Kids & Family

14 Strong Women Share Their Stories in 'Atlanta's Real Women"

Women from Duluth, other communities in Gwinnett County and the metro Atlanta area featured in new book.

Two writers who live in Chateau Elan have compiled and edited 14 stories of strong, courageous and resilient women sharing their challenges and experiences in "Atlanta’s Real Women.” 

The idea for the book emerged around co-author Linda Hughes’ kitchen table on a hot day last summer as co-author Christine Martinello and several of their friends sipped iced tea and discussed their disdain for the reality TV show “The Real Housewives of Atlanta.” Then one of them suggested they should write a book about “real” women like themselves.

A booksigning for “Atlanta’s Real Women” is scheduled Saturday, Aug. 3, at the Inn at Chateau Elan in Braselton from 1-3 p.m. 

Find out what's happening in Duluthwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The book features the stories of co-authors Hughes and Martinello and 12 other extraordinary women. Some of the women whose stories appear in the book came from the group gathered around the kitchen table. “As we were talking,” Martinello said, “we realized that real women have amazing stories, too.”

The co-authors proceeded to invite other women they knew and liked to tell their stories in the book. “Everyone we asked was honored to be asked to be included,” Martinello said. 

Find out what's happening in Duluthwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Sharing their stories helps women realize they’re not alone, Martinello said. “We’re all here for each other.”

"The women wrote their own stories,” Martinello said. “We wanted our stories to be told in our own voices. Linda and I compiled and edited them.”

Martinello relates her own story about growing up in a large family and overcoming tragedy to build a happy life for herself. Martinello is the owner of Training Solutions International and author of the best-selling “The Momager® Guide: Empowering Moms to Leave a Loving Legacy.” She is a former Moms Talk columnist for Duluth Patch.

Hughes, a professor at Georgia Gwinnett College in Lawrenceville, has authored eight books including two that won major writing awards. In her chapter in “Atlanta’s Real Women,” she reveals what she learned from her father’s stay as a patient in the "loony bin" when she was a child.

Duluth resident Myra Lewis Williams, who married country music singing star Jerry Lee Lewis at the age of 13, tells her story in the book. She divorced him at 26 and struggled to create her own identity.

New York Times best-selling author Haywood Smith of Buford, whose books “The Red Hat Club” and “The Red Hat Club Rides Again” made her famous, shares some of her life experiences.

The story of Antonia Lawrence of Norcross, who embarked on a career as a gospel singer after taking her six children and leaving her husband, is also told in the book.

Elizabeth (Liz) Champlin of Lawrenceville wrote about the relationship she developed with a little dog during the year she was battling breast cancer.

Joyce Bone of Peachtree Corners co-founded a $125-million company traded on NASDAQ as a mompreneur. She authored a book titled “Millionaire Moms - The Art of Raising a Business and a Family at the Same Time.” Her book and website Millionaire Moms.com encourage and support working and entrepreneurial women.

Deborah Alexander of Lilburn relates how her grandmother taught her to use her psychic gifts for helping and healing.

Others featured in the book are Sue O’Connor of Buford, Elisabeth (Beth) Butler of Midtown Atlanta, Marka Palmer of Rome, Bonnie Ross-Parker of Smyrna, LuAnn Cooley of Social Circle, and Kathryn Gray-White of Watkinsville

Find out more about each of women featured in the book at http://pinterest.com/atlrealwomen.

The soft cover book contains 234 pages and sells for $19.95. Deeds Publishing of Atlanta published the book, which became available Aug. 1. Copies may be ordered on the website.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here