The author of Shelly’s Heart was at Barnes and Noble in Greenville Sunday for a book signing. 

Author Maureen Hooker received a heart donation from Shelly Whitman of Kenly in 2011. 

Whitman died of a sudden, unexpected death, and Hooker needed a heart after complications from breast cancer. 

It happened in 2011. 

Whitman’s mother and many others attended the book signing. 

Hooker wrote the medical memoir about her experience.

“It is amazing,” Hooker said. “It’s a god thing. It’s not anything I would ever think of for myself or anticipate but it happened not because of me or because I’m special, but it happened because of God.”

Whitman had a son, inspiring Hooker to start a scholarship in her honor. 

Each year, a freshman ECU student who is a child of a heart donor receives $1,000 for schooling. 

All proceeds from the book go to the scholarship.

The book signing also comes during National Donate Life Month.