News from Heidi

A very huge congratulations to Naomi Benaron author of the newly released Bellwether Prize winning book, Running the Rift. It's a wonderful story of hope and dreams set against the backdrop of Rwanda before the genocide and beyond. I know you'll enjoy this wonderful book! And if you have a chance to see Naomi in person on her tour, please do! She has so many wonderful stories to share about her writing and life. Yay Naomi!

So this is it guys--the last of the PCC reads videos. I hope you had a chance to see all of them--PCC did an amazing job of bringing together a wide-range of students into the campus-wide read program. I am honored that I was a part of it! Thank you PCC! Maybe I'll see some of you at the Schnitz on March 6? It's a whole new show!

I was so happy to talk with the student leaders of PCC's Multicultural Center about The Girl Who Fell From the Sky. The questions were great and we had a great time talking after the camera stopped rolling too!

One of the most exciting things about PCC choosing The Girl Who Fell From the Sky for its campus-wide read was meeting the ESOL students. There are students from across the globe studying at PCC and for some of them--my book was their first read of a novel in English. This is a great honor. What I heard from the students was that there were many ways they could relate to the characters as immigrants to a new community and trying to find their own way too. And you must see the beautiful watercolor that one of the students was inspired to create after reading the book. She is hugely talented!

I was excited to hear what The Illumination Project theatre students would do for the staged reading of this passage from The Girl Who Fell From the Sky. I read it at a couple of appearances years ago, but felt so awful about saying the N-word, I vowed never to do it again. But I think they did an awesome job with this staged reading of a passage from The Girl Who Fell From the Sky.

The Illumination Project theatre students do an awesome job with this staged reading of a passage from The Girl Who Fell From the Sky. Thanks for bringing such wonderful life to the words!

I just discovered that the video of my visit to Portland Community College last Spring has been posted on You Tube. This is the video (in 6 parts) of the wonderful culminating event at Sylvania campus. Students, staff and faculty interview me. Best of all there is a staged reading of a couple of passages from the book by the wonderful student actors. I hope you'll enjoy watching this as much as I enjoyed doing the event!

Everybody Reads 2012 is well underway! Multnomah County Library is giving away 6000 copies of a special edition of The Girl Who Fell From the Sky. I think you can find a copy at any branch of the library, Portland State University, and Oregon Public Broadcasting.  (This is a photo a friend of mine sent to me of a display at the North Portland branch.

Everybody Reads 2012 has announced the schedule of events for the community to get together and discuss The Girl Who Fell From the Sky. There are lectures and roundtable talks and I just wish I could be there for all of the events. I will be speaking at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall on March 6. Get your tickets now! See you there!

It's been nice to be off the road for the last few weeks, but that won't last forever.  I'll be traveling again starting in February 2012.  In addition to the events listed below, I'll also be speaking at Missouri State, University of Washington, Exeter, and the Writer's Center in Bethesda, MD in the coming months.  As soon as I have the specifics about those appearances, I will be sure to post the information on my website.  I hope to see you on the road!

Purdue University

Feb. 23, 2012 7PM

I'll be reading at Purdue University, Ernest C. Young Hall Room 1037, W. Lafayette, IN 47906.
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AWP Conference

Feb. 29-March 2, 2012

Join me for this great panel: Keeping a Debut Book Alive with Justin Taylor, Marie Mockett, Joanna Smith Rakoff, Dylan Landis, and me! Thursday, March 1 at 1:30 PM to 2:45 PM. Scheduled Room, Hotel, Floor: Crystal Room, Palmer House Hilton, 3rd Floor!
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Pasadena Festival of Women Authors

March 3, 2012

I'll be part of the wonderful Pasadena Festival of Women Authors featuring Susan Straight, Fannie Flagg, Michelle Huneven, and moderated by Elizabeth Forsythe Hailey. For more information visit the Festival website.
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Everybody Reads 2012

March 6, 2012

I'm thrilled that The Girl Who Fell From the Sky is the Everybody Reads 2012 selection and I will do a presentation at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. For more information and ticket information, click here.
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AAUW Literary Lunch

March 17, 2012

I'm thrilled to be part of this program. For more information click here.
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Story Week Festival

March 18-March 23, 2012

I'm thrilled to be part of this Festival. Details to come.
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Rutgers University - Camden

April 11, 2012

I'm thrilled to do a reading and signing with writer Tiphanie Yanique.
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Santa Barbara Women's Literary Lunch

May 5, 2012

I'll be a part of this wonderful program. For more information click here.
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Mixed Roots Film & Literary Festival

June 16-17, 2012

Don't miss the 5th Annual Mixed Roots Film & Literary Festival www.mxroots.org.