Barbieri, Heather Doran 1963–

PERSONAL: Born 1963; married; children: three. Education: Attended University of Washington.

ADDRESSES: Home—Seattle, WA. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Soho Press, 853 Broadway, New York, NY 10003. E-mail—heather@heatherbarbieri.com.

CAREER: Writer. Has held editorial jobs at newspapers and magazines.

AWARDS, HONORS: Waller Literature Award, 1984; James W. Hall Fiction Prize, 1985; Seattle Artists literary fellow, 1994–95; Ian St. James International Short Fiction Award, 1995; So to Speak Short-Short Fiction Award, 2001; Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators work-in-progress grant, 2003; Washington State Arts Commission Artist Trust literary fellow, 2004.

WRITINGS:

Snow in July (novel), Soho Press (New York, NY), 2004.

Contributor of short fiction to anthologies, including The Pursuit of Happiness, Leftbank Books, 1995; Writing for Our Lives, Running Deer Press, 1996; Pleasure Vessels, Angela Royal Publishing, 1997; Explorations 2000, University of Alaska Southeast, 2001; and So to Speak, George Mason University, 2001.

SIDELIGHTS: Heather Doran Barbieri's first novel, Snow in July, is the story of two sisters from Butte, Montana: Meghan is a drug addict with two children, and Erin is a recent high-school graduate who works at a vintage clothing store and lives with their mother. At one time, Meghan was the ambitious star of the family. After the death of their alcoholic father, her confidence crumbled and now her younger sister tries to hold things together. When Erin, the narrator, responds to a call from Meghan's preschool-aged daughter Teeny, the children and then Meghan move back to the family home. Meghan finds a job and begins to address her addictions, but when former associates threaten the family tension between the two sisters grows accordingly.

Reviewers were most impressed with the author's handling of family ties and descriptive passages. Writing for Library Journal, Elaine Bender stated that in Snow in July Barbieri "effectively captures the setting and atmosphere." A Kirkus Reviews critic remarked: "Barbieri handles the complex sibling relationship with finesse," and Seattle Weekly critic Colleen Smith advised that Snow in July can deliver "intricate, commanding descriptions of landscape or memory."

Barbieri told CA: "I am the descendent of Irish-American Butte miners who instilled me with the joy of storytelling and importance of family. An avid reader, my favorite books include anything by Edna O'Brien and William Trevor, as well as Pat Barker's 'Regeneration' series, Mary Karr's and Ruth Reichl's memoirs, The Star of the Sea, Cry the Beloved Country, To the Lighthouse, The Sheltering Sky, The English Patient, The Assault, 100 Years of Solitude, Mrs. Caliban, Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, Possession, Heart of Darkness, The White Bone, and The Sweet Hereafter, among others. Beloved childhood books include A Wrinkle in Time, Jessamy, The Witch of Blackbird Pond, Watership Down, and the works of Joan Aiken."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Booklist, September 15, 2004, Rebecca Maksel, review of Snow in July, p. 205.

Kirkus Reviews, September 15, 2004, review of Snow in July, p. 880.

Library Journal, November 1, 2004, Elaine Bender, review of Snow in July, p. 72.

Seattle Weekly, February 16, 2005, Colleen Smith, review of Snow in July.