Author Amy Hill-Hearth signs a copy of her book.
By DIANA RUSSELL
Staff Writer
Cumberland County College was honored by a visit from prestigious author Amy Hill Hearth on November 4, 2009.
Hearth spoke to a large audience in the Luciano Theatre as part of the One Book Program. She is the author of the book selection, Strong Medicine Speaks.
After an introduction by Professor Karrol Jordan, Hearth told the audience she loved the concept of One Book One College.
“You were all brought together because of this book, because of Mark Gould, because of the editor, and because the school choose it” she said.
Hearth then spoke about her life as a writer.
‘I am a natural born writer. It is not hard work for me. It’s who I am.”
She started writing for a newspaper in 1981 after she graduated from college. She wanted to write hard news stores not stories for the women’s section of the newspaper.
“I became an author by accident,” she told the audience. “I am a journalist first, an author second.”
In 1991, when writing for the New York Times, Hearth wrote a story about two 100-year-old sisters. The story became a best-selling novel. The Delany sisters had some advice for Amy, “write more books on older women that no one listens too!”
“The relationship between an author and the subject grows into a meaningful one,” said Ms. Hearth. “It is an intense experience about the most important moments in a person’s life. It forms an intense bond.”
In May, 2005, Hearth first met Marion “Strong Medicine” Gould.
“Yes, she is tough, and she will tell you the unvarnished truth. She is also an excellent judge of character,” Ms. Hearth reported.
Hearth showed a short video clip of Marion Gould who is now 87 and in fragile health. Following the video, she spoke about the Leni-Lenape being a hidden people who had to hide their identify to keep from being moved to a reservation.
“Now, they have come full circle with the Indian Civil Rights Movement and native pride.”
Hearth introduced Marion Gould’s family who occupied the first two rows of the theatre. Both her sons, Mark and Bill, were present. Three tribal members are also students at CCC.
As she continued to speak, Hearth told the audience she wrote the book for personal reasons after discovering she had a family member many generations ago who was Leni-Lenape.
“For 400 years, people wrote about them – I wrote with them,” she said.
She explained the empowerment of oral history. It shows what we have in common and sheds light on broader social issues. The book is a messenger of truth and helps to balance the scales of justice.
“When people are left out and don’t have a chance, it hurts our democracy.”
Mark Gould addressed the audience and told about how close Amy got to his mother. He joked about how mom told too many secrets, and he thanked Amy for keeping them out of the book.
“I’ve never seen anything written about us before. I’m truly proud,” he said sincerely.
A question and answer period followed.
“What was the most important thing you got out of the book?” one audience member asked the author.
“To slow down and live on Indian time. Don’t worry. Enjoy life,” she replied.
Ms. Hearth graciously spent an hour autographing her book at the end of the evening while audience members mingled with Marion “Strong Medicine” Gould’s family.
