"I enjoyed the fact that this was a personal story, since Marie was the author's great-grandmother. It was also wonderful to read about a time when women were honored for their charitable work and valued for being caring neighbors. In our age of materialism, we often lose sight of just how meaningful it can be to be part of a caring community. I especially appreciated the inclusion of several excerpts from Marie's articles describing the needs of others. Her willingness to serve was astonishing and inspiring. Those who enjoy reading the histories and personal stories of women, who are far too often overlooked, will enjoy Marie's story."
"A deeply powerful memoir detailing the life of Marie Conner and the struggles she encountered as a woman growing up in a male-dominated society. The level of detail in this story is astonishing; I felt as though I could step right into Marie’s shoes, experiencing her triumphs and setbacks alongside her."
A conversation with Elle Mott
What inspired you to start writing?
My inspiration for Marie Conner, A Leading Lady (Luminare Press, 2026) came from my first book, Out of Chaos: A Memoir (Boyle & Dalton, 2018). Marie is at the heart of my memoir, and through my remembrance of her, she gave me motivation to make peace with my mistakes and to overcome my hardships. Prior to writing my memoir, I’d tell people bits and pieces of my story only to be met with the reply that I should write a book. So, I did; I wrote my memoir. While crafting my first book, I contributed parts of my story in essay format to several literary journals and anthologies.
So, essentially, it was my future readers who, in the early days, inspired me to start writing and then to keep writing.
With my memoir in readers’ hands and Marie long gone, I questioned why I had found strength from her; I questioned who she was before her time with me. That answer involved research. I sifted through hundreds of published accounts of her life, some found in newspaper repositories, peeling back the layers of a woman, who, I discovered, had lived a truly remarkable life. Marie had been an ordinary woman in mid-twentieth-century small-town America whose extraordinary acts of compassion and care changed her community for the better, forever.
As inspired as I was, I knew I had to write her story. My memoir was my story. Marie is worthy of her own.
What was the hardest part about writing this book?
The research for this nonfiction historical biography required a new skill set for me to acquire, nurture, and develop, which, at times, felt hard. Reading documents written in an earlier era meant learning to read between the lines and understand their meaning at that specific time. It also meant that oftentimes, women’s names were documented with the use of their husbands’ names or by their formal legal names and not the names as given by their friends.
My research, while hard, was paradoxically a joy. The more I uncovered and the more rabbit holes I willingly fell into, my curiosity grew by leaps and bounds. I kept a box of tissues at hand for the many aha moments I encountered. Marie’s story, being both tear-jerking and uplifting, is one that I can’t wait for you to read!
Does one of the main characters hold a special place in your heart? If so, why?
Marie herself, of course, holds a special place in my heart. Marie, who had been my matriarch, became a great muse as I wrote this historical biography. Out of my research and writing, I came to feel much like she had likely felt toward her dear friends, with Mrs. Grace Scroggin and Mrs. Peggy Hatfield being two friends whom I likewise came to love.
Grace and Marie became fast friends as Marie settled into her new community. They were often at each other’s side in their civic engagement through auxiliaries, toiling together, cheering one another on, and celebrating each milestone. Grace’s husband was a politician, eventually becoming mayor. Recognition for Marie and Grace was similar in that Grace knew life as First Lady and Marie was known as their town’s leading lady.
Aside from Grace, Peggy was often right there with them. Marie and Peggy organized many events in their shared volunteer work through the Red Cross and other organizations. Although Peggy was short in stature compared to the tall Marie, both women exuded warm smiles and a can-do spirit.
In uncovering Marie’s own words in my research, I could feel her gratitude for these two friends, and I hope that you will likewise feel their good-heartedness when reading this book.
If your book was to be made into a movie, who are the celebrities that would star in it?
As an older woman looking back on her life, I would choose Helen Mirren to star as Marie Conner. She has the perfect presence and warmth to do Marie justice. As for the rest of the cast, I would leave that in the hands of a great director.
What do you hope your readers take away from this book?
I hope readers take away the realization that they hold the power to build a lasting legacy exactly where they are. Marie’s journey, even though it takes place in a bygone era, shows us that we do not have to be flawless or free from personal hardships to make a monumental difference. By facing her setbacks, navigating expectations, and choosing to help others, Marie left her community forever changed for the better. We see this in commemorative plaques on display in her community today, in the twenty-first century.
Along with anything that readers take away, I hope that they will leave a positive review—just a few short words of what they liked about it will be perfect. Reviews can be shared in many places, including Goodreads, BookBub, Amazon’s U.S. site for overseas readers, or truly any online space where you shop or hang out.
Embrace your unique grit, and realize that if Marie could change the world, so can you—and be sure to leave a positive review of her story!
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| Marie Conner (at right) and Peggy Hatfield (at left) plan the March of Dimes Campaign, Lebanon, Oregon, 1952. Image Credit: The Lebanon Express, February 1, 1952. (Eggen Photo). |
