| This book was supposed to be released before the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th amendment giving women in the U.S. the right to vote. But in this crazy year of COVID-19, it was delayed. My hope was to release it on March 3, the day of the parade in 1913. When that didn't happen, my next goal was August, but the graphic designer I wanted to use was not available until later in the year. Now it's December, and we have a cover! I have a special interest in women's voting rights--suffrage--because of a local story related to Maryville, Missouri, the town where we have lived since 1990. But I wasn't always interested in suffrage. I didn't even know the meaning of the word. |  |
Years ago, I found out that my friend, Mary Scarbrough, was interested in women's voting rights. So, when I saw a headline in the newspaper related to it, I cut out the article and mailed it to her. Even though we live hundreds of miles apart, Mary is my closest friend. We often email several times each week.
In 2013, it occurred to me that I should start reading the articles I was sending Mary before mailing them. One in particular caught my interest. It described a trip that a local ladies marching band had taken a hundred years earlier to a suffrage parade in Washington, D.C. I was hooked. I spent the next 7 years writing, revising, and submitting a manuscript featuring this fascinating event.
While there was interest in the subject from both agents and editors, and I was nearly awarded a contract (twice!) I ultimately decided to publish it myself.
It took many years, hard work, and dedication by both women and men to gain the vote. And while this was a huge victory for women, it didn’t include women of all races. It took many more years for Black, Native Peoples, and Asian Americans to gain suffrage. In fact, people are still being disenfranchised. Voting is a precious right I'm proud the women of Maryville fought for. Soon you can read all about their experience in a parade that stirred the course of history!
In 2013, it occurred to me that I should start reading the articles I was sending Mary before mailing them. One in particular caught my interest. It described a trip that a local ladies marching band had taken a hundred years earlier to a suffrage parade in Washington, D.C. I was hooked. I spent the next 7 years writing, revising, and submitting a manuscript featuring this fascinating event.
While there was interest in the subject from both agents and editors, and I was nearly awarded a contract (twice!) I ultimately decided to publish it myself.
It took many years, hard work, and dedication by both women and men to gain the vote. And while this was a huge victory for women, it didn’t include women of all races. It took many more years for Black, Native Peoples, and Asian Americans to gain suffrage. In fact, people are still being disenfranchised. Voting is a precious right I'm proud the women of Maryville fought for. Soon you can read all about their experience in a parade that stirred the course of history!
Amy Houts is an author of over 100 children’s picture books, cookbooks, and board games that feature early learning concepts, family themes of love and friendship, and holiday celebrations. Amy’s numerous short stories, articles, and poems have appeared in Ladybug Magazine, Highlights Hello, and Pockets Magazine. Her books include: God's Protection Covers Me (Beaming Books); Think Like a Scientist (Pearson Learning Group); and Dora the Explorer Safety (Learning Horizons).
RSS Feed
