The Last Block in Harlem

Christopher Herz was born in New York but grew up bouncing up and down the coast of California. At the age of 8, after experiencing the reaction of his third-grade class to a story he had written and read aloud, Herz knew he wanted to be a writer. Returning to New York as an adult, he was inspired by his Sugar Hill, Harlem, neighborhood and began drafting his first novel, The Last Block in Harlem, as a love letter to his block. Upon finishing the manuscript, Herz left his job and began hand-selling his book throughout New York City. Walking the streets each day until he had sold 10 copies, he caught the attention of Publishers Weekly, which featured Herz in an August 2009 article. Herz also took photos and notes on each buyer’s story, and his fascinating collage of readers and contextual vignettes can be seen on his blog Herz Words.