St Rose Visited By Award-Winning Author

By Eliza Hallabeck

Inside the school’s cafetorium, St Rose of Lima students heard author Deborah Heiligman speak about her life, being an author, and the process of writing books on Thursday, April 15.

When Ms Heiligman was growing up in Allentown, Penn., she said the most important things to her were her family and books. She began her love of books by taking books out of the library for her mother to read to her.

“Being read to is the single most important thing in predicting academic success,” said Ms Heiligman to the students.

The first book she checked out of a library was about butterflies, and, even though she did not know it at the time, that book was why she later became a writer.

The first book she wrote was From Caterpillar To Butterfly, a book that explains where the caterpillar goes when it seems to have disappeared. The book was written for 3-year-olds and up in mind.

Her most recent book, Charles and Emma: The Darwins’ Leap of Faith, the true story of Charles Darwin’s marriage tells the story of how the marriage played a role in his scientific life, according to her website.

Charles Darwin’s wife, Emma, according to Ms Heiligman, was religious and afraid she would go to heaven while her husband would go to hell.

“I told you I was nosy right? Well, I had to find out what the story was,” said Ms Heiligman. She read letters Charles Darwin wrote, and letters that his wife Emma wrote.

“Most importantly I found out, religion was something he thought about a lot,” she said.

After speaking to students about her books and her process of writing, Ms Heiligman also answered questions from the students.

Charles and Emma: The Darwins’ Leap of Faith has been honored as a National Book Award finalist, a Michael L. Printz Honor book and as the inaugural YALSA excellence in nonfiction award winner, according to the author.

To find out more information about Charles and Emma: The Darwins’ Leap of Faith go to www.deborahheiligman.com.