By Sarrah Peters
News Editor
On Wednesday, June 10, Attalla Public Library hosted a special book signing. Natalie Holland, author of “Scarred but Smarter: A Cancer Memoir and Get Healthy Manisfesto,” graduated from Southside High School, before attending Auburn. While home from college for the summer, Holland had a summer job at the Attalla Public Library.
Holland returned from San Antonio, Texas, where she lives now with her husband, David, and daughters Magdelena, Sarah Jayne and Genevieve, to visit family and to have the signing.
Holland’s book details her personal cancer journey. She was diagnosed with breast cancer at 36, which is young for the disease. She spent two years and underwent eight operations before recovery. She pointed out that cancer frequency is rising. She said that breast cancer rates in 1970 were only one in 20, as opposed to the one in eight of today. She believes that a big reason for this change is the increase of chemicals that we come in contact with, which inspires the second half of her book.
She said that the most important thing she learned from her journey was “to put my energy towards being happy.”
Holland is definitely qualified to offer nutrition and health advice, as she holds a BS in Nutrition and Dietetics and a Master of Science in Education. She taught high school science for ten years, before she shifted her teaching focus to Pilates in her home studio. She also runs a blog dedicated to health and wellness through essential oils and nutrition, and she is a consultant for safe skincare through Beautycounter at www.beautycounter.com/ natalieholland.
About 45 people attended Holland’s book signing, including Attalla Mayor Larry Means, who presented Holland with a proclamation, and Gadsden Mayor Sherman Guyton.
“Scarred but Smarter: A Cancer Memoir and Get Healthy Manifesto” is available on Amazon.com, Kindle, and iBooks. It can also be checked out from the Attalla Public Library.
