In the small river town of La Luna, Louisiana, Calla Lily Ponder enjoys a blissful childhood under the light of "the Moon Lady, the feminine force that will guide her throughout her life, and her mother, M'Dear, from whom she learns the art of healing through "fixing hair." When her first love, Tuck, leaves her, Calla heads for the wild and colorful city of New Orleans--where she comes to understand the full power of her "healing hands."