Miss Dreamsville and the Lost Heiress of Collier County: A Novel

Brief Description: "In this sequel to Hearth's debut novel, MISS DREAMSVILLE AND THE COLLIER COUNTY WOMEN'S LITERARY SOCIETY, the characters reunite one year later (late summer 1964) to fight a large development along the tidal river where book club member Robbie-Lee grew up and where his mother, Dolores Simpson, a former stripper turned alligator hunter, still lives in a fishing shack. The developer is Darryl Norwood, ex-husband of narrator Dora Witherspoon, who returns to Collier County to assist in the battle. An old land deed, the discovery that one of the key characters has been using a false name, and a court hearing in which Jackie steals the show are just a few of the highlights. New characters include a young lawyer from Atlanta who is afraid to visit the Everglades, and the Ghost of Seminole Joe. Just as MISS DREAMSVILLE explored the ways that we can find a sense of home in other people, Hearth's latest novel shows how closely tied home is to a sense of place and the conflicts that can arise when that becomes threatened. For Darryl Harmon, the river is a place ripe for development. For narrator Dora Witherspoon (known as the Turtle Lady because she rescues Everglades "snappers") it's a place that belongs to the critters. And for Dolores Simpson, former stripper, it's a place to hide from the world"--Marc Notes: In this sequel to Hearth's debut novel, MISS DREAMSVILLE AND THE COLLIER COUNTY WOMEN'S LITERARY SOCIETY, the characters reunite one year later (late summer 1964) to fight a large development along the tidal river where book club member Robbie-Lee grew up and where his mother, Dolores Simpson, a former stripper turned alligator hunter, still lives in a fishing shack. The developer is Darryl Norwood, ex-husband of narrator Dora Witherspoon, who returns to Collier County to assist in the battle. An old land deed, the discovery that one of the key characters has been using a false name, and a court hearing in which Jackie steals the show are just a few of the highlights. New characters include a young lawyer from Atlanta who is afraid to visit the Everglades, and the Ghost of Seminole Joe. Just as MISS DREAMSVILLE explored the ways that we can find a sense of home in other people, Hearth's latest novel shows how closely tied home is to a sense of place and the conflicts that can arise when that becomes threatened. For Darryl Harmon, the river is a place ripe for development. For narrator Dora Witherspoon (known as the Turtle Lady because she rescues Everglades snappers) it's a place that belongs to the critters. And for Dolores Simpson, former stripper, it's a place to hide from the world--; Provided by publisher. Review Quotes: Amy Hill Hearth's delightful first novel, Miss Dreamville and the Collier County Women's Literary Society is a rollicking, provocative tale about how reading and meeting others who are different can be the most subversive of acts.--Ruth Pennebaker "author of Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakthrough "Review Quotes: "Amy Hill Hearth honors and humanizes people and their wonderful diversities, [and] astutely weaves pertinent, factual histories into her debut novel. What a laudable book!"--Camille O. Cosby "on MISS DREAMSVILLE "Review Quotes: "Segregation, feminism, gays coming out, interracial dating, it's all in there, written as it happened in small towns everywhere. And wisdom; you could learn a lot about life from reading this book. Most of all, be daring, be friends, be true to yourself. By the end, I cried and I must say, I wouldn't mind hearing more about each of the richly painted characters."--Patricia Harman "author of The Midwife of Hope River on MISS DREAMSVILLE "Review Quotes: Miss Dreamsville's cast of characters includes a postmistress, a librarian, a convicted murderer, a northern transplant, a lone African-American girl, and an even lonelier gay man, among others. Set in Naples in the early 1960s, its local color and plot will surprise Florida natives and visitors alike.