Q. How did you get the idea for the book?

A. Charlotte was teaching a year-long leadership class. She mentioned some women who she thought the class “should” have known. They did not know the women who have contributed so much in so many different fields of endeavor. Charlotte went looking for a book like ours in order to use it in her classes. She was unable to find a book with a timeline format, which places the woman into the history of her times. So the idea for Her Story was born.
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Q. How did you meet?

A. Charlotte and Jill were introduced by Jill Marce, Director of Development at the Women’sVision Foundation. She knew us each separately and knew that each of us had interests in women’s history. She thought that we would enjoy meeting, because of our complementary interests. In introducing us, Jill Marce had no idea that we would come to write a book together. (Back to Top)

Q. How did you select the women?

A. We wanted to profile women who made significant contributions, whose accomplishments would serve as educational moments. We wanted as well to capture and remember women who might be lost to history. We began by establishing criteria for inclusion. Our list included such items as: did the woman contribute something new or different? Was her contribution the first of its kind? (and many other items). Then we saw that some women could not be categorized in any of the ways we had anticipated. So, we ignored our previously developed criteria whenever we needed to. Each book reflects the idiosyncrasies of its authors, and Her Story is no different. (Back to Top)

Q. How did you find the women?

A. We looked in many books (well over 200!). We also found women referenced in newspapers and magazines. People who knew we were working on the book recommended specific women to us. We of course utilized the web and found many references that way. We found the women and tiny hints about their lives everywhere! (Back to Top)

Q. Who are your favorite women in the book?

A. Jill’s favorite is Admiral Grace Murray Hopper who developed the first computer compiler, created the first English-based computing language, and found the first computer “bug” — a moth stuck in the relays of an early computer. (Back to Top)

Charlotte’s favorite is Margaret Sanger, who was an early advocate of birth control. Charlotte likes to make people aware of Sanger, as control of one’s body is of critical importance to the advancement of women. Charlotte also likes to tell a delightful story about Bigelow tea. Two women had gathered tea leaves and made tea packets for their friends. One wrote to thank Ruth Bigelow and said to her that there was “nothing but “Constant Comment” about the tea. That is one of the Bigelow tea flavors to this day. (Back to Top)

Q. How long have you been working on the book?

A. We have been working on the book together for five years. Previously, we each spent 10-15 years independently collecting information on the women profiled in the book. (Back to Top)

Q. Why is the book important?

A. The book recovers much of the history of this country that is not covered in standard history books or generally known to the public at large.
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Q. Why do young women need to know what is in the book?

A. If adult women and men do not know about the women before us, it is very unlikely that they would be able to share that kind of information with their children. Much of the history that is recounted in this book and many of the women who we profile are either forgotten or invisible. The women identified in the book are, for the most part, tremendous role models. In our book, girls of today can find “Women Like Me” of many professions, many ethnicities, and many social strata to emulate. (Back to Top)

Q. Who should buy this book?

A. We are aware of the fact that 60-70 percent of all books are purchased by women. This book is a perfect gift for a young woman. It is a great Mother’s Day gift, birthday gift or holiday gift. Get one for yourself, one for a young woman in your life, and one for your local library. Give this book to all of the women in your life. Many men will enjoy and learn from this book as well, so don’t leave them out. (Back to Top)