About

I'm Amy Hill Hearth (pronounced HARTH), a Peabody Award winner and New York Times bestselling author. I'm 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 was a consultant and advisor for both productions. In the film, the producers added me as a character, and I was portrayed by Academy Award-winning actress Amy Madigan. I enjoy challenging myself as a writer and have become known as an unusually versatile author of nonfiction books as well as novels, and books for all ages. Two of my books were selected by the American Library Association as "Notable Books." In 2019, I won the Inaugural Septima Clark "Women in Literature" Award from the National Council for the Social Studies, and I've won two Christopher Awards. I began my career as a newspaper reporter in Massachusetts, Florida, and New York.

Featured Work

Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years

1993

A ground-breaking oral history of two centenarian sisters, daughters of a man born into slavery.

Other Works

  • Silent Came the Monster: A Novel of the 1916 Jersey Shore Shark Attacks

    2023

  • Streetcar to Justice: How Elizabeth Jennings Won the Right to Ride in New York

    2018

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

    2015

  • Miss Dreamsville and the Collier County Women's Literary Society: A Novel

    2012

  • 'Strong Medicine' Speaks: A Native American Elder Has Her Say

    2008

  • Know Your Power: A Message to America's Daughters

    2008

  • The Delany Sisters Reach High

    2003

  • In a World Gone Mad: A Heroic Story of Love, Faith amd Survival

    2001

  • On My Own at 107: Reflections on Life Without Bessie

    1997

  • The Delany Sisters' Book of Everyday Wisdom

    1994

Awards and Recognition

  • George Foster Peabody Award, "for Significant and Meritorious Achievement in Broadcasting and Cable," 1999, for "Having Our Say," the film adaptation of my book. I was the advisor and consultant for histocial accuracy and authenticity on the production.
  • National Council for the Social Studies' Inaugural Septima Clark "Women in Literature" Award, Middle-grade category, 2019.
  • American Library Association Notable Book selection, two times: In 1994 in the adult category for Having Our Say, and in 2019 for Streetcar to Justice in the children's category.
  • NAACP Image Award Nomination for Literature, 1993, Having Our Say
  • AudioFile Earphones Award; an Audible 2023 pick, an Audio.com and Crimereads "fan favorite" selection, Silent Came the Monster
  • Goodreads "Summer's Biggest Books" selection in 2023, for Silent Came the Monster
  • "One City, One Book" Selections in five cities
  • New York Public Library's "Best Books for the Teen Age" (four times)
  • American Booksellers Association Honor Book Award, 1994.
  • "Having Our Say," the Broadway play adapted from the book, was nominated for three Tony Awards including Best Play. I was the advisor for historical accuracy and authenticity on the production.
  • Two Christopher Awards for "Media that affirm the highest values of the human spirit"
  • Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection Award, 2018, for Streetcar to Justice
  • Gwen and C. Dale White Award for "Introducing the Delany Sisters to a World Audience"