Searching for Heather Dean

“My Extraordinary Career as a Celebrity Interviewer and Why I Left It”

Searching for Heather Dean” is the fascinating story of one woman’s journey from the exciting world of celebrities and movie premieres, red carpets and bright lights, to a more meaningful existence of spirituality in Israel – far from the center of show business.

Heather’s story brings the reader on her personal journey as a single career woman who worked as an entertainment journalist in New York City, interviewing celebrities on a daily basis for such international outlets as MTV, E! Entertainment Television, and AP Radio to her current life as a Torah-observant wife and mother, using her professional skills and expertise in a whole new way. Heather’s unique experiences are interspersed with stories of her interviews with some of the biggest names in Hollywood, including Brad Pitt, Madonna, Oprah Winfrey and more.

Discover how one young woman whose dream to work in television was achieved, and why she walked away from it all to realize new dreams she hadn’t known awaited her.

Reviews

“Your book is really inspirational, in a subtle way, and I loved that. The name dropping was so fun, and I was so happy to read in the end that you get to use your prodigious talents for a Jewish audience and Torah oriented goal.”
Esther Kurtz
Creator of “Emunah for Non-Rebbitzens” and Mishpacha columnist
I loved your book so much, I found myself totally engrossed within the first few minutes of reading. I felt you really gave us readers an honest glimpse into your journey, you filled in the lines with so many rich details from your life! I so appreciated your eloquent writing and the many takeaways you shared throughout the book; especially those which lead you to choose the path you ultimately took. Thank you for a truly enjoyable read!
Rachael Lavon
Editor of Mishpacha Magazine's Calligraphy Supplement
“You are an amazing writer. And a deep thinker. You really got me thinking about my own journey.”
Chana Gilman
Entrepreneur, author, relationship mastery coach
"Your book was really a pleasure to read.”
Dr. Ezra Franken
“I liked your book a lot. I especially liked your description of your journey and felt the pain of your struggle. I also marveled at the amount of people you have interviewed. You were fantastic at your job! It is a big bracha that you are here in Israel!”
Lenny Solomon
Musician, Schlock Rock bandleader
“I read the whole thing over the course of Shabbos and loved it. All the cultural references really brought me back to my childhood. Your story is truly inspiring.”
Yocheved Davidowitz
Educator, writer, therapist
"I loved Heather's book, reading it in one sitting on a Shabbos afternoon.

It was a fascinating read, tracing Heather's steps as an interviewer of secular celebrities to a Shomrei Torah U'mitzvos.

It was pretty awesome getting an up-close view of those celebrities like Madonna; and the incongruous juxtaposition of the "celebrities" of the Orthodox world like the illustrious Rabbi Berel Wein.

There were some pretty great lines in Heather's book that made me both laugh and think; no small feat. Heather's gift of drawing me in as a reader kept me hooked until the satisfying end....inspiring to recommit to my own Judaism as an FFB."
Mindy Blumenfeld, LCSW
Columnist Binah Magazine, author of "Therapy, Shmerapy" and children's book, "Hillel and the Paper Menschies"
“A great and honest read for anyone who wants to make it in New York and wonders how it’s done. I love that Heather honors her own story here in a way that will inspire others to believe in impossible dreams.”
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Liane Wakabayashi
Author, journalist, exhibiting artist, and teacher
“I read your book over the Chagim and I appreciate how you didn't just sweep your interests completely under the rug when you discovered Judaism. You took it slow until you realized your career just wasn't "you" anymore. I like that your book has the interviews with celebrities and that you talk about what you learned from each of them. It's important to have respect for our pasts.”
Shiran Zaray-Mizrahi Artist