The Author
In 1993 Mary traveled to Romania as a humanitarian worker. The majority of her time was spent aiding and interacting with special needs children in an orphanage for the disabled, a “camin spital.” During this period she also became acquainted with other orphanages and hospitals within the Bucharest area. A few years after her return to the U.S. Mary began writing Joy of Fools. It has been her passion project. More than twenty-five years later, after some exceptionally long pauses, she finally completed her novel. having started out with a Romanian revolutionary as heroine, she switched characters mid-way in the writing process, thinking she could do a better job of capturing the essence of a wide-eyed American do-gooder. Still, both of her characters had the desire to change the world. Ten years after Mary’s first stint in Romania, she applied for and received a fellowship to design a language development program not only to help Romanian orphans but to expand the knowledge of professionals involved in servicing disadvantaged children and their families. Mary is a retired special educator and speech/language pathologist with a specialty in language development and augmentative and alternative communication and holds graduate degrees in both special education and communication disorders. In addition, Mary also has a love of adventure and travel and for a brief period in her life acted as a travel agent, tour guide and travel writer.
Joy of Fools
Available on Amazon mid-July
Joy of Fools is a work of fiction that takes place three years after the Dec.1989 revolution that overthrew the Communist dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu. This book interweaves historical context with personal stories to highlight the lasting effects of an authoritarian regime on its individuals and society.
The story follows Cassie Belcher, a young empathetic American woman, who goes to Romania believing she can make a difference in the lives of disabled children placed in a Romanian orphanage. Cassie faces apathy and resistance on multiple issues from the orphanage staff, including the director of the orphanage, as well as her ambitious American boss, Gretchen Brinkley.
Gretchen, the founder of a non-profit organization, wants to use her charity as a stepping-stone to a high level government position, possibly, an ambassadorship. She enlists an actress, in need of an image-makeover, to adopt a Romanian orphan. Problems ensue when the child is found to be under custodial care, not abandoned, as well as having significant emotional issues and Cassie is drawn into the behind the scenes drama.
On a personal level, Cassie is in a relationship with Daniel Walker, an evangelical come to Romania to do “good works.” She is also desired by Teo, a Romanian artist reduced to painting Disneyland scenes on orphanage walls. But amidst the tumult, Cassie is supported by her translator, Irini, a disillusioned former Romanian revolutionary, who seeks to leave her native land even if that means a marriage of convenience.
Finally, there are the orphans themselves, children who were seriously mistreated during the Ceaușescu reign, who are caught up in it all.
In the end, tragedy strikes. A coverup ensues, that causes Cassie to go on a journey, both inwardly and outwardly, leading her to the realization of what she must do no matter what the consequences.
Through this cast of characters and situations Joy of Fools explores the complexity of human emotions, desires and relationships and our fascination with image; while offering a spell-binding look into the Ceaușescu era, it’s lingering legacy of authoritarianism and its effect on the Romanian people, both socially and politically. It is a lesson for our times.
Mary Daddario 