Is it ever too late to rewrite your story?

Joni Marie Iraci, a former Registered Nurse and mother of three, proves that reinvention has no age limit. At 65, she became the eldest graduate in her MFA program at Columbia University, pivoting from a lifetime of nursing to becoming an award-winning author.

In this episode of FailCraft, Joni shares the "messy real side" of going back to school decades later than her peers. She opens up about the fear of walking into a classroom full of 20-year-olds, how she used humor to disarm the awkwardness, and the persistence required to spend 10 years writing her novel Vatican Daughter.

You’ll discover:

* Joni's "Rock Bottom" fear: Not being able to open the door to her new college.

* The reality of being an older student: Bonding with classmates vs. skeptical professors.

* How she used her nursing background to correct students' medical scenes.

* The 10-year journey of writing *Vatican Daughter* and the research rabbit holes.

* Why "Success" isn't about money or bestseller lists, but helping others.

* Advice for anyone holding onto a dream they think is "too late" to start.

This episode is for anyone who feels stuck in their current chapter, is considering a late-in-life pivot, or just needs a reminder that bravery is ageless.

Connect With Joni Marie Iraci:

* Website: https://www.jonimarieiraci.com/

* Book: Vatican Daughter (Available on Amazon)

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Want to Be a Guest on FailCraft?

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Chapters:

00:00 Hook: The Omen at the Door

01:23 Introduction: Joni Marie Iraci's Reinvention

03:07 The First Step: Walking into Sarah Lawrence College

05:30 From Jury Duty to First Novel

07:15 The 10-Year Journey of *Vatican Daughter*

09:49 Being the Oldest Student in the Room

14:15 Nursing vs. Writing: Bridging Science & Creativity

17:20 The Struggle of Marketing as an Older Author

22:25 Advice: Be Brave & Just Do It

24:55 Joni's Definition of True Success

27:23 How to Connect with Joni