Abigail Adams would have been proud to see a whole month devoted to Women’s History — and thought that it is no more than millions of women deserve. Abigail was one of the original feminists, though she would have been loathe to attach that term to herself. She viewed herself as individual, strong, intelligent — and a fully-realized partner in her husband’s life, despite the fact that women were at that time essentially owned by men. Even so, she let nothing stop her. She ran the farm, bought and sold property, bartered for her children’s’ tuitions and raised their children while John was away — for weeks, months and in one case years on end. She advised her political husband on politics, personalities and more via letter – and he often took her advice.
She was one of the first women to demand the vote for women — her insisting that John ‘Remember the ladies,’ he was in the process of hammering out the new constitution. She knew that many women were just as intelligent, informed and politically astute as men. She wanted legal equality in this new nation. Like many men before him, John responded that they didn’t need the vote; they had influence on their husbands and so had a virtual vote. She wasn’t satisfied.
She didn’t win, but still she persisted. As we all must. Her determination and her challenging, heartbreaking yet ultimately rich life remains an example and encouragement for us all.
A Love Like No Other: Abigail and John Adams, A Modern Love Story reminds us of the struggles of Abigail and women like her, and calls us to keep going. A winner of the Mom’s Choice Award.
I grew up sailing and building boats with my dad, married a tugboat captain, (who I'm still happily married to) and embarked on a life of adventure, challenge and fun. My first book, Woman in the Wheelhouse, told the sometimes harrowing story of working on an old coastal tugboat as cook/deckhand then worked in Mexico in the Campeche oil fields on a supply boat. I was one of the first women in the country to earn a tug operator's license. I'm the author of three other books, Course of the Waterman, which won the Fred Bonnie Prize for the novel, the historical novel, A Love Like No Other: Abigail and John Adams, A Modern Love Story, and OK Now What? A Caregiver's Guide to What Matters, which I wrote with longtime RN and hospice nurse, Sue Collins during the time my mother-in-law was moving to the end of her life.
My second, Course of the Waterman, the coming of age novel of a young Eastern Shore waterman, won the Fred Bonnie award in 2004. My third book, second novel, A Love Like No Other: Abigail and John Adams, A Modern Love Story, takes readers into the lives of the new nation's strong-willed second First Lady and her stubborn, often-absent and adored husband, John, our second US President. I wrote the book because I'd spent big chunks of time raising children alone while my husband was at sea and felt an affinity for Abigail, but also looked to her life as a MUCH bigger challenge that informed and encouraged my own. My fourth book, OK Now What? A Caregiver's Guide to What Matters (Head to Wind Publishing, 2014) was written in collaboration with Sue Collins, RN and longtime hospice nurse and has received heartwarming feedback on how helpful it's been to many caregivers.
A freelance writer for many years, I've published personal essays, features, maritime reporting and analysis, travel, garden and more for such places as The Washington Post, Yachting, House Beautiful, The Baltimore Sun, the Christian Science Monitor, Southern Living, Sailing, and more. I'm also a University of Maryland Master Gardener who grows and cans the family's fruits and vegetables, and a Bay-Wise program certifier. I write, sail, race sailboats (occasionally), walk the German Shepherd dogs, and cook for friends and family.
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2 thoughts on “And Still She Persisted”
I had been wondering what you were up to with Gary retired and home. I did not expect this, another accomplishment. I imagined you two in the garden puttering around. I’ll just have to drop in to get your story.
Nancy Taylor Robson 
I had been wondering what you were up to with Gary retired and home. I did not expect this, another accomplishment. I imagined you two in the garden puttering around. I’ll just have to drop in to get your story.
Congratulations on your book.
Clint Wadsworth
Would love to see you, Clint! Gary’s keeping bees, and putters int he garden when he’s not running around to various hives. HOw’s by you?