Midwest Writers Room
Podcast from the Wisconsin Writers Association. We discuss all things writerly, with an emphasis on the unique flavor of works that originate in the Midwest.
Midwest Writers Room
Chapter Break with Agnes Patenaude aka Olivia Karimi Jones
BIO:
Agnes Patenaude, writing as Olivia Karimi Jones, is a Kenyan-American author, psychiatric nurse, and passionate advocate for resilience and healing. Her powerful debut memoir, *Scarred, But Not Broken*, chronicles her extraordinary journey from poverty and trauma to education, motherhood, and personal restoration. Olivia writes with unflinching honesty, weaving emotional depth with cultural insight, and inspiring readers to confront pain with courage. She now lives in the Midwest, where she balances her writing, work in mental health, and her most cherished role—being a mother.
SYNOPSIS:
Scarred, But Not Broken is the deeply moving memoir of a young girl born into hardship and abandonment in rural Kenya. Olivia recounts her turbulent childhood, the loss of her parents, and her struggle for survival amid rejection, poverty, and betrayal. Yet, through every setback, she clings to education and hope. Her journey spans continents, from Kenyan villages to American cities, ultimately revealing the power of love, motherhood, and faith in oneself. More than a personal story, this memoir is a universal testament to the strength of the human spirit.
