About

Born in Ohio, raised in West Virginia, Heidi Hartwiger has a deep reverence for the earth and an abiding love for Appalachia and its people. This mother of four and grandmother of eight divides her time between her homes in Virginia and the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Now a retired teller of ghost stories for Maximum Guided Tours "Original Candlelight Ghost Tour of Williamsburg" and "The Yorktown Ghost Tour" in Yorktown, Virginia, she is a freelance writer, and a writing instructor for the Lifelong Learning Society of Christopher Newport University, Newport News, Virginia.  

In addition to The Secrets of Indian Knob, a lyrical, coming of age novel filled with Appalachian folklore and tradition set in rural West Virginia (Frog Hollow Press, 2001), she has written several prize-winning short stories. Three are anthologized. "Wheel of Fortune" is in Turnings; Writing on Women's Transformations published by The Friends of Women's Studies, Old Dominion University, March 2000. "Rosa Loves Eric" appears in the short story collection, In Good Company Volume 3, with featured author, David Baldacci. (Live Wire Press, Fall 2001) "Blackberry Boy" was selected for In Good Company, Volume 4, with featured author, Leslie Schwartz. (Live Wire Press, Fall 2002). Three poems that reflect her sense of heritage, Carport Appalachia, Bored, and Zanesville Women, appeared in The Poet's Domain, Volume 20, Live Wire Press, Fall 2003. 

Heidi Hartwiger has written three highly successful non-fiction books. A Gift of Herbs (Down Home Press,1993) became a 1995 Rodale Book Club selection. All Join Hands; The Forgotten Art of Playing With Children (Down Home Press,1994) is the source for her popular, light hearted Natural Parent-Natural Child series that appears in Ohio Valley Parent, a magazine which serves families in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. Her latest nonfiction book, Keeper of the Stories (Parkway Publishing, Inc 2002), is a guide to writing family stories. It is frequently used as a helpful source by older beginning writers individually or in workshop settings.

As a storyteller, Heidi Hartwiger learned that history comes alive by weaving it into story. She wrote Six Revolutionary WOW Factor Women as recreational reading for kids ages 7-11. Not only does this book entertain while learning about Colonial America and The American Revolution, it also opens the door to understanding choices and introduces creative problem solving skills.

Author of over 300 magazine and newspaper articles, Heidi is available for writing conferences, festivals and other literary events.  

For more information about workshops and availability please contact her at heidi.hartwiger41@gmail.com