Local author Anna Lewis to speak on her book, 'Women of Steel and Stone'

The St. Charles Public Library is pleased to host award-winning author and St. Charles resident Anna M. Lewis at 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 18, in the Carnegie Community Room, 1 S. Sixth Ave.

Lewis will share insights from her book, "Women of Steel and Stone," an account of 22 female architects, engineers and landscape designers from the 1800s to today.

Engaging profiles based on historical research and firsthand interviews will show how childhood passions, perseverance and creativity led these women to overcome challenges and break barriers to achieve success in their professions.

Subjects include Marion Mahony Griffin, who worked alongside Frank Lloyd Wright; Emily Warren Roebling, who took over duties as chief engineer on the Brooklyn Bridge project; Beverly L. Greene, the first African-American woman in the country to get her architecture license; and Zaha Hadid, one of the first women to receive the prestigious Pritzker Architecture Prize.

In 2017, "Women of Steel and Stone" earned top honors as Best STEM Book from the Children's Book Council.

While the nonfiction book is geared for younger readers, Lewis' presentation is suitable for adults and students, ages 12 and older. In addition to her lectures, Lewis teaches classes on cartooning and game design. She has worked on projects for Mattel and Tonka.

Copies of her book will be available for purchase after the program.

Registration is recommended for this program. Sign up at the reference desk, by calling (630) 584-0076, ext. 1, or online at www.stcharleslibrary.org.