Carol Leonard & MANA's President emeritus, Diane Holzer

About the book 

  National Award for Lady’s Hands, Lion’s Heart!

On October 10, 2008, Carol Leonard’s book, Lady's Hands, Lion's Heart won the first annual Mothers Naturally award of excellence for "Midwives in Media" for Outstanding Book, 2008! The award was presented in the beautiful Traverse City Opera House in Traverse City, Michigan.

 The award states: "Mothers Naturally Awards commend outstanding achievement in childbirth activism, advocacy for normal birth, and empowerment of women in childbirth. Mothers Naturally Awards recognize films, books and websites highlighting midwifery and home birth. The Midwives Alliance of North America congratulates and thanks Carol Leonard for her excellent work."

 This was an incredibly proud moment! Rick Lake and Abby Epstein also won for Best Film for their groundbreaking documentary, The Business of Being Born. [go to http://mothersnaturally.org/resources/awards.php ]
 
Rick Lake, Abby Epstein & Carol Leonard
After the awards ceremony, there was a huge celebration. You can view a snippet of the fesitivities on YouTube [go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEMqOuz60qo and turn up your sound! Carol is the geek in the white shirt doing the Funky Chicken].
 
 

 

Carol Leonard, Midwife, to Present at NEC

— filed under:

Carol Leonard, internationally acclaimed midwife, will give a talk on her new book at New England College on Wednesday, November 12th at 7:15pm. The event, sponsored by the Friends of the New England College Library, will take place in the Simon Center on Bridge Street in Henniker and is free and open to the public.

Carol Leonard - Midwife ADJ 200w.jpg

 

Since graduating from New England College in 1977, Carol Leonard learned the skills of the midwife from one of New Hampshire’s traditional country doctors. Since then she has not only delivered nearly 1,200 babies successfully, but has revived the practice of midwifery in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Russia. Her memoir of almost 30 years of practice, Lady’s Hands, Lion’s Heart, A Midwife’s Saga, was recently released by Bad Beaver Publishing.

 

Recognized as a leader of the modern midwifery movement, Leonard is a New Hampshire Certified Midwife and the co-founder of the Midwives Alliance of North America. She has been featured on ABC’s news magazine 20/20, and her new book was given the first annual Mothers Naturally outstanding book award.

 

A book sale and signing will be featured the evening of November 12th. For information, call the New England College Library at 603-428-2344.

 
 
 

 

 
What Readers are saying: 
 From HippoPress, 10/2/08:
People: Midwife = “with woman”
Carol Leonard delivers a book about her profession
By Jeff Mucciarone jmucciarone@hippopress.com
 

Carol Leonard served New Hampshire as its first and perhaps most prominent midwife. Having practiced for three decades, the 58-year-old Hopkinton resident isn’t delivering babies now; she is taking time out to write and to build a 400-acre farm in Maine. The mother of two adult children, she is co-founder of the Midwives Alliance of North America. She spent time in Moscow in the early 1990s helping Russians with their delivery practices. In July she self-published Lady’s Hands, Lion’s Heart: A Midwife’s Saga, which details her adventures as a midwife and delves into the origins of the midwife profession. To learn more about Leonard, go to www.badbeaverfarm.com.

 

 
5.0 out of 5 stars Genuine Page-turner, September 10, 2008
By  Veronica Flynn Hewitt (Windham, NH) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
I know nothing about midwifery and, being over 80 years old, I also have no interest in it. However, I am a New Hampshire resident and felt that I'd like to read a book written by a fellow-New Hampshire-ite! What a surprise I got! This book is so well written, it fairly sings. I literally could not put it down. This is a courageous woman who has lived her passion. She is an inspiration to women everywhere especially those breaking into male dominated professions. She makes our state proud.
Roni
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  Your book!!!! I love it. It was eating my brain and I couldn't get anything done so I stayed up all night and read it. I am so sorry about Ken, and now that I have read the book I can't believe you kept your composure when that women said she didn't agree with the ending. What??? The story is powerful, and I love the way you laid it out. I like the short birth vignettes that all weave in your political and business journey, raising Milan, and your relationship with Ken. Wow! Good job, and thanks for writing it.   Lib
 WOW! I got your book in the mail yesterday at about 9:30...I am already on page 182...and I went out last night!
This is awesome carol and just what i needed. I had read the portions you sent me to tuck away, but this book, all together is just the kind of thing needed out there. I have already laughed with you, cried with you, I am on the edge of my seat about the relationship with Ken, and worried about you in the eyes of the medical community...and at the same time I am learning from you...seeing if you do what I would do and loving that your thoughts are so similar to my own...this book is ageless...it is empowering and motivating...and I am not kissing ass here I am serious! LET ME KNOW if you need ANY help in publicity. I have already driven over to my town Library this morning and highly recommended they put it on the shelf! What an incredible honor it is to know you. I knew that day in the elevator when I reminded you who you were and of your power that you were incredible but I never had any idea how deeply seated that is...man I wish I had the opportunity to apprentice with you my dear...anytime you need help just say so!

Whew...I can't wait for the second half of the book...
XOXO
Anji
 
Thank you so much for being flexible. Please can you autograph them? It's been a wonderful time. I still remember the first time you spoke to me. We were waiting for an elevator in Milwaukee and you noticed me and cheered me up and you assured me that MANA was for all midwives, that we, in WV were Midwives, that we too, could step up to the perineum.
(WHY AM I ALWAYS  IN AN ELEVATOR??) CL
This is the email I sent to Carol Leonard after receiving her new book in
the mail: Lady's Hands, Lion's Heart: A Midwife's Saga.

