New book showcases the beauty of San Miguel and the growth of the main character

Ann Marie Jackson

By Max Bowen

In Ann Marie Jackson’s book, “The Broken Hummingbird,” (She Writes Press), we follow the main character Jane as she embarks on the journey of a lifetime. In the midst of a marital crisis, Jane hatches an unusual plan to avoid a custody battle. She convinces husband Kevin to walk away from the pressures of New York—in particular, her demanding job and an affair she almost had—in the hope that moving to their favorite city abroad will fix their family.

In this interview, we dive into Jane’s journey to a new country and how she grows from the experience of being amidst a new culture. We talk about the two girls she helps and how this impacts her life.


Let’s begin with Jane’s journey in a new country. How does she handle this change in her life?
Because their marriage is on the rocks, Jane and her husband, Kevin, move to their favorite city abroad, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, in the misguided hope that doing so will fix their family. But wherever you go, there you are. They bring their problems with them, and Kevin grows more resentful. She drags him to marriage counseling, but it doesn’t work, and there seems to be more going on with him. Jane has always been a successful, driven person, but now she fears that she’s failing at everything: she has stepped away from her career, her marriage is still failing, and because of that, worst of all, she fears she is failing her children.


Who are the two girls that Jane helps, and how does it impact her own life?
In San Miguel de Allende, out of a desire for distraction from her own problems, as well as a sincere urge to help and to assuage some expat white privilege guilt, Jane starts working with an NGO that helps families living in poverty. That’s how she meets the two little girls. She gets overly wrapped up in their family’s life and comes to suspect that her bumbling efforts are doing more harm than good. I believe that we should be out there in the world helping, trying to make a difference, but sometimes, like Jane, we may need to learn to help better.


How does Jane grow from this experience?
Being an expat is having a foot in two worlds. It is a stimulating way to live, but it does mean finding yourself off-balance on a regular basis, wondering what is it about this situation that I may not be interpreting correctly?

In “The Broken Hummingbird,” the characters’ openness to learning the ways of a second culture reflects their aptitude for growth. Jane and her kids avidly explore San Miguel and are enchanted by their new home. Kevin, focused on the past and what could have been, seems uninterested in embracing the family’s new world. This difference heightens the narrative conflict between the spouses. Becoming more bilingual, learning about Mexican culture, and forming cross-cultural friendships opens Jane up to making different choices for her future.

Does this reflect any experiences in your own life?
My own immigrant experience provides a deep well of inspiration. I am an American lucky to have lived in Hirakata, Japan; Shanghai, China; Suva, Fiji; Oxford, England; and now in gorgeous San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. Each move entailed a challenging but rewarding effort to absorb a new set of unwritten societal rules. I believe that a great way to grow is to immerse myself in the unknown and have things I took for granted about how the world works suddenly come into question.

I would also like to point out that despite the difficult themes, much of the book is joyful. Jane, her children, and her new friends have a lot of fun along the way. Part of the enjoyment for me in writing this story was indulging in a chance to glory in the vibrant beauty of San Miguel, the city’s incredibly rich culture, and the pleasures of everyday life here.


What research did you do into San Miguel de Allende, Mexico?
I have been lucky to live full-time in San Miguel de Allende for the last 11 years, and I am raising my two sons here. They were 4 and 6 when we arrived, and now they’re in high school.

I am intensely involved in the San Miguel de Allende community, where I work with nonprofit organizations that improve the lives of women and children, and with advocates who protest violence against women and bring critical attention to las desaparecidas, the murdered and missing women of Mexico.

With friends, I started my own nonprofit called Mano Amiga. Our mission is to empower women, financially and personally, through microlending. We provide financial training, mentoring, and interest-free loans, giving women the means to build successful small businesses. I also served as vice president of Casita Linda, and I remain on the organization’s advisory board. We build approximately 10 houses per year, at a cost of $17,000 per house, for families living in extreme poverty.

Despite this wealth of personal experience, I still needed to research certain traditions and historical information to ensure that I accurately portrayed the details. Throughout my travels, I have become a student of the little differences that truly matter. I hope the resulting attention to detail comes through in my writing.