It’s a joy to share my interview with Karen Greenwald today. Her debut picture book, A VOTE FOR SUSANNA, THE FIRST WOMAN MAYOR, illustrated by Sian James released on Friday with a virtual celebration hosted by the National Women’s History Museum which also featured two other amazing books about brave women who made a difference. Attendees of the launch included grandchildren and great grandchildren of Susanna Salter which made for a special morning for everyone! Karen and I have become online friends and on the phone friends which has led to so many bonding moments where we’ve shared both laughter and tears. I cannot wait until travel is back to normal and we can meet in real life. I’m pretty sure she has a guest room waiting for me and I have mine ready any time she’s willing to brave the altitude. Karen is the cofounder of a writing contest #SunFunWrite and you can find out more about that below.
Karen is generously offering one lucky winner a picture book critique. Comment on the blogpost to enter the giveaway.
What were you like at the age of your target audience?
I had a lot of love for art, reading, World Magazine, family, and friends (not much has changed!). I was both a very social butterfly and a “bookworm.”
What inspires you?
That is such a hard question to answer! Honestly, so many things inspire me from a quirky post on Twitter to an advertisement, an act of kindness, a dog doing something adorable (as you know), a moment that history ignored, a human-interest story on the news, a cause I’d like to support (like #SunWriteFun did for “Reader to Reader” and WNDB), friendship, historical political moments, museums, art history…how many blog posts can I fill here? Lol!
Basically, I think inspiration abounds (this remind me of the movie August Rush where the little boy says he feels music everywhere!) The difference for me between feeling it and committing to writing it happens when I realize I’ve planned out most of the story in my mind. If I can visualize the complete project, I must write it.
What’s something you hope readers take away from your book?
There are so many lessons in this true-life story. I’ll try to consolidate! First, a person’s gender should never be used to determine their capacity for success. Susanna was more than qualified for the role as mayor. She had college education (in fact, entered as a sophomore at 17!), “parliamentary training,” and often helped her husband/town clerk with his duties. She deserved to serve! Yet domestic and international newspapers spent a great deal of ink on her size, appearance, housekeeping talents, and weight. Second, pranking someone to cause them humiliation is a form of bullying. Third, equity was/is possible. Susanna won by a landslide. Oskaloosa, Kansas voted in an entire female government one cycle later (their “all female” government took the town out of financial distress) because of her victory!
What’s next for you?
Uncovering more stories that history pushed aside!
To find out more about Karen, her books and more events featuring A VOTE FOR SUSANNA, THE FIRST WOMAN MAYOR:
Website: www.karengreenwald.com Twitter and Instagram: @karenmgreenwald
Good Reads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21165234.Karen_M_Greenwald
Laura Roettiger Books 
Love it! I get to meet a new inspirational woman.
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Elizabeth, thanks for reading. This is such a cool story and Karen did a fabulous job working with Susanna’s family and experts from her town in Kansas to get the story just right! Good luck in the giveaway.
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Thanks so much!
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Putting this one on my to-buy list! Looks so great.
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Definitely on a must-read list! It’s such a wonderful story and I love that Susanna’s family is excited about the book. What a wonderful endorsement. Good luck in the giveaway.
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Thank you:) I appreciate it!
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This sounds like a fascinating story!
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Thanks for reading, and yes! a wonderful story! Good luck in the giveaway.
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It really is!
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I want those trés chic sunglasses!!!!!!
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Jilanne, I know! They are adorable, but alas, Karen doesn’t have them anymore. 😢 Good luck in the giveaway and thanks for reading.
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You are too funny! 🙂 xo
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We all want the glasses!
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Congratulations to Karen on the book! I enjoyed her presentation at the Women’s History Museum event earlier this week and it was so cool that some of Susana’s descendants participated!
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Elia, thank you for reading and sharing that you were at the launch, too. I literally had chills reading the comments from Susanna’s family! Good luck in the giveaway.
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Thanks so much, Elia! There is another event at the Musuem on November 10th, if you are interested. Her descendants really enjoyed the event, too!
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I’ve got November 10th on my calendar. I need the link to register.
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I love this story, and I love Karen’s plan to keep writing about people that history pushed aside!
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Michal, thank you for reading. This is such a fascinating story but even better with the way Karen presented it in A VOTE FOR SUSANNA. I mentioned it to an indie bookseller this morning and she hadn’t heard of it but is now ordering it! Yay
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Thank you so much, Michal! Means a lot!
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Congratulations to Karen! Her book is fantastic and I look forward to see more stories of hers out in the world.
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Thanks for reading, this book has such a great backstory and I love the way Karen was able to tell it with the help of Susanna’s family. Good luck in the giveaway.
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Thank you so much, Shaunda! Congrats to you as well!
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