Light-skinned-ed Girl

Your Book Reviewer is Not Your Psychoanalyst

I should say upfront that my forthcoming novel, The Girl Who Fell From the Sky, is NOT about me.  Sure, the protagonist is a half-Danish, half-African-American girl who has blue eyes (like me).  Sure, the book's set in Portland, OR (where I grew up).  And yes, I do really have an Aunt Loretta (whose name I am using in the book with her permission). 

The story is not my story.  And the story is not about me.  That's a fact.

BUT, the novel does reflect my "emotional truths"--As a novel writer, I think that has to be the case.  I'm not the girl in the book, but the emotional truth of her experience (as well as that of the other central characters-- the neighborhood boy & the mother's friend) is part of me.

I've been thinking about all of this the past few weeks as the advanced reading copy of my book circulates and the reviews come in.  (It's been nerve-wracking--imagine just sending your toddler or your beloved puppy out in the world without supervision and see how it fares.)

I'm glad that so far the reviews have been good.  BUT, there's a little part of me that wants some new insight into what I've written--into the "emotional truths" that I've put on the page.  "Your book reviewer is not your psychoanalyst," I have to remind myself.  Still, I'd love to do an interview with Michael Silverblatt of KCRW's Bookworm--he's so awesome.  He's able to surprise writers like Toni Morrison and Joyce Carol Oates with his interpretations.

Or maybe it's just this: I wrote the book not for critique--for thumbs up or thumbs down or x number of stars--but to encourage more story.  I think that's what will be most satisfying in the end--hearing from readers about how the story relates to them.

Book Tour News: The Girl Who Fell From the Sky

My book, The Girl Who Fell From the Sky, debuts in February but the book tour is taking shape now.  Below are the dates scheduled so far.  To get the latest, visit my website.

I'd love to visit your town too.  If you have contacts at bookstores, universities, or cultural centers in your area, please let me know!

Riverside, CA: 31st Annual Writers Week
Friday, February 12, 4:30PM

Los Angeles, CA: Skylight Books Book Launch
Tuesday, February 16, 7:30PM

Portland, OR: Powell’s Books
Friday, February 19, 7:30PM

Seattle, WA: TBA
Saturday, February 20, 7:30PM

Bellingham, WA: Village Books
Monday, February 22, 7PM

Portland, OR: Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center
Tuesday, February 23, TBA

New York City: TBA
Thursday, February 25, 7:30PM

New Haven, CT: Yale Law School
Monday, March 1, 4:30PM

Santa Fe, NM: Collected Works Bookstore
Friday, March 12, 6PM

Hanover, NH: Dartmouth College
Thursday, April 15, 4pm

“ HAUNTING, AND LOVELY, PITCH PERFECT”  –  BARBARA KINGSOLVER

Hello & Welcome to My Blog

Welcome to my blog, Light-Skinned-ed Girl, a mixed chick's mixed thoughts on a mixed-up world.

Since 2006, I've been writing about the vagaries of race, biracial identity, and the Mixed experience--essentially I write "On the Biracial Thing."

 Some of my favorite (and controversial) posts on those subjects appear here:

• The Family Album is Mixed
• 1st Mixed Race People History Month Kick-off
  
• 2nd Annual Mixed Experience History Month Kick-off
• 3rd Annual Mixed Experience History Month Kick-off
• Mixed Experience History Month Re-Cap & a Pledge to Soldier On
• Did you know that these people were mixed? playwright August Wilson, artist Isamu Noguchi, writer Nella Larsen (black and Danish like me), activist Mildred Loving
  
• Are Those Your Eyes Part 5
• Are Those Your Eyes Part 7

I'm a writer who often blogs about the creative life: moments of inspiration and disappointment.  In 2008, I won Barbara Kingsolver's Bellwether Prize for Literature of Social Change.  My debut novel, The Girl Who Fell From the Sky (Algonquin Books), will be published in February 2010!  (You can pre-order it now.)  The book, a coming-of-age story mixed with a mystery and a love story, was named one of the Top Ten Promising Debuts in Publishers Weekly in June.  Follow my journey from unpublished to published writer as I chronicle each little step along the way.

• My First Book Appearance
• The Advanced Reading Copy of The Girl Who Fell From the Sky is Ready
• I Won the Bellwether Prize!

 Sometimes I write about my travels.  I am lucky to have experienced many adventures.

And sometimes I write about--well, anything that's on my mind.  That was especially true in 2008 when I blogged every single day of the year from wherever I was in the world.

I hope you enjoy the read!

:) heidi

P.S.  If you're looking for more cool stuff, check out my website where you can find more of my writing, or check out the weekly podcast I co-host called Mixed Chicks Chat and then read about the Mixed Roots Film & Literary Festival, an annual free public event, I co-founded and co-produce!

2010 Bellwether Prize Accepting Submissions

This is a true story: I almost chose not to submit The Girl Who Fell From the Sky for the Bellwether Prize.  I was grumpy the day it was due.  Dispirited.  I didn't have enough printer ink and didn't want to buy more; didn't want to go to the post office; and didn't want to send my work to be rejected.  I'd had enough rejection that week: a short short rejected, and a slight by a guy (who I knew) who couldn't remember my name. 

