News from Heidi

I mentioned a few posts back that the Grandma Doris character isn't much like my real grandmother except for the jokes. But then I realized you don't know either one of them yet! So, let me introduce you to my real grandmother with this short film--and when you read the book you can decide whether the two ladies are similar or not. (And by the way: Happy New Year!) My Real Grandma(mp4 file). You can also watch the movie here--I've embedded below.

My Real Grandmother from Heidi Durrow on Vimeo.

I couldn't have written the book without them. That's the simple truth. I'm sure there were times during the last 13 years they wondered: what the heck is Heidi really doing? How could she give up a lucrative legal career? Is she really writing? They may have thought it, but they didn't ask me. They took me at my word that I was doing the work I needed to do. I thank them in the book acknowledgments. I thank them again here. I heart you guys! (Photo by vistamommy via Flickr.)

I walked into this whole writing thing pretty blind. I thought all I had to do was write a manuscript finished, send it out, and voila: there the book would be. This, good people, does not happen. Not even in the world of instant publishing. So first I had to figure out what my steps to publication would be (read the last post on Poets & Writers magazine). But the thing I had not realized would be so important was finding a mentor. I was lucky--my mentor found me. I entered the Associated Writing Programs Writers Conferences Contest a few years ago--and won--the judge that year? The awesome Michael Pettit. He took an interest in my work thereafter. He introduced me to my agent. He introduced me to other writers. He bolstered my confidence when it flagged, and had answers for me when I had questions. The guy is a gem. And I'm glad I sent in that application. I'm very happy to have been #114. Thank you Michael! For everything!  (Oh, and that contest deadline is March 30, 2010, this year!)

If you are a writer, or want to be, Poets & Writers magazine should be your bible. It was mine. Whenever I felt frustrated by the writing, or frustrated by the rejections from literary journals, I would turn to P&W and make a plan. The list of contest and submission deadlines gave me just a little bit of hope -- maybe these guys are hoping to find my writing in the big pile. And it gave me a deadline. Deadlines are important. So if you are out there reading this--go get your P&W now: I promise it will help!

My young protagonist, Rachel, is beautiful. And she is constantly struggling to understand what that means to other people--how it often endangers her. Rachel is nothing like me in this respect. I can see the photos and see that I was a cute kid. But I was no beauty in my teens--I was awkward-looking: crazy biracial hair, buck-teeth and a unique (at best) bohemian sensibility of style. I discovered something approaching cute at close to age 30 -- and now age 40--well, I wish I were 30 again! Proof in the pudding is this photo!

I think I'll just say this here and now: I wish my dad were alive so that he could see what's happening in my life now.

Do you remember the Vincent Price Shakespeare albums? Did I make this up? I mention them in The Girl Who Fell From the Sky. I loved Vincent Price growing up ---that voice, that laugh. And I loved to listen to his Shakespeare albums. Anybody have any information for me?

Rachel, the young protagonist of The Girl Who Fell From the Sky, is considered a prime contender to become a Links Debutante. I was a Links Debutante--and very proud to receive the academic scholarship awarded to the student with the highest GPA--at the debutante ball. The Links Incorporated, a wonderful women's service organization, puts on a beautiful "coming out" ball each year for young women of color--dance lessons, etiquette training, and teas included in advance. And I loved that my mom made me a new dress! (Photo to come.)

I had forgotten until I was watching This Is It on the plane--but Michael Jackson gets a mention in The Girl Who Fell From the Sky. He was so huge during that time--he's the only pop mention in the whole book.  It was bittersweet to watch the movie -- it's so sad he died so young.

I love Bill & Lynne of Misty Valley Books. I'm doing my first event as a published novelist in Chester, VT, at their invitation. This is a first-rate event! Look at the writers' swag! My face on a wine bottle! It's just too cool!