POS: You have managed to weave in some key points of the history of Haiti in Faith’s Legacy. How did you approach that without it being overwhelming?
FP: I couldn’t imagine talking about my family’s history and not talking about my parent’s homeland of Haiti. It was a difficult balance, but I wanted the book to be about the women. It was important to provide a context or backdrop because it helped define each woman’s personal struggle in light of the historical period in which they lived as well as how the society influenced their self-concept, worldview and decisions.
POS: In Faith’s Legacy, you also opened up about your relationship as well as family. How important is religion in terms of a relationship to you?
FP: In my opinion, religion has an important place, but it’s the personal relationship with God that has been the guiding force in my family and in every aspect of my life including my relationships. My hope is that Faith’s Legacy will be a source of inspiration to people from all walks of faith.
POS: What is next for Fabiola Powell?
FP: I am currently working on my second book which is about the journey of a Haitian woman who leaves Haiti to free her incarcerated husband in the 1960’s and becomes a pro-democratic activist in Zaire, Africa. I am a therapist and work with the Haitian community. I am interested in writing a book about the ways in which psychology and faith converge and it’s psychological impact on Haitian women.
POS: Is there anything else you would like to share with our audience?
FP: As I travel and talk about Faith’s Legacy, many people across gender, ethnic and racial lines have shared with me how much they identify with the themes and characters in Faith’s Legacy. I never imagined that my story would resonate with the general public in the ways that it has. I hope that you find Faith’s Legacy to be a source of inspiration to you.
We would like to thank Fabiola for taking the time to communicate with us today. To find out where to get her book visit http://mychurchinphiladelphia.com/
-Marc W. Polite