MEDIA KIT
Embedded Files
Have you heard of Finding Mary Jane: A Tapestry of Mother’s Love?
If you’re a fan of Trent Dalton then you're going to fall in love with this debut novel set in Brisbane by emerging local author Arie Baker about a woman trying to find her birth mother. It’s a thriller, a mystery, and a love story all rolled into one. This larger-than-life fictional journey packs a strong message and is a must-read for anyone who loves a good book. Follow along with Arie as she takes you on an intriguing voyage of heartache, love, and redemption with a cast of characters that will stay with you forever.
An epic tale sweeping across two lifetimes, Finding Mary Jane bridges the gap between the erotic haze of Brisbane’s nineteen seventies to the city's wild alternate punk scene a decade later - and takes us on a journey far beyond our wildest fantasies.
Our story begins with Mary Jane, a naive nursing student who finds herself in an unspeakable situation. Then we meet Annie, a troubled young woman whose story is based in more modern times as she searches for her biological mother and, in turn, the truth of her own identity.
Become part of this impossibly compelling tale highlighting motherhood, adversity, and conquering strength. Finding Mary Jane is a tapestry that showcases the enduring force of mother’s love and the ultimate bond of powerful spiritual connection between two women borne through one another’s hardship.
Finding Mary Jane is an inspirational must-read for anyone who has ever been made to feel less than worthy, and, while it appeals to members of the adoptive community readers from all backgrounds will find themselves able to connect on a fundamental human level and in a deeply moving and profound way.
ABOUT
As an adopted woman and resilient survivor of challenges including domestic violence, homelessness, substance use struggles, self-harm, and a battle with an eating disorder, Arie Baker stands as an inspiring figure who brings comfort and hope to others facing similar hardships.
Arie’s debut novel, Finding Mary Jane: A Tapestry of Mother’s Love, has a simple yet powerful goal to inspire readers with the message that there is always hope. As a passionate advocate for adopted people, she strives to empower those who, like herself, may have faced difficulties finding their voice but now have the strength to share their stories.
With an estimated 250,000 total adoptions across Australia, the readership for Finding Mary Jane is expected to be substantial. However, Arie’s book transcends statistics, connecting with readers on a deeply personal and human level, offering profound reflections, uplifting themes, and inspiring redemption.
Arie is also a proud mother of two remarkable young adults—her greatest accomplishments—and lives with her supportive husband in coastal South East Queensland, pursuing her lifelong passion for writing.
Q&A
Is your book autobiographical? While Finding Mary Jane allowed me to explore my origins and reflect on my search for my birth mother, which eventually led to discovering my biological father (who had sadly passed away), it is not a memoir. Instead, it’s a work of literary fiction blending truth and imagination. Some readers ask which parts are fact or fiction, and I say it's a writer's job to blur those lines and keep you guessing. Writing the book meant confronting my personal experiences with domestic violence, but I did so in hopes of inspiring honesty and resilience in others to resist coercive control.
What is the main theme of Finding Mary Jane? The novel captures themes like adoption, spirituality, homelessness, and coercive control, but the central theme is motherhood and our shared strength through adversity. Set in Brisbane during the 1970s and 1980s, it reflects on social change and the sexual revolution. I’ve also incorporated music references, creating an interactive experience for readers. While some themes are heavy, the story is ultimately about hope, redemption, and love. I aim to offer readers gems of inspiration within this tapestry of life’s challenges and joys.
What is the key message you wish to convey? This book highlights how anyone, even a strong, intelligent woman, can fall into domestic violence. My message is clear: there is hope, and there is a way out. As a survivor, I want readers to know they can break free, rebuild their lives, and seek support. If Finding Mary Jane helps even one person escape abuse, it’s worth everything I endured to tell my story. Awareness is crucial. We must end the cycle of violence and stop the loss of lives to domestic abuse.
What information would you share with adoptees? You are not alone! Many support services, like Brisbane-based Jigsaw, offer help with family tracing and emotional support. DNA testing through ancestry services can also connect you with biological family members, as it did for me. While I haven't found my birth mother, I respect her privacy and wrote Finding Mary Jane under a pseudonym. Reconnecting with family takes time, and I advise taking things slowly, as not everyone is prepared for such revelations.
What would you say to your birth mother? I’d tell her I understand her decision and hold no judgment. Thanks to the National Apology for Forced Adoptions, birth parents and adoptees like me have received recognition for their pain. I would thank her for giving me a life she likely couldn’t provide at the time. I’d explain that my book, while fictional, draws on my imagination to explore these themes. Above all, I’d tell her that I love her. I don’t need to meet her to feel that way.
Book Details Finding Mary Jane: A Tapestry of Mother’s Love by Arie Baker is available to purchase online via Amazon and is currently available in paperback, audiobook, and eBook formats.
Email: arie.baker.author@gmail.com
Website: www.ariebaker.com
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Rf5RlZ
Lyrical Soundtrack: https://bit.ly/3uxwo5y
Audiobook: Audiobook
IMAGES
The above images were taken at the Finding Mary Jane: A Tapestry of Mother’s Love book launch in November 2023 at Silk & Stone Co. Rainbow Beach, Qld.
“I wanted to return to the place where I wrote my debut novel,” explains Arie. “It felt like the perfect place to hold my book launch, and was well received and supported by the close-knit community.”
Please note: High-resolution images available at request.
PODCAST
Arie Baker was born in Brisbane in 1974 at the Corinda Private Hospital where she was adopted at 3 weeks of age. In this episode of Jigsaw Queensland's Adopt Perspective Podcast, Arie will share with us her experience of adoption and searching for her biological family and how her desire to make sense of that experience led her to write a book that is a mix of fiction and non-fiction. This episode discusses adult themes and listener discretion is advised. Your host is Dr Jo-Ann Sparrow - President of Jigsaw Qld. Date: 7/3/2024 | Duration: 30:32.
VIDEO
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse