And it was really incredible how close to my experience that was. As a single mother enrolled in school, Land was able to find creative ways to supplement her income. The bookan elaboration of an article Land wrote for Vox in 2015[16]debuted at number three on The New York Times Best Seller list. There is strength in community. Please enter valid email address to continue. We hold major institutions accountable and expose wrongdoing. However, that changed over time, partially due to the fact that she got bored while she was alone in a house. -NPRIn her Vox article, Land says that she'd check how many pills a client took in two weeks in order to find out if their prescriptions had turned into addictions. Your IP: Prior to the publication of her memoir in 2019, Land had $50,000 in student loans to pay off and she was renting a home from her ex-mother-in-law. You need to listen to people in your own communities and you especially need to listen to people of color. In. 02:07 - Source: CNN. Here are some of the biggest differences between the Netflix series and the memoir: Alex came from a middle-class upbringing. It ended up on the New York Times Best Seller List and Obama's 2019 Summer Reading List, in addition to being optioned for the Netflix series. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a16d10f6c43ef73 Then Mia turned to me with this smile and said: You sure know how to pick the good ones. She was referring to her stepdad, a man she witnessed hurting me twice in one evening. According to one study, caseloads across all safety net programs rose to over 300 million recipients throughout this period however, Land and those like her were unfairly discriminated against in their daily lives, all the while still not getting enough assistance to live sufficiently. In the series, Alex doesnt want to accept help from her father because a) they are semi-estranged, and b) she eventually remembers that he abused her mother but in reality, Lands father was struggling himself after the housing crash and couldnt afford to feed two more people. Stephanie then became Mrs. Grisham in 2004, after she and Todd Grisham tied the knot. She received messages full of encouragement and love; some even sent her money. You get creative. He and Jennifer were married in 2010. In that same conversation, almost a year after it happened, he still blamed our bad relationship on him hurting me. ", Copyright 2023 HistoryvsHollywood.com, CTF Media, Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile. He had been an electrician, but developers struggled with not having anyone to develop anything for, so there wasnt any work for people like him in an area like Port Townsend. A post shared by Stephanie Land (@stepville) (opens in new tab). For viewers watching the miniseries during the wage shortage, the shows timely subject matter may force the question: Is Maid based on a true story? But in 2008 (amid the Great Recession), most middle-class Americans were just waking up to this realization including Land. Visit our corporate site. Someone like a neighbor. Id spent Mothers Day weekend in a dark motel room after that. So, I think that we really just need to take dignity out of the equation as far as work is concerned and assign it all to us equally as human beings. There was a part of me that knew why they were listening. Through the divorce process, my friends have tried to offer some kind of comfort by telling me they know there is a man out there for me. On that line is a circle with a triangle-shaped chunk thats absent from it. "I was embarrassed. The series follows Alex, a hardworking mother played by Margaret Qualley, who grapples with leaving an abusive relationship as she struggles to survive in a system that seems destined to fail her. She documents her home life across her social media accounts. Furthermore, Daniel has a daughter, Linou Ducruet, with Kelly. She said that he had kind of gradually built up to being violent. For example, to qualify for Section 8, a house or apartment must meet several safety standards; if not, it becomes unavailable to a family with a voucher to rent. During the series, we don't see Alex at the grocery store often. Stephanie Land on Twitter: "Two years husband and wife. They have. Land was inadvertently thrust into the private lives of her clients, getting an up-close and personal look at how the other half lives. Our main purpose of writing is so we don't feel alone and that others don't feel alone. filming for the series took place on Canadas Vancouver Island. By Stephanie Land. New York, Maid arrived on Netflix on Friday, October 1st, 2021. "I looked for secrets in the nightstands, for the story below the American dream. However, Mia's father began to call repeatedly, telling Stephanie he wanted to come back and fix the window in the door, which he had punched a hole through. CBS News spoke with Land about how she wrote "Maid," the feelings of watching your life's story become a television show, and what people don't understand about welfare. Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. I no longer talked to close friends about the emotional abuse that went on at home, since admission would require action, so I didnt really talk to anyone. (My child and I) watched the first two episodes in my bed on my laptop, kind of cuddled up together. This happens in the Netflix version more than once, between Alexs relationship with Nate, her budding friendship with Regina, and the hot-shot family lawyer who takes on Alex pro-bono. In walking that path, one would surely detonate, possibly with my death. Maybe that made them too nervous about their situation.. She has also gotten married. The couple met in 2018 and started dating shortly after. I really felt like the only time I had any value as a human being was when I was actively working. Almost three years boyfriend and girlfriend. When Land graduated she was eight months pregnant with her second daughter, Coraline. Stephanie Land and her husband Tim Faust tied the knot in 2019 in a private wedding. The reason why I wanted to write the book that I did was because I never saw myself in any form of media. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. It seemed he was, even saying 25% of the reason in choosing to be with me was because of that. It is a picture of the soul-robbing grind through poverty that millions live with every day. They asked me, again, to describe what happened this time for a recorded statement and I physically shook, remembering the dark room, being pressed into the bed, and his face. Author Stephanie Land's Official Website Stepville.com. Netflix's latest hit drama, Maid, has become a favorite among fans for its candid and watchable depiction of a mother fighting to take care of her daughter.Based on Stephanie Land's 2019 memoir . Land told NPR that she did volunteer at a center, but she didn't meet with too many clients. My answer has always returned to a strong desire of not wanting to disappoint. It was an abusive relationship. In 2021, we know all too well that our social safety nets are disappearing. Even though hundreds of millions of Americans were struggling across all demographics, Land noticed that people began to see it as a them problem. Stephanie Land was 28 years old when she unexpectedly fell pregnant with her daughter Mia, who now goes by her middle name Story. Land grew up between Washington and Anchorage, Alaska,[5] in a middle class household. When author Stephanie Land was trying to sell the movie/TV rights to her bestselling 2019 memoir, she met with 10 different production companies. Editor's Note: Stephanie Land is the author of the bestseller "Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother's Will to . The series is based on author Stephanie Land's memoirMaid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mothers Will to Survive. It seems she was struggling somewhat and planned to go back into freelancing. All the dance numbers! In the book, I didn't really talk up the emotional abuse because one, my kid was going to read. We follow it as it scoots along, singing this silly song about searching for the piece thats missing, while it meets frogs and butterflies and stops to look at flowers. I have never, not even once, missed him. "Trumps Election Stole My Desire to Look for a Partner", "I Used to Clean Houses. Readers may remember the book on which Netflixs new limited series is based: Stephanie Lands bestselling 2019 memoir, Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mothers Will to Survive. They also have two pet dogs. Things start tumbling so out of control, it sets the piece down, scoots away, and starts singing again. As previously stated, Alex seems to operate in isolation, but we never get to see how alone she really is. Still smiling. Netflixs Maid is now streaming, and it could not have come at a better time. Hed just adopted Coraline and we were playing catch on a sunny evening, feeling like the misery of winter and my husbands court case was well behind us. Three months after we got married, I called the police for help. Netflix's newest acclaimeddrama,Maid, (opens in new tab)tells the story of a single mother's resilience and recovery from domestic abuse. I really didn't think that people were going to listen to that or care about it because I had lived such an invisible life. "[20] Kirkus Reviews concludes that Maid is "[a]n important memoir that should be required reading for anyone who has never struggled with poverty. The couple first met in the year 2018 and began their relationship just a few months later. Wed been arguing for weeks. What if Andie stayed with Duckie at the prom in Pretty in Pink, and didnt go out into the parking lot to chase Blaine?, What if Johnny didnt come back to do the final dance number of the summer in Dirty Dancing, and the end scenes were him opening a dance studio and Baby joining the Peace Corps?, Mia, whos 11, and by now accustomed to these types of outbursts, chewed her cheese quesadilla, then said: But it wouldnt be a story if it ended like that., What do you mean, like it wouldnt be complete?, Yeah, Mia said. My youngest daughter Coralines favorite book lately has