Red Chair interview: The moment Heidi Durrow knew she wanted to write
Editor's note: Heidi Durrow is the Bellwether Prize-winning author of "The Girl Who Fell From the Sky," co-host of the weekly podcast "Mixed Chicks Chat" and co-founder and co-producer of the Mixed Roots Film & Literary Festival.
By Heidi Durrow, Special to CNN
It took me a long time to realize an abiding dream — to publish a novel that was about real issues and also had my heart in it. It’s funny how now I can call the 12-year period - from writing the first words to the book’s publication — a “journey.”
In all honesty, that time was difficult and frustrating. When I was stymied by writer’s block and when the publisher rejections piled up, I was sometimes depressed and sometimes just filled with despair. Would my dream ever come true? Would the work ever pay off?
As I map out new dreams for my writing career, I am remembering those difficult times and trying to plan for them. And mostly, I’m remembering why I’m in this business at all: for the joy of it all – for the joy of connecting with readers – and maybe, just maybe, creating an inner revolution in just one person out there.
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What defines you? Maybe it’s the shade of your skin, the place you grew up, the accent in your words, the make up of your family, the gender you were born with, the intimate relationships you chose to have or your generation? As the American identity changes we will be there to report it. In America is a venue for creative and timely sharing of news that explores who we are. Reach us at inamerica@cnn.com.
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iReport
"After all, isn't kepieng our own side free of counterproductive elements just as important as taking on the opposition?"That's positively Kos-itian, BM.PURITY IS REQUIRED! TOE THE LINE OR DIE!When will you be scheduling the purge?