Marie Conner, A Leading Lady: Her Life and Civic Leadership in a Bygone Era

by Elle Mott

Marie was born a girl. That was only her first mistake, according to her father.

In an era when daughters and wives are not supposed to be concerned with matters outside the home, Marie is determined to prove him wrong. To do this, she must break down barriers placed on women in society, overcome difficulties that befall her, surpass hardships from the Great Depression, and then face an inevitable relocation.

Marie steps into her community and into the hearts of many people to give her time and help with their needs. She wants nothing in return other than her father’s acceptance as a worthy woman, and yet, she gains much in return, even if it is not her father’s praise. This is Marie’s story—of a rise from her girlhood angsts to become a leading lady—and much more.

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319 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 11, 2026

About the author

Elle Mott is a creative nonfiction author. Advocacy, personal strength, and humanitarianism are common threads in her published works.

Her third book, “Marie Conner, A Leading Lady: Her Life and Civic Leadership in a Bygone Era” releases mid-February 2026. This true story is of a trailblazing woman, who in the mid-1900s in small-town America spearheaded many causes to help others.

She has written two other books: “Out of Chaos: A Memoir” and “People Helping People: Volunteer Ideas and Resources to Make Positive Impact in our Communities.”

Mott is also a contributing author to several issues of anthologies by Covington Writers Group.

Any other books that appear by “Elle Mott” are not written by, authored by, endorsed by, in contribution with, affiliated with, or in any other way in relation to the author of “Out of Chaos” and “People Helping People” and “Marie Conner, A Leading Lady.”*

*Caution and due diligence is highly encouraged to all readers when shopping on Amazon for books by their favorite authors. When in question, contact the author. Amazon KDP Terms and Conditions state “At this time, only some publishers [and authors] will be prompted to complete Identity Verification.”

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Elle Mott's author quote is "Inspired by memoir, focused on life today."

Reviews

[Samantha]

Marie Conner, A Leading Lady provides a window into the evolving sphere of women's work during the early 20th century. I enjoyed the fact that this was a personal story, since Marie was the author's great-grandmother. It was also wonderful to read about a time when women were honored for their charitable work and valued for being caring neighbors. In our age of materialism, we often lose sight of just how meaningful it can be to be part of a caring community. I especially appreciated the inclusion of several excerpts from Marie's articles describing the needs of others. Her willingness to serve was astonishing and inspiring. Those who enjoy reading the histories and personal stories of women, who are far too often overlooked, will enjoy Marie's story.