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Amy Hill Hearth

Goodreads Author

Born

in Pittsfield, Mass., The United States

Website

http://www.amyhillhearth.com

Twitter

AmyHillHearth

Genre

Biography, History, Fiction

Member Since

January 2012

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Greetings! I'm Amy Hill Hearth (pronounced HARTH), a Peabody Award winner and New York Times bestselling author best known for HAVING OUR SAY: THE DELANY SISTERS' FIRST 100 YEARS, the much-loved oral history of a pair of centenarian sisters that was a runaway hit when it was published in 1993. The book, an oral history with historical context, was adapted for Broadway in 1995 and for a CBS Sunday Night Movie in 1999. I worked on both productions as a consultant and advisor for historical accuracy. I was portrayed in the film by Academy Award-winning actress Amy Madigan.

I'm known as an unusually versatile writer. I've written novels as well as nonfiction, and books for readers of all ages. I like the challenge! My most recent book is the hi Greetings! I'm Amy Hill Hearth (pronounced HARTH), a Peabody Award winner and New York Times bestselling author best known for HAVING OUR SAY: THE DELANY SISTERS' FIRST 100 YEARS, the much-loved oral history of a pair of centenarian sisters that was a runaway hit when it was published in 1993. The book, an oral history with historical context, was adapted for Broadway in 1995 and for a CBS Sunday Night Movie in 1999. I worked on both productions as a consultant and advisor for historical accuracy. I was portrayed in the film by Academy Award-winning actress Amy Madigan.

I'm known as an unusually versatile writer. I've written novels as well as nonfiction, and books for readers of all ages. I like the challenge! My most recent book is the historical thriller, SILENT CAME THE MONSTER, a novel of the 1916 Jersey Shore shark attacks which inspired JAWS. The book won an AudioFile magazine Earphones Award. In addition, it was an Audible and Goodreads Summer 2023 pick and was selected as an Audio.com and Crimereads fan favorite.

I have a lifelong passion for American history, and I'm fascinated with the complexities of human nature and behavior. I'm very interested, also, in elder wisdom. My own grandmother lived to 101.

I was born in Pittsfield, Mass., but my family moved several times during my childhood. At the time, I hated moving, but now I believe it was greatly beneficial to me, especially living in Columbia, South Carolina for five years during the 1960s.

I began my career as a newspaper reporter in Mass., Florida, and New York. Fun fact: I met my husband in Florida when I interviewed him for a story.

After we were married, we relocated to the New York City area. We lived in Westchester County while both of us worked in the city. More recently, we moved to a small, historic town at the New Jersey seashore, a wonderful place to write.

My husband and I love dogs and are especially fond of Boston Terriers. We've adopted all of our dogs (except the first one) from a rescue organization. Our current furry friend is a mixed breed who is part Boston Terrier and part Pug. He was six months old when we adopted him, a neurotic little mess who needed a home badly. No one else wanted him, but I couldn't walk away. I named him Ollie, short for Oliver Twist.
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Amy Hill Hearth’s books

Average rating: 4.04 · 20,308 ratings · 1,831 reviews · 26 distinct works • Similar authors

	Miss Dreamsville and the Collier County Women's Literary Society 3.57 avg rating — 2,687 ratings — published 2012 — 7 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Silent Came the Monster: A Novel of the 1916 Jersey Shore Shark Attacks 3.73 avg rating — 1,326 ratings — published 2023 — 8 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Miss Dreamsville and the Lost Heiress of Collier County (Miss Dreamsville #2) 3.67 avg rating — 334 ratings — published 2015 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Streetcar to Justice: How Elizabeth Jennings Won the Right to Ride in New York 3.95 avg rating — 125 ratings — published 2018 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Strong Medicine Speaks: A Native American Elder Has Her Say 3.98 avg rating — 81 ratings — published 2008 — 7 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	In a World Gone Mad: A Heroic Story of Love, Faith and Survival 4.10 avg rating — 30 ratings — published 2001 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Delany Sisters Reach High 3.95 avg rating — 19 ratings — published 2003 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Readers Digest Select Editions Large Type Vol 5 2014 - Miss Dreamsville, The View from Here by Amy Hill Hearth (Goodreads Author), Cindy Myers 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Delany Sisters 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	[Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years] [By: Sarah L. Delany] [January, 1997] by Amy Hill Hearth (Goodreads Author), Sarah Delaney, Sarah Louise Delany 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by Amy Hill Hearth…

164 posts
Amy Hill Hearth's Blog: The Versatile Writer

Audible Earphones Award Winner

I like to challenge myself as a writer because I believe I do my best work when I try something new. I've published 11 books, nonfiction as well as novels, and books for adults as well as younger readers. My most recent book, Silent Came the Monster, is a novel of the true story that inspired JAWS. I had never written a thriller, and I admit that I scared myself into many sleepless nights while do Read more of this blog post »

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Published on June 04, 2026 22:45

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Series by Amy Hill Hearth

Miss Dreamsville (2 books)
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Amy Hill Hearth (Goodreads Author)

