News from Heidi

I had never been to Wichita before, but now I know I have to find my way back. What a cool town. And I have to say it's mostly because Wichita has a kick-ass bookstore called Watermark. (They also have a very cool doughnut shop, but I would recommend going just for the bookstore!) I was lucky to visit a couple weeks ago with the incomparable Craig Popelars, Algonquin's marketing genius. We had the best time! The audience was warm and receptive and had great questions. Okay, so gotta write the new book finished so that I can go back.

I could not have dreamed of a better experience of the NAACP Image Awards this week. Wow. Wow. Wow. I got to get dressed up twice and hob knob with some very nice-looking and it turns out, very nice people. Thursday's gala was too fun. The talented and lovely poet Camille Dungy introduced me to actor Anthony Mackie and his rep. I'm not sure how I worked up the nerve, but I suggested that he check out The Girl Who Fell From the Sky as a possible new film project since the character Drew would suit him quite well. Keeping my fingers crossed that he likes the read!
Friday night was the actual awards ceremony. And it was surreal. I got to walk the red carpet. Man, was I nervous. And I think it showed. I didn't really gain my confidence until the end of the carpet and then it was just radio interviews--but I do think I rocked those. I was so glad to catch up with the extraordinary writers Dolen Perkins-Valdez, Berniece McFadden, and Carleen Brice (whose book to film won an Image Award--go Carleen!). And how lovely is Terry McMillan? She gave a shout out to me and the other writers nominated. A class act that lady is. I am so excited to do the interview webcast event with her in August. (Did you see the ad in yesterday's NYT Book Review? The night ended on a surreal note when I ran into Vanessa Williams who I met several years ago when I sent her my manuscript. She remembered me! We ended up sitting and talking for a long while and then Holly Robinson-Peete and her husband joined us. Let me just say that these two celebrities were so incredibly lovely and gracious. They posed for every photo that people asked for and were thoroughly down to earth. I am still buzzing from the excitement of the night.

Can we just say that the venerable Rainy Day Books rocks? I was so excited when I heard that I'd get to make an appearance there on the paperback tour. The folks at Rainy Day Books are tastemakers! When a book makes it there, it can make it anywhere so the legend goes. And I believe it. It was particularly special to visit Rainy Day because it was a kind of homecoming. I worked at Hallmark Cards which is located not too far down the road in Kansas City. And guess what? My Hallmark peeps came out in force to support me. It was so heart-warming and so special. My job at Hallmark was the first time I was ever paid to be a fiction writer. And it was a wonderful experience. So, thank you Rainy Day for a wonderful night and for your support of The Girl . . . and thank you Hallmark peeps too!

I am pleased as punch to report that The Girl Who Fell From the Sky is Pennie's Pick at Costco for March! This is an incredible honor and honestly, overwhelming! What it means is that you will find The Girl Who Fell From the Sky at Costco's across the nation--Costco is one of the biggest booksellers in the country! Can you believe it? I've been excited to do some signings at Costco locations in Seattle and in Vermont. I'm hoping I can visit a Costco near you. Thank you Pennie! And don't miss the big write-up in your March Costco Connection.  Pennie writes: "Durrow had me spellbound . . . "--There's also information on how to enter a giveaway for a signed copy of the book.  Hurry--enter now!

So exciting to see The Girl . . . climbing the New York Times Bestseller List again today. It clocks in at #20! Thanks everybody!

Wow! I was honored to be included as part of the line-up for the Orange County Literacy Council Annual Benefit along with writers Jeffery Deaver, Kim Severson, and Mark Richards. I felt like a little kid who got to sit at the big kid's table. It was also wonderful to connect with the very awesome, and hysterically funny Master of Ceremonies Daniel Wallace. I met Daniel at Bread Loaf when I was there as a waiter. I couldn't believe he remembered me! And I also caught up with the amazing Randall Kenan, another Bread Loaf connection but from 2009.
It was a great cause and a great luncheon. Thank you to everyone who put this event together and allowing me to be part of it. And many thank you's to my escort and host Pat Brooks!  Thank you also to the very amazing and talented D. G. Martin for inviting me on his TV show to talk about The Girl Who Fell From the Sky.  Stay tuned for air date details.

What a wonderful week it was. The amazing folks at Books & Books introduced me to some wonderful opportunities that took me to Miami, and yes, wait for it, Grand Cayman. I've gone international! The weather and the sun and sand were the perfect antidote to the cold and snow of the previous week in the Northeast.
In Grand Cayman I spoke to a group of high school students-from all over the island--assembled at the local movie theatre. They were so attentive, and respectful and I think interested. The best question I got was: what happens next? In the age that we are told kids aren't interested in reading, here was a kid who was interested in the story and wanted to know more. It was a great compliment. I did a live radio interview and then had the wonderful opportunity to talk with the local TV station. I dare say I felt like a minor celebrity. But most of all I felt very welcomed. To top it all off in Grand Cayman, I did a reading at the Books & Books outpost. What a wonderful audience they were. I can't thank Holly and Bianca enough for a wonderful few days. Can I come back when the new book is ready? Please?

Then it was on to Miami where I had the privilege of speaking to the Brickell Avenue Literary Society.  The Honorable Marcia Cooke introduced with the kindest words and I went on to speak informally to the group of 200 or so about the book.  Again, a warm and wonderful audience and another fantastic experience.  Then it was off to Palmer Trinity School where I spoke to an English class and then to the whole student body in the school gym. I am most grateful for this because I met a lovely young man, named J., who thanked me for coming--he said he felt less alone in his struggle to fit in because he had heard my story. I am thinking of him still and hope that he knows he's bigger than his struggle.
The week ended with a presentation for Northern Trust Bank organized by the smart and engaging Diane Cruz. I'd never been to Key Largo before, but I'm angling to go back.  Many in the audience had read the book so I enjoyed their questions so much.  And then, to top off the whole week there was dinner with Debra of Books & Books, my hero!  I gave her one of my I-love-you-man-calls when I heard that the book hit the NYT Bestseller list a few weeks ago. This woman is smart, and funny, and lovely, and I'm so glad to count her as a friend.  And now, it was time to travel again.  More updates on my visits to Chapel Hill, Kansas City, Wichita, Phoenix and Tempe (all this week) - stay tuned.

I am so absolutely proud of this reading that I did for KQED's Writers Block. This is a reading I had never done before that day in studio. It's actually the text from the published version of a story called "He Runs" which is part of The Girl Who Fell From the Sky. But I NEVER read it this way for presentations. I hope you will take the time to give it a listen (19 minutes).

I love Jamie Ford.  And I love his book Hotel on the Corner of Bitter & Sweet.

He was very sweet to do this interview with me in which he says among other things: "As far as message vs. story, it’s always story first with me. I’m wary of delivering anything terribly overt, because I get that “oodgy” feeling–like when an old friend tracks you down and calls and somewhere in the conversation you realize they’re trying to sell you Amway. I’m scared of accidentally betraying the reader’s trust, so I stick to story. But when I write, there’s usually something emotional that I’m in denial about anyway, some intrinsic truth."

Check out the whole interview here.

Thank you to everyone who came out to The Book Cellar in Brattleboro, VT last Friday. There was apple cider and cookies and the warmest audience in a very cold (weather-wise) town. It was an incredible delight that Ernie Hebert (one of the judges of the Bellwether Prize) introduced me to the crowd, and we got to hang out a little bit afterwards. Thank you, Vermonters, for all of your support! I love you back!