THE THREE with Maggie Doyne

An interview, a photo story, and Pop-Up Questions

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After Maggie Doyne’s senior year of high school, as her friends headed to college, the 18-year-old boarded a plane in New Jersey and set off to see the world with just her backpack and eyes wide open. Four countries and 20,000 miles later, she found herself trekking through the Himalayas and walking along the dirt roads of Nepal’s most poverty-stricken villages.

After seeing the way poverty prevented some of Surkhet's extraordinary children from living the lives they deserved, she realized she needed to do something. She joined forces with Tope Malla—himself an orphan who had grown up in Nepal and built a career supporting children—and together they founded the Kopila Valley Children’s Home using Maggie’s life savings.

More than a decade later, Kopila Valley has grown into a thriving international community of children, teachers, family members, and other individuals who are relentlessly focused on a mission of building a world where all children are safe, educated, and loved.

Since that fateful journey over 10+ years ago, Maggie has dedicated her life to educating children and empowering women in Nepal. She was the recipient of the 2015 CNN Hero of the Year award and her work has been recognized by the Dalai Lama, Elizabeth Gilbert, Nick Kristof, Katie Couric, and Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan of Sussex. While Maggie’s work as CEO is focused on Nepal, she speaks all over the world in the hope of inspiring others to start projects of their own that will generate positive change.

Visit Maggie Doyne’s foundation to empower Nepal’s youth: BlinkNow

Pop-Up Questions

The writer usually picks five out of ten pop-up questions, and we do an interview- but this time, the writer answered ALL TEN Pop-Up questions instead. Enjoy!

What do you think about when you are awake at 3 am?

Usually my children, I’m a worrier and with children, there is always plenty to worry about. 

What book do you wish you could read again for the first time and why?

I remember reading Mary Oliver’s books for the first time. I feel like I gain something new each time I read her work.

What writer romanticized being a writer for you as a young person?

Definitely Elizabeth Gilbert. I have always loved her. Her book Big Magic really inspired me to write my own story. 

What is a quote that has endured in your mind?

Be kind whenever possible, it is always possible. - The Dalai Lama 

How has technology been a part of your writing?

I used google docs and google drive to write and store everything. And notes on my phone to capture little snippets of thoughts and things that I wanted to remember. 

What music do you love on road trips?

Blasting Disney songs and singing them at the top of my lungs with my daughter. 

What occupies your mind most often on being a woman in America?

I feel like mothers are treated unfairly and this culture sets us up for loneliness and failure. 

What is your favorite bit of writer lore or (not harmful) gossip?

I kind of always had this romantic notion that being a writer was all about drinking french press coffee and watching the rain pitter-patter on the roof while the amazing words and ideas came to you. Now I know writing is so much harder than that and not necessarily romantic or dreamy at all.

What philosophy, religion or school of thought has given you something real, and what is that real thing?

I believe in the compassion, kindness, and goodness of our human family and that we should agree that we can do better for children. 

What books comfort you?

I loved Little Women and Anne of Green Gables growing up, I still find comfort in both those series. They take me back to being a little girl. 

Photo Roll Story

The writer picks a photo from her phone and tells us about it.

Dear Maggie, I've attached a photo from my phone. It is me on my book tour trying to figure out how to juggle motherhood while I sign books. I was actually really stressed out in the moments before this picture was taken. It was freezing cold out, I got stuck in traffic on my way to this event and then struggled to find parking. I felt like a joke when I came in with a baby, stroller, and books strewn in the bottom. Of course, he needed to eat right away too. Later my friend sent me this picture that she took and I was so grateful that she captured this moment so I could remember this moment and look back on it one day. -Maggie Doyne