Jessica Fein is the author of the new memoir Breath Taking: A Memoir of Family, Dreams, and Broken Genes. It focuses on the life of her late daughter Dalia. Fein is also a marketing executive and a former Boston Globe columnist. She lives in the Boston area.
Q: First of all, I'm so very sorry for the loss of your daughter...
What inspired you to write Breath Taking?
A: I wrote Breath Taking because I knew I was living through something almost entirely unique (my daughter was one of six in the world with her dual diagnosis), but also universal in so many ways.
During the time period when the book takes place, I needed to learn how to create a life of beauty and meaning in a world that felt like it was spinning out of control. I needed to move from trying to fix things to trying to make each day as joyful as possible. I needed to reimagine my future when the vision I'd had proved to be nothing more than fantasy.
I think most of us deal with these challenges at different points in our lives. Also, writing the memoir was a great way to gain a bit of control of the narrative.
Q: The writer Joanna Rakoff called the book a “master class in how to be a person.” What do you think of that description?
A: I'm honored, of course. To be clear, I think Dalia is the one who's teaching all of us what it means to be a person.
Q: How was the book’s title chosen, and what does it signify for you?
A: Thanks for asking this question! There are three meanings to the title. 1) Dalia's disease literally took her breath away. 2) I needed to learn to slow down, take a breath, and be more present in the moment. 3) Dalia was breathtaking...not only in terms of her beauty, but also in her ability to exude love and joy in the face of harrowing circumstances.
Q: What impact did it have on you to write the book, and what do you hope readers take away from it?
A: I actually wrote the entire book with the exception of the epilogue while Dalia was still alive. It was a great way to reflect on what was happening in real time. I've also always loved immersing myself in a creative project, and writing was somewhat cathartic.
I hope readers take away that we're all capable of so much more than we think. And of course, I hope they fall in love with Dalia -- which isn't hard to do.
Q: What are you working on now?
A: I'm marinating on my next book idea. I'm also producing my weekly podcast, I Don't Know How You Do It, and continuing to write essays like my "Grace in Grief" column for Psychology Today.
I've also begun some book coaching, which is a great extension of my former career managing a team of writers and creatives.
Q: Anything else we should know?
A: Breath Taking makes a great holiday gift! Also, I love connecting with readers and podcast listeners. You can reach out to me on Instagram @feinjessica or through my website, www.jessicafeinstories.com.
--Interview with Deborah Kalb
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