Marie Conner, A Leading Lady Blog Tour

WOW! WOMEN ON WRITING TOUR OF

 Marie Conner, A Leading Lady

 by Elle Mott

 

Book Summary

Marie was born a girl. That was only her first mistake, according to her father.

In an era when daughters and wives are not supposed to be concerned with matters outside the home, Marie is determined to prove him wrong. To do this, she must break down barriers placed on women in society, overcome difficulties that befall her, surpass hardships from the Great Depression, and then face an inevitable relocation.

Marie steps into her community and into the hearts of many people to give her time and help with their needs. She wants nothing in return other than her father’s acceptance as a worthy woman and yet, she gains much in return, even if it is not her father’s praise. This is Marie’s story—of a rise from her girlhood angsts to become a leading lady—and much more.

 

Publisher: Luminare Press

ISBN-13: 979-8-88679-972-9

 

 

 

Advanced Praise for Marie Conner, A Leading Lady

“Wow, this book is such a delight! It tells the incredible story of Marie Conner, an amazing woman whose life had me hooked from the very start. As a businesswoman and community volunteer in Lebanon, Oregon, I felt a real connection to her journey. I recognized names that begat generations of hard working, generous people.

Marie’s blend of business savvy and commitment to helping others is truly inspiring. The author does a fantastic job of painting a vivid picture of Marie’s day-to-day life, making you feel like you’re right there with her, experiencing all the ups and downs. This book is a beautiful reminder of how one person can make a difference, and it’s perfect for anyone who loves stories about community spirit and dedication. Definitely worth a read!” 

Jennifer Stewart Grove 

Outreach Director of The Oaks at Lebanon Retirement Community

Entertainment Chair of the Lebanon Strawberry Festival

Woman of the Year, 2019, Lebanon, Oregon.

 

Author Interview

At what point did you decide to be an author, and what was your path to publication?

I decided to become an author when people told me to write my story and then I took the action step to pick up pen and paper and start writing. From that, my first book, my memoir, Out of Chaos, was born. I continued writing, if only to bring you this book, a historical biography: Marie Conner, A Leading Lady.

My path to publication for this book developed in the same way as for my other two books: By understanding my goals and expectations and then my skill set to help make this happen, I chose the best fit for me. My second book, People Helping People was self-published. This book and my memoir were not. Each author’s best fit for publication is best achieved out of their own aspirations and not so much on what an author-peer has done or has suggested. There is no one right way.

 

What do you do when a new idea jumps out at you while you’re still working on a book? Do you chase the squirrel (aka “UP syndrome”) or do you finish your current project first?

In each writing project, an idea surely surfaces and with that, it won’t go away, worthy of recalling when my current project is done. When I wrote my first book, my memoir, Out of Chaos, I questioned why I had found strength to make peace with my mistakes and to overcome difficulties only through the remembrance of Marie’s wise words. Marie is at the heart of my memoir— she had been my matriarch, and then she was next a great muse as I researched to find answers to my nagging question. With answers in hand, I wrote her story. My memoir was my story. This book, Marie Conner, A Leading Lady, is her story.

 

Who is your favorite character to write, and why is that person your favorite? If picking a favorite character would be like picking a favorite child, which character seems to be the most demanding of your attention and detail as a writer?

Naturally, Marie was my favorite character to write about in this historical biography. I thought I had known my matriarch, yet my attention to research caused me to dig ever deeper and then, to research the people and places that she influenced. Not only did I unearth nuggets, but I also gained ahah moments concerning her influence on me in my younger days. I was so thankful for the box of Kleenex next to me. Even the happy moments had me in tears.

 

What are some books or authors that you would recommend to our readers?

I find that historical books—both nonfiction and novels—are invaluable in that history shows we have the power to create a better tomorrow. One author I keep coming back to is Paulette Mahurin—she has many novels to choose from, and in each, with strong characters from the past. Recently, I read a book by another author, Dede Montgomery: A Map of Her Own is a dual-timeline novel—now that was both interesting and very good.

 

Tell us what you enjoy most about writing your genre.

Through my creative nonfiction writing, I most enjoy building a connection between the truth of what happened and how best to convey that in a way that we can apply it in our daily lives.

 

What have you found to be most challenging about writing in your genre?

However, the most challenging thing about writing creative nonfiction is when I understand or otherwise believe that a certain-something happened, only to not find any factual information to back it up, and thus, I either have to leave it out, or if I include it, it is with a clear understanding that this piece of information is only a surmised understanding.

 

Have you been able to incorporate your previous experience in your jobs/education in your writing?

My writing life and my job life are two separate places. I earn a living in a basement office of a big city downtown public library. On breaks, I may have pen and paper in hand. Come weekend mornings, it is with passion that I get comfortable in my writing nook.

 

Do you identify with your main character, or did you create a character that is your opposite?

