Join author Janis Daly for a discussion of her book The Unlocked Path, and hear how the secrets of our past can surprise, delight, educate, and inspire the writing of a novel.
In The Unlocked Path, readers meet a “New Woman” of the early 20th century: educated, career-minded, independent Eliza Edwards. In 1897 Philadelphia, after witnessing her aunt's suicide, Eliza rejects her mother’s wishes for a society debut. At a time when only five percent of doctors are female, she enters the Woman’s Medical College of Pennsylvania. With the support of a circle of women and determined to conquer curriculum demands, battle sexism, and overcome doubts, Eliza charts a new life course. Combining science and sympathy, she triumphs to heal others and herself.
About Janis Robinson Daly: After a career in sales and marketing and raising two boys, Janis was looking for the next step in her career. She found the answer within the return hits from a genealogy search. Discovering that her great-great grandfather was a founder of the Woman’s Medical College of Pennsylvania inspired Janis' next career direction: unearthing the stories of women whose lives have remained in the shadows. Her debut novel, The Unlocked Path, balances authenticity and rich historical detail with deep emotional connections to create engaging fictional characters.
Janis lives a nomadic lifestyle, splitting her time between Cape Cod, New Hampshire, Florida and hotels along Route 95, reading and writing along the way. More adventures beckon her to document other women in history whose stories need to be discovered.
This program is sponsored by the Friends of Memorial Hall Library.