"I had to let you know that I received the three copies of your book in the
mail yesterday. I started reading it immediately and I CAN'T PUT IT DOWN!
It is so interesting, so well written, I love the mix of personal with
professional experiences. This is a book every midwife will LOVE! I can't
wait to finish it, but I don't want it to ever end. Thank you so much for
sharing your life with us. "

Dotti Kirkpatrick, RM, CPM

 Hello everyone!
Any avid readers eager for a good read related to birth?
Aha,just the response I suspected! :)

Okay here's a publication I anticipate becoming the new darling of the
genre.

Felicidades Carol! 

 I have just finished reading this book...literally. It arrived Wednesday and I finished just moments ago. I am at my computer as I sent Carol a letter of gratitude for her book. My eyes are still wet with tears from the ending.
I am obviously a new midwife, as well as NH midwife who has know Carol for the last 3 years. She is our lobbyist here in NH, and as the secretary of our Midwives association I have watched her in legislative mode, and at meetings, and have always respected her ability and sassy intelligence...BUT...this book has really brought me something precious. If you are feeling down, or disappointed in the system, or even just need an over all shot in the arm, I recommend a good strong dose of Carol's book. She writes from the heart, and her personality comes through in a way that makes one feel the privilege of serving women, and the joy there is in really truly following your heart, your art, and your calling...I have not read a book like this EVER, and anyone who knows me knows I have every book there is on childbirth and midwifery...I am a self-admitted bookaholic...this is one I will reach for when my heart gets weary or numb from the intensity of what we as Midwives call our work...do yourself a favor and get a copy of this book...and if you have a sister midwife you know could use a boost, get her a copy too. I also recommend that any and all student or apprentice midwives who are needing a clearer picture of what it takes makes time to read this one...it clearly shows what it takes...and what it means to be a midwife.
A great read!
 More kudos for the book and for Carol. I,too, got the book on Weds
(got 3 copies in fact--for our birth center library!) and devoured
it immediately.
Carol is a great writer and the book is a great story as well as
like sitting down with a bunch of midwives-birth story after birth
story after birth story--we just can never get enough!
Wonderful.
Kip
 Hey Carol!!!!!!!!!!!  This is from my Mother.  I swear you have a best seller on your hands.  I wanted to share it with you directly.  Have a good day -STOP SCRATCHING!
Subject: Lady's Hands . . .
I can't put it down!  Should never have started in a busy week!  Who is Dr. Easey?  And my memory is that Dr. Ritzman who delivered your sister and Tom was called Fifty Fingers back in the 60's!  Right now I can't remember who delivered you, I got put to sleep in the middle of the afternoon!  I have laughed out loud more than once!
 
 
 
Carol,
I read your book last week as soon as I got it. 
I laughed, I cried, I learned lots. 
That's the definition of a perfect book to me!
Blessings, CNM in MO
 
Carol - I can't begin to tell you how much your book made me laugh, cry, and be thankful, that now, finally, women have a real choice about how they want to birth their children. It may not be your ideal,of birth without drugs, but it is now at least a choice with many options between natural and medical that a woman can choose. 
 I understand you are moving to Ellsworth - it will certainly be interesting to see what press you generate next! You told a beautiful story, a real story. Thank you for writing it.
 

Hey Carol!
  Thank you soooo much for the book. I read it in a day and it was a .. Magical Mystery Tour... I laughed til my sides hurt and shed a tear or two.  I'm going to send you a check for two more copies to share with friends ( I won't give up my signed copy). You did an awesome job!! Let me know when you'll be around this fall as I'd love to see you, it's been too long.
                    Love, a CNM in NH 

                         
I just finished reading your book and was so moved by it.  I really
identified with your story.  Your struggle in NH parallels ours in
Florida.  Your courage and tenacity are an inspiration to us all.  I
knew your contributions to MANA but didn't know your personal story.
Your birth stories were wonderful, some are unforgettable.  Thanks for
sharing and blessings to you and all those whose lives you touch.
 
~Justine Clegg, MS, LM, CPM, LMHC
Miami, FL 
 

 I just finished reading your book. It has been my companion in the stolen moments of the last week as I sat on my deck absorbing the last rays of summer sunshine...when I could slip away from working.
At the end, my tears soaked the final pages. I knew Ken had died, but never knew how. Although it is not the same, I can so relate to the pain of your loss...my own emotions still raw from the loss of my son. Your epilogue gives me hope that life will go on eventually. 
Sad, too, that your book came to an end. I have laughed and cried my way through your delightful birth stories, sharing the best parts with Fred as I read, and could have read a million more! You are TRULY my sister, Carol!   xoxo Short Stork
Great talking to you yesterday.  I just had to tell you how much I'm enjoying your book. 
You've touched so many lives, and inspired many, many more.  Reading the book does make me wish you had been there when I was having my children.  In the historical aspect, it's great to read about the movement from a woman's perspective.  (All too often, history, including women's hx,  has been recorded by men). 
You're a treasure to your profession and I'm grateful to you for sharing it. 
Regards to my buddy Tom. 
Denise"