“Marie Conner, A Leading Lady” is my third book and its inspiration came from my first book, my memoir, “Out of Chaos.” I wrote my memoir to show that we can overcome our mistakes and other difficulties. Marie is at the heart of my memoir in that, even if only through remembrance of her, she had given me strength for the needed action to climb out of my chaos.

Discovery of her story first came when I was a child on the verge of adulthood. Marie, as my matriarch, had shared her many scrapbooks with me, pointing to pamphlets and brochures that its pages held, some taped in and some brittle with age, all for events long before I had been born. Those pages held many true stories: there were once diseases for which she had encouraged people to find a cure. There were families who had needed her help. And there had been plights felt by women for which a solution had to be found so that one day women wouldn’t have to suffer. Her scrapbooks drew me in with awe, but I was a kid with roller skating foremost on my mind, so I’d look at a few pages then set the scrapbooks aside for another day.

Another day came when my memoir was published and in readers hands. I questioned why I had found inspiration through her. I no longer had her scrapbooks to peruse so I turned to research for answers. In this, I discovered an otherwise ordinary woman, but who had done extraordinary things to change her community for the better more and forever. That was a story worth writing about. I hope this historical biography of Marie’s life and leadership will likewise inspire you.

Chapter 12, titled “Leading Lady,” a namesake to this book, is all about the most surprising aspect of Marie Conner’s life that I uncovered during my research. Then again, it really isn’t all that surprising, given everything I learned—and that you, my readers, will discover about her—her community surely did call her their leading lady.

As for a lesser-known aspect of Marie Conner’s life, it is that her legacy lives on. This, I was assured of as I was wowed in a cold call to the hospital in the town where Marie had lived. The hospital director, without any hesitation, beamed on the other end of the phone to exclaim that they had a commemorative plaque displayed, honoring her name.

This balance happens when weaving little known details into a foundation that is factually accurate. My research extended beyond written accounts of events to include talking with people, like, for example, with the hospital director as just mentioned; that, and by studying pictures. For example, I don’t recall reading that Marie wore a houndstooth dress when greeting more than two hundred guests to a teacher’s reception, but I could see this detail in a picture when reading a newspaper article about it that was printed a few days later.

A challenge I soon had to overcome in my research was my process of organization. At first, and perhaps in my amazement of discovery, I had a wealth of information but had to piece the nuggets together cohesively, somehow. While some authors thrive on AI tools, one thing that worked well for me was good old fashioned butcher paper. I hung this paper, stretching five feet or more across, on the wall in my writing room. I drew a timeline and kept colored pens handy to add important events, with each type of event receiving its own designated color. As I fell into and came out of rabbit holes, one after another, this was the perfect reference tool for me to use as I pieced together Marie Conner’s life.

Aside from challenges, I, at times faced confusion. Mrs. Peggy Hatfield sure had me confused at first. Mrs. Hatfield and Marie had been dear life long friends. Many archived newspaper clippings referred to Mrs. Hatfield’s first name as “Peggy” while other clippings referred to her as “Genevieve.” I thought I had two friends but come to find out they were one and the same.

Although Marie Conner’s story takes place before our time (in a bygone era), it is relevant today given the upsetting and unsettling stories we read and hear about in our daily news. It is from diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped. Each time we stand up for an ideal, or act in a way that will improve our life and the lives of others, or strike out against injustice, we are shaping our world and the views of those who live in our society. I hope you will take the message from Marie’s legacy to make a positive difference wherever you can.

My first book, “Out of Chaos: A Memoir” was my story, revealing what we make of choices and consequences—and what these make of us. Marie’s strength is at the heart of my memoir, giving me empowerment to claim my truth and find connection with others. If she could change the world, then so too could I find purpose in my life. Marie’s strength makes her worthy of her own story.

In times of unrest, struggle, and discord that our world is currently facing, comfort is often times found in stories; stories that catapult us from a turbulent existence to escape from our troubles and worries. Marie’s story invites us to not sit idly in this escape. Rather, it calls our attention to face what we value and what is worth striving and fighting for so that we can help create a purposeful world of connection and positive meaning. As you fight for a world that you care about, do it in a way that will cause others to join you—that’s what Marie Conner did.

I had so very many ah-hah moments as I uncovered the pieces of her life in my research. These moments brought me to an awareness of why my matriarch, Marie, had said what she had said to me and why she had had certain expectations of me when I was growing up. With Kleenex close by, I persevered to use this meaning in my writing process, so that you, my readers, will likewise discover meaning for your own self and for your life.

Marie stepped into her community and into the hearts of many people to give her time and help with their needs, leading her American small town to become the best it can be. Of the many extraordinary things that she did, even the “Saturday Evening Post” in a 1952 issue, brought attention to how her hometown recognized a need for change and then did something about it. In Marie’s commitment for this change, she encouraged others to join her in comradeship—that there is true embodiment.

