Exploring The Other Side of Immigration Through Women’s Fiction: The Broken Hummingbird by Ann Marie Jackson
In her newly published and acclaimed fiction novel The Broken Hummingbird, author Ann Marie Jackson tackles themes of marital dissolution and cultural dissonance with the story of one woman’s struggle to truly know her new country and her own heart.
The Broken Hummingbird: a 2023 International Book Awards Finalist in Women’s Fiction
In this interview, I am thrilled to introduce another fellow She Writes Press author who writes not only to bring more great literature into the world, but to expand upon topics we see and hear about in our news, such as Mexican and Central American immigration to America. Noting that immigration is often portrayed in an ugly light, Ann Marie gives us a delightful glimpse in another direction. And despite the complex themes, she calls The Broken Hummingbird a joyful women’s fiction novel.
“Part of the enjoyment for me in writing this story was indulging in a chance to glory in the vibrant beauty of San Miguel, the city’s incredibly rich culture, and the pleasures of everyday life here.”
~ Author Ann Marie Jackson
About The Broken Hummingbird
A 2023 International Book Awards Finalist for Women’s Fiction, The Broken Hummingbird wrestles with marital dissolution and cultural dissonance, following a woman’s struggle to truly know her new country and her own heart.
In the midst of a marital crisis, Jane hatches an unusual plan to avoid a custody battle. She convinces husband Kevin to walk away from the pressures of New York—in particular, her demanding job and an affair she almost had—in the hope that moving to their favorite city abroad will fix their family. In San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, Jane and her young sons delight in new adventures, but Kevin seethes. Jane befriends a circle of intriguing women and helps two girls who remind her of the brother she abandoned when her own parents divorced. After witnessing violence involving the girls’ father, Jane’s vivid dreams, possibly guided by a hummingbird messenger from the hereafter, grow ever darker. When tragedy strikes San Miguel, the community fractures and then rises, and Jane must make a dangerous choice.
Author Q & A: Ann Marie Jackson
Tell us where you’re from…
Originally from Seattle, Washington, I have lived in Hirakata, Japan; Shanghai, China; Suva, Fiji; Oxford, England; various regions of the United States; and for the last decade, gorgeous San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. I write for Mexico News Daily, and I’m on the advisory board of Casita Linda, an NGO that builds homes for families living in extreme poverty. We’re about to reach an exciting milestone: our 150th house! In addition, I co-founded a nonprofit microlending organization called Mano Amiga. We empower women by providing interest-free loans, training, and mentoring to help them launch or expand small businesses. I am also raising my two teenage sons here in San Miguel.
What sparked the idea for your book?
The spark for this book grew out of watching my own friends and other women handle with an impressive amount of grace the challenges that the mid-life years present: we have to deal with problems with our partners, children, and sometimes our parents, career pressures, financial stress, the indignities of aging, our own self-doubts, or all of the above. Many women manage to go through major mid-life trauma such as divorce in a transformative way and come out stronger, and I wanted to celebrate that.
I also celebrate the power of female friendships. I should point out that Jane, the book’s protagonist, not only builds up her own strength, but also, like so many of us, relies on the strength of her friends. The sisterhood is strong in San Miguel.
Finally, in an era when Mexican and Central American immigration to the U.S. is constantly in the news and often portrayed in an ugly light, I find it interesting to look at the motivations and impact of Americans who have chosen to move in the other direction. Despite these difficult themes, much of the book is joyful. Jane, her children, and her new friends have a lot of fun along the way.
Writing a book is a process with highs and lows. What challenges did you overcome to get your story written, and what tools or practices helped you achieve the goal?
When I started, I had many other responsibilities, so taking the time to write felt like a selfish indulgence. I had to give myself permission to make writing a priority.
Starting a writers’ group made a big difference. One of the amazing things about San Miguel is that it attracts so many creatives of all kinds, including writers. When a friend and I decided to launch a group, we had plenty of volunteers just from within our own circle of friends. The deadlines, the feedback, and the steady doses of support helped enormously. Those ladies were always willing to read yet another draft of a given scene or chapter—or my entire book—which is a true test of friendship.
So if you are an aspiring writer, I highly recommend that you don’t go it alone. Find your creative tribe. You’ll be glad you did.
Tell us about the people, places or things that inspire your creativity…
I write as a woman, activist, mother, and immigrant to Mexico.I write for change, sometimes as my own therapy, and for the pleasure of expression and connection.
~Ann Marie Jackson, Author of The Broken Hummingbird
My immigrant experience provides a deep well of inspiration. I am intensely involved in the San Miguel de Allende community, where I work with nonprofit organizations that improve the lives of women and children, and with advocates who protest violence against women and bring critical attention to las desaparecidas, the murdered and missing women of Mexico.
The word “expat” carries a load of unquestioned privilege. I was graciously welcomed into this community a decade ago and have indeed enjoyed a privileged immigrant life. This life nonetheless offers an abundance of opportunities to learn and contribute and a not inconsequential array of challenges. My current work explores and revels in many wonderful aspects of my life in Mexico while also grappling with the problematic elements.
In Mexico, I have become a student of the little differences that truly matter. I hope the resulting attention to detail comes through in my writing.
Is there any section chapter or line from The Broken Hummingbird that you’re most proud of?
I like the memories of Jane’s childhood that I wove through the story. At first I only included a few brief references to her youth, but an early editor of mine encouraged me to write much more about that part of her life. The editor believed that I was leaving a lot of powerful material on the table, and she was right.
Writers sometimes talk about being in the zone, or the flow, when the story is crystal clear and the words pour out. Well, I often had to work hard and wrestle with my story. Parts of it did not come easily at all—but Jane’s childhood memories flowed.
What are your next projects, writing or otherwise?
I am excited about a variety of upcoming projects. I plan to ghostwrite a friend’s juicy memoir, collaborate with local artists on a special, one-of-a-kind book, continue to write columns, essays, and short stories for Mexico News Daily, San Miguel Life, and other publications, work with Mano Amiga and Casita Linda, and spend as much time with my teenagers as I can, because I don’t have much time left before they go off to college and out into the world. I hope to begin my next novel within a year or so.
Ann Marie Jackson, women’s fiction author of The Broken Hummingbird, is co-founder of microlending organization Mano Amiga and former Vice President of Casita Linda, which builds homes for families living in extreme poverty in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. Early in her career, after earning degrees from Stanford and Harvard, Jackson joined the U.S. Department of State to promote human rights in China and other East Asian and Pacific Island nations. She has worked with Human Rights Watch, A Better Chance, and Internews to further social justice causes and advance respect for human rights. A native of Seattle, Washington, Jackson resides in San Miguel de Allende.
