et ceteras
Welcome to et ceteras, a blog featuring posts about Joann, animals, childhood, The Mollys B. (her latest book coming out soon!), and writing in general. An insight to her writing, Joann shares thoughts on topics regarding her inspiration, ethics, companionship with animals, and imagination. Check back often, or subscribe to receive the latest updates by email!
The Sinking & the Finding of the RMS TITANIC
Dubbed "unsinkable," April 14th marks the 113th anniversary of the sinking of the RMS Titanic in the North Atlantic Ocean. Truly "unsinkable" was Margaret Tobin Brown (aka Molly), probably the most famous survivor of the disaster, who went on to live a full life as an influential philanthropist.
Margaret Tobin Brown - The Suffragist
The one and only “Unsinkable Molly Brown" was born in 1867 in Hannibal, Missouri. In addition to surviving the sinking of the RMS Titanic, Margaret was also a suffragist fighting alongside a multitude of women in their attempts to change laws so that women in the USA would be afforded the right to vote. Their efforts didn't come to fruition until 1920. As women today, can we truly recognize how lucky we are because of those brave women?
Inspiration Behind the Writing of THE MOLLYS B. Part 2
(Continued from part 1)
How does a children’s book writer responsibly approach a subject that has tricky connotations? It does require imagination. My paring of Molly the cow with Molly Brown (aka Margaret Tobin Brown of Titanic fame) raised some eyebrows from people in the industry. One agent told me she couldn’t see the value of my approach. But my defense is - while unique, I wasn’t concentrating on the comparison of a human and a bovine – I was focusing on the experience these two females shared – nearly drowning and surviving – a sisterhood of conquering adversity.
Inspiration Behind the Writing of THE MOLLYS B. Part 1
The birth of a picture book can take years, endless quantities of patience, and the kind of creativity that doesn’t blush – THE MOLLYS B. is a perfect example. The incident that sparked my getting this story down on paper was 18 years in the making. When asked what inspired me, I immediately think about Molly the cow’s spirit and gumption, which is uncannily similar to the “Molly” she was named after – Margaret Tobin Brown of Titanic fame.