Dr Margaret C. Jones

Dr Margaret C. Jones

TRAILBLAZING WOMEN – INSPIRING STORIES

Also writes as

Monica Jones
Booking enquiry
Dr Margaret C. Jones - author tools

Available for

Workshop, Talk, Reading, Interview

Audiences

Age 14 to 16, Age 16 to 18+, Further Education, University, Adult

Genres

Biography, History, Legend, Narrative, Non-Fiction

Book types

Non-fiction for adults

Details

WOMEN WHO MADE A DIFFERENCE – TALKS AND WORKSHOPS

TRAILBLAZING WOMEN – INSPIRING STORIES

I love introducing audiences to the inspiring stories of remarkable women who people my books.

Teaching and Talking

I received my PhD from Purdue University in the United States in 1989. My last teaching post was as a Senior Lecturer at the University of the West of England, Bristol. I've also taught in the US and in Egypt, in writing programmes at Goucher College, and community colleges on Long Island. My first full-time position in America was as an Assistant Professor in the English Department at Central Washington University.

Since retiring from full-time employment in 2008, I've given all my time to writing and giving illustrated live talks about inspiring women.

Each of these adventurous women made a difference in her society. Aethelflaed, Lady of the Mercians, ruled a kingdom, personally fought Vikings in battle, and founded towns in the Midlands: Warwick, Tamworth, Stafford, Shrewsbury ... The black American Civil War spy Mary Richards, posing as an illiterate slave in the home of rebel president Jefferson Davis, gathered valuable military intelligence that helped the Union win the war. Writer and traveller Amelia Edwards made ground-breaking contributions to the cause of Egyptology, while campaigning for votes for women. Each, in her own way, defied traditional expectations of her, and changed her world for the better.

I build my talks around Powerpoint slides based on the books, giving a narrative thread that helps keep the audience (and me!) entertained and focused.

Interviews

A few years ago I gave several interviews to local BBC radio stations, mainly about Founder, Fighter, Saxon Queen: Aethelflaed Lady of the Mercians.

Workshops

Besides the presentations to large audiences, I also offer small-group workshops on "Writing the Life" – on practical skills involved in writing biography and memoir. Topics covered include: choosing a subject; exploring resources; interviewing; crafting the story; and, for some groups, copyright issues and finding a publisher.

For details of past public talks and interviews, see the list below

Feedback from my talks

"Many thanks for your wonderful lecture this evening. I found it a fantastic overview of Amelia’s life and legacy." (Carl Graves, Director, Egypt Exploration Society.)

"We have received really nice feedback. Everyone enjoyed your presentation. The interest was evident from the stimulating question and answer session." (David Biggs, Chairman, Tamworth Civic Society.)

"My sister Susan and I were among your audience last night for the talk about Amelia Edwards. Thank you for an interesting presentation...the time passed quickly and easily, evidence of enjoyment." (Alan Boyle, Leannta Publishing.)

"Congratulations on a brilliant talk.  You were one of the best speakers ever on the programme and I have been attending them for years." (Professor Marie Mulvey-Roberts, University of the West of England.) 

"Wonderful lecture!" (William Joy, Director of the Peggy Joy Egyptology Library, Michigan.)

Travelling to speak

I have travelled widely in the UK to share presentations and conversations about the subjects of my books. When not living in Stroud, I spend part of each year in Egypt. If invited to travel to speak, in the Middle East or elsewhere in the world, I would be delighted to do so. Though I prefer face-to-face talks with a live gathering, I also can give presentations on Zoom. (For online talks, please contact me to discuss details.)

Fees

Negotiable - but usually £50 for a one-hour session (plus travel expenses, and any overnight accommodation).

 

Talks and presentations

'Writing the Life', interactive workshop on writing biography and memoir, Glossop Book Fest, October 19, 2024.

Online lecture to the Library Company of Philadelphia (the annual Charlotte Cushman lecture) October 8, 2024.

PowerPoint presentation and Discussion, She Spied for Freedom, with Stroud Good Companions, Stroud, April 3, 2024.

Presentation on She Spied for Freedom, Gloucester Women's Institute, Churchdown, March 3, 2024.

“Amelia B. Edwards: the Novelist Revisited”, British Association for Victorian Studies conference, September 1, 2023.

Participation in online panel discussion, “Unpacking Amelia”, sponsored by the Egypt Exploration Society, March 8,  2022.

