Aussie Memoirist’s Near-Miss With America

Getting Australian writer Kate Holden‘s American book tour up and running was a nightmare for her publicist… but it wasn’t the author’s fault. “Kate was all packed and ready to come to the United States,” says Kim from L.A., “but was told at the eleventh hour—literally the night before she was due to fly to Los Angeles—that her visa might not be granted.” Seems U.S. customs officials had realized that all that stuff in Holden’s memoir, In My Skin, about working as a prostitute to feed her heroin addiction was true…and though she’s clean today, they were still extremely reluctant to let a former sex worker into the country (despite the fact that a good portion of her professional life was permitted under Australian law). Fortunately, Kim was able to cite an itinerary with enough bookstore appearances and media appointments to assure officials of Holden’s credibility and get her travel visa approved, and she’ll be finishing off her tour tomorrow night with a reading at the Astor Place Barnes & Noble. Too bad it isn’t a Borders; we much prefer posts where the jokes write themselves, after all.