Our youngest daughter had just finished reading "To Kill a Mockingbird" for her English class, after which, we watched the movie version. Several days later, the news of Harper Lee's death found us. 

We have had many discussions about Scout and Atticus. There is so much to talk about. There is so much to love about the story. Harper Lee (I even love her name) was a literary hero to me, a person of my short list of famous people I would love to invite to dinner. 

"I never expected any sort of success with Mockingbird. I was hoping for a quick and merciful death at the hands of the reviewers but, at the same time, I sort of hoped someone would like it enough to give me encouragement. Public encouragement. I hoped for a little, as I said, but I got rather a whole lot, and in some ways this was just about as frightening as the quick, merciful death I'd expected."

— Harper Lee, quoted in Newquist, 1964

I wanted to create something simple in her memory. I chose my favorite quote from "Mockingbird" and made this piece.

I was inspired to continue using quotes from my favorite female authors, and added this piece featuring a Jane Austen quote.

And finally a quote from the essayist and memoirist Anaïs Nin.

I am grateful for these women who navigated the world before me and my daughters. I am in awe of their words and their courage.