Fiction Writing Inspired by Real-Life Experiences with Marcy Lane

Fiction Writing Inspired by Real-Life Experiences with Marcy Lane

In this emotionally rich episode of The Mindset Playground, Host LouAnne Hunt sits down with Marcy (Lane) Fogal, a late-blooming novelist whose path to fiction writing was born from profound personal loss—and shaped by her passion for human resilience.

After losing two life partners to cancer, Marcy turned grief into creative fuel. Her debut novel, A Mercy of Widows, explores the tangled emotions of loss, love, assisted dying, and justice. Hear how her personal experience informed the courtroom drama at the heart of her novel. Discover why stories don’t have to be perfect to be true—and how writing can become an act of healing.

Set during a headline-grabbing mercy-killing trial, A Mercy of Widows follows Heddie Wright, a woman on the brink, who must face her own emotional truths as a juror in a case that echoes her past. With themes of grief, chosen family, and moral complexity, Marcy’s storytelling blends depth, compassion, and transformation.

Marcy also reveals how goal-setting through creative routines, a beginner’s mindset, and the quiet of Lake Erie helped shape her work—including her next cozy mystery series set in fictional Erie Bluff and a novel unfolding on Haida Gwaii.

Whether you’re a reader, writer, or someone navigating grief or personal change, this episode is a beautiful reminder that life’s messiest moments often lead to the most profound stories.

"Fiction rooted in truth can change the way we heal."

Learn more about Marcy and her work: https://www.marcylane.com

To Learn more about The Mindset Playground visit: https://louannehunt.ca
Watch more interviews: https://rumble.com/c/TheMindsetPlayground

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