ROCK NEEDS RIVER

Press & podcasts

• The Atlantic had a beautifully nuanced and thoughtful review: “McGrady’s adoption story is rare and important … Rock Needs River reminds the reader that although open adoption is often characterized nowadays as the enlightened, humane way to adopt a child, it can come with its own complications.”

• CNN did a very thorough and sensitive Q & A.

• Included in the Washington Post’s 10 Books to Read in February: “Adoptions in the United States were once conducted with sealed files and sealed lips. Some have gotten much more open, but Vanessa McGrady took it to a different level when she invited the homeless biological parents of her adopted daughter to live with her. Nothing went according to plan, and McGrady chronicles her non-fairy-tale path to parenthood with uncommon candor.” 

• Here’s a gorgeous review in the New York Journal of Books: “She is ceaselessly generous and courageous in giving voice and tone and texture to each of the main people in this story. This is a book about McGrady’s abiding devotion to her daughter, ‘the greatest love of my life,’ and, as such, is a joyous journey to experience with her.”

• I had the great pleasure to be on August McLaughlin’s Girl Boner Radio podcast.

• So much fun to do Traci Thomas’ The Stacks podcast. She’s such a cool and fun and smart interviewer. We also talked about Nicole Chung’s All You Can Ever Know the following week.

• I loved talking to Barbara DeMarco-Barrett on KUCI’s Writers on Writing.

• This lovely interview with Kate Daniels on Warm 106.9.

• Dr. Alvin had me on his show and he was a great interviewer.

• Bustle said: “Her memoir shares the complicated, compelling ride.” 

• Kirkus Reviews said: “… The conversational tone makes the reader feel like a trusted friend … She offers interesting insight into the lives of those who adopt and those who give up a child for adoption, as well as the personal angst that goes along with such a decision. An expressive and love-filled tale of a unique adoption scenario.” 

• Publisher’s Weekly said: “… McGrady’s memoir is a touching and honest adoption story.” 

• CBC Out in the Open (Canadian radio): It was hard. ‘Til this day, I wonder what I should have done differently, what boundaries should I have drawn? What could I have done to make it right?” McGrady wondered. But she also said she had to remind herself she’s Grace’s parent, not theirs.

• Sunshine Shed said: “She’s a fiercely loving and protective mother, which redeems the more complicated, flawed, and frustrating parts of herself that she puts forth in this book.” 

• Fun video interview with Michelle Dunton of Writing Fun. She’s so gracious!

• An excerpt in Salon

• Book Q & As with Deborah Kalb

• Loved talking to Hank Garner on his Author Stories podcast about being a writer

• Featured in my hometown paper (and former workplace!) The Peninsula Daily News.

Read (or leave!) reviews on Goodreads

For interview requests and review copies, please contact Lucy Silag.