Funny, grounded, spiritual, no-bullshit honest—I don’t take life too seriously unless I’m being serious. Born in Cleveland, hid out in Idaho, learned my trade in Ann Arbor, moved back to Cleveland for love (a mistake) and instead discovered improv and sketch comedy at Second City, moved to Chicago to work for Oprah Winfrey (queen, forever!), went woo-woo in New York but couldn’t handle the mice, then headed west where I settled into a house on a hill in Bainbridge Island in the Pacific Northwest.

I have a little post-it note on my kitchen cupboard that reads, “Don’t just believe in miracles, rely on them.” It’s a motto that has served me well. You never know where a door will open for you, if you are willing to be open to it.

A few of my book reviews for Amazon’s Best of the Month Editor’s Picks:

• October 2020: Golem Girl by Riva Lehrer
• June 2020: The Lightness by Emily Temple
• November 2019: Little Weirds by Jenny Slate
• December 2018: The Museum of Modern Love by Heather Rose

Here are a few of my articles on Oprah.com:

How Sweet the Sound: Q&A with Joan Baez
Where Did You Go? How Not to Lose Yourself When You Meet Him
What Is Yogalosophy? A Conversation with Yogi to the Stars Mandy Ingber
Where Did You Get Your Style?
My Mother: A Force of Nature
Memory of a Beloved Pet

Here’s an excerpted HuffPo interview with my beloved and much-missed friend:

Beyond Your Wildest Dreams: Debbie Ford on Overcoming Fear and Igniting Self-Confidence

Here are a few links to some of my articles on ElephantJournal.com:

I Left Chicago, But the City Didn’t Leave Me
The Things You Really Want to Say to Your Ex But You Don’t
The Shallow End of the Pool
There’s Nothing to Fear Except Yourself

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© Let It Bespoken by Marlene Kelly, 2025. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited.