When a young journalist returns from World War II to his Mississippi hometown, he tries to change the town -- the town where "nothing ever changes." "A Kiss for a Yankee Dime" bristles with southern realities, humor and characters like Dr. Gibson, who keeps peacocks on his front lawn. He lives next door to the town bootlegger, Mr. Upchurch, who sells whiskey hidden in watermelons, and lives two houses from his cousin, Sheriff Upchurch, and Hitler, the menacing rooster. Cordie and her mother, Willa, try to put sparkle into their town -- Cordie by writing letters to powerful (famous) people, and Willa by daydreaming, writing poetry and falling in love with the journalist back from the War. All the people in this novel are based on true characters, acquaintances and family members, with names borrowed and changed -- including the small towns of Perry and Vinson.