Published: The Podcast Episode #13 Maria Brophy

“I convinced myself to be raw and real even when it made me look bad, because the goals for my book were more important than protecting my secrets and what might embarrass me.”

How do you write a story that feels impossible to share?

Maria and her husband should have been another statistic. He was moments away from becoming one of the 1.6 million Americans who died of Covid in a hospital ICU. She was about to become a widow. Doctors and nurses prepared her for the worst.

And yet…

Maria refused to accept the reality in front of her.

Her memoir, Covid: A Love Story, reveals how her husband stepped across the threshold of death—only to return, breathe on his own again, walk, and even surf. The book reads like a medical thriller, a heart-pounding, keep-you-up-at-night account of love, intuition, and defiance.

“This is a story that had to be told. I didn’t have a choice. I almost quit so many times… but there was a greater force inside myself that wouldn’t let me.”

Writing a personal story means baring your soul on the page. Vulnerability is the price of truth. This conversation with Maria is a shot of fresh-squeezed confidence and carpe diem energy—a reminder to create even when it feels terrifying, even when everyone says it won’t work.

Just like she did in 2020, when her husband lay dying on a ventilator, Maria dug in and believed in possibility over probability.

Hear how she rallied her community, the ripple effects her courage sparked, and how she transformed her best-selling memoir into an international cruise, high-ticket speaking events, creative ventures with feature film producers, and an adventurous life of traveling the world with her husband beside her.

Get your copy of Covid: A Love Story here. 

Learn more about Maria’s work and book her for a speaking event here. 

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Hi friends, 

I don’t think there’s anything cooler than books. And being a writer. 

I’m an old school bibliophile. There’s nothing I enjoy more than reading books, talking about books and writing books. I secretly believe I am the recent incarnation from the Library of Alexandria because I’ve got a sacred duty ingrained in me to collect the best books in the world. My personal bookshelf is a collection of what I believe is the most important knowledge we’ve put together in book form so far whether it comes in fiction (The Lord of the Rings, Pride and Prejudice, Gilgamesh and The Dune series) or herbal remedies, neurolinguistic programming, love spells, Buddhist philosophy, Sufi poetry, or Wayne Dyer/ Louise Hay.
I’m not into digital or audio books- I want hard copies I can hold in my hand. I’m ready for everything to go off line although I hope it never does. 

I’ve been a writer since I made my first book in kindergarten about a witch and her cats (two topics that still fascinate me) and have since taught creative writing and copywriting (what a combo!) in the outdoors in rural Argentina, to polo players and tennis pros in S. Florida, and to online coaches writing the ads (and full length books) that get their message out there and change lives around the world. 

Darlene Turriff and I started The Authors Collaborative a few years ago to turn the lonely art of writing and self-publishing a book into a cooperative activity with all the inspiration, guidance, and friendship we writers need to stay motivated and write amazing books we’re proud of. 

I am an internationally bestselling award winning author of 7 books, ghostwriter, copy editor and co-founder of the Authors Collaborative writer’s community.
 
I love helping coaches, speakers and thought leaders take it up a notch energetically & financially by writing a book.  I have helped over 100 coaches write a professional book and I can help you too. 

I have cracked the code on the creative process so that you can successfully create the impact you always wanted.
The secret is to just get started. 

For now, let’s talk about writing the books that change the world.
Join the conversation by tuning into the podcast here.   

Want to Write Your Book?
Work with me inside my Authors Collaborative where you can write a professional book. Or if you are an established coach or speaker who wants to work with me privately, book a call here to apply for the next spot available.