Gwendolyn Heasley, MA ’09, is the author of “A Long Way from You,” which will be available on June 5. A companion novel to her first novel, “Where I Belong,” the book is the story of a country girl, Kitsy Kidd, living in the big city.

Amber Lyon, BJ ’04, a reporter for CNN, is a finalist for the 2011 Livingston Awards for Young Journalists. The Livingstons, the nation’s largest all-media, general reporting prizes, award three $10,000 prizes for local, national, and international reporting to journalists under the age of 35. The winners will be announced on June 6, 2012.

Ben Poston, MA ’07, a reporter for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, is a finalist for the 2011 Livingston Awards for Young Journalists. The Livingstons, the nation’s largest all-media, general reporting prizes, award three $10,000 prizes for local, national, and international reporting to journalists under the age of 35. Poston was also a finalist in 2009. … Continued

Courtney Cox, BJ ’09, is engaged to Jeff Shore. She is currently the new media and digital marketing manager for Custom Marketing Group in Kansas City. Her fiance graduated from MU with a finance degree and is a project manager software consultant at Samsung Telecommunications. The couple plan a June 2, 2012, wedding in Kansas … Continued

Laura Grossman, BJ ’09, married Robert Brandt on March 10, 2012, in Dallas. She is in her third year of law school at SMU Dedman School of Law and will be employed at SettlePou in Dallas upon graduation in May. Her husband earned his bachelor and master’s degrees in business at MU and is a … Continued

Grady’s Cold Brew, created by Grady Laird, BJ ’01, was featured in an April 15, 2012, “New York Magazine” article on artisanal products made in Brooklyn.

Didi Tang, MA ’00, has been named a correspondent in Beijing for The Associated Press. Previously, she covered business and education in Missouri, most recently for the Springfield News-Leader.

Wan Xu, MA ’06, is a news reporter for Reuters in Beijing, China.