The day after Mother’s Day, we invite you to join us at the Old North Church for a talk about America’s founding mothers. Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie, authors of the new historical fiction book A Founding Mother: A Novel of Abigail Adams, will talk about their research into the lives of women who participated in the American Revolution.
Special attention will be given to Abigail Adams — wife of one president and mother to another — whose wit, willpower, and wisdom helped shape the fledgling republic. In the heart of revolutionary Boston, Abigail Adams raised her children amid riots, blockades, and the outbreak of war. While her husband, John Adams, rose from country lawyer to nation-builder, often away for years at a time, Abigail built her own independence — managing their farm, making lucrative investments, amassing savings, battling plague and loss, and defending their home. Unafraid to speak her mind, she famously offered fearless political counsel, urging John to “remember the ladies” in the new government. Through it all, she becomes his most trusted confidante and indispensable ally.
5:30pm – Light refreshments in Old North’s courtyard
6:00pm – Stephanie and Laura will deliver a talk about women in the Revolution
6:40 pm- Q&A session with Stephanie and Laura
7:00pm – Book signing
Copies of A Founding Mother will be available to purchase onsite. This event is free and open to the public.
About Our Speakers
Stephanie Dray is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of historical fiction. Her award-winning work has been translated into many languages and tops lists for the most anticipated reads of the year. She lives in Maryland with her husband, cats, and history books.
Laura Kamoie is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of historical fiction. She holds a doctoral degree in early American history from the College of William and Mary and has published two nonfiction books on early America. Laura lives in the storied Maryland capital town of Annapolis.
About the Book
“The research shines, the prose gleams, the characterization is a delight, and the themes are timelier than ever — on the eve of our nation’s 250th anniversary, I can think of no book more necessary than A Founding Mother.”
– KATE QUINN, New York Times bestselling author of The Briar Club
In time for the 250th Anniversary of the birth of the United States comes a sweeping, intimate portrayal of Abigail Adams — wife of one president and mother to another —whose wit, willpower, and wisdom helped shape the fledgling republic. A stunning historical novel with modern-day implications from the New York Times bestselling authors of America’s First Daughter and My Dear Hamilton.
In the heart of revolutionary Boston, Abigail Adams raises her children amid riots, blockades, and the outbreak of war. While her husband, John Adams, rises from country lawyer to nation-builder, often away for years at a time, Abigail builds her own independence—managing their farm, making lucrative investments, amassing savings, battling plague and loss, and defending their home. Unafraid to speak her mind, she famously offers fearless political counsel, urging John to “remember the ladies” in the new government. Through it all, she becomes his most trusted confidante and indispensable ally.
When peace is secured, Abigail steps onto the world stage — exchanging ideas with Thomas Jefferson in the French countryside, navigating court life as the wife of the Minister to Great Britain, and presiding over the parlor politics of the early American republic in New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC. Even after her husband’s presidential administration, she continues battling political foes and working behind the scenes to advance her family, secure independence for the women in her life, and ensure a better life for the next generation of Americans.
From war-torn streets to the chandeliered halls of power, A Founding Mother is the unforgettable story of a woman ahead of her time — one whose voice, vision, and valor still resonate powerfully today.