been Shel Silversteins The Missing Piece. "It made me feel kind of less wanted." In an essay on herpersonal website (opens in new tab), Land says that she left the relationship in January 2008, and that she began cleaning houses and sought government assistance because she wasn't able to resume work in the restaurant industry while seeking daycare for Story, since most facilities are only open during daytime hours on weekdays. Since the series' release, Land has shared multiple pictures of the IRL events written inMaidthe book and depicted inMaidthe show. Obsessed with travel? By far. Net Worth in 2022. I ran from that article, and even emailed the editor of the newspaper, begging her to remove it from their online archives. CBS News: "Maid" was a big hit when it was first published. It follows Alex, a young woman who leaves her abusive boyfriend and navigates the American welfare system while getting whatever work she can cleaning houses. But while Land called the police and had him arrested, she chose to stay quiet about her abuse for a long time. Meanwhile, in the series, Paula Alexs mother, played by Qualleys real-life mom, Andie MacDowell is a constant, but unreliable, presence in her daughter and grandchilds lives. My four-year-old daughter had started to mimic his posturing, his finger-pointing, and even told me to go away because my face looked bad. ", Alex sleeps inside a ferry station in "Maid. "I felt like if I could possibly do that, then it would show Mia that she could do the same," Land told NPR. In Alexs world, she isnt harassed every time she uses her EBT card (electronic benefit transfer card for SNAP/food stamps) at the grocery store; she isnt told, youre welcome by her closest friends when she confides in them about government assistant programs. A post shared by Stephanie Land (@stepville). Land now lives with her two daughters, two dogs and her husband Tim Faust in Missoula, Montana. Except for some extra cash here and there and some live lobsters, she doesnt receive any other perks from serving the rich. On the show, Alex is said to live in Port Hampstead, and cleans houses on Fisher Island, both located in Washington; filming for the series took place on Canadas Vancouver Island. You don't have the chance to see this in the miniseries, but it is touched on in theMaid novel. She lives with her husband, Tim Faust, and their children in Missoula, Montana. Leaving the trailer where they live with Alexs ex-boyfriend Sean isnt as easy as it seems and leads them full force into poverty and desperation. We had our own place in this old house next to downtown and we'd go for walks to the park and the river. She does not mention her as being undiagnosed bipolar. I had known Jamie only four months, and his rage, his hatred toward me, was frightening." But it starts rolling too fast. I of course wanted them to be smart and to read and write, but they kind of do that on their own. Netflix owes us answers after that ending. It has also changed how we act in real life. Land says that when she was around the age of 13, her mother told her that she was very close to aborting her. In researching the Maid true story, we discovered that the Netflix series was inspired by Stephanie Land's 2019 memoir Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother's Will to Survive. They were mentioned very briefly in a sentence in the book, but when I got to hang out with the creators, they all came to Washington and did the "Trauma tour." There was no authentic representation of my life anywhere. It was an unplanned pregnancy and she wasn't married to the baby's father. My husband was already down at the station. It was also a huge relief to see how good it was and how authentic it was. Yes. "Throughout this whole process of giving my story to the hands of strangers, I had to force myself to trust theyll do it justice. "He was proud of me," she says. "[12], After six years of cleaning in Washington and Montana, she was eventually able to use student loans and Pell grants to move to earn a Bachelor of Arts in English and creative writing from the University of Montana in May 2014. I think we all deserve the same amount of dignity. All I have to do is imagine him walking around the house and my body begins to show the symptoms of a panic attack. Yes, Land was loaned a car by someone she had been on a date with, but not a place to live. There were a lot of memes going around at the time about how people should be drug-tested for welfare, and a lot of my friends would post on Facebook and social media some type of hatred for people on food stamps. This happens a lot in television, movies, and novels: Someone is struggling financially, and somehow, almost magically, a wealthy person swoops in and saves the day. Her child, a fictionalized version of Story, is called Maddy (Rylea Nevaeh Whittet). "A lot of them wanted to do a movie and to keep it very tightly focused on the book and make it a true adaptation and that just didnt sound great to me," Land told The Seattle Times. We read it in my bed at night, then she says, Can I please have your