Contact: Jody L. Pritzl Booksbyjody2021@gmail.com Denver, Colorado
Inspired by her role as a volunteer tour guide at the Molly Brown House Museum in Denver, Colorado, Jody’s fifth book delves into the lives of J.J. and Margaret Brown. The wife, Margaret, was one of the most famous Coloradans of all-time for her heroic actions when the Titanic sank. She overshadowed her husband, J.J., whose grit at the Little Jonny mine led to the largest gold strike in Colorado at the time in 1892.
Gold-Fated Family captures both the caring lives and drama of the Browns. Absent the contributions of J.J. and Margaret, the Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Denver would not have been erected and later blessed by Pope John Paul, elevating it to the status of a basilica. The Browns work ensured the evolution of Saint Joseph’s Hospital, orphans were clothed, and, as arts patrons, helped Denver evolve in the early 20th century.
J.J. and Margaret’s children, Lawrence and Helen, had difficulties navigating their parents’ fame and did not always relish the role of children of a millionaire and a Titanic survivor. Based on five years of primary research at History Colorado, Denver Public Library, CU Boulder, and in Pennsylvania, 821 endnotes form the foundation of a cautionary tale of wealth and its impact on a family.
Gold-Fated Family is a cautionary tale of wealth, pride, generosity, unmet expectations, and redemption.
Jody is a member of the Colorado Author’s League who, in 2020, awarded a first prize for her nonfiction book, Immigrants, Ornaments, and Legacies-A Story of American-Made Glass Christmas Ornaments. In 2021, Jody’s That Championship Year, was a finalist for nonfiction.
An 80’s transplant from Wisconsin, Jody has a communications degree from Metropolitan State University and a master’s degree from Regis University. A member of the Molly Brown House Museum’s Speakers Bureau, she has presented on topics such as Victorian Christmas traditions, the history of Valentine’s Day, and women’s suffrage.
Contact Jody if your organization or book club is interested in a visit from her to discuss a fascinating piece of Colorado history.
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