Unfortunately, I did not grow up to become like my matriarch, Marie. If anything, I was more like her son, Dick. Rather, and in my older years, I chose to write her story and in that, came to understand that my values and morals of which I live by today came from her.

 

Describe the book or series in 10 words or less for people just learning about it.

Marie was a trailblazer in mid-twentieth century small-town America.

 

Is there anything you would like people to take away from your book?

There is much we can gain from a woman who lived in an era when women were expected to stay home and yet, she didn’t. Marie’s legacy is the inspiration, motivation, and can-do spirit to take away from this book. Whether it be this or something else, I hope you will share what you take away from it in a review wherever you hang out, whether online or in person—even just a few words will be much appreciated.

 

Do you have any odd (writing) habits?

I need my pet birds to cheer me on with their tweets and chirps, however quirky that may be. Often times, my older cat sits to my left on her perch, window side to watch outdoor birds, while my younger cat sits on the rug in front of us, her tail wagging in tune to the family of finches who fly merrily in their aviary. Any breakthrough in my writing earns an extra tweet and wag.

 

What has been the toughest criticism you have received as an author? What has been the best compliment?

“Aren’t you done with this book yet?” is tough to hear and I’ve heard it often from friends and coworkers, both for this book and for my first book. I try to remember that it is my writing journey and not theirs. They are the readers. For me to bring them the best book possible, patience is a virtue.

For my first book, my memoir, and while most all reviews are well-loved, this, here, I think is the best: “The honesty of Out of Chaos kicks like judo. It smacks of the truth, and it shows you this is one brave writer, the kind that doesn’t come around very often, and when it does, you’re lucky to read it.” –Richard DeVall, author of speculative and thriller novels.

For my current book, Marie Conner, A Leading Lady, I am over the moon in the advance praise I received, and in part, here is one: “This book is a beautiful reminder of how one person can make a difference, perfect for anyone who loves stories about community spirit and dedication.”

–Jennifer Stewart Grove, businesswoman and volunteer, Lebanon, Oregon.

 

Share some advice for aspiring authors. What advice would you give to your younger self?

Write from your heart, write with passion, and with that your readers will feel what you feel. As for my younger self, I would advise to follow in the footsteps of my matriarch, Marie, and to not get derailed. Yet, hindsight is there too a virtue. I had to go through what I went through as a young adult to get to where I am today, and with that, I am so excited to bring you her story—perhaps you won’t need my advice in your later years, perhaps you will lean on her legacy in your life today.

 

What is your favorite line from your book?

My words or hers? My favorite line is at the conclusion of Chapter 18, with two more chapters to go (and if you read the book, you’ll know why): “When the winter rain in Salem subsided, promises of cherry blossoms appeared, and with that, a new growth of flowers and the promise of the next generation in Marie’s lineage.”

Now, my matriarch was known to have said many remarkable things. This here is my favorite:

“All sunshine would be boring, and all pleasant things would make our lives too easy.”  –Marie Conner, 1957.

 

To date, what is your favorite (or most difficult) chapter you have ever written?

Chapter 12, “Leading Lady” and the namesake to this book, Marie Conner, A Leading Lady, was my most difficult to write, perhaps because the entire chapter focusses on one important day, whereas all other chapters span lengthier times, from months to years.

 

What is your take on book boyfriends? Do they actually exist? Or do they set the bar for “real-life men” impossibly high?

Oh goodness, where is Marie now? I have no idea what “book boyfriends” are nor how to answer any of this question. Marie would know. Marie was the all-wise one. Let’s read her story to pull an answer out for you.

 

And to answer a question concerning authors of children’s books: Did you get to pick your illustrator?

If only I could have used a picture of Marie for the cover image. However, all I had to work with were grainy black and white images from newspaper clippings— I didn’t even have the scrapbooks that she had shown me when I was younger. The opening page to my memoir says, “I have no pictures, no heirlooms, and no keys to the past.” This cover image comes from the late Dot Dotson, whose family still runs his photography business in Eugene, Oregon, and I am thankful for their permission to use this picture of Lebanon, Oregon, that in the mid-1940s, he photographed. It is a pictural reminder of bygone days in small-town America and home to Marie Conner, who this community had affectionately called their leading lady.

 

About the Author, Elle Mott

Elle Mott writes creative nonfiction. This is her third book. She is the author of “Out of Chaos: A Memoir” and “People Helping People.” Her other writing pieces have been featured in literary journals, news magazines, and anthologies. She has a background working in libraries, both at the college level and, for more than ten years, at the public library in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio. While library work is her livelihood, writing is her passion. Elle grew up in Oregon and now makes her home in the suburbs of northern Kentucky with two cats and several pet birds. 

 

Find her online at:

Website: https://ellemottauthor.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elle-mott-author

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ellemott.author

All Author: https://allauthor.com/author/ellemott

Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/ellemott

 

 

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