Tea and Toil at The Woman’s Club tells the story of three women who took on the monumental task of restoring the Martin estate in Norfolk, Virginia, to preserve the rich history it holds for women. Why was this an important story for you to document?

This book would not have happened if these three women did not restore the mansion or save it from the developer. If that happened, the entire history of the mansion spanning 115 years would have been thrown into the trash bin and forgetten. And if not for the Martin Mansion, I would not have learned anything about the woman’s clubs or its umbrella organization called General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC). Not only that but also the history of the neighborhood surrounding the Martin Mansion and the history of Norfolk as a coastal city. In fact, the Martin Mansion sparks an interwoven history in all directions as far as the Philippines where the GFWC President participated in a nonprofit medical service organization in the late 1990s. And in all timeframes as early as 1868 when Jane Croly was angered after being rejected at a Charles Dickens event due to her gender, enough so to establish the first woman’s club. The most important part of the whole book is that the three women saving the Martin Mansion initiate a remarkable journey through the history of women empowerment from the late 1800s to present.

How much research did you undertake for this book, and how long did it take to put it all together?

This was the most ardent research I had ever done in my life, lasting one year. I went from day one knowing absolutely nothing about the woman’s clubs and GFWC to fully appreciating their incredible hard work in the end. These women did and have done countless feats for our country and the world for the past 155 years. I collected over 700 newspaper articles dating back to 1900 (compared to media, these old sources are FACTS!) and countless online articles. For credibility, I checked several sources for each topic. And I interviewed several former and current neighbors of the Martin Mansion. Most of all, I derived important details about the mansion and the Woman’s Club of Norfolk from the three women who saved the mansion. I found a perfect book editor who was very keen on facts and even pointed out discrepancies or mistakes, even though she knew nothing about the woman’s clubs, GFWC, or the Martin Mansion. It helped that she used to work for National Geographic; that’s what made her extremely factual. Finally, I visited the GFWC Headquarters in Washington D.C. and worked with its librarian to ascertain that everything in the book was accurate.

What experience in your life has had the biggest impact on your writing?

As a native of Norfolk, I grew up with the Martin Mansion by participating in elementary school skits in its auditorium, attending college parties on its fancy first floor, and finally sharing Thanksgiving with the Martin descendants, many of whom are my cousins. So, yes, I have narrated my fifty years at the Martin Mansion, known as “The Woman’s Club”. That encouraged me to write about this beloved mansion and its incredible history connecting with the General Federation of Women’s Clubs – which in turn shows the profound sense of women empowerment.

What is one thing that you hope readers take away from Tea and Toil at The Woman’s Club?

Dig into Women’s History and Empowerment!

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