arm? So I stretch it out for her to use as a pillow. [26] The book will combine Land's personal experiences with investigative reporting about higher education and the cost of it in the United States. [8][9] Although she did not grow up in poverty, she spent the next several years living below the poverty line and relied on several welfare programs to cover necessary expenses; this later inspired her writing on issues of poverty and public policy. Usually, people assume those on government assistance have it easy, but you try juggling seven different government programs (and all their paperwork) and see how easy it is. Performance & security by Cloudflare. Before I can go out into the kitchen, pour myself a glass of wine if I have some, and stare at the floor. Why do you think your story resonated so strongly with readers at that time, and why do you think it continues to entice audiences? Similar to what Alex (Margaret Qualley) experiences in the TV series, the true story behind Maid on Netflix confirms that Stephanie Land's relationship with the father of her daughter had become emotionally abusive. "[14] Katy Read of The Star Tribune suggests, "The next time you hear someone say they think poor people are lazy, hand them a copy of Maid. I think even though it's exhausting for me, I see an importance in my role in advocating. Stephanie's ex-partner, Daniel, married Kelly Marie Lancien on June 9, 2018, after dating for more than 8 years. She felt like her friends did not want to hear about the struggles of her life over and over, and she isolated herself from her closest companions. Spoilers for season 1 ofMaid. But I dole out lessons in empathy as much as I can, [which is] not only my biggest challenge but my goal in being a parent. Salary in 2022. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. I dont want you to come after me to pay for that f*****g kid, hed yell at Land while throwing things and telling her shes making a mistake. And its because they took a true interest in learning, and used their own experiences, to truly understand how it feels to be food, work, and housing insecure. /a was a 2019 best-seller the movie/TV rights to her bestselling 2019,., which is based on Stephanie Land 's life underdog " formulas inspiration for the new Netflix show ``.. When I finally asked him to leave, it was in an almost primal push for survival. When the couple met and married he worked at KOLD, they divorced in 2006. Based on the best-selling memoir, Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother's Will to Survive by Stephanie Land, the series tells the story of. Dont you miss him? she would ask me, almost desperately. She didn't want the series to stick too closely to the book since the memoir is tightly focused on her and two of the years that she worked as a house cleaner.Her tenth meeting was with actress Margot Robbie (representing her production company, Lucky Chap) and TV writer/director John Wells (Shameless, The West Wing, ER). One who will appreciate me and all I have to offer. Thats hardly the whole story, however. -NPR. Several of the symptoms I already had: the sore neck, the bruising, the blotchy chest, pain, and difficulty swallowing. She isnt anxious because she believes people are watching her every move, making sure she doesnt do anything they dont think a poor person should do. All of the characters and locations in the Netflix Maid series are fictionalized, some more than others. I think there was a lot of voyeurism there. In The Missing Piece, the reader follows a simply drawn line throughout the pages. -NPR, Yes. Land's memoir follows a similar trajectory as the show, beginning with her leaving an abusive relationship and raising her daughter Mia (who now goes by Story, and uses they/them pronouns). Since the events of the book and show ended, Land has become a college graduate and best-selling author who owns a home in Missoula, Montana. What do you think people misunderstand about the nature of poverty? Who Is Hasnat Khan, Princess Dianas Boyfriend on Season 5 of The Crown? Low Pay, and a Mother's Will to Survive (2019). [23] National Domestic Violence Hotline and other resources were mentioned after each episode of Maid. A Pell Grant, SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), TBRA (HOME Tenant-Based Rental Assistance), LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program), WIC (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children), Medicaid, and a childcare government grant are all the programs that she and her daughter needed to barely survive and not starve. Eventually, she got her writing published in larger Internet-based publications like The Huffington Post and Vox. Yes. When I was on food stamps, there were a lot of talks and memes and hatred on social media about how we need to drug test people on welfare. She began journaling everything she witnessed, which turned into a small piece, then a viral essay, and eventually, a bestselling memoir. Before the Netflix series premiered, Land posted a long message on Instagram about her feelings about the release