An Unquenchable Thirst

A candid account of life as a nun

An Unquenchable Thirst provides an intimate, inside view of a closed society and of a woman still admired throughout the world, a woman Mary knew personally, Mother Teresa.

Over the 10 years it took to write An Unquenchable Thirst, Mary Johnson worked to tell her story with honesty, skill, and compassion. But writing a memoir isn’t easy. It’s revealing. It’s scary. Forever determined and tenacious, Mary was intent on crafting a story that would resonate and never flinched (at least, not for long) at the embarrassing parts.

“The book doesn’t preach or whine; it simply tells my story, carrying the reader into my heart and mind. I hope you’ll find An Unquenchable Thirst engaging, and that it will spark lively discussion.” - Mary Johnson

Buy An Unquenchable Thirst

Rules to write by

  • Go deep. Be honest.

  • Don’t flinch at the embarrassing parts.

  • Trust your readers. Don’t over-explain.

  • Simple words will allow readers to enter your experience more directly.

  • Don’t let your fear of putting the words on the page overcome you. As my MFA advisor Kenny Fries once said, “If it didn’t kill you to live it, it’s not going to kill you to write about it.”

  • Just tell the story.