When you think of strong women from history, this is likely the first time you have heard of the name, Marie Conner. Rather, Rosie the Riveter, Nancy Reagan, and Eleanor Roosevelt are names most all of us recognize as being strong women leaders, each in their own era. Yet, society oftentimes doesn't know how to handle strong women from history: they are living, breathing people with complex lives, but over time, they are flattened into two-dimensional icons with recognition of their name and pictures and not much more. The actual messy human grit that made them strong gets lost in the legend. This historical biography that I wrote uncovers the real woman in Marie; a woman who struggled to be seen as worthy by her father, but who was recognized by her community as a leading lady.

Encyclopedias can inform us of who did what when but lacks on the human emotional experience which made these events possible. Creative nonfiction uncovers deep meaning and in this historical biography that I wrote, I invite you in to discover a bygone era and more so, a leading lady named Marie Conner who can and I promise, who will shape your life today.

My writing process for memoirs and biographies pushes me to feel these stories through empathy for myself and others and through understanding of circumstances. It is an awareness that moves me through other publications, and more so in how I express myself and listen to others when not writing.

My second book, “People Helping People” is, like my memoir, again my story. It shows how through my experience of being on the receiving end, I can today make a difference in others’ lives—and so can you. Likened to that book, this biography of Marie Conner is perfect for anyone who loves stories about community spirit and dedication.

More than one reader in their reviews have planted a seed in me to write about Dick. He was a colorful character in this historical biography and I agree, worthy of his own story, even if it is a short story. But, first, my focus is on what is really truly next for me, and that is as a contributing author to “When Women Talk, Notes From the Future: What I Would Tell My Younger Self.”

In this book, my coauthors and I will invite you to explore our stories of learning and life. We, as women, will inspire you to build community, to pursue your dreams, and to live your best life. If Marie were alive today, I feel she would be anxious to read this book, and I hope you too are excited in this news. Look for its publication and release at the end of this year, 2026!

As we wait on this newest book, I hope I have done my due diligence in this interview by giving you reasons to read “Marie Conner, A Leading Lady: Her Life and Civic Leadership in a Bygone Era.” After you read it, please leave a positive review wherever you purchased it or wherever you hang out—that would mean the world to me and to other readers.

I was first introduced to your services at AllAuthor many years back when I complimented a fellow author in an online group for her mock-up book banner. She credited you and within a few days I was on-board. Where to start in the kudos? This site is user-friendly when it comes to marketing tools. There are real people behind the scenes of this place. Some marketing places are out to make money and nothing but. By connecting to people as AllAuthor does, well, that is a step above, and beyond which keeps me here and happily so. Thanks!

I’ve called Northern Kentucky my home since May 2013 and have lived several other places since my childhood in northwest Oregon.

Ironically, my biggest challenge when ready to seek publication came from other authors in my closest writing circles—my closest peers. It was as if publishing was black-and-white. I knew it wasn’t. While writing my memoir, I followed industry leaders and accomplished authors for more than a year, reading their blogs, partaking in webinars and showing up to conferences. I asked questions by email, over the phone, and in person. This led me to an informed publishing decision. It comes down to the fact that each author is an individual who, if they want to be successful, must choose a way of publishing that is a good fit for their own needs rather than succumbing to their peers’ wants.

My experience in publishing with Boyle and Dalton Publishers has been sweet. (Note, I said “with” and not “by”— one of many variables in the publishing world.) Collaboration in our publishing relationship, their strength in the many levels of editing, and their know-how in technology where I am weak was great. I detail my publishing challenges and experience in a past post, “Choosing Your Publisher” (Jan. 7, 2018) on my blog at (http://ellemottauthor.com/index.php/2018/01/07/choosing-your-publisher/)

My author tag line is “Inspired by memoir, focused on life today.” Drawn from personal experience, I write about homelessness, recovery, activism, and spirituality and humanitarianism in my memoir based essays. It is what I know. I write to encourage others to overcome their own difficulties through action and empowerment, which will create a better life. More so, we can come together, focused on life, to create a better community. More about this is found on the Publications Page under the About section on my website at (http://ellemottauthor.com/index.php/publications-elle-motts-published-work).

I started in the materials processing department with my current employer, the public library in downtown Cincinnati back in the summer of 2013. In that job, I helped unpack boxes of brand new books—most boxes held a dozen or more books and oh how I miss the fresh smell when first cracking open a box of new books! This is the first good job I think I ever had, although only part-time in the beginning.

Simply put, the American economy had hit me hard as the recession lingered when I graduated from college in 2010. Grunt job after grunt job—from dishwashing to pulling nails out of pallets outside in the snow—I kept trying for better jobs. Following relocation, I immediately launched yet another serious job hunt, which put me here at the library. During my off-hours, I helped other departments which led to my current full-time paging position in the materials retrieval department. In this role, I’m all over the library, two city blocks wide, on public floors and in places between walls and floors; all in search of books and other items for our patrons.

During my last round of homelessness (in 2011-2012), I became especially inspired to write my book, which later became “Out of Chaos: A Memoir.” I felt I had to share my story if only to encourage others to not give up when faced with life’s intolerable challenges. Homeless, I couldn’t afford toiletries, let alone a writing journal. Rather, for more than a year, I carried around a book, “Writing Life Stories” (Bill Roorbach, c. 2000). I’d dog-ear pages as I read and re-read it, writing notes throughout, ever envisioning and learning from the author of how to make my dream come true. It was only when I emerged from homelessness that I could begin the actual writing process. Today, I own my home with no mortgage and enjoy warm evenings on my front porch as I continue writing personal essays.

