“Remember the ladies”

…Abigail Adams famously urged in a 1776 letter to her husband—a call to consider the voices of women in the founding of a new nation. Yet the story of America has always been broader still, shaped by many voices that were not fully recognized at the time.

As we mark 250 years of the American experiment, this conversation invites us to revisit that moment—and to expand it—bringing into focus the diverse perspectives that continue to define our national story.

Join New York Times bestselling and acclaimed authors Laura Kamoie, Reyna Grande, and Elizabeth Cobbs for a powerful conversation spanning the founding era to the present day.

Through their work, these authors illuminate the lives, struggles, and contributions of women and communities whose stories have shaped—and continue to shape—the American experience. From the revolutionary vision of Abigail Adams, to the enduring influence of women across history, to the deeply personal and evolving narratives of immigration and identity, this event explores how our national story has grown richer, more complex, and more inclusive over time.

As part of our USA 250th Birthday Series, this special event celebrates the voices—past and present—that have helped define our nation.

Join us at the Neil Morgan Auditorium at the San Diego Central Library @ Joan Λ Irwin Jacobs Common* for an engaging conversation about the inspiration behind their work, the historical foundations of their stories, and the enduring impact of the people and communities who continue to shape America.

Happy 250th Birthday USA

This program is part of our USA 250th Birthday Series, commemorating the 250th anniversary of the United States by honoring the diverse peoples, cultures, and communities whose contributions have shaped our nation’s history. Through literature, conversation, and shared learning, this series explores the many voices and lived experiences that together form the American story.

Registration

Advance registration is required for this event. Entry is available through the following options:

• Book Registration – Purchase one book by any of our featured authors to receive admission for one guest.

• Companion Registration ($10) – For guests attending with someone who has purchased a book and sharing that copy.

• Three-Book Bundle – A discounted set of all three featured titles, which includes admission for one guest and priority placement in the signing line.

Seating is first come, first served and expected to fill quickly, so early arrival is strongly encouraged.

Additional books will be available for purchase at the event while supplies last, and all three authors will be signing following the program.

About the Authors and Books

Laura Kamoie is a New York Times. Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of historical novels including Ribbons in Scarlett, and My Dear Hamilton. She is also a Goodreads Readers’ Choice Awards Finalist in Historical Fiction, and an Audie Award Finalist, and a former Associate Professor of History at the U.S. Naval Academy.

A Founding Mother: A Novel of Abigail Adams recounts the revolutionary life of Abigail Adams and her resilience throughout the American Revolution. While her husband, John Adams, fights for the nation’s independence and forges the foundations of the new nation, Abigail fights for similar independence on her own battlefront, facing loss, plague, defending their home, and making lucrative investments crucial for their family’s future.

To schedule a book club visit with Laura or any of our authors:

Reyna Grande is an award-winning author whose work powerfully illuminates the complexities of immigration, family separation, and the pursuit of the American Dream.  Her memoirs The Distance Between Us and A Dream Called Home, as well as her historical novel, A Ballad of Love and Glory, have been praised for their accounts of migrant resilience, determination, and heart.

Migrant Heart: Essays About Things I Can’t Forget blends sophistication and honesty about the reality of crossing borders and living between nations, cultures, and identities and how her journey shaped the woman she has become. While reconciling her own impoverished past with her children’s world of comfort, Grande asks: How do we turn pain into power?  When memory threatens to define us, how can we use story to heal while still honoring our boundaries? How do we bridge the gap between who we were and who we have become?

To schedule a book club visit with Reyna or any of our authors:

Elizabeth Cobbs is a San Diego based, award-winning historian, award winning author, screenwriter, and producer. She has a Ph.D. in American history at Stanford University and has served on the Historical Advisory Committee of the U.S. State Department and on the jury for the Pulitzer Prize in History. Her works span from historical non-fiction novels and history textbooks to the film adaptions of her books such as American Umpire and The Hello Girls.

Fearless Women: Feminist Patriots from Abigail Adams to Beyoncé tells the stories of trailblazing women who took destiny into their own hands and how their journeys paved the way for modern day feminists and female patriots. The stories of Abigail Adams, Susan B. Anthony, and Beyonce, among others, who campaigned for the right to speak in public, lobby the government, and own property, along with passionate mothers and abolitionists far from the spotlight all created the foundations for women’s rights in modern day America.

About the San Diego Central Library