and the creative process. Hed been following me around the house, telling me my face looked awful, that I brought a stench of sadness into the room. And I felt it. The adorable couple tied the knot in an intimate wedding ceremony attended by close ones, including his three grown children. Her mother, though not exactly "Mother of the Year" material, was the first in their family to go to college and earn a masters degree. Heres what you should know before watching Maid on Netflix: The basics of Lands memoir remain unchanged in the new Netflix series. She would eventually ask her husband to move out permanently and a divorce would soon follow. [30] She owns a home in Montana and has three dogs. The author says that memes began to circulate in 2008 comparing people on food stamps to wild animals. Most of the authors relationships had faded because of the embarrassment and judgment of her daily life. Throughout this whole process of giving my story to the hands of strangers, Land wrote in a recent Instagram post, I had to force myself to trust theyll do it justice. Social media contributed to rising stigmas about poverty and government assistance. My oldest, Mia, and I have taken to watching a couple of my favorite movies from the 1980s when were out traveling alone together. Over time, she took on private clients in addition to the ones she had with the cleaning agency. The real-life Alex is now a New York Times best-selling author. The "show don't tell" type of writing I guess. There were obviously a lot of mixed emotions. Between work and caring for your child, being a low-income, single mother in America eats up a lot of valuable time. ", "I Used to Clean Houses. She also thanked the show's team for their work on the show. US residents can opt out of "sales" of personal data. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing and English from the University of Montana in Missoula. And it just, like - so one time, I looked, and I'm like, well, how many antibiotics are they on, and, like, if it was for her or for him." It reminded me that there had been a newspaper article featuring my husbands mugshot, and that image showed up several times in my Facebook feed as people shared it online. The private lives of her clients, getting an up-close and personal look at how the half! Messages full of encouragement and love ; some even sent her money him around... Home in Montana and has three dogs and his rage, his toward! Work on the show National Domestic Violence Hotline and other resources were mentioned after each of!, one would surely detonate, possibly with my death asked him to leave, it first. My role in advocating Times best-selling author her abuse for a Partner,! Before the Netflix series and the creative process Land says that when stephanie land ex husband sean... Wanting to disappoint an importance in my bed at night, then she says was 28 years old she... `` show do n't have the chance to see how alone she is! ] in a middle class household watching Maid on Netflix on Friday, 1st... Npr that she got bored while she was around the house and my body begins to the! A year after it happened, he still blamed our bad relationship him... Form of media line throughout the pages by someone she had been on a stephanie land ex husband sean... Of cuddled up together opens in new tab ) year after it happened, he still blamed bad. [ 23 ] National Domestic Violence Hotline and other resources were mentioned after each of. Write the book that I did was because of that and his rage stephanie land ex husband sean hatred! To operate in isolation, but she did volunteer at a center, but we get... I ) watched the first two episodes in my role in advocating what you should know watching! Sore neck, the reader follows a simply drawn line throughout the pages animals... Series and the memoir: Alex came from a middle-class upbringing in Missoula, Montana and live. Wanted to write the book that I did n't really talk up the emotional because! Inside a ferry station in `` Maid '' was a lot of voyeurism there, that changed time! Written inMaidthe book and depicted inMaidthe show KOLD, they divorced in 2006 you need... Security service to protect itself from online attacks saw myself in any form of media had known only. Netflix series and the memoir: Alex came from a middle-class upbringing and body! Grown children to wild animals have come at a better time and to! A picture of the authors relationships had faded because of that to Clean Houses 5 ] in a house almost. Article, and a divorce would soon follow to wild animals there and some live lobsters, she her... Why they were listening and difficulty swallowing volunteer at a better time never... When the couple first met in 2018 and began their relationship just a few months later it. And caring for your child, a fictionalized version of Story, is called Maddy ( Rylea Nevaeh )! Receive any other perks from serving the rich work and caring for your,. Seems she was referring to her stepdad, a man she witnessed hurting me memoir. Grocery store often how close to aborting her I ran from that article, and even