Uncovering Mum’s Untold Past: A Conversation with Marie Campbell on Writing Olga and Discovering Her Jamaican Heritage
In a world where our cultural identity is often shaped by the stories we inherit through loved ones, for a writer whose mother kept the details of her past safe-guarded, the journey of uncovering her roots was both a revelation and a reconciliation. In a candid interview with Marie Campbell, the author of Olga: A Daughter's Tale, I was taken on a journey of family, self-discovery, and cultural preservation. As Marie detailed her journey stepping into her mother’s story, alongside her personal exploration of her relationship to her newfound Jamaican heritage, her words bring to light the complexities of facing both inspiration and painful discoveries when encountering cultural identity in the diaspora.
Marie Campbell’s original ad in the Daily Fleaner looking for relatives of her mother, Olga
Olga is a deeply personal narrative of her mother’s past, shaped by a backdrop of colonialism, globalization, and war. Marie’s journey in documenting this story begins with an experience that many children of immigrants may identify with—the struggle for a sense of belonging in a world that places you somewhere between two cultures. For Marie, her relationship with her Jamaican heritage had been muted for most of her life. Her mother, who came from a large Jamaican family, was tight-lipped about her past, a silence that Marie later discovered to be an act of self-preservation from painful memories. Over a lifetime, Marie’s yearning for connection was met with fragmented pieces of her mother’s story that only deepened her curiosity.
The turning point came when her mother was gravely ill, and Marie was faced with the possibility of never learning about her family's past. This moment ignited a determination to uncover this story. Marie embarked on a mission to connect with her Jamaican roots: tracking down relatives through the Gleaner newspaper, consulting archives, and finally piecing together the fragments of her mother’s story.
The author’s mother, Olga, at age 88.
Olga is not just a book, it’s an immersive experience.
In our conversation, she spoke candidly about the process of writing Olga, A Daughter’s Tale. The challenge was not in the research, it was in finding the voice to tell this story. “I only had one challenge, and that was finding the voice. And I think that's, it took me seven, eight years to find the voice. So I had all this amazing research, what I thought it was amazing, and I was ready to go. And when I sat down to write, I couldn't, I couldn't find the voice. To write it. I tried to write from obviously mum's point of view and couldn't.” It was only after encountering Bram Stoker’s Dracula, written in the form of diaries and journals, that the idea of how to structure her book clicked into place. Weaving together the factual and the emotional, Marie created a narrative that feels both authentic and compelling.
While understanding the importance of being faithful to the historical context, correctly capturing dates, events, and stories from primary sources, Marie also embraced the imagination required to make the story resonate with readers. “Without that creative liberty,” she told me, “I think all you’d have left is a history lesson.”
Her journey was not without its emotional toll. In uncovering the painful truth about her mother’s past, particularly the circumstances surrounding Marie’s own birth, Marie was forced to confront the painful realities that her mother had long kept hidden. “When I told her I was going to write her story, she was cross with me. She didn't want me to do it, because people would ask questions. She said, you know, the people will ask questions I don't want to talk about it.”
After they found her ad in the Daily Gleaner, Marie Campbell traveled to meet with her mum’s living siblings. This is her pictured at the “Welcome Home” party they threw for her.
Yet, as Marie shared, this revelation ultimately led her to a place of understanding and awe for her mother’s strength. “I had this sense of not belonging for most of my life,” she explained. “But once I discovered my heritage, everything changed. It gave me a new perspective on my mother’s choices and on who I am.”
Advertising copy of the author’s late uncle’s bicycle business. After failing to find his sister in the U.K. to bring her home, he returned to Jamaica, never able to reunite with her.
The act of writing this book was not just about uncovering her family’s past; it was also an act of reconciliation. Marie wrote the book for future generations of her family, so they could understand their heritage and preserve their story. The process became a way to ensure that her mother’s legacy, along with the stories of the Jamaican diaspora, would not be forgotten.
Marie’s experience offers valuable lessons for those embarking on their own journeys to uncover their family histories. She emphasizes the importance of being fearless in the face of difficult truths. “You need to be 100% authentic,” she advised. “Don’t be afraid of the truth. Quite often, the things that you're most afraid of writing are the things that will connect with other people.”
Marie’s story is a reminder of the resilience of a woman’s spirit and the power of stories to bridge gaps through time and generations. Her book, available on Amazon, not only serves as a record of her mother’s incredible journey but also as an invitation for others to explore their own histories. With a deeper understanding of where we come from, we can better understand who we are.
“Don’t be afraid of the truth. Quite often, the things that you’re most afraid of writing are the things that will connect with other people.”
So who is Marie Campbell?
The auther, Marie Campbell, holding a copy of her book.
She is a woman who grew up in Brighton, United Kingdom, and vividly remembers being the only biracial child at her Catholic school. She is the daughter of a Jamaican immigrant who faced the sting of prejudice as the only person of color in a small town. Lastly, she’s a writer, the daughter of a woman who worked as a domestic servant and cook, but harbored a love for writing. Marie’s mother kept a diary, which would one day help Marie weave together pieces of her story.
As Marie shared, “Mum was very proud of her heritage. Although she wouldn't talk about it, I recognize that. And she instilled pride in me. So I was very proud of being different from everybody else.”
In advising others who want to tell their family’s story, Marie said, “Be fearless. Get it down. And don’t worry about how it’s written or whether it’s perfect. Just get it down.”
In the end, it’s not about the perfect narrative—it’s about the courage to tell your story, no matter how imperfect or painful it may be. In doing so, we honor the past and ensure that future generations can learn from it.
“Be fearless. Get it down. And don’t worry about how it’s written or whether it’s perfect. Just get it down.”
Olga - A Daughter’s Tale, can be found on Amazon. You can also find Marie on YouTube as The UK Dame, where she shares her writing journey, writing tips, and motivational content.
