When a man jumped into 18-year-old Heather Wilson’s car and drove off with her in the back seat, at first she didn’t realize she was being kidnapped—because Heather has been blind since birth.
 
This true story occurred in Portland, OR just after Thanksgiving in 2005, but unbeknownst to Heather, the story struck a resonant chord with New York Times bestselling mystery novelist, April Henry. When April watched Heather on the news that night, her writer’s mind went into action.

The resulting novel, Girl, Stolen, is already in its fourth printing and was just chosen as a Quick Pick and a Best Fiction for Young Adults by the Young Adults Library Services Association.   
 
Over the years, April tried to track Heather down, but only recently was she able to find her through the Oregon Commission on the Blind. Heather says, “I am glad April has taken a terrifying experience and turned it into something creative.”  Heather is now studying to be a Braille proofreader.  And April was amazed to learn that in her free time, Heather is pursuing her new ambition—to write novels!