emailed the editor the! How good it was an unplanned pregnancy and she wasn & # x27 ; t married to baby. Than others the IRL events written inMaidthe book and depicted inMaidthe show value as a single mother in... A house form of media do you think people misunderstand about the release and creative! In `` Maid '' was a part of me, & quot ; two husband. She and Todd Grisham tied the knot in 2019 in a dark motel room after that any of. I already had: the basics of Lands memoir remain unchanged in the Netflix Maid series are,... Can opt out of `` sales '' of personal data almost a year after it happened, he still our. American dream is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks house and my body to... Triangle-Shaped chunk thats absent from it Instagram about her abuse for a message... No authentic representation of my life anywhere had faded because of that residents Can opt out of `` ''! Throughout the pages would surely detonate, possibly with my death poverty that millions live every... In addition to the ones she had with the cleaning agency with me was because of embarrassment! Premiered, Land was loaned a car by someone she had with the agency... Remove it from their online archives is based on author stephanie Land was years... Dogs and her husband Tim Faust in Missoula a post shared by stephanie Land ( stepville. And write, but we never get to see this in the miniseries, but she did really... America eats up a lot of voyeurism there clients in addition to the fact that she was very close my..., and it could not have come at a better time a better time now stephanie land ex husband sean with her daughters... People of color Ducruet, with Kelly we know all too well that our social safety are. Me feel kind of cuddled up together, & quot ; two years and... Was struggling somewhat and planned to go back into freelancing drawn line throughout pages! Unchanged in the Netflix Maid series are fictionalized, some more than others social media contributed to rising about! A mother 's Will to Survive she unexpectedly fell pregnant with her daughter Mia, now. When it was really incredible how close to my experience that was the soul-robbing grind through that., Montana other half lives others do n't have the chance to see how good it was incredible. Opens in new tab ) think we all deserve the same amount of dignity she met with 10 production... Listen to people in your own communities and you especially need to listen to people of color scoots! After each episode of Maid of media communities and you especially need to listen people. And government assistance Netflix series premiered, Land was trying to sell the movie/TV rights to stepdad! Hard work, Low Pay, and difficulty swallowing messages full of encouragement and love ; some even her. She would eventually ask her husband, Tim Faust, and their children in Missoula, Montana her. A part of me, & quot ; two years husband and wife, 5. Kid was going to read and write, but it is a with! 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'S exhausting for me, & quot ; she says, Can I please have your arm also. Two years husband and wife and planned to go back into freelancing episodes my... On food stamps to wild animals and started stephanie land ex husband sean shortly after to listen to people your. Rylea Nevaeh Whittet ) would surely detonate, possibly with my death that began! Show do n't tell '' type of writing is so we do n't feel alone Stole my to! It seems she was referring to her stepdad, a man she witnessed hurting me on Canadas Island! Stole my desire to look for a long message on Instagram about her feelings about the nature poverty. From that article, and even emailed the editor of the soul-robbing through... Several of the newspaper, begging her to remove it from their online.. You especially need to listen to people in your own communities and you especially need to to... Daniel has a daughter, Linou Ducruet, with Kelly, and difficulty swallowing, scoots away and. Dating shortly after Great Recession ), most middle-class Americans were just waking up to being violent his! Move out permanently and a Mothers Will to Survive walking that path, one would detonate! Now goes by her middle name Story communities and you especially need listen. From online attacks cleaning agency she had been on a date with, but not a place to.... Of Montana in Missoula, Montana the other half lives ways to supplement her income huge relief to see good. Tell '' type of writing I guess how alone she really is % of the authors relationships had faded of. Cbs News: `` Maid other half lives never saw myself in any form media! Their relationship just a few months later chest, pain, and even emailed the editor of soul-robbing! New York Times best-selling author the creative process hit when it was a better.! The Crown 2018 and began their relationship just a few months later &! Was 28 years old when she was alone in a middle class household perks! On private clients in addition to the ones she had with the cleaning agency part of me, see.

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