Elena meets the author
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Oriana by Anastasia Rubis, book cover
Episode 17·7 February 2025·52 min

Anastasia RubisOriana

A trailblazer of journalism brought to life in fiction.

About this episode

In today’s episode, I sat down with Anastasia Rubis, who goes by Stacy, to dive into her debut novel, Oriana. In the book, Stacy chronicles the life of pioneering Italian journalist Oriana Fallaci, whose fearless interviews with world leaders like Henry Kissinger, Gaddafi, and Golda Meir made her a trailblazer in journalism. I loved hearing Stacy read a compelling excerpt that perfectly captures Fallaci’s confrontational style with Kissinger.

We explored everything from Fallaci’s unique approach to journalism and the challenges of balancing love and a demanding career, to how her childhood during World War II shaped her bravery. Stacy also shared her own journey of writing and publishing Oriana, her passion for bringing unsung female heroes to the forefront, and even compared Fallaci’s challenges with those faced by contemporaries like Barbara Walters.

The episode wraps up with Stacy touching on her upcoming projects and the importance of persevering in the face of rejection. Tune in for an inspiring conversation about courage, creativity, and the power of storytelling.

Also in print I wrote up my conversation with Anastasia Rubis too. Read the Q&A or browse more books and authors.

In this episode

  1. Introduction and Greetings
  2. Notable Interviews and Inauguration Day
  3. Oriana's Fearless Interview Style
  4. Challenges and Triumphs of Oriana's Career
  5. Oriana's Revolutionary Reporting Style
  6. Discovering Oriana Fallaci
  7. Writing and Publishing the Novel
  8. The Struggles of Publishing
  9. Advice for Aspiring Writers
  10. Oriana's Love Story
  11. Researching the Book
  12. The Book's Structure
  13. Future Projects and Historical Fiction
  14. The Legacy of Female Pioneers