Healing, History, and the Power of Story with Jane Loeb Rubin
"Writing made me feel like I mattered, like I was taking up space in the universe that could be shared..”
In this episode, Mike uncorks the story of historical fiction author Jane Loeb Rubin, whose career as a writer began with an unexpected catalyst: an ovarian cancer diagnosis. What started as a therapeutic memoir evolved into a multi‑book, award‑winning series exploring immigrant life, women’s rights, early medical practices, and the tumultuous decades that shaped modern America. Jane shares how uncovering her great‑grandmother Tilly’s forgotten story led her deep into history — from 19th‑century New York tenements to the battlefields and hospitals of World War I, and forward into Prohibition‑era Catskills and the cultural revolution of the 1960s. This episode is perfect for fans of historical fiction, family‑rooted storytelling, and the intersection of medicine, resilience, and creativity.
How a cancer diagnosis launched Jane’s writing journey, beginning with a memoir that helped her process trauma and preserve her legacy for future generations. The rediscovery of her great‑grandmother Tilly, whose lost history inspired a trilogy exploring immigrant life, women’s health, and societal constraints in the late 1800s. An inside look at Jane’s meticulous world‑building, from New York’s tenements to WWI medical units, blending her healthcare background with her passion for history. The surprising role of WWI in America’s “melting pot,” including Jane’s research into immigrant soldiers and real letters that shaped her storytelling. A preview of Mayhem in the Mountains, a Prohibition‑era story featuring runaway children, Catskills farmland, gangsters, and local clashes with the KKK. Why writing remains therapeutic for Jane, keeping her grounded, purposeful, and creatively energized as she continues work on book five. The cultural and personal forces driving her next novel, which journeys into the 1960s–70s to explore women’s changing roles amid seismic social shifts.
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