Real People Empty Nesting

An Interview with Juilene Osborne-McKnight

Juilene Osborne-McKnight is author of four critically acclaimed novels: I Am of Irelaunde (2000), Daughter of Ireland (2002), Bright Sword of Ireland (2004), and Song of Ireland (2006). Currently, she teaches Celtic and Native American Myth and Culture, and Creative Writing, at DeSales University (near Allentown, Pennsylvania). During her career, Juilene has worked as a newspaper stringer and as a magazine and newspaper columnist. She has taught for more than two decades. Juilene has also trained as a traditional storyteller, or seanchai, in the ancient Irish tradition.

Juilene took her MFA in poetry and creative nonfiction at the sister colleges of Carlow University (Pittsburgh) and St. Patrick’s Carlow College (Ireland). She completed an MA in Celtic and Native American Writing at Antioch University.

EN: Juilene, you are a professional author and teacher and have developed your career over many years. How did you become involved in writing, and teaching writing and Celtic lore?
JOM: Well, I taught in middle school and high school, and I realized early on that storytelling is an effective teaching tool. My father, who is part Native American, loves to tell stories, so storytelling has always been a part of my life.

I became interested in Celtic legends while teaching Arthurian literature to high-school students. In researching King Arthur and his antecedents, I found that the chivalric code of honor was based on the Fenian code, from third-century Ireland. The code advocates caring for women and children and upholding honor. My research led to a fascination with Celtic studies and evolved into my teaching the same. My MA in Celtic and Native American Writing was the natural progression of my interests. It led to my current teaching position at DeSales.

EN: Tell us about your family and how you managed to juggle career and family in the early years.
JOM: I gave up full-time teaching when my daughter Mara (pronounced "Maw-ra") was born, although I did a lot then to develop my writing career. I remember carrying Mara in a backpack, when she was little, while I did a stint as a newspaper reporter. I learned to be a mommy and a writer at the same time! The name Mara is an Irish version of Mary, and it means "the sea."

As Mara grew older, I wrote when she was in school—I wrote around her schedule. I began to teach at the college level and worked that around her schedule, as well. I was able to choose classes that were scheduled when she was in school, and I could opt not to teach in the summer, when she was off.

EN: How did your life change as you entered your empty-nesting years? How has this period affected your career?
JOM: After teaching for years as an adjunct professor, I was recently offered, and accepted, a full-time position as an Assistant Professor, in the Department of Humanities at De Sales University. I teach undergraduate courses in Celtic Studies and Creative Writing. I will also teach graduates courses for M.Ed students. In addition, for the first time, I advise students in an official capacity. My college teaching career now has more structure and responsibility than it had in the past.

Because of my change in teaching status, I am now dealing with the ways in which a full-time teaching schedule will affect my writing. I spend more time on campus (five days a week) teaching and advising, so I will need to be more creative in fitting in regular, disciplined writing. I used to be a night-time writer, but with 8:00 a.m. classes now, that won’t work! I can’t not write, though, so the question is, where I will put writing in my own schedule? I’m just working through these issues.

When Mara went off to college, empty nesting opened up the time for me to pursue an MFA, which DeSales requires of its full-time writing instructors. Carlow University offered a unique situation whereby I took courses online but also did on-campus summer residencies in Pittsburgh and Carlow, Ireland (southwest of Dublin). As I was already teaching some graduate courses in the evenings, I was better able to dovetail my own studies with my teaching through the Carlow program.

During the school year, Mara lives on campus. She has been living at home in the summers while she works full time, but each of us has our own schedule, so we don’t see a lot of each other. We do have a loose communication system, though. Even if we don’t meet up often, Mara usually tells us where she’ll be. Mara and I make it a point to travel together each summer. This year we’re off to the West coast. Then, toward the end of the summer, my husband, Tom, Mara, and I take a trip as a family. So, we end off spending some quality time together.

Tom and I, of course, are doing a lot more together since Mara is away. We go out to dinner more often now—we have "dinner date nights." We also exercise more than we did when we were parenting a young child. No more homework to deal with! We joined a gym now and go every day. Golf has also become one of our favorite activities.

We expect that Mara might move home after she graduates, to get her "feet on the ground." Fifty percent of college grads live at home for up to 1 to 2 years after they graduate. Many parents don’t realize that!

Way down the road, when it’s time to retire, Tom and I may move back to Ohio, our home state. We’ll reevaluate in light of what Mara decides to do, though.

EN: Tell us a little about Mara and the career she is headed for. Would you say the two of you are close?
JOM: Mara and I are very close. She is intelligent and hardworking and juggles her responsibilities well—she has a good work ethic. I am truly proud of her. Right now, she’s pursuing an undergraduate degree in communications. She should finish up within the next year. She’s very professional. She’s going to school, but she has a side business doing logo art for local businesses. I think of her more as a peer now. In fact, and this is a big secret to her, some day I envision her doing my PR work, to help promote my books and lectures. I would be thrilled to work with her. Before then, though, she’ll probably finish up her degree and get some experience working with other clients.

EN: What are your plans for the future? Are there any new novels or writing or lecturing ventures on the horizon?
JOM: Funny you should ask! I just finished a new novel. It’s entitled A Door of Borealis. This one is different from the others. My other novels were all part of a quartet, but this one stands alone. The others are historical and take place in Ireland, whereas, in this, a contemporary novel, the setting is the United States. It is based on an old Celtic myth, though! And, it meditates on time and the nature of eternity. I call it a "magical realist" work. It explores how we don’t understand at all the nature of time and eternity and who moves in it. I was inspired by Anya Seton; her Green Darkness is one of my favorite books. A Door of Borealis is a mystery and a love story. I have a new literary agent, and at present, we’re looking for a publisher. It’s a new venture!

EN: What else in your future are you looking forward to?
JOM: You know, I love being this age. Anything I don’t want to do, I don’t have to, but anything I’m interested in, I can pursue, single-mindedly. It’s all about the process, not the product. I feel that way about my recently completed MFA program—I miss the journey, the people. They say, "The grace is the journey," and that is true.

I’m really excited about instituting an Irish study abroad program for my students at DeSales. I’m setting one up now in which participants will have the opportunity to work with Irish writers. Most of my students who are interested in studying abroad are English, Creative Writing, or Celtic Studies majors, so the program will be perfect for them.

EN: Is there anything you want to add, in closing?
JOM: I just want to say that at this age, give yourself a gift. As Joseph Campbell says, "Follow your bliss!" You have the education, the experience. Don’t mourn the loss of your children—celebrate the fact that you’ve been given the gift of time for the first time in your adult life! The cup is half full, not half empty.

Your dating and empty-nest years are the bookends on your life. Rediscover your spouse. There’s a danger in letting yourself get bogged down in empty-nest worries. Life goes on, as it should.

To learn more about Juilene Osborne-McKnight, her works, or her lecture series, please visit the following websites:

Juilene Osborne-McKnight
The Lure of Celtic Lore
Green Man Review
Rambles
The Story Pub
Amazon.com
Barnes and Noble
eBook Mall