Amy Hill Hearth

Amy Hill Hearth is an American journalist and author best known for writing Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years, a 1993 New York Times bestseller chronicling the lives of African American centenarian sisters Sadie and Bessie Delany. Her work frequently focuses on oral histories and biographical accounts, particularly highlighting stories of remarkable but previously unrecognized individuals. The success of Having Our Say led to subsequent books about the Delany sisters, and the original work was adapted into a Broadway play and a television film. Hearth began her career as a newspaper journalist before transitioning to books, initially discovering the Delany sisters while writing for The New York Times. Her other works include Strong Medicine Speaks: A Native American Elder Has Her Say and Miss Dreamsville and the Collier County Women's Literary Society. Her writing has garnered multiple awards and recognitions, including the Christopher Award and the American Library Association's Notable Book Award. Beyond her literary work, Hearth frequently lectures at universities and conferences about journalism, oral history, and the art of biographical storytelling.

Readers consistently praise Hearth's ability to capture authentic voices, particularly in "Having Our Say." Many note how she made the Delany sisters' personalities shine through while staying invisible as the writer. One Amazon reviewer commented: "You feel like you're sitting at their kitchen table listening to their stories." Readers appreciate: - Clear, straightforward writing style - Preservation of historical perspectives - Ability to let subjects tell their own stories - Balance of serious topics with humor Common criticisms: - Some find the pacing slow in her fiction works - A few readers note repetitive elements in the Delany series Ratings across platforms: Having Our Say: - Goodreads: 4.2/5 (14,000+ ratings) - Amazon: 4.7/5 (900+ reviews) Miss Dreamsville: - Goodreads: 3.7/5 (2,000+ ratings) - Amazon: 4.3/5 (200+ reviews) Strong Medicine Speaks: - Goodreads: 3.9/5 (100+ ratings) - Amazon: 4.5/5 (30+ reviews)

Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years (1993) Oral history of African American centenarian sisters Sadie and Bessie Delany, recounting their experiences from the Jim Crow era through the Civil Rights Movement.

In a World Gone Mad: A Heroic Story of Love, Faith, and Survival (2001) Chronicles the experiences of Holocaust survivors Elli and Béla Ház through their imprisonment in Nazi concentration camps and their subsequent life in America.

"Strong Medicine" Speaks: A Native American Elder Has Her Say (2008) Biography of Marion "Strong Medicine" Gould, a Native American elder of the Lenape tribe, documenting her life experiences and cultural traditions.

Miss Dreamsville and the Collier County Women's Literary Society (2012) Historical fiction novel set in 1962 Naples, Florida, about a book club that challenges local social conventions and prejudices.

Miss Dreamsville and the Lost Heiress of Collier County (2015) Sequel following the further adventures of the literary society members in 1960s Florida as they confront changes in their community.

Writing Life Stories: How to Make Memories into Memoirs, Ideas into Essays, and Life into Literature (2019) Writing guide focusing on techniques for transforming personal experiences into narrative nonfiction and memoir.

Sue Monk Kidd writes about women's relationships and Southern culture, with particular focus on mother-daughter bonds. Her work incorporates elements of both fiction and memoir, similar to Hearth's storytelling approach.

Alex Haley documents African American family histories and oral traditions through detailed research and interviews. His work preserves cultural heritage and brings historical stories to life through personal narratives.

Studs Terkel captures ordinary people's stories through oral history and extensive interviews. His books present authentic voices and experiences of Americans from different backgrounds.

Terry Gross specializes in biographical interviews that reveal personal histories and life experiences. She extracts stories that illuminate broader cultural and historical themes through individual perspectives.

Mildred Taylor writes narratives centered on African American families in the American South during the early-to-mid 20th century. Her work combines historical detail with personal family stories passed down through generations.