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Amy Hill Hearth

American Writer Specializing in Historical Fiction, Biographies, and Oral Histories. 117-Week New York Times Bestselling Author with the Delany Sisters of the oral history book Having Our Say. Honors include a Peabody Award, two American Library Association Notable Books, and the Septima Clark "Women in Literature" Award from the National Council for the Social Studies.

 
 
Amy's Blog: Born to Write 
   
 
 
 
 

'Fessin' Up to Mom

February 26, 2014
I have one thing in common with Garrison Keillor of “Prairie Home Companion” fame: He once said he could never write anything that would embarrass his mother.

I understand that completely. My parents are in their late eighties and they read every word I write, and always have. In fact, I would not be  Read More 

The Delany Sisters and Their Porch

February 13, 2014
Many years ago, Sadie and Bessie Delany (who would become famous at age 100 and 102 as “the Delany Sisters”) moved from an apartment in the Harlem section of New York City to a still-rural section of the Bronx. The reason? They wanted a porch.

Actually they needed a porch, as they explained with some desperationto the builder.  Read More 

How the Delany Sisters Welcomed a New Year

January 2, 2014
The Delany Sisters didn't celebrate New Year's Eve; they simply went to bed at the usual hour and woke up to a new year. They had resolutions, with Sadie always saying she wanted to be a better person (pretty much impossible since she was already so sweet and nice) and little sister Bessie claiming that THIS would be the year she would stop her meanness and get herself "straight with the Lord." I miss those old gals, and one of my resolutions each year since they've been gone is to live up to their expectations and hopes for me.  Read More 
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How to Talk to Your Editor

December 5, 2013
I heard something terrible recently: A top editor admitted to me that he isn't signing up debut authors because they take up too much of his time. Now, before you hate this guy's guts, consider that his job responsibilities have multiplied in the last few years at the same time that thousands of new people want his attention. He can't go to the men's room without someone handing him a manuscript or pitching an idea. During the last twenty years I have been published by Random House, Doubleday, Harper Collins, and Simon & Schuster, among others, and all of my editors have been hard-working and thoughtful people who truly love books.  Read More 
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Advice for College Students

November 16, 2013
The following are excerpts from a speech I made to students at Rutgers University’s School of Communication and Information on Nov. 14, 2013, New Brunswick, New Jersey:
"I am on my third career – newspapers, nonfiction books, and now novels. I’ve adapted. I’ve always been independent and that has worked in my favor. But  Read More 
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