UnBiased Book Reviews: Author Interview

Marti MacGibbon, human trafficking survivor and recovering addict, is an author, humorous inspirational speaker and standup comic who holds four professional certifications in addiction treatment, including the ACRPS, Advanced Certified Relapse Prevention Specialist. Marti is a member of the National Speakers Association and her articles have appeared in numerous trade publications and magazines. She’s been interviewed in Investors Business Daily and Entrepreneur.

Marti was one of the first women to work as a laborer in the Texas oilfield. She set off explosives for an exploration company for a brief period of time and then learned surveying skills, staking oil wells. She moved on to standup comedy and was scheduled for an appearance on The Tonight Show, but Marti became entangled in the California drug scene and plunged into the underworld and serious drug addiction. After being trafficked to Japanese organized crime and escaping, she suffered from post traumatic stress disorder and was homeless for over a year, but ultimately found true love, recovery and forgiveness. Her darkly humorous and dramatic memoir, “Never Give in to Fear,” tells the story, and the narration brings alive a host of quirky characters and bungling criminals.

“Never Give in to Fear” has received critical praise from Foreword Clarion and San Francisco Book Review. The enhanced edition, “Never Give in to Fear: Laughing All the Way Up from Rock Bottom,” received an editorial recommendation from Kirkus Reviews and an award for Best Revised Edition from Books-and-Authors.net.

Who is your favorite author and why? – I have no favorite because so many authors have written terrific books.

Can we expect any more books from you in the future? – Yes.

Have you started another book yet? — I’m currently working on a new memoir, one that will focus on female empowerment, among other things.

Where do you see yourself in five years? – I see myself loved, happy, productive, and continuing my career as an author and professional speaker.

What are your current writing projects now? — I’m currently working on a new memoir, one that will focus on female empowerment, among other things. And I write a blog on my website, martimacgibbon.com. It’s full of pep talks about positive thinking, visualization and other things you can use to create positive change in life. I only blog about things that I know will work, because I’ve gotten results by doing them.

Are you reading any interesting books at the moment? — I just finished reading The Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell. Now I’m reading The Tipping Point by the same author.

Are there any new authors that have sparked your interest and why? – I recently read a book by Chris Thrall called Eating Smoke. It’s a memoir of his addiction and descent into drug psychosis when he lived in Hong Kong. He sparked my interest because I like addiction memoirs if they’re done with a sense of humor, and Thrall writes with humor.

What are some of the best tools available today for writers, especially those just starting out? — The best tool for a writer starting out is belief in yourself and in what you have to say. And the second best tool is to have fun.

What contributes to making a writer successful? – Please tell me the answer to that one! I think success comes in tiny increments on the way to the big payoff, and that if we are tenacious and enjoy the process, we eventually get to a place we’re happy with.

Do you have any advice for writers? – Believe in yourself, be true to your voice, and whenever possible, laugh.

Do you have any specific last thoughts that you want to say to your readers? – Thank you for reading my book. I deeply appreciate your support and hope you’ll like the next one, too. You are the sum of all your experiences. Be proud of who you are. And whenever possible, laugh.

What do you do to unwind and relax? – I do cardio exercise, like walking or bicycling. And I meditate. I hang out with friends or talk with them on the phone. Oh yeah, and I watch movies.

What dreams have been realized as a result of your writing? – I wrote a book – that was a dream realized. I’ve learned to celebrate each moment. I’ve learned to forgive myself for messing up my life so badly, and to forgive anybody who hurt me.

Do you have any upcoming appearances that you would like to share with us? – I will be a guest speaker at the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles on February 17^th, 2013, at 1:00 p.m. I will be telling my story as a survivor of human trafficking.

If you could leave your readers with one bit of wisdom, what would you want it to be? – Be kind to yourself, love life, live in the present moment, allow others to love you, and whenever possible, laugh. Never let fear hold you back. And never give in to fear.