Clifton Park parishioner pens third children’s book

Nora Eberhardt Quigley never planned to be an author.

A practiced public school teacher for more than 35 years, Mrs. Quigley decided to try her hand at book publishing after retirement: “I just wanted to make something nice for kids,” she told The Evangelist.

Today, the 90-year-old parishioner of St. Edward the Confessor in Clifton Park recently self-published her third children’s picture book, titled “The Miracle on Christmas Day.” Mrs. Quigley says that even in her “ripe young age” she is “still seeking a new career and challenge.”

Her latest book tells a tale of a local family from Clifton Park as they search, chop down and decorate a tree in preparation for Christmas day. Readers can discover the family’s Christmas traditions, as they adorn their pine in tinsel and ornaments and place it on their back deck for display.

Of all the books she’s written, Mrs. Quigley said that “The Miracle on Christmas Day” was her most popular yet. On Oct. 13, Mrs. Quigley was invited to attend a book-signing event for local authors at Barnes and Noble in Colonie Center.

“I thought this is really something,” Mrs. Quigley said of the book signing. Of all the local authors in attendance, Mrs. Quigley sold all of her books brought to the event.

“When I sign, I write ‘Read, enjoy and smile!’ and my name,” said the author. “I think that pretty much covers the territory.”

Mrs. Quigley said that “all this book writing came about” because of her second husband, Jim Quigley, who encouraged her to pursue her interest in children’s writing: “He was a prince in every way,” she said.

Her first book, titled “Denny and the New Old Chair,” follows an Airedale terrier, named Denny, as he meets his new adoptive family. Her second book, “Maggie’s Magical Robe,” follows a girl named Maggie and a special robe she gets from her mother.

After her husband’s death from Alzheimer’s in 2005, Mrs. Quigley wanted to leave behind a legacy in his name by publishing the stories she had written. She had help getting published from a former teacher and good friend, Mary Carrier, who leads Mrs. Quigley’s computer education class at the Clifton Park-Halfmoon Public Library. Originally, the two tried to publish Mrs. Quigley’s books through a publishing company, but both found it to be easier and less expensive to self-publish.

Mrs. Quigley said that all of her books include pieces of her own life. “Denny” is based on a real dog, which belonged to a close friend growing up. The back porch illustrated in “The Miracle on Christmas” is based on the Quigley’s old home. Mrs. Quigley said her husband would love to sit out on the back deck and relax.

Originally from Astoria, Queens, Mrs. Quigley grew up on Long Island where she attended The Mary Louis Academy High School in Jamaica Estate. She went on receive her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Marymount Manhattan College, and her master’s degree in educational administration at the State University of New York at New Paltz. She graduated in February 1951.

Growing up, Mrs. Quigley always knew she wanted to become a teacher. Though she never had children of her own, friends of hers have said that she knew “how to climb into the mind of a child.”

Even in retirement, she continued her love for teaching and took a job as an adjunct professor for The College of Saint Rose and Russell Sage College. It was there that the Quigleys met Rev. Christopher DeGiovine, pastor at St. Matthew’s parish in Voorheesville, who became a close friend of the couple.

Mrs. Quigley even dedicated “The Miracle on Christmas Day” to Father DeGiovine, who said the book was the best one she’s ever written.

The author is currently working on her fourth picture book right now. “I’ve given away more books than [sold], but this isn’t a business to me,” said Mrs. Quigley. “I was just having fun.”

“The Miracle on Christmas Day” is available for purchase at http://www.amazon.com.