News from Heidi

As you know, The Girl Who Fell From the Sky was Pennie's Pick at Costco for March. I did a couple of signings at Costco warehouses in Seattle and Vermont, but I really wanted to do a signing on my home turf. Last Sunday, the Costco locations in Marina del Rey, and Hawthorne hosted me. Awesome stuff. In particular, I have to say thank you to Clive's whole crew at Hawthorne and in particular Claudette who drew folks to the table with her good cheer, lovely smile, and voluble introduction of me to passersby. I didn't keep a good count, but I think I signed a good 60+ books that day finding new readers I might not otherwise have found.

For the first time Portland Community College did a campus-wide PCC Reads and they chose The Girl Who Fell From the Sky. I was honored, but also incredibly thrilled. I took classes at PCC as a high school student when I thought I wanted to graduate early. And my mom is a long-time PCC employee. I couldn't have asked for a more energizing or meaningful visit. I met with students, faculty and staff on four campuses over breakfast, over snacks, in panel discussions, readings, and a kick-a** live radio show of sorts. The book was taught in dozens of classes including English as a Second Language classes, reading comprehension, writing composition, and social justice courses. The response from the students was overwhelming. After a moving panel discussion about the Mixed experience at Southeast Center, a group of students, faculty and staff presented me with the most amazing, gorgeous piece of art--a quilt that they had made in response to the book. Can you believe it? I just can't get over how amazing this is. (Thank you Karen Engstrom for bringing it all together!) Then it was off to Rock Creek where I did a reading and then met with a smaller group over some nibblies to talk about the book. The next day is a little bit of a blur because it was so emotional. My mom was in the audience as were a bunch of folks I hadn't seen in years--it felt like This is Your Life. I had done a reading at Cascade last year while on the hardcover tour so they asked me to talk about my educational and publishing journey. I choked up a couple of times as I talked -- my mom was beaming up at me -- the journey (which at times I would have called depression and despair) really was worth it! Then a short reception to talk with folks some more where I met some lovely people who I think will be new friends.

After an hour or so it was off to Sylvania campus where Dave Stout and crew had created a fantastic live stage show essentially. I felt like Oprah as I invited a few groups of students to the stage to ask questions of me about my experiences and the book. An incredibly talented young woman named Miyabi Inoue originally from Japan presented me with the most amazing watercolor that she was inspired to create in response to my book. Again, I was floored. Such beautiful art in response to my book? I couldn't have asked for more.

And wow, I can't stop thinking about the powerful staged reading of a couple of passages from the book. Thank you to the Illumination Project performers and their director Jeannie.  After the show, I signed some books, checked out the wonderful community photo project that the students had done.  And then met with a group of students over nibblies in the library.  I loved their questions and energy. 

I have to say that my time at PCC was nothing less than transformative.  Thank you for two amazing days.

After some time off the road, I actually was itching to go again, and I couldn't have ended up in a better place than Hood River. Waucoma Books hosted a wonderful evening at the Naked Winery where I talked with readers over wine (fully clothed btw ). I first met Jenny at PNBA, the regional booksellers event, in 2009 before my book was released. I was so jazzed to meet her because she was literally the first fan to write on my Facebook Page and on top of it she was a bookseller. It was a real treat to see her on her own stomping grounds and even better to be able to give her a big hug for being such a wonderful evangelist for my book. Thank you to the folks of Hood River for a wonderful night!

WARNING: This is not your parents' Ebony Magazine. True to the magazine's word they are really changing things up in their latest issues. In the May issue, on newstands NOW,  Ebony Magazine devotes a good dozen pages to stories and essays exploring the Mixed experience. I am honored that the editors asked me to write about the Mixed Roots Film & Literary Festival that Fanshen Cox and I started in 2008. The story got a full-page spread--the best press the Festival has ever received given Ebony Magazine has a 1.25 million circulation rate. I hope you'll read the article. And I hope you'll consider donating to the Festival which is an all-volunteer effort (that means nobody gets paid at all!)--and we end up paying for out of own pockets when we don't raise enough money (last year we ended $2000 in the red). It's easy and it's tax-deductible. Thank you!

I've been very lucky to connect to a number of readers by either calling in to book clubs as I did for the in Oregon last week or Skype-ing with the book group at Vermont Bookshop led by the wonderful Becky Dayton and with the esteemed Nancy Beuhler's book groups of Glencoe, IL. If your group is reading The Girl Who Fell From the Sky, drop me a line because I'd love to join in. If my schedule permits I'll be there (well actually I'll be at home in pjs or wherever I am, but you know what I mean.)

I had a fun time talking on the panel about multiracial identity at the California African American Museum. The panel was a special event to highlight the current exhibition "Indivisible" about the African-American/Native American shared experience and blending of cultures. Definitely check it out if you're in LA. The exhibit is there through May 15.

I knew I'd love talking to Amanda Turner on The Writers' Block when I read what she wrote about The Girl Who Fell From the Sky to pub my appearance on the show: "All I can say is that it broke my heart and then stitched it together again. I’m happily scarred." I hope you'll enjoy listening to this wide-ranging conversation I had with Amanda a couple of weeks ago in Boise--some of my answers even surprised me! You can hear the interview here.

I am so grateful to Rediscovered Bookshop in Boise, ID. The booksellers there have been super champions of The GIrl Who Fell From the Sky since it was first released in hardcover. I was so jazzed I got a chance to visit their store a couple of weeks ago. And look what a wonderful set-up they had for my visit--and look what a wonderful turnout there was! My fellow Bread Loafer '09, the brilliant writer who is taking the country by storm with his much acclaimed debut, Volt, introduced me which almost brought me to tears. It was just a special, special night. Thank you to Laura, Jamie, Ross, Ty, and Megan for a wonderful evening and thank you to everyone including the whole Taxi Pass crew who came out to cheer me on!

I'm so excited to see the full interview. I will keep you posted.

I had to cancel my visit to Boulder Books earlier this year because of a storm. But re-scheduled and returned last week to do a book group discussion with a charming group of readers. I was so glad I got a chance to meet them. They had thoughtful questions and comments. Thank you Boulder for supporting The Girl! I had fun!