Deborah Roberts, Al Roker expected in Perry to autograph their book

Perry native and ABC journalist Deborah Roberts is returning to her hometown Saturday.

She and her husband, Al Roker, a New York Times bestselling author and weatherman anchor on NBC’s "Today," will be in town to autograph a book they’ve written together.

The book signing is at the Perry Branch Library, 1201 Washington St., Perry, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.

The book, "Been There, Done That: Family Wisdom For Modern Times," grew out of Roberts’ desire to write a book of her own and a meeting with Roker’s editor to discuss his next book, she said.

While brainstorming, Roberts, 55, and Roker, 61, started telling stories and sharing jokes.

Roberts got the idea during the banter that they should write a book together. Roker didn’t like the idea at first, thinking their different writing styles and Type-A personalities might be “a recipe for disaster,” she said.

But the editor loved the idea, and the couple decided to give it a try.

In the book, Roker and Roberts alternate writing chapters.

"It just seemed to work," she said.

In the book, Roberts talks about being a child of the segregated South, about losing her best friend to an auto-immune disease and her journey as a television reporter when sometimes forced to make tough decisions between career and family.

"Sometimes, when we’ve been out promoting the book, people think it’s just either a career couple, or it’s just about marriage and the secret to a happy marriage," Roberts said. “It’s about life. ... It’s not just about one topic, and I think that’s the beauty of the book.”

For Roberts, the book also is a tribute to her parents, especially her mother. Roberts said she’s trying to pass on to her own children the values of decency, kindness and respect for others that her mother instilled in her.

Friday night, Roberts plans to met with an alumni group at the University of Georgia in Athens.

While an intern at Georgia Public Television while in college and covering the state Legislature, Roberts became friends with Perry native Larry Walker, she said. A former veteran state lawmaker, Walker and fellow law firm partners are among the sponsors of the book signing.

"It’s a good book," Walker said. "I’ve read it. It’s a story of a small town Southern girl marrying a man from Queens, New York, and raising a family together. …. You’ll find out a lot of things about both of them."

Walker said he’s honored Roberts would take time to come to Perry.

“We’re very, very proud of Deborah,” he said.

This story was originally published April 28, 2016 at 7:17 PM with the headline "Deborah Roberts, Al Roker expected in Perry to autograph their book."