“From Avon to Nile”, Zoom presentation on Amelia Edwards. Sponsored by Bristol Museums and University of the West of England, September 16, 2021.

Talk on Aethelflaed's lost daughter Aelfwynn. Tamworth Civic Society, December 2018.

Presentation based on Founder, Fighter, Saxon Queen, at the Lady of Mercia Festival, Stafford, August 18-19, 2018. 

Two illustrated talks about Aethelflaed at Tamworth Aethelfest, July 14, 2018.

Talk with PowerPoint slides on Aethelflaed and Founder, Fighter, Saxon Queen, at Gloucester Cathedral's Wordfest, July 6, 2018. 

Interviews with BBC Radio Gloucester, Radio Shropshire, Radio Leicester, 2018.

 

Scheduled for 2025

PowerPoint talks about She Spied for Freedom at Women's Institutes around Gloucestershire:

Tetbury (April 14),  Avening (May 8), Micheldean(June 25), Forthampton (October 14)

 Nailsworth  about Amelia Edwards (July 14)

 

 

Event feedback

Dr. Jones gave an excellent talk for us. She was very responsive to emails and let us host a virtual event even though she is not confident with technology. We are so grateful to have been able to connect with her and offer our audience a wonderful experience!

Em Ricciardi (Library Company of Philadelphia)

Books by Dr Margaret C. Jones

TRAILBLAZING WOMEN – INSPIRING STORIES
978-1781559192
She Spied for Freedom: Mary Richards, A Black Civil War Agent;

She Spied for Freedom: Mary Richards, A Black Civil War Agent;

In the US Civil War, Mary Richards, a free Black woman, risked her life posing as an illiterate slave, to spy in the home of rebel President Jefferson Davis. Whether as a Union agent sending vital intelligence to the US military, or facing down the Klan while teaching freed slaves in post-war Georgia, hers was a heroic one-woman fight for justice. (Fonthill Media, 2024.) 
9781399023382
The Adventurous Life of Amelia B. Edwards: Egyptologist, Novelist, Activist

The Adventurous Life of Amelia B. Edwards: Egyptologist, Novelist, Activist

In Victorian England, Amelia B. Edwards was an iconic cultural figure, admired by Trollope and Browning for her best-selling fiction and by the wider public for her witty, thought-provoking travel writing. In later life, she became a celebrated historian, bringing fresh understanding of the world of Ancient Egypt to a fascinated public and founding the Egyptian Exploration Fund (Society). This new biography uses previously overlooked sources to tell the story of her fascinating and unconventional life - her travels, travails and feminist activism - as well as touching on her occasionally problematic views on race. In appreciation of a figure ahead of her time, it examines her involvement in suffrage and animal rights societies as well as revealing new insights into Edwards’ loving same-sex relationships with Ellen Rice Byrne and Lucy Renshaw. In doing so, it reveals a versatile, creative, witty, independent woman, and a true pioneer of her time. 
Founder, Fighter, Saxon Queen: Aethelflaed, Lady of the Mercians

Founder, Fighter, Saxon Queen: Aethelflaed, Lady of the Mercians

Alfred the Great's daughter defied all expectations of a well-bred Saxon princess. The first Saxon woman ever to rule a kingdom, Aethelflaed, Lady of the Mercians, led her army in battle against Viking invaders. She further broke with convention by arranging for her daughter to succeed her on the throne of Mercia. To protect her people and enable her kingdom in the Midlands to prosper, Aethelflaed rebuilt Chester and Gloucester, and built seven entirely new English towns. In so doing she helped shape our world today. This book brings Aethelflaed's world to life, from her childhood in time of war to her remarkable work as ruler of Mercia. The final chapter traces her legend, from medieval paintings to novels and contemporary art, illustrating the impact of a legacy that continues to be felt to this day. 

Photos

Dr Margaret C. Jones - first image
Dr Margaret C. Jones - first image
Dr Margaret C. Jones - first image
Dr Margaret C. Jones - first image
Dr Margaret C. Jones - first image

Keywords

ACTIVISTS AMERICAN CIVIL WAR ANCIENT EGYPT ANGLO-SAXONS BIOGRAPHIES COURAGE ESPIONAGE FEMINISM FOUNDERS GAME CHANGERS HISTORY ILLUSTRATED TALKS INSPIRATION LEGENDS LIFE STORIES Q & A SPIES SURVIVORS TRAILBLAZERS VICTORIANS WOMEN IN HISTORY WORKSHOPS YOUNG ADULT ZOOM