Davidson College alum pens young adult novel

After graduating from Davidson College with an English degree in 2005, Gwendolyn Heasley earned a master's in journalism and landed in New York with big plans for an exciting journalism career.

Then the recession happened. With no journalism jobs to be found, Heasley decided to use the crummy economy to her advantage. It became the backdrop for her new young-adult novel, "Where I Belong" (HarperCollins; $8.99.)

Manhattanite Corrinne Corcoran is shopping at Barney's when her mother messages her to come home for a family meeting. Turns out Dad has lots his job -- and the family's savings. While he heads to Dubai to take a lower-paying job, the rest of the family relocates to a small Texas town to live with grandparents. The book, says Relate magazine, is "one good thing to come out of the last few years of economic downturn."

Heasley's now at work on a second novel. She'll sign copies of "Where I Belong" at 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 15, at Park Road Books, 4139 Park Road.