Oct 7, 2010 By The 1 min read

Laurel Highlands students will hear from one of their own Tuesday about what it takes to be a bestselling author. Uniontown native Tonya Hurley will be speaking to high school and junior high students in the Laurel Highlands School District.

Hurley, who graduated from Laurel Highlands in the late 1980s, is the author of the young adult “ghostgirl” series. Her third novel in the series, “ghostgirl: Lovesick,” was released in July.

“We’re trying to motivate the students to read,” said middle school principal Mary Macar. “She’ll be talking to the students about the importance of staying in school, about being a writer and how school helps you.”

The first book in the “ghostgirl” series was released in 2008 and became an immediate bestseller. It is now available in 22 languages.

Although Hurley also will be signing books during her appearance at the schools, they will not be available for purchase on site as they have been in past years.