First, I'll introduce myself as a writer...
When I started writing professionally, I quickly discovered my priorities are process and publishing. That meant I could happily cover just about any topic - and I have!
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Children's publishing has had my heart since 2006. I'm the author of more than 200 books for publishers including Scholastic, Hachette Book Group, Random House Kids, Lerner Publishing Group, Teacher Created Materials, Mayo Clinic Press Kids, and Learning A-Z. I've written for high-profile brands including Disney, Sesame Street, Little Golden Books, Time for Kids, and the Smithsonian.
Hi, I'm Heather!
In adult nonfiction, I'm published by Grand Central Publishing and Knock Knock. Additional writing credits include work for National Geographic Family, Bridal Guide, the Arthritis Foundation, I Love NY, LifetimeTV.com, Cat Fancy, USAA, Engagement 101, Looper, and NASA (yes, America's space agency - see below!).
My books have been featured in major media including Teen Vogue, People, Business Insider, and Wired and have won awards including the NCSS/CBC Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People and the Children's Book Committee at Bank Street College Best Children's Book of the Year.
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And now, my performance artist bio!
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My earliest performances include school plays, violin playing, a spot in the chorus for Melodies of Christmas at Proctors Theatre (Schenectady, NY), local and regional commercials, and some print work, too. In 2014, I started training with The Mopco Improv Theatre (Schenectady, NY), where I've been a regular performer ever since, starting on several house and recreational teams and later joining the mainstage company.​
In 2021, I was an expert author on E! Entertainment's True Hollywood Story, and between 2021 and 2022, I combined my writing and performance skills to create The Visibility Project. This included a series of satirical press releases and my book How to Be Ridiculous: 28 Tips for a Brand-New You!, which is structured for stage readings.
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In 2024, I developed my solo show, Junk Drawer, which includes both songs and sketch material. I've performed the show at Hudson Valley Improv's Secret Open Mic (Highland, NY), Happier Valley Comedy (Hadley, MA), and the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre (NYC), the latter of which called it "fun and charming to watch."
I also sing jazz and American standards with the Dave Kitchen Trio and I'm co-creator of the improvised comedic lounge act Mabel And Geffrey's Family Interest Affair.​​​
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“Heather's upbeat, lively writing is engaging and provides accurate and well-researched information in ways that make readers want to keep turning the pages. From the outline to the final revision, Heather knows her stuff and always meets her deadlines. Highly recommended!" - Jon Fishman, Executive Editor, Lerner Sports
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"Heather’s presentation was a unique offering at our conference. It was both educational and entertaining, providing professional insights, specific examples, and practical tips to help writers land work-for-hire assignments for themselves."—Lin Oliver, Executive Director, SCBWI
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Remember when I said I wrote for NASA?
This is a scripted animation I co-wrote to explain a complex scientific concept to a general audience. Watch and learn!