Monday's Inspiration - Penny Colman

To everyone who has fought and who is fighting and who will fight for the rights of women everywhere.

I'm reading Penny Colman's new book, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony: A Friendship That Changed the World (to be released in May).

I appreciate the dedication (quoted above) and Penny certainly fits the description herself. Through her writings she preserves the memories and honors incredible women and their achievements. 

I met Penny a couple of years ago when she was a guest author at a Reading Retreat sponsored by BookWomen.

I liked her style and enthusiasm about her writing process and about the women she writes about. Although I believe, like Penny, that, "Women’s history is an antidote against taking hard won gains for granted and against being duped into thinking that we have to keep proving ourselves," I often find history books Boring. But Penny does the work -- she reads (and professes enjoyment) all the background -- books and letters and documents -- and condenses them in a style that is informative and engaging.

Penny is being featured as the Feminist Writer of the Month at the Veteran Feminist's of America (VFA) website.

Her biographical statement:

Penny Colman writes about illustrious and fascinating women and a wide range of significant and intriguing topics in her award-winning books for all ages. Born in Denver, Colorado, in 1944, she grew up in North Warren, Pennsylvania, on the grounds of a state mental hospital, where her father was a psychiatrist. In 1960, she joined a group and rode her bicycle (plus took a few train rides) across the U.S. In 1964 she dropped out of college, worked in a frozen food factory in Sweden and hitchhiked throughout Europe, including to Turkey and Greece. Between 1965-1970, she graduated from college and graduate school, got married, and had three very close-in-age children. In 1987, as her children were graduating from high school, Penny Colman embarked on a freelance writing career and has been going full steam ever since. (Amazon.com)

I'll let you know what I think about her new book when I finish it. I plan to review it for Story Circle Book Reviews.  Meanwhile, here's a smattering of Penny Colman's previous titles.