Ice House

Laura Lee Smith is the author of the novel Heart of Palm. Her short fiction has appeared in Best American Short Stories; New Stories from the South: The Year’s Best; New England Review; and other journals. She lives in Florida.

Praise for Heart of Palm:“Intelligence, heart, wit . . . Laura Lee Smith has all the tools, and Heart of Palm is a very impressive first novel.”—Richard Russo, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Empire Falls“Incandescent.”— O, the Oprah Magazine“[A] fine, funny first novel . . . A heaping dose of Southern soul with a whole lot of chutzpah thrown in.”—Atlanta Journal Constitution “A knockout . . . It reminded me often of the novels of Richard Russo . . . Smith . . . creates a vivid sense of place . . . A fine, bittersweet taste of the Sunshine State.”—Tampa Bay Times“I could feel the heat, the glare off the Intracoastal. Like a sandspur, Heart of Palm sticks with you, drawing blood.”—Rita Mae Brown, author of Southern Discomfort and Rubyfruit Jungle “A spirited Southern family saga . . . Fans of Fannie Flagg will enjoy this novel.”—Cleveland Plain Dealer“Heart of Palm . . . will leave you crying, laughing, and longing for a bygone era.”—Florida Travel + Life “A big, engrossing and very Southern look at a family in turmoil, Heart of Palm is made to be read on a veranda during the steamy summer months.”—Arizona Republic “Smith’s debut novel exudes authenticity . . . She turns a phrase with wit . . . Writ[ten] with agility and empathy.”—Publishers Weekly“Smith is a brilliant writer, and Heart of Palm brims with lush vitality, loss, and desire.”—Julianna Baggott, author of Pure and The Prince of Fenway Park