A Conversation with Joan Marie Iraci on: The Story Behind the Story

Joan 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 Joan 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.

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