In December 2017, I was awarded, “Community Service Leader of the Year” from Tri-State Freethinkers. This non-profit organization is based here in Northern Kentucky yet is known nationally for its activism to keep church and state issues separate. This group, of which I am a member, is also heavily involved in volunteering efforts at the greater local level. My commitment in helping at soup kitchens, clothing and food banks, and women’s shelters, as well as encouraging others to also volunteer is their reason for thanking me with this award. I was taken aback. I wasn’t looking to be thanked. Rather, it was my way to thank others for all I had received. I used to be on the receiving end. Today, I’m on the giving end, talking with those who are experiencing hardships while giving them a helping hand. Under the About section on my website is a Memberships Page where I tell more about this and other community involvement. (http://ellemottauthor.com/index.php/memberships-elle-motts-professional-and-community-memberships).

“Out of Chaos” was a last minute choice for a title, literally. My story lived through many rough drafts under a much different title. Only after the editing and revisions were completed, did I realize I didn’t like my working title. I informed my publisher and it sat nameless for a few days while we brainstormed. Just one day before its release date, it got its title. Chaos is a succinct portrayal of what life used to be like for me, but no longer is, hence, “Out of Chaos: A Memoir.”

My writing work schedule is one of those that I fit in anywhere and everywhere that I can, for life can be hectic. I work full-time in a real job yet also write full-time for real meaning in life. It is only normal for my coworkers to see me head off to lunch break with my book bag and writing journal in hand. Commuting to and from work for me involves a good while on the city bus with time spent in my writing and reading. With our electronic age today, for those who prefer to drive, you can drive and record yourself telling a story and then later digitally transcribe your story. When in an especially long shopping line, I pull out my journal and pen and write. It’s all about getting creative, not just with words—get creative with words, time, and space.

My journey out of chaos was challenging. Sometimes I didn’t understand how I could survive. That left me emotionally downtrodden, yet I persevered through action steps. Today, I often shake my head in gratitude that I did survive. A reader recently reviewed my book by saying that I’ve lived nine lives. I agree; perhaps that is why my life out of chaos feels weird, but in a good way kind of weird. More of this reader’s review is on my website at (http://ellemottauthor.com/index.php/reviews-of-out-of-chaos/)

If only I could, I’d travel to Lebanon, Oregon in October 1950 for the annual awards dinner with their local chapter of the Business Professional Women’s Foundation. That was the year my maternal great-grandmother was honored as Woman of the Year. She was my nana and the woman who I strived to live up to when a child. During my years of chaos, I looked to my memory of her in hopes to find guidance of how to come out of chaos. I would like to have been there and then for her proud moment. For lack of going back in time, I have a Dedications Page set up on my website in which I show a picture of her receiving this award. (http://ellemottauthor.com/index.php/dedications/)

Criticism? That’s a tough one—my ultimate goal is to connect with my readers, so I’m always appreciative of feedback from those in my writing circles. My toughest times of criticism were likely when getting my book ready for readers. My developmental editor was not at all shy when he saw room for improvement in my manuscript. When my copy editor took over, it was another round of collaboration to make my book reader-friendly. Like with my first editor, I appreciated her feedback and grammar-check.

I believe the strongest words of wisdom I can bestow on a writer is to write only what you want the world to see. For writers, there is no “take-back.” Even our unpublished works are open to scrutiny and reflection.

One writing tip I’d share is that while you can self-edit all you want, never-ever limit yourself to self-editing. Simply having an author friend go over my essay before I submit it to a journal can and does make the difference. Other writing tips are to cut filler words, and to write from your heart, even when writing fiction, as well as to write for others, such as your readers (but) be true to yourself in sharing your true and fictional stories. For marketing purposes, always-always carry business cards and if possible, post cards and small flyers that introduce you as a writer. Countless times, I have engaged in a conversation with someone when “the topic” comes up and I reach for my card and hand it to them. One important marketing tip is to remain engaged with your readers--don’t write, run, and hide.

I am currently dabbling in personal essays, occasionally submitting to literary journals and the like. My big current WIP (work-in-progress) is for my next book, a biography of my maternal great-grandmother (1904-1987) who I knew as Nana and who was an interwoven character in my first book. Even after she died, I was ever trying to live up to her expectations. She was a remarkable woman in any community she lived. Again, you can read more about her on my website at (http://ellemottauthor.com/index.php/dedications/)

I was first introduced to your services at All Author when I complimented a fellow author in an online site for her mock-up book banner. She credited you and within a few days I was on-board and am happy. Where to start in the kudos? The site is user-friendly when it comes to marketing tools. There are real people behind the scenes of this place. Some marketing places are out to make money and nothing but. By connecting to people as All Author does, well, that is a step above and beyond which keeps me on-board. Thanks!