Besides, the application was a little different than others for which I had applied.  I had to show "proof" of publication and explain "why" my work counted as literature of social change.  It just seemed like too much work.  Why bother?

I swear: I almost didn't send it in.  But then I did.  Thank goodness I didn't listen to myself.  But now, I hope you will listen to me: if you have a novel that fits the Bellwether Prize --please send in your manuscript.  The submission period runs from Sept. 1 to Oct. 2.  Complete application information can be found here.

"Fiction has a unique capacity to bring difficult issues to a broad readership on a personal level, creating empathy in a reader’s heart for the theoretical stranger. Its capacity for invoking moral and social responsibility is enormous. Throughout history, every movement toward a more peaceful and humane world has begun with those who imagined the possibilities. The Bellwether Prize seeks to support the imagination of humane possibilities."

         Barbara Kingsolver, founder of the Bellwether Prize for Literature of Social Change

Bread Loaf Writers Conference 2009: so far . . .

I've been here for a week and I'm exhausted--but in the best way.  The time's flown by with excellent readings (btw: if you have not experienced a reading by writer Luis Urrea then you have missed out on a wonderful life event--I was feeling the spell of his storytelling a day later!), great conversations (many of which are about writing too), and just plain fun.

There's so much more to tell, but not now--I'm still living it!  In the meantime, I share with you the reading I did on the second  night for the Scholar's Reading.  I was pretty darn excited --not just to read to this amazing group in the spot where Robert Frost once stood to read -- but because it was my first time as an almost-published author too.  I think it went well.  Check it out on my website:

Bread Loaf Scholars' Reading 2009: Heidi W. Durrow

A Day at the Printers

At the last barbecue we had, my dear neighbor mentioned that he had a letterpress in his garage.  When his son was in high school some 30+ years ago, he had a letterpress business printing business cards, social note cards, and personalizing lunch boxes.  "It still works," he said.  "It just needs new rollers (for the ink)."

Well, lo and behold, he bought the new rollers (from a dealer in England!), dusted off the equipment and the type and invited me to give it a whirl.  How could I resist?

He greeted me with a snazzy little hat that matched his own and an apron.  And we were off.  We worked on a prototype for menu cards.  I LOVED setting the type together.  There was something that was quite meditative about it.  Centering and fitting the graphic with the border took some doing and my neighbor took the lead on that.  And I learned some letterpress language. 

After fours hours on the project, we called it a day.  I can't wait to try it again!

It's Here: Advanced Reading Copy of The Girl Who Fell From the Sky

In my hot little hands I can now hold an advance copy of my book!  It's so incredibly exciting.  The front cover, the back cover, and the spine--all put together in such an appealing package to hold the words I made.  It's so, well, lovely!  (And I love the seal.)

The advanced reading copy is for reviewers and folks interested in showcasing the book at an event (or something like the Oprah show!)--it's not for sale.  And the advanced reading copy gives me a last chance to correct anything that needs correcting.

I am simply over the moon!  Just a few more months and the book will be out there -- Hooray!

Long Time No See!

I have been on the move and in flux for the last several weeks.  First there was the Festival, then the big 40th birthday parties (yes, there were three of them!), a trip to Denmark, to Portland and at least three back and forth trips from East to West Coast.  Whew!  I've just been worn out.  Many things have gone by the wayside including that fabulous at 40 workout routine that helped me drop 15 pounds, and well, this blog.

But I'm back. 

Next week I'll be blogging from the Bread Loaf Writers' Conference.  I've been twice before--in 1997 as a contributor, and in 2004 as a waiter.  I'm moving up the "food chain" and will attend this year as a scholar.  I'm terribly excited, but also nervous. I get first-day-of-school jitters before going to these kinds of things: What if I don't make any friends?

 I expect to have a good time though.  I always leave Bread Loaf thoroughly inspired, and energized to do new writing.  And I have left both times with very good and dear friends.  More from Vermont!

The Girl Who Fell From the Sky Named Top Ten Debut of Season

I hope this is just the first good news I can relay about my book which will
be published February 2010.

Today, Publishers Weekly, the main book publishing trade magazine, featured
The Girl Who Fell From the Sky as one of the season's top ten most promising novel debuts!

I am over-joyed!

Amazon Knows about The Girl Who Fell From the Sky

I am a shameless self-googler though I'm making progress in breaking my addiction--I'm down to self-googling just twice a day.  But if I weren't a self-googler how else would I have known of this: The Girl Who Fell From the Sky is listed on Amazon!  Sign up to get a notification of the book's release which is still 11 months away: February 16, 2010 to be exact.

I am also floored by the generosity of writers I have met over the years who have taken the time to read an advanced copy.  The blurbs they have provided for the book are so --well, stunning!  I can't share them yet, but so glad to have them in hand--they're encouraging as I work on the new project in earnest now.  More words.  I know I can do it!