey, which led me to write the memoir.
NS: Now that the book has been out for a little while, is there anything you would change about the writing or promotion?
MF: There’s really nothing I would change about the writing. I feel honored every time I hear from readers and reviewers that the story of my journey from abuse to forgiveness has touched people’s lives.
NS: Tell us about your newest book, CALLED.
MF: Thank you for this opportunity to speak about this story! CALLED is an expansive historical saga that brings to life the extraordinary contributions of two medical pioneers in the wilds of Paraguay.
In their fierce determination to save floundering communities across the country, and to battle the stigma and shame of leprosy, John and Clara faced intractable opposition from many fronts: a medical community that rejected their unorthodox and revolutionary practices, governments that threatened imprisonment, and neighboring villagers who vowed to kill them.
Based on true events that span six decades, CALLED is an epic tale of fearless adventure and heroism that celebrates the triumph of the human spirit persevering in the face of fear, rebellious subversion, and terrorism.
The book was released November 2, 2021. It is now available on Amazon.
NS: How did you come up with the premise for CALLED?
MF: The premise is embodied in the well-publicized real lives of the story’s protagonists John and Clara Schmidt.
In the words of one of our reviewers: “At its root, CALLED is a story of how a deep and durable faith inspires and sustains a true visionary. But no matter how holy, visionary, and transformative we may be, we are all mortal. It takes a different kind of faith to reach for the sky, knowing all the while that we are forever planted on the ground.”
NS: In addition to memoir and fiction, you’ve written for academia and business for many years. Does your writing process vary by genre or by project? Could you share something about that with the WNBA-SF members?
MF: My writing process does not vary by genre or by project. In all cases, it involves writing many, many drafts, some of which never see the light of day.
NS: What’s the worst writing advice you’ve ever heard?
MF: “You can’t do it.”
NS: And the best?
MF: That a very imperfect first draft is a worthy target.
NS: Has your writing life turned out differently than you expected? If so, how?
MF: Much different. If you had told me six years ago that I would be writing literary fiction and nonfiction, I would have laughed at you! Whereas I consciously chose my business research and writing career, I have felt called to the writing Ed and I are now engaged in.
NS: Is there anything you would change about your writing and publication journey?
MF: In retrospect, I wish I had self-published my memoir, rather than seeking the support of a publisher. I have learned that in today’s wired world, it is relatively easy to produce and market one’s book without the traditional publishing channels. Ed and I have enjoyed the freedom to effectively produce and promote the print book, eBook, and audiobook of our new book, CALLED.
NS: Is there something you wish you had known about writing and publication earlier in your life?
MF: I wish I had known how much the publishing industry has changed, and how advantageous it is to self-publish in today’s world.
NS: What are you currently reading for inspiration?
MF: Ed and I were the official sponsor of author Tayari Jones at this year’s San Diego Writer’s Festival. Her latest novel An American Marriage inspires and admonishes. It is a serious commentary on social injustice wrapped in a titillating love story.
NS: What’s next?
MF: Our next book, titled One More Time, is a series of short stories about love, adventure, and taking life to the limit. And of course, we will continue to create, record, and deliver weekly episodes of our YouTube show Becoming Who We Truly Are. To learn more, please visit marlenafiol.com.
Marlena Fiol, PhD, is a globally recognized author, scholar, and speaker. She is a spiritual seeker whose work explores the depths of who we are and what’s possible in our lives. Her significant body of publications on the topic, coupled with her own raw identity-changing experiences, makes her uniquely qualified to write about personal transformational change.
She holds a PhD in Strategic Management from the University of Illinois and has taught on the faculties of New York University and the University of Colorado. Marlena is the author of Nothing Bad Between Us: A Mennonite Missionary’s Daughter Finds Healing in Her Brokenness, and, together with Ed O’Connor, Separately To Together and Reclaiming Your Future.
Their latest book CALLED is now available. Learn more about Marlena via her website.
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