Those waiting in line to meet Homer Hickam in the Mountainlair Tuesday afternoon called him "inspiring" and "captivating." Hickam, best-selling West Virginia author of the classic memoir "Rocket Boys," as well as several other published works, said he has almost become accustomed to such praise, but doesn’t understand it. "I just wrote a little book, and it turned out to be really great," he said. "I’m not really the one who is inspiring. It’s all the people in West Virginia who supported me who are." Hickam was at West Virginia University to speak at a conference for the Center for the Advancement of Leadership Skills in the evening spending the day signing books in the Mountainlair Commons. The signing was originally scheduled from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., but due to the amount of interest, Hickam stayed until almost 4 p.m., when he had another engagement. The signing sold all of Hickam’s books on hand – more than 60 copies. His presence drew a crowd encompassing a cross section of Morgantown’s Peggy Metcalf, of Morgantown, brought her children, Jacob and Mia, to the signing. Jacob watched the movie "October Sky," based on "Rocket Boys," and is interested in space travel. Though Jacob hasn’t read "Rocket Boys" because "he doesn’t read yet," Peggy said she recently read one of Hickam’s books with her book club. Morgantown resident Trudy Satterfield was charmed by Hickam’s presence on campus – she has read a few of his books and has seen him speak before, but came to the signing to talk to him one-on-one. "He’s a great writer," she said. "If you get into the story, you’re really captivated." Michael Myers, a graduate teaching assistant in the intensive English program at WVU, previously taught in the public school system using Hickam’s work. He noted how compelling Hickam’s story was to students and said he admired his personal character as well as his professional experience. "‘Rocket Boys’ inspires me with the opportunities these boys made for themselves out of nothing," he said. "Rocket Boys," published in 1998, tells the story of Hickam growing up in Coalwood, W.Va., and aspiring to be a rocket scientist. It has been translated into eight languages, has won several awards and was made into a movie starring Jake Gyllenhaal in 1999, according to Hickam’s official Web site.
community – from students to older residents to small children.
‘Rocket Boys’ author on campus Tuesday
Published: Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Updated: Tuesday, October 6, 2009 23:10
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