--Enid Shomer "author of The Twelve Rooms of the Nile on MISS DREAMSVILLE "Review Quotes: "In the mid-1960s, change comes slowly to Naples, Florida -- a small, Gulf Coast town on the edge of the Everglades. "Miss Dreamsville and the Lost Heiress of Collier County" is Amy Hill Hearth's latest episode about a book club composed of Naples' dreamers and misfits who see a better future but want to hold on to their slower, small-town way of life. "Miss Dreamsville" is an antic and heartfelt romp through family secrets and land developers' schemes, funny and warmhearted and a pleasure to read." --Ruth Pennebaker "author of Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown "Review Quotes: "They're back! Dora Witherspoon, Miss Dreamsville, and the gang. So rejoice--Amy Hill Hearth his written another beauty aimed right at your funny bone and your heart." --Peter Golden "author of Comeback Love "Review Quotes: "Amy Hill Hearth delivers another bighearted story filled with small town flair. Lovers of quirky Southern characters will want to move to Collier County and settle in for this delightful ride!"--Lisa Wingate "national bestselling author of THE SEA KEEPER'S DAUGHTER "Review Quotes: "The memorable members of the the Collier County Women's Literary Society are back together again in Amy Hill Hearth's warm and satisfying sequel. Facing new challenges in rural Florida, 1964, these friends continue to help each other, and their community, as development threatens their natural world and family secrets are confronted."--Mollie Hoben, Founding Publisher, Minnesota Women's PressReview Quotes: With this follow-up novel about the colorful women of Collier County, Florida, Amy Hill Hearth has proven herself to be one of the most talented fiction writers on shelves today. Her characters are developed with such authenticity, readers are reluctant to leave the page, and her sensory details pull us straight from reality into the lush swamp lands and southern communities that never fail to thrill us. Bravo for yet another masterpiece by Hearth, whose works are about as close to perfection as any I've ever read. Funny. Charming. Inspiring. And downright delightful. This is a story that's sure to please.--Julie Cantrell, New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of INTO THE FREE, WHEN MOUNTAINS MOVE, and THE FEATHERED BONEReview Quotes: "With this follow-up novel about the colorful women of Collier County, Florida, Amy Hill Hearth has proven herself to be one of the most talented fiction writers on shelves today. Her characters are developed with such authenticity, readers are reluctant to leave the page, and her sensory details pull us straight from reality into the lush swamp lands and southern communities that never fail to thrill us. Bravo for yet another masterpiece by Hearth, whose works are about as close to perfection as any I've ever read. Funny. Charming. Inspiring. And downright delightful. This is a story that's sure to please."--Julie Cantrell, New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of INTO THE FREE, WHEN MOUNTAINS MOVE, and THE FEATHERED BONEPublisher Marketing: In this sequel to Amy Hill Hearth's "funny and charming" ("Publishers Weekly") debut novel, "Miss Dreamsville and the Collier County Women's Literary Society," the eponymous book club reunites one year later, in the late summer of 1964. Their mission: to fight a large development along the tidal river where member Robbie-Lee grew up and where his mother, Dolores Simpson, a former stripper turned alligator hunter, still lives in a fishing shack. The developer is Darryl Norwood, ex-husband of narrator Dora Witherspoon, who returns to Collier County to assist in the battle. An old land deed, the discovery that one of the key characters has been using a false name, and a dramatic court hearing are just a few of the highlights. Not to mention the reappearance of the Ghost of Seminole Joe. Just as Hearth's debut explored the ways we can find a sense of belonging in other people, her latest novel shows how closely tied each of us is to our sense of home--and the conflicts that can arise when our idea of that home becomes threatened. For Darryl, the river is a place ripe for development. For Dora, who's known as the Turtle Lady because she rescues Everglades "snappers," it's a place that belongs to the critters. And for Dolores, former stripper, it's a place to hide from the world... Review Citations:

Kirkus Reviews 07/01/2015 (EAN 9781476765747, Paperback)

Contributor Bio:  Hearth, Amy Hill Amy Hill Hearth is the author of "Miss Dreamsville and the Collier County Women's Literary Society", " "in addition to author or coauthor of seven nonfiction books, including "Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years", the "New York Times "bestseller-turned-Broadway-play. Hearth, a former writer for The New York Times", began her career as a reporter at a small daily newspaper in Florida, where she met her future husband, Blair (a Collier County native). She is a graduate of the University of Tampa.