Ep. #52 -- Interview with Marie Benedict, author of The Other Einstein
Sep 26, 2016
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Lawyer turned author Marie Benedict discusses her latest historical fiction novel, The Other Einstein, which explores the untold story of Mileva Marić's role in Albert Einstein's theories. They talk about gender equality in the scientific community, the discovery of Malayva's statue, an upcoming book project, the use of music as inspiration, and personal preferences.
Marie Benedict uncovers forgotten voices of historical women and explores gender inequality in science.
Marie Benedict's novel 'Carnegie's Maid' explores Andrew Carnegie's transformation from businessman to philanthropist.
Deep dives
The Other Einstein: Diving Into a Historical Novel
Marie Benedict, author of several historical novels including 'The Other Einstein', discusses her career transition from commercial litigator to writer. She explains how her fascination with untold stories from the past led her to uncover the forgotten voices of historical women. She gives an overview of 'The Other Einstein', a story about Mileva Marić, the first wife of Albert Einstein, and her own academic achievements and struggles in a male-dominated field. The novel explores Mileva's role in Einstein's early theories and the sacrifices she made for their relationship. Benedict also highlights the issue of gender inequality in the scientific community, which still persists today.
Carnegie's Maid: A Historical Novel Exploring Andrew Carnegie's Transformation
Marie Benedict reveals her next project, 'Carnegie's Maid', which delves into the life of Andrew Carnegie during his rise to becoming the richest man in the world. The novel focuses on the relationship between Carnegie and his mother's lady's maid and explores how it influenced his transformation from a ruthless businessman to a philanthropist. Benedict emphasizes the impact of Carnegie's private promise to give away his wealth and how it paved the way for his contribution to libraries worldwide. She also discusses the importance of libraries and their role in shaping our culture and society.
The Influence of Libraries and Reading on Marie Benedict
Marie Benedict shares her childhood memories of visiting the Carnegie Library in Pittsburgh with her grandmother and aunt, instilling in her a love for libraries and reading. She emphasizes the significance of libraries as places of refuge and a source of inspiration for her writing. Benedict discusses her passion for reading and how it fuels her creativity as a writer. She also mentions her involvement in library committees and her admiration for organizations that promote girls and women in science.
Writing Tips and Habits of Marie Benedict
Marie Benedict offers writing tips and insights into her working process. She shares an unconventional tip she received about associating a particular piece of music with the writing activity to aid in transitioning into the creative mindset. Benedict mentions that she dedicates specific time to writing, even though her schedule varies due to her family commitments. She explains her approach of being a mix of a plotter and a pantser (someone who writes by the seat of their pants), allowing for spontaneity and unexpected character development. She also highlights her habit of reading other writers' works and finding inspiration in their craft.
On this episode, Adam chats with lawyer turned author Marie Benedict about her latest novel, The Other Einstein. This historical fiction title is rooted in facts (and science!) and is the story of Albert Einstein’s first wife who was also heavily involved in the scientific community. Adam even manages to surprise Marie with some information about her main character that she didn’t know (which he was quite pleased with himself about…).
Marie discussed her writing process, how she transitioned to being a full time writer and then they get sidetracked for a bit discussing Broadway shows and Hamilton (not surprising)
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