Miss Dreamsville and the Lost Heiress of Collier County (31 page)

When it was time to say good-bye to Jackson, my new friends implored me to stay, but this much was clear to me: I belonged in Collier County. I wanted to say farewell to 1964, and welcome 1965, by singing “Auld Lang Syne” with my book-club friends. I had always known Naples was home but now I understood my deep attachment. Of course, nothing would be the same, knowing what I now did about Mama and myself. My life had changed; I had changed. There was no going back but taking steps toward the future was necessary, even if it sometimes felt like running barefoot in deep sand. I had learned that dreams have a life of their own, propelling us onward even when they don't come true or are realized in unexpected ways.

Now there would be time for new dreams, though, and I had a feeling that Mama, up in heaven, would have liked that. Mama used to say, Open your heart to the future, Dora. You can either be afraid of what's to come, or embrace it,
come what may
. I was so glad I could still hear her voice.

Back at home, near the mangroves, the herons, and the turtles, and sleeping soundly in my little cottage by the sea, I would start the next chapter of my life. This new beginning would, no
doubt, include writing and storytelling. Only now, thanks to my recent journey, and the encouragement of Miss Welty, I had the confidence to value my own experiences. My stories were my own, and I would tell the stories I was meant to tell.

Come what may.

I
am overwhelmed with gratitude to thousands of readers, including book clubs across America and beyond, whose love and enthusiasm for my first novel,
Miss Dreamsville and the Collier County Women's Literary Society,
inspired me to write this sequel. I am humbled and deeply moved by the support of each and every one of you.

Both books are works of historical fiction inspired by my long-ago experiences as a fledgling newspaper reporter in Florida. Thank you to the people of the great Sunshine State, especially in Hillsborough and Volusia Counties, where a key part of my life was launched.

And, of course, thank you to the people of Collier County, where my wonderful and devoted husband, Blair, grew up. It's safe to say that this book and its predecessor would not exist if not for Blair, whose stories from life in Naples in the 1960s captivated my heart and imagination.

Collier County folk who have been enormously helpful include Robin DeMattia, Sandy Linneman and the Friends of
the Collier County Library, the staff of Sunshine Booksellers on Marco Island, the librarians and staff of the Collier County Library System, and the volunteers at the Museum of the Everglades in Everglades City.

I must thank my parents, Dorothy S. and Lee H. Hill, Jr., for encouraging me to become a writer. I would be nothing without my parents. Thank you for (among other things) reading to me as a child; putting up with me when I was a highly annoying teenager; paying for my college education; and teaching me (to quote my old friends, the Delany Sisters) to reach high! Thanks also to my brother Lee, a race-car driver; my brother Jonathan, a cultural anthropologist; and my sister, Helen, a musician and elementary school teacher. I have learned a lot from each of you. Thank you, also, for my nieces and nephews, who are my joy!

Professionally speaking, I am very grateful to Carolyn Reidy, president and CEO of Simon & Schuster, Inc.; and Judith Curr, executive vice president, publisher, and founder of Atria Books (an imprint of Simon & Schuster, Inc.), for unwavering support and enthusiasm. My editor, Sarah Cantin, is a gem, with whom I look forward to many future adventures. Thank you, Sarah, for editorial insight, which brought out the best in me as a writer.

More than any other publisher with whom I have worked, the staff of Atria Books works as a team. I would like to thank the production, marketing, publicity, and sales staff. Your talent and dedication are deeply appreciated. Together, we have created something special.

Very sincere thanks to my longtime agent, Mel Berger at William Morris Endeavor, who is not only the best literary agent in the business but also a very funny guy and a great friend.

I must also thank my dear friend and longtime publishing attorney, John R. Firestone, of Pavia & Harcourt in New York.

I owe a huge debt of gratitude to Kathy L. Murphy, founder of the Pulpwood Queens, the largest book club in the known universe with more than six hundred chapters. Kathy is a whirlwind of book-loving enthusiasm. All are welcome at her unique, annual authors-and-readers retreat called Girlfriend Weekend held each January in Texas.

I have visited many book clubs in person or via Skype/Facetime. The list is very long so I will just mention a few: the Stonebridge Book Club, Kensington Book Club, Harborside Gardens Book Club, Olde Cypress Book Club, and “The Runaways” Book Club, all of Naples, Florida. Elsewhere in Florida: “The BookEnds” of Pinellas County, the Glen Lakes/Weeki Wachee Book Club, the “Caloosa Readers” of Fort Myers, and the Everglades City Book Club. Other book clubs I've enjoyed include groups in Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Columbia, South Carolina; Woodbridge, New Jersey; Wall Township, New Jersey; Baldwinsville, New York; and Tyler, Texas, home of the “Tyler Well Read Roses.”

I must thank nine women novelists with whom I share a phenomenal group blog,
Southern Belle View Daily:
Lisa Wingate, Julie Perkins Cantrell, Denise Hildreth Jones, Kellie Coates Gilbert, Shellie Rushing Tomlinson, Nicole Seitz, Jolina Petersheim, Eva Marie Everson, and Rachel Hauck. Thank you for welcoming me to the porch!

Last (but never least), thanks to the members of my local writers group, the Sisterhood of Atomic Engineers: Pat, Caren, Janet, Audrey (who kindly read this manuscript and provided insight), Gwen, Denise, Joanne, Lillian, Nina, Frances, Jen, Kim, Leah, Kris, and our emerita member, Jo. Y'all keep me sane! Thank you for sharing the milestones, both good and bad, in this writer's life.

