Podcast with Memoir Writer Maura Casey

Saving Ellen: A Conversation with Maura CaseyMaura Casey kept loads of notes in journal books as a youngster—a habit that, it turns out, would serve as a major resource for her unforgettable memoir.Fast-forward to May 19, 2025: on a Zoom call from her writing studio in the loft of a Connecticut barn, Maura held up her homemade archives—journal booklets thick with colorful sticky notes, each tab marking a lived and logged experience.One tab color indicated the times her father was drunk. These weren’t memories softened by time—they were records, kept by a girl who instinctively knew the value of bearing witness. When Maura writes about her father throwing beer in her face, she isn’t relying on faded recollections. She’s quoting from her own teenage reportage—brutally honest, heartbreakingly clear-eyed.In our podcast conversation, we talk about that truth-telling and the deeper family narrative behind the book’s title: Saving Ellen. Ellen was Maura’s sister, whose years-long battle with kidney disease shaped the Casey family’s identity—and Maura’s place within it.Come eavesdrop on a powerful conversation about what it means to grow up inside the Casey household, and to tell it decades later. Buy a copy of Saving Ellen: A Memoir of Hope and Recovery from your local independent bookseller, or order it on Amazon. Also, write a review!Maura Casey is a longtime journalist and editorial writer with an impressive career in both local and national media.Here’s a quick summary of her professional background:* Editorial Writer for The New York Times: Maura was a member of The New York Times editorial board, where she focused on a wide range of public affairs issues, including health care, civil rights, and ethics in government.* Reporter and Editor at Regional Newspapers: Before her time at The Times, she worked at The Day in New London, Connecticut, where she helped expose flaws in state law regarding sexual assault of minors—coverage that led to legislative reform. She also worked as a journalist in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York.* Award-Winning Journalist: Maura has been recognized for investigative journalism, public service reporting, and editorial writing. She’s received awards from the American Society of Newspaper Editors and the New England Associated Press.* Founder of CaseyInk, LLC: After leaving daily journalism, she founded her own communications consultancy, helping nonprofits and academic institutions with editorial strategy, media training, and crisis communications.* Speaker: Maura will be talking about the process of memoir and opinion writing during the Okoboji Writers’ and Songwriters’ Retreat. Come! Enroll Now to save your place. Quoted Highlights from Maura Casey on the “Saving Ellen” Podcast.On the title of her memoir:“What I remember thinking about as a kid and as a family was, we have to save Ellen.”— [00:00:00]On persistence in publishing:“I didn’t give a flash-frozen rat’s ass how many rejections I was going to get. This is the way I wanted to go.”— [00:27:44]On her meticulous journaling as a teen:“I ended up being very grateful to my teenage self for writing all these crazy diaries because I had forgotten this stuff.”— [00:14:09]On documenting her assault and healing through writing:“I typed out about five, six thousand words… stuck it in a drawer and walked away. After a week, I reread it and thought: I can write about this.”— [00:08:42]On the emotional resonance of storytelling:“People think memoir is about the writer. It’s not. It’s about the reader recognizing themselves in your story.”— [00:07:11–00:07:24 context]On broken promises and childhood pain:“My father’s promises, which were almost always empty, can really be damaging. That’s still one of my hot-button issues.”— [00:17:48]On the spiritual presence that stayed with her:“God was upset too about what happened to me—and He wasn’t going to let me go.”— [00:47:16]On memoir as a legacy:“It’s a gift to your kids. It’s a gift to whoever is close to you in your life.”— [00:13:55]On advice to aspiring writers:“Start by putting the reader in the middle of the action.”— [00:39:32]New?Are you a new reader/subscriber? Welcome aboard! We regularly hold a Zoom call with interesting folks and subscribers are able to join the call. The Zoom link is sent on Monday mornings. Chris Cillizza, June 2, ZoomWe will take Memorial Day off, then return our Monday Zoom calls with Chris Cillizza on Monday, June 2, noon central time. Chris began his career at Roll Call and The Cook Political Report, where he covered gubernatorial and House races. But it was his tenure at The Washington Post that from 2006-2027 that gave him a broader audience. In 2017, Cillizza took his talents to CNN, serving as an editor-at-large and launching "The Point," a multiplatform brand that included daily columns, on-air analysis, and a podcast. His tenure at CNN lasted until 2022, after which he embraced the independent creator lifestyle.GQ+12Wikipedia+12Newhouse School at Syracuse University+12YouTubeToday, joined the Substack movement with his newsletter, "So What." Join the call. Subscribe (free or paid) to receive the Zoom link.Iowa Writers’ CollaborativeDid you catch the Iowa Writers’ Collaborative Roundup last week??? Read excellent columns about the Field of Dreams backstory, political protests, memories of Warren Buffett, and how the media covers Caitlin Clark. So much good content. 10,000 have viewed this roundup so far. Are you one of them?We are linking writers and readers who share an interest in the state. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit okobojiwriters.substack.com/subscribe