Please join author Juliette Fay for a talk and presentation on her new novel, The Harvey Girls. Harvey Girls were a cultural phenomenon in the Southwest for almost 100 years. There was even a popular musical about them starring Judy Garland. They served at restaurants along the Santa Fe railroad run by a man named Fred Harvey, who paid them well and gave them generous leave time. It was one of the few ways young American women could take control of their own lives and finances and have adventures without the supervision of family members or husbands. At the time, there were very few women in the Southwest. Over half of the approximately 100,000 women who became Harvey Girls stayed, many marrying and having children. Thus, Fred Harvey is credited with populating the Southwest. Juliette Fay will offer a multimedia presentation on these pioneering women and the novel she wrote based on their lives.
Books will not be available for purchase at the event. Pre-order your copy with Martin House Books here. They will be available for pickup and signing at the event.
Registration is requested to attend. Please register below.
About the book:
1926: Charlotte Crowninshield was born into one of the finest Boston society families. Now she’s on the run from a brutal husband, desperate to disappear into the wilds of the Southwest. Billie MacTavish is the oldest of nine children born to Scottish immigrants in Nebraska. She quit school in the sixth grade to help with her mother’s washing and mending business, but even that isn’t enough to keep the family afloat.
Desperate, both women join the ranks of the Harvey Girls, waitresses who serve in America’s first hospitality chain on the Santa Fe railroad. Hired on the same day, they share three things: a room, a heartfelt dislike of each other…and each has a secret that will certainly get them fired.
Through twelve-hour days of training in Topeka, Kansas, they learn the fine art of service, perfecting their skills despite bouts of homesickness, fear of being discovered, and a run-in with the KKK. When they’re sent to work at the luxurious El Tovar hotel at the Grand Canyon, the challenges only grow, as Billie struggles to hide her young age from would-be suitors, and Charlotte discovers the little-known dark side of the national park’s history.
About Juliette Fay:
Juliette Fay is the bestselling, award-winning author of seven novels, including The Harvey Girls; The Tumbling Turner Sisters, a USA Today bestseller; and Shelter Me, a Massachusetts Book Award and Indie Next pick. Juliette is a graduate of Boston College and Harvard University, and lives in Massachusetts with her family. juliettefay.com
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Please note:
Westerly Library & Wilcox Park staff often take photos and recordings during programs and events, which may be used in publicity and marketing. If you do not wish to have your photo used, please contact a staff member to let us know and we will make every effort to honor that request.