Miss Dreamsville

and the Lost Heiress of Collier County

AMY HILL HEARTH

An Atria Paperback Readers Club Guide

I
t's late summer 1964, and members of the Collier County Women's Literary Society are shocked to learn that a large development is planned for the edge of the Everglades along a stretch of tidal river that is cherished by several members of the book club, including Dora Witherspoon, the book's narrator. The development also threatens Gun Rack Village, a hideaway in the swamp where the residents include book club member Robbie-Lee Simpson's mother, Dolores, a recluse whose life revolves around her small fishing shack.

In her first
novel, Hearth explored what life was like for outsiders or “misfits” in a small, isolated community in southwest Florida in 1962. By forming a book club, they band together and thrive.

In this sequel, Hearth addresses how our identities are closely tied to the places we call home, and the stresses and conflicts that arise when great change is on the horizon. It is also a story of how long-held secrets, once revealed, can have unexpected consequences.

1. Secrets can shape our lives in peculiar ways. Do you believe that keeping a secret is sometimes necessary, or is revealing the truth always the right thing to do?

2. Book club member Priscilla is away from her baby, attending college in another part of the state so that she and her child will have a better future. This is an enormous sacrifice and Priscilla is conflicted. (
page 152
) Do you think she is making the right choice? If you were in her shoes, would you make the same decision?

3. Hearth explores the different treatment that an unmarried woman could expect to experience upon finding herself with an unplanned pregnancy. (
page 62
) What did it mean for a poor teen compared to one who came from a family with resources?

4. The tension between Northern and Southern states is illuminated by the experiences of Jackie and her husband, Ted, who are from Boston. Jackie, in particular, makes many missteps
while adjusting to life below the Mason-Dixon Line. Do you think the “North-South Divide” has improved or grown worse since the 1960s, and why?

5. In a post–9/11 era with Homeland Security, would Judd's Cold War experiments with volatile chemicals and rockets be interpreted differently? Would Ted be allowed to privately settle the matter with his son? How have both political views and parental roles changed in fifty years?

6. Were there any historical facts about Florida that surprised you? Were you aware that Florida was a Confederate state during the Civil War and that the KKK was very active in the state into the 1960s?

7. Society tends to judge women like Dolores very harshly. Often, a stripper or “exotic dancer” is viewed as a simplistic, stereotypical character. Hearth, however, shows Dolores as a complex human being, an overlooked or “invisible” person worthy of our attention. Should Dolores's past life be considered in court as a way of judging the veracity of her testimony?

8. There are several ardent fans of the actress Elizabeth Taylor in the book. Are you a “Liz” fan? Have you ever watched any of her movies? Which of her movie roles was your favorite? Can you name an actress on a par with her today in terms of influence and iconic stature?

9. The Everglades region could be said to be a main character of the novel. Did the book change the way you “see” that part of the country?

10. Throughout history there have been many debates over the idea that real estate actually can be owned. At various times and places real estate was owned: by individuals, by corporations, by kings, in common, or by the state. Some view real estate as entirely owned by an individual, who has the right to preserve, develop, or destroy it (and whatever lives on it). Some see real estate as being held in trust for future generations, regardless of who currently owns it. This debate is woven into the fabric of the book. As you read it, where in the debate did you find yourself to be?

11. How should society decide whether to allow development of places like the Everglades? Does the kind of development change the equation? How much economic benefit does there need to be to outweigh individual property rights versus ecological benefits, such as oxygen production, water conservation, and species protection?

12. Some people (like Jackie) welcome change. Others (like Dora) fear it. Which do you think describes you?

13. Seminole Joe is Collier County's boogeyman. The concept of a ghost who seeks revenge is commonplace in many cultures. Can you think of an example of a famous boogeyman? Did your hometown have a boogeyman? What was he called?

14. Jackie creates confusion by wearing mourning clothes for an unusual reason. Were you aware of the strict societal rules about wearing black, and for how long, after a death? What was expected of you during that time in the culture in which you grew up? How has that changed today?

15. Dora “
got to thinking how strange it is to be alive in this world. It's not like anyone asks to be born; you just arrive whether you like it or not. You've got no say whatsoever in who your parents are.
” How much of our lives is a result of circumstances over which we have no control? Does destiny, or free will, determine our lives?

1. Visit Amy Hill Hearth's website at
www.amyhillhearth.com
to learn more about the author and to read her essay “Why I Write.” Contact her through the link on her website and invite her to “Skype” or “Facetime” with your book club.

2. Play some of the music mentioned in the novel, including “Another Saturday Night” (Sam Cooke), “Where Did Our Love Go?” (The Supremes), “The House of the Rising Sun” (Eric Burdon/The Animals), “Everybody Loves Somebody” (Dean Martin), “I Want to Hold Your Hand” (The Beatles), “Oh, Pretty Woman” (Ray Orbison), “You Don't Own Me” (Lesley Gore), and “Peggy Sue” (Buddy Holly).

3. Prepare and share food and drink mentioned in the novel, such as Jell-O wine, pineapple upside-down cake, Collier County cheese grits, Mrs. Bailey White's Died and Gone to Heaven Cake, and Boston Coolers. Visit
www.amyhillhearth.com
for recipes!

4. Pick one of the books that the Collier County Women's Literary Society reads (or plans to read) in the sequel, such as
To the Lighthouse
,
Cross Creek, I Never Promised You a Rose Garden,
and
A Moveable Feast.

5. Dora Witherspoon talks to her pet snapping turtles. Dolores Simpson chats with a heron she calls Peggy Sue. Have you ever found yourself talking to “critters” as if they were human? Have you ever given a wild creature a name?