Marion Maendel was raised at the Bruderhof, now known as Church Communities International. After several years with the Houston Catholic Worker, she studied classical philosophy and theology with the monks of the Brothers of St. John in Laredo, Texas. During her year and a half stay there, she was baptized into the Catholic Church in 2000.  Her freelance writing has earned The Writer magazine Sylvia K. Burack Award, the Houston Press Club Nicholas C. Chriss Award, and many other journalism awards. Marion lives in Houston with her husband, Andres, and their son, Dominic.