How to Weave a Story, with Maureen Howley

Some books begin with a carefully planned premise. Others begin with a conversation you suddenly realize you do not want to lose.

In this episode of The Resilient Writers Radio Show, I’m joined by Maureen Howley, author of Small Shoes, Impossible to Fill, a memoir that began when Maureen sat down with her terminally ill mother during the COVID lockdowns and started recording her stories.

Maureen had recently retired from a long career in nursing and midwifery and had travelled to Scotland to be with her mum. Her mother had always been active and involved in her community, so the isolation of lockdown was especially difficult. 

Their shared storytelling project became a way to pass the time, stay connected, and preserve memories that might otherwise have been lost.

But as Maureen listened, recorded, and wrote, she realized something important. The story was not only about her mother’s past. It was also about what was happening between them in the present.

That discovery shaped Small Shoes, Impossible to Fill into an unusual and deeply personal blend of memoir, fictionalized family history, and reflection. Maureen wrote her mother’s memories as scenes, drawing on her background in musical theatre to imagine the people and places almost as if they were appearing on a stage. She then wove those scenes together with journal entries from their final months and reflective passages written in her mother’s voice.

Creating one cohesive book from those three strands was not easy. Maureen’s early draft reached roughly 150,000 words, and she had to work carefully to shape it into a unified story. She studied three-act structure, character arcs, and the hero’s journey to make sure each strand contributed to the book’s emotional movement.

We talk honestly about that long revision process, the moments when Maureen nearly gave up, and why finishing the first draft was only one part of finishing the book.

Maureen also shares what she learned through assisted self-publishing, finding the right cover, and continuing to revise even after proofreading. We also discuss the unexpected challenge many authors face after publication: becoming their own marketing department.

One of my favourite parts of our conversation is hearing how Maureen transformed her book launches into meaningful events. Through readings, family photographs, music, and personal stories, she created celebrations in Scotland, Monaco, Sligo, and the south of France that brought the world of the book to life.

At its heart, this episode is about more than writing a memoir. It is about listening closely, honouring family stories, finding joy in difficult seasons, and trusting that a book does not need to fit neatly into a category to deserve to be written.

Listen in for an encouraging conversation about memoir writing, family history, revision, self-publishing, creative book launches, and what it really takes to keep going until your story is finished.