Famed author and news analyst Cokie Roberts visited Staunton Thursday. As a journalist, Roberts spent years in front of the camera. Although fulfilling, she says she always had a soft spot in her heart for history.

She's now helping to tell the tales of women who have shaped and molded the United States into the nation it is today. However, she says the journey wasn't an easy one.

"Not only was getting the material incredibly difficult, then shaping it into a narrative was incredibly difficult, and making is readable and fun," says Roberts.

Roberts says one goal of the book is to inspire young women.

She says, "For girls particularly, to understand that women were essential to the creation of the country and the perfection of the country, gives them a sense of stake and I think that's terribly important and with any luck, it leads them to civic engagement."

Politics, especially Virginia's position in the general election, was another hot topic at the event.

"Not only in northern Virginia are you seeing a lot of Democrats moving in or changing to Democrats, but you also see in some of the rural areas of the state something of a populous move so it's going to be interesting to see how Virginia goes," says Roberts.