I struggled at times when writing about the dangerous aspects of trips I went on; reliving them through writing was sometimes a challenge.

Linda Murphy Marshall – 24 September 2024

The Back Flap

Fans of the self-discovering journeys in Cheryl Strayed’s Wild and Andrew McCarthy’s The Longest Way Home will love diving into linguist Linda Murphy Marshall’s adventure-filled international journey as she overcomes her past to find her place in the world—all over the world.

Immersion is a memoir that takes the reader on a captivating emotional and physical journey through Linda Murphy Marshall’s life: from the longstanding, crippling impact of family members’ low expectations and abuse, to her discovery as a young adult that she possesses special skills in foreign languages.

Linda is taught from an early age that she has little of value to offer the world. But her love of and affinity for languages enables her to create a new life—to separate herself from her toxic environment and to build a successful, decades-long career as a professional multilinguist. It’s a rewarding vocation, but a challenging one: her assignments with the US federal government take her on some hair-raisingly dangerous journeys, some to countries with unstable governments and even active war zones. But these sometimes-harrowing experiences teach her how to open the “windows” around her, unearth her true self, and develop a healthy sense of self-worth—and ultimately, paradoxically, her work and travel so far from home allow her to come home to herself.

About the book

What is the book about?

It’s about the emotional and physical journey the narrator takes to three continents and more than a dozen countries. In the process she overcomes her past and discovers her self-worth.

When did you start writing the book?

I began writing the book in 2021.

How long did it take you to write it?

It took me 2 1/2 years to write.

Where did you get the idea from?

I wanted to continue the story of my life that I’d begun in my first memoir: Ivy Lodge: A Memoir of Translation and Discovery

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

I struggled at times when writing about the dangerous aspects of trips I went on; reliving them through writing was sometimes a challenge.

What came easily?

I love to travel so I was eager to leave a record of my travels.

Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?

My characters are all real people, not even composites. I only changed their names.

We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?

I read a variety of genres and authors, but I’m a fan of Ann Patchett’s work, Joan Didion, and Anna Quindlen.

Do you have a target reader?

My target reader is probably women, but all ages.

About Writing

Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?

I have a loose outline when I begin, but believe in Joan Didion’s theory: “I don’t know what I think until I write about it.”

Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?

I have a very loose outline so I don’t feel like I’m untethered.

Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?

I edit chunks at a time, usually chapters. It’s too overwhelming to wait till the end to edit.

Did you hire a professional editor?

With both of my memoirs, I hired an editor to review my work.

Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?

I find music inspirational, white noise to help me continue with the tasks at hand.

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

No.

What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?  

I’ve always been attracted to the Indie model, and knew fellow writers who had gone with She Writes Press and been very happy.

Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?

The book cover was done professionally; I could never have come up with the final product on my own.

Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?

I have a publicist, and will follow the marketing plan I used for my first memoir: Ivy Lodge: A Memoir of Translation and Discovery.

Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?

It’s a very personal decision, but I have been extremely happy going the indie route. It may be personality-driven on my part, but it has worked very well for me.

About You

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in a suburb of St. Louis (Kirkwood)

Where do you live now?

I live in Columbia, Maryland (between Baltimore and DC)

What would you like readers to know about you?

I love writing, but it requires a great deal of persistence when it comes to publishing and publicity and marketing. You have to be prepared for that. I often think that writing is the easy part.

What are you working on now?

I’m compiling essays of mine  — nearly 30 — that have been published in the past 7 years, hoping to put them in an anthology.

End of Interview:

Get your copy of Immersion from Amazon US or Amazon UK.