Life Influences Art. Biracial Girl seeks Identity & Fulfillment: The Girl Who Fell From The Sky by New York Times Bestselling Author, Heidi Durrow. A Book Talk and Signed Giveaway

I can't remember where I first heard of The Girl Who Fell From The Sky, but I do know that the title intrigued me. A girl fell from the sky? Who? How? Was this some kind of science fiction or paranormal story? Far from it. It's based on real events and real people, the author of which is one. Let's look at a description of the story...

This debut novel tells the story of Rachel, the daughter of a Danish mother and a black G.I. who becomes the sole survivor of a family tragedy. 

With her strict African American grandmother as her new guardian, Rachel moves to a mostly black community, where her light brown skin, blue eyes, and beauty bring mixed attention her way. Growing up in the 1980s, she learns to swallow her overwhelming grief and confronts her identity as a biracial young woman in a world that wants to see her as either black or white.

In the tradition of Jamaica Kincaid's Annie John and Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye, here is a portrait of a young girl and society's ideas of race, class, and beauty. It is the winner of the Bellwether Prize for best fiction manuscript addressing issues of social justice.

I don't want to giveaway any spoilers, but there really is a girl that fell from the sky. Durrow, the author wanted to give this girl a voice, envision what her future would be. Writers are told to write what they know, so Durrow did just that: she made the girl a version of herself: mixed-raced, black and white, blue-eyed, moving from an all white environment in Denmark to a primarily black one in the United States.

The book has a very literary and lyrical sensibility. The story is sad, it's tragic, it's hopeful. I loved it.

Heidi and I became friendly over Twitter. When she told me she was going to be performing a reading of her book at The New School in New York City, I had to be there. It was a real joy to listen to her read from her book. It tickled me to listen to her. She's got the black vernacular down to a science--and this from a girl who for the first twelve years of her life didn't know a black person beyond her father and whose first language is Danish. She refers to herself as an "afro-viking"...lol...

Heidi (R) and her brother listening to their father read.

It's my pleasure to give away a signed copy of Heidi's book and a bookmark. If you're interested in receiving them, please leave a comment telling me if you know anyone who's biracial and what combination of race he or she is. Don't forget to leave your email. That is all.

Heidi signing YOUR book!

Heidi Durrow speaks to the audience at The New School in NYC

Giveaway open to residents of the US and Canada only. It ends Friday, August 26, 2011.

The Girl Who Fell From The Sky released January 2010 and is a New York Times and Los Angeles Times bestseller.

Toodles!