Arts & Entertainment

Gold Medalist to Speak About Book at Arlington Heights Memorial Library

Nicolette House, an accomplished ice-skater will present her latest book, "Maddie Takes the Ice" today at 2 p.m.

Before a published book, before traveling around the world to compete in ice-skating competitions and before the gold medals, Nicolette House, was a young girl who began skating at the age of 3. 

House's bloodline is full of skaters, her mother, father and grandmother ice-skated, it’s no stretch, that House, a four-time U.S. Figure Skating gold medalist, continued the family tradition.

"I would come in and watch my mom teach (ice-skating) and they would kind of skate around with me," house said. "And then when I got a little bit older, I was put into a class." 

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House, an Arlington Heights resident will be sharing her knowledge, wisdom and talking about her book, "Maddie Takes the Ice" at the Arlington Heights Memorial Library, 500 North Dunton Ave. today at 2 p.m. 

After taking a break from skating and competition, House wrote a book and it was publish in May 2010. 

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House, who also teaches ice-skating, got in touch with a book publishing company through one of her students' mother. 

Sporting Chance Press, which published "Maddie Takes the Ice" allowed House to stay involved in the sport.  Sporting Chance press focuses on publishing books that use sports to teach life lessons. 

"I think what his company had in mind and what I wanted to write about kind of meshed," House said.

The book may resemble House's background, but it's fictional. 

"Maddie is a character, it’s a fiction book," House said. "So its not a true story."

The book, which targets girls' aged 8 through 14, is about a young girl who’s preparing for regional championships in ice-skating but is dealing with pressure brought on from her parents, coaches and herself, House said.

"Maddie" learns how to balance the time she spends with ice-skating, having a social life and balancing her schoolwork. 

House said any girl playing sports or going through middle school can relate to the book. 

After today's presentation at 2 p.m., House will immediately answer questions and sign books at 3 p.m. 

Nicolette House is a four time USFS Gold Medalist and a European and World Ice Dance competitor. House has represented Lithuania internationally as an ice dancer at the Karl Shaeffer Memorial, Golden Spin of Zagreb, the ISU European Championships, and the ISU World Championships. House plans to compete professionally, write more "Maddie books" and eventually become a sports psychologist. 

 

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