> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://hiddenvoices.ghost.io/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # A Conversation with Joni Marie Iraci on: The Story Behind the Story - URL: https://hiddenvoices.ghost.io/a-conversation-with-joan-marie-iraci-on-the-story-behind-the-story-2/ - Published: 2026-08-17T12:03:44.000Z - Updated: 2026-08-19T08:00:54.000Z - Description: A gripping, award-winning thriller inspired by hidden history, where faith, power, and truth collide. - Author: Roberta Maretti - Tags: Author Conversations, Follow Hidden Voices ***Joni Marie Iraci*** brings both discipline and lived experience to her writing, crafting stories that reflect a lifetime of observation and curiosity. She earned her MFA in Creative Writing (Fiction) from Columbia University at the age of 66, proof that storytelling doesn’t follow a fixed timeline. Her award-winning novel ***Vatican Daughter*** has received multiple Indie honors and marks the beginning of a compelling Vatican-centered series, with ***Women of a Lesser God*** set for publication in 2027. In this interview, she shares the origins and deeper layers behind ***Vatican Daughter.*** --- ***The Conversation*** ***What first sparked the idea for Vatican Daughter? Was it a moment, a feeling, or something that stayed with you over time?*** > Vatican Daughter struck me like a thunderbolt. I was standing in St. Peter’s Square in Rome, Italy, looking at the Basilica when the muse hit and the title came to me. I wondered at the time, “what if a girl was somehow involved in a church scandal cover up.” I jotted a few notes, put them aside, went back to school, wrote another book as my thesis. Ten or so years later, in 2019, I returned to Italy, walked 88 miles in 3 weeks through Rome and Venice. During the pandemic I wrote 8 hours a day sometimes more, did research and wrote every day for a year. ***Is there something about the story that readers might not immediately see, but that matters deeply to you?*** > Vatican Daughter was inspired by the real-life kidnappings of Jewish children in 1859 by Pope Pius IX. This story is true but mostly unknown. I doubt many readers will be aware of this. I found out about it while researching Jewish/Italian last names for a character. I found this to be a shocking story that the church has covered up. ***Did the story change as you were writing it? If so, how?*** > The story changed me as I wrote it because in my research, I discovered many hypocritical behaviors on the part of clergy who are supposed to be above reproach. It was enlightening and proved me right. As a child, growing up Catholic, I saw the hypocritical behavior and as an adult I witnessed not only hypocritical behavior on the part of clergy but also criminal behavior. ***Was there a part of the book that felt especially difficult or personal to write?*** > Writing about a mother who lost her child wasn’t easy. I intuited the character and felt her angst at times, but I also imagined I, too, would do anything to get my child back. > Weaving the Italian language into the novel was somewhat hard to navigate because it isn’t my native language. ***Looking back now, what does this story represent for you?*** > Vatican Daughter has won multiple Indie awards which is gratifying. Sales have not been as I would have hoped. I’ve spent loads of funds on marketers and publicists and have been interviewed on multiple radio and podcasts but it’s a disappointment. I’m hoping the second book in the series gives it a boost. Women of a Lesser God launches on February 23, 2027\. They are both plausible stories, cinematic and an often-fun tour of the Italian landscape. I had hoped it would be in the hands of more readers, and they would take the time to review it. Leaving a review is the best thing you can do for a writer. --- ***Closing Note*** Some stories begin with imagination. Others begin with a moment so vivid it refuses to be forgotten. For ***Joni Marie Iraci***, ***Vatican Daughter*** is both: a sudden spark that grew into a deeply researched and emotionally grounded narrative. Beneath its intrigue and historical roots lies something more personal: a questioning of institutions, a search for truth, and a reminder of the human cost behind hidden stories. --- ***Stay Connected*** If you enjoy uncovering the deeper truths behind powerful, research-driven fiction, follow Hidden Voices for more conversations with authors who write beyond the surface.