NORWAY — Norway Memorial Library will host a talk by author Kate Kennedy on her latest book, “Maine’s Remarkable Women: Daughters, Wives, Sisters and Mothers Who Shaped History,” from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday, March 8, in recognition of International Women’s Day. The day commemorates the movement for women’s rights and celebrates the social, economic, cultural and political achievement of women.

Kennedy’s collection of short biographies profiles 15 Maine women, all but one born before 1900, who, defying the norms and prejudices of their time, made lasting contributions to society.

Among them are Toy Len Goon, an illiterate Chinese peasant who emigrated to Portland through an arranged marriage, ran her own laundry business, raised eight children and in 1952 was honored as “America’s Mother of the Year”; Florence Nicolar Shay, Penobscot basket-maker and tribal advocate; and French writer and intellectual Marguerite Yourcenar, who lived on Mt. Desert Island for over 30 years and was the first woman elected to the French Academy in its 350-year history. 

Kennedy taught writing at Portland High School for 20 years. From 2006 to 2012, she was director of the Southern Maine Writing Project at the University of Southern Maine. Currently, she edits and coaches other writers as well as teaches occasional graduate courses for the University of Maine. She has published a novel, “End Over End,” short fiction and nonfiction, and the first edition of “More Than Petticoats: Remarkable Maine Women.” Currently, she’s working on a book about cancer. 

Kennedy will answer questions from the audience and copies of her book will be on sale. The presentation is free and open to the public. For more information, call 207-743-5309, ext. 1, or e-mail norlib@norway.lib.me.us.