3.59 avg rating — 3,021 ratings

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Amy Hill Hearth wrote a new blog post Audible Earphones Award Winner I like to challenge myself as a writer because I believe I do my best work when I try something new. I've published 11 books, nonfiction as well as no Read more of this blog post »
Jun 04, 2026 10:45PM · like
Amy Hearth has read Having Our Say( The Delany Sisters First 100 Years)[HAVING OUR SAY][Hardcover] by SarahLouiseDelany	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
May 20, 2026 11:16PM · like
Amy Hearth has read Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years by Amy Hill Hearth (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
May 20, 2026 11:16PM · like
Amy Hearth has read MISS DREAMSVILLE AND THE COLLIER COUNTY WOMEN'S LITERARY SOCIETY by Amy Hill Hearth (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
May 20, 2026 11:16PM · like
Amy Hearth has read [Miss Dreamsville and the Lost Heiress of Collier County: A Novel] [By: Hearth, Amy Hill] [September, 2015] by Amy Hill Hearth (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
May 20, 2026 11:16PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of [Miss Dreamsville and the Lost Heiress of Collier County by Amy Hill Hearth. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — [Miss Dreamsville and the Lost Heiress of Collier County by Amy Hill Hearth <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Amy Hearth has read Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years [Hardcover] [1994] (Author) Sarah Louise Delany, A. Elizabeth Delany, Amy Hill Hearth by Amy Hill Hearth (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
May 20, 2026 11:16PM · like
Amy Hearth has read [Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years] [By: Sarah L. Delany] [January, 1997] by Amy Hill Hearth (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
May 20, 2026 11:16PM · like
Amy Hearth has read Readers Digest Select Editions Large Type Vol 5 2014 - Miss Dreamsville, The View from Here by Amy Hill Hearth (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
May 20, 2026 11:15PM · like
Amy Hearth has read Readers Digest Large Print Select Editions, Volume 211, November 2018 - The Mistletoe Inn and Miss Dreamsville and the Lost Heiress of Collier County by Richard Paul Evans	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
May 20, 2026 11:15PM · like
Amy Hearth has read North Carolina Women: Their Lives and Times, Volume 2 (Southern Women: Their Lives and Times) by Ann Short Chirhart	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
May 20, 2026 11:15PM · like

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Quotes by Amy Hill Hearth (?)

“Life is short, and it's up to you to make it sweet.

Sarah L. (Sadie) Delany”
― Amy Hill Hearth, Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years

tags: delany-sisters, having-our-say, life-is-short

17 likes

“There's an old Southern saying that if you're worried about your weight, clothes, or getting old, then you don't have any real problems.”
― Amy Hill Hearth

9 likes

“...Mama used to say that when you don't know what to do, do nothing. She meant you can try too hard to solve a problem. If you give it a little time, the answer might just come to you plain as day.”
― Amy Hill Hearth, Miss Dreamsville and the Collier County Women's Literary Society

4 likes

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Polls

Which work of fiction would you like to read with us during January 2022? Please vote here.

The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson

40 votes, 28.4%

Moonflower Murders by Anthony Horowitz

33 votes, 23.4%

A Bear Called Paddington by Michael Bond

23 votes, 16.3%

An Irish Country Doctor by Patrick Taylor

20 votes, 14.2%

A Spool of Blue Thread by Anne Tyler

15 votes, 10.6%

Miss Dreamsville and the Collier County Women's Literary Society by Amy Hill Hearth

10 votes, 7.1%

141 total votes

2 comments

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Crazy Challenge C...: November 2012 Spell Challenge	142	125	Mar 24, 2013 11:10PM
Crazy Challenge C...: A-Z Book Titles - 2014	311	201	Dec 14, 2015 01:43PM
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Ultimate Popsugar...: Post your 2018 reading lists!	1139	6183	Nov 17, 2019 07:53PM
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Amy’s Quotes

“Writers, naturally, dream of becoming authors. Authors dream of writing a bestseller. Bestselling authors want to write more bestsellers. And everyone hopes for big prizes. Why? Because we believe in magic." Publisher's Weekly magazine, Dec. 12, 2011”
― Amy Hill Hearth

tags: why-we-write

1 likes

“When people ask me how we've lived past one hundred, I say, 'Honey, we never married. We never had husbands to worry us to death!

A. Elizabeth (Bessie) Delany”
― Amy Hill Hearth, Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years

tags: amy-hill-hearth, delany-sisters, having-our-say, husbands

2 likes

“Life is short, and it's up to you to make it sweet.

Sarah L. (Sadie) Delany”
― Amy Hill Hearth, Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years

tags: delany-sisters, having-our-say, life-is-short

17 likes

“Their story, as the Delany sisters like to say, is not meant as "black" or "women's" history, but American history. It belongs to all of us. (From the Preface of "Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years)”
― Amy Hill Hearth

tags: american-history, black-history, delany-sisters, women-s-history

1 likes

“It was terrifying, liberating, and risky. But one day I woke up and decided to try it." (On writing her first novel, "Miss Dreamsville and the Collier County Women's Literary Society")”
― Amy Hill Hearth

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