Who is Dr. Jamie Marable?

Dr. Jamie Marable is an extraordinary writer here on AC. We have never met in person but have connected in more ways than one while sharing our passion for writing with other content producers and readers here on the web. She has a compelling voice and is a strong woman that is driven to succeed against all odds. I admire her personable approach to writing and her willingness to both support and encourage the work of other writers. The following is an insightful interview that not only lets you get to know her as a writer but opens your mind to her personal journeys in life. Please sit back, relax and enjoy getting to know Dr. Jamie Marable.

AM Morgan: Why do you write?

Dr. Jamie Marable: Writing serves multiple purposes for me. I write for amusement. I write for release. I write to educate, inspire and uplift. And I write to reconnect with my inner self whenever the demands of life leave me feeling out of touch.

AM Morgan: Who has been your greatest influence as a writer?

Dr. Jamie Marable: Probably my mother. She always challenged me to do my best in everything, but she seemed to place the most emphasis on reading and writing when I was a child. I used to think that she was being too hard on me, but somewhere along the line I developed a genuine love for both of these activities. We battled endlessly over the writing issue and I used to think that I would never be a good writer, until I finally found my voice. It was then that the significance of writing began to make more sense to me. I am a fairly effective communicator, but it is through my writing that my voice can best be heard.

AM Morgan: You are very well educated. What made you desire to go as far as obtaining a PHD?

Dr. Jamie Marable: In my case, earning a Ph.D. was largely about the journey. I would compare the experience to running a marathon. By nature, I am a sprinter, not a marathon runner. I say this metaphorically, but it's the truth. I have always sought to get to the finish line as quickly as possible, and this has caused me much frustration over the years. The opportunity to work toward a Ph.D. was there and I had to prove to myself that I could do it. I thought about my grandfather, whose formal education ended after the 6^th grade. I was inspired by my parents, who both made the decision to earn college degrees when they were well into their adult years. And I thought about all of the young people I might encounter in my lifetime who would see me as living proof of what could be accomplished with determination and perseverance. I chose to run that marathon. And I learned a great deal about myself in the process.

AM Morgan: I noticed that photography and scrapbooking are listed as your interests on your AC page. What types of pictures do you like to take? What do you enjoy about scrapbooking?

Dr. Jamie Marable: I have been taking pictures since I was around 10 years old. I believe that's how old I was when my mother brought me my first camera. It was small, lightweight and used 110 film. My mother created her own darkroom out of a hall closet when I was little and used to take and develop her own photographs. It was probably because of her that I fell in love with photography. I take pictures of my travels, my family - anything that moves me. Taking pictures and scrapbooking for me is like writing my autobiography. It's a way of telling my story. And it's a way to capture bits and pieces of history to pass down through the generations.

AM Morgan: Where did you grow up? What is your fondest childhood memory?

Dr. Jamie Marable: I grew up in the city of Chicago, in an apartment building owned and occupied by local musicians. Needless to say, music became an integral part of my life. My father is a local musician in Chicago and one of my fondest memories was accompanying him to rehearsals and any gigs that were age-appropriate for me to attend. I also remember singing Motown songs with my Mom at home. We used to have a ball! Almost all of my memories - whether good or bad - are set to music.

AM Morgan: What is something that readers would be surprised to know about you?

Dr. Jamie Marable: I have a wacky sense of humor but it keeps me laughing, so that's a blessing. I have an addiction to Haribo Gummy Bears and if anyone can figure out how to overcome this, please write me! I can be very clumsy and tend to bump into things. I am also likely to say "excuse me" to inanimate objects whenever I do this. I occasionally have moments of brilliance, but they don't last as long as I would like. When I was in graduate school, my mentor used to call me "The Nutty Professor."

AM Morgan: What are some of the most valuable lessons that your parents taught you?

Dr. Jamie Marable: My parents taught me humility and that I am and will always be a work in progress. They have celebrated my accomplishments with me over the years, but they've always been more focused on my overall development as a human being. For that, I am extremely grateful.

AM Morgan: I love all of your work but one of my personal favorites is "6 things you can't hide from." What inspired you to write that particular article?

Dr. Jamie Marable: I wanted to encourage readers to embrace all aspects of life. You cannot fully embrace life if you hide from those aspects of it that make you uncomfortable. If you ever played hide and go seek as a child - or even as an adult - you know that when individuals hide, they render themselves immobile. Consumed with the fear of being discovered, they avoid movement and try not to make a sound. When people hide from themselves or the realities of life, they thwart their own forward movement. In other words, they stop growing. They get caught up in a superficial existence and miss out on the true experience of living.

AM Morgan: Your motto is, "Competence may feed the ego, but it does little to nourish the soul." Do you remember when, where and how you came to that realization?

Dr. Jamie Marable: I would say that this motto has come more out just living than one pivotal moment. From my own personal experiences and my observations of people around me, I have concluded that being good at something is not the key to personal fulfillment. There are people who are good at a lot of things and yet lack fulfillment in their own lives. Mastery is meaningless without purpose.

AM Morgan: What five words best describe your character? Are you an extrovert or introvert?

Dr. Jamie Marable: I would say that I am pretty humble, inquisitive, compassionate, diplomatic and fair-minded. I am an introvert by nature, as I get my energy from those solitary moments when I can reconnect with myself. I love meeting new people, public speaking, seizing leadership opportunities and sharing special moments with others, but at the end of the day my internal battery needs to be re-charged.

AM Morgan: You enjoy writing poetry. Who is your favorite poet? Why?

Dr. Jamie Marable: When I was growing up, I fell in love with the work of two poets who were quite different from one another. Gwendolyn Brooks was one; Edgar Allan Poe, the other. I admired Brooks for her fearlessness in addressing various societal ills and the human struggle. She was a guest speaker at my school when I was a child and I just remember being in such awe of her when I met her. Edgar Allan Poe was a wordsmith. Though I found much of his work to have a sort of darkness to it, I was captivated by his skillful use of words and imagery.

AM Morgan:. Imagine you are on stage receiving your first literary award. What would you say in your acceptance speech?

Dr. Jamie Marable: Through the art of writing, I have found my voice. Thank you for opening your hearts and minds to hear it."

To read more of Dr. Jamie Y. Marable's work on AC please visit her Content Producer Page