Monday, June 20, 2011

Interview with Author Karey White

Karey White grew up in Utah, Oregon, Idaho and Missouri, the oldest of eleven children. She attended Ricks College and BYU. She’s married and is the mother of four children. She sews, has made wedding cakes for several years, and enjoys reading and writing.


Hello, Karey. Being an Idahoan myself, I attended Ricks College and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Please tell us about your new book.

Gifted is a very special book to me. It centers on family, friendship, love and sacrifice. After years of wanting to be parents, Brent and Susan adopt Anna, a beautiful baby whose parents died in a car accident. As she grows they discover there are unusual things about her and they’re torn about how to handle these special gifts. The book is relatable to parents because we all face challenges. We walk a fine line between protecting our children and preparing them for the world. It’s also a great story for teens because of the friendship between Anna and Kelsey, her neglected and abused friend. The story spans sixteen years and we see how Anna’s gifts impact the lives of those around her.

This sounds like a wonderful story. I love the book cover. Where did you get your inspiration for this novel?

Our neighbors had a grand-daughter who was nine months pregnant when she died in a car accident. The doctors were able to save her baby and so my neighbors had to deal with the difficult task of finding a home for this great-granddaughter. I went to bed thinking of them and had an incredible dream about this baby girl. When I woke up, I wrote down the dream. That day, I couldn’t get it off my mind and ideas started coming. This was on a Saturday. When the kids left for school on Monday, I started writing. In the book, Anna’s mother has a dream that helps her understand her daughter. It’s the same dream I had that night.

What are Anna’s gifts and why are they not only a blessing but a challenge, also?

The first gift that Anna’s parents discover is that everything looks better when Anna’s around. The world is more beautiful, things are brighter and clearer. They also discover that people learn better when she’s around. This seems wonderful at first, but once Anna starts school, comparisons are made between classes. With those comparisons come unhappy parents and teachers who are blamed.

Also, Anna doesn’t get sick or injured. While this is a blessing most of us would enjoy, it makes Anna feel like an anomaly and she wants to experience life, even the hard parts.

A Reviewer wrote, “Karey White employs the miraculous to illustrate the impact of one mortal's existence the way Capra did in ‘It's a Wonderful Life.’” I loved It's a Wonderful Life with Jimmy Stewart and how an angel helped him to realize that life was worth living. Tell us your thoughts about this comment. How does your novel compare with this movie?

I’m flattered that someone would think of my book in the same way as “It’s a Wonderful Life” because that is such a classic. I loved this review because it put into words exactly what I hope people take away from Gifted. In the movie, the angel shows George Bailey the impact he had on other people’s lives. In Gifted, we see a special girl and the impact she has on the people around her, and it’s significant. Many people who have read the book have said that it made them think about the effect they can have on others. I think that’s so important—making a positive difference in the lives of the people around us. 

A positive difference in the lives of others…what a wonderful concept of life! Now it’s time to tell us something about the real you that we’ll never forget.

I hope my characters are more memorable than me because I’m not sure I’m that memorable. I guess an interesting thing would be that when I was a child, my parents bought and remodeled an old schoolhouse in Wallsburg, Utah and that was our home for almost ten years. We had a gymnasium, a principal’s office and boy’s and girl’s bathrooms. I still miss that house.

AWESOME! You actually lived in a schoolhouse? Wow! And I suppose that you ate in the cafeteria for all your meals? What was your bedroom like? Was it a classroom?

We used the old school kitchen and eating area for the first couple of years that we lived there, then my parents remodeled and put in a new, modern, family-style kitchen. At first I shared a bedroom, but when I turned twelve, I moved into the library and it was my own room. It was a pretty narrow room, but it had floor to ceiling bookshelves. I loved it! It was a perfect room for someone who loved books as much as I did.

What a cool house!!! Thank you, Karey, for such a fun interview. I not only learned about your new book but I learned a few things about you. Now we know the real you! An Author who once had a library for her bedroom! Ha! Wonderful!

60 comments:

Anonymous said...

I've read GIFTED, and loved it. It struck me with a great emotional impact. I'd say more, but I don't want to ruin it for other readers. I find it strange that the author sees nothing extraordinary about herself. How many others are oldest of eleven raised in a converted schoolhouse with a gymnasium?

Karey said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

great interview and great book. I loved the story and the wonderful message of this book. As i read the accomplishments of Karey White in this interview, she seems like a very memorable and "gifted" woman to me. I look forward to future books from her.

Literary Chanteuse said...

this sounds like a book for any parent. Count me in!

Margaret
singitm@hotmail.com

Cassandra said...

This sounds like a book I would love to read! I also enjoyed getting to know the Author. Living in a room with floor to ceiling bookshelves would be a dream come true to me! I would actually have room for all my books, and more.
Cassandra
Zenovia_20@yahoo.com

Jubilee Reviews said...

Sounds like a great book, tear jerker for sure :)
Count me in
Melanie

Gayle said...

I just recently heard about this book and would love to get my hands on it. I really enjoyed the interview - it's always so interesting to learn more about the background of a book and its author!
Gayle
bgh@byu.net

Melissa said...

I would absolutely love to read Gifted! The interview was entertaining as well as thoughtful. I'd love a bedroom in a "library"!

Melissa
melissadawn84 {at}gmail. com

michelle130 said...

This book sounds great.
msuck27@hotmail.co.uk

Anonymous said...

"Gifted" was an amazing book. It hit on all of the emotions that are important to me when I read a book. I appreciate clean books that are well written that I can read and also have my family enjoy them. Also, thank you Linda, for giving us a peek into the background of the authors of the books you review. That is always fun and interesting. Have a good day!! LMH

Anonymous said...

Hi Karey, I really enjoyed reading your interview. I never knew of anyone who lived in a school. That was probably great when you were a child as no one else had a house like yours.
I must read Gifted. This sounds like a great story and unusual one. Thanks for stopping by to chat and share with us.
Please enter me in the giveaway Linda. Thanks

misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com

Still can't post on this type comment form.

Cheryl said...

What a great interview. This book sounds amazing.

Thanks for the chance to win.

Cheryl
cg20pm00(at)gmail(dot)com

Shawna said...

What a great interview! I'd love to read the book. Thanks for the chance to win!
anmlvrami at yahoo dot com

Anonymous said...

I didn't really have time to look at this, but there were a couple of things that hooked me. First, my only sister grew up as Carrie White :) I, also, have many family ties with Idaho.

But then there's the book, itself. It really intrigued me, and I would love to read it. I know that anyone who attended Rick's College will write clean books, too! Boy, would I like to see Ms White's bookcases! I want to have them wall-to-wall throughout my house, but I don't have enough walls!

Thanks for the entertaining interview & good luck with your writing career!

LouisePledge at yahoo.com

BrittanyGale said...

Sounds like a great story. I really enjoyed the interview :)

quixoticdreamer(at)hotmail(dot)com

Mystica said...

I haven't read the book so would like to be entered for the giveaway. Thank you for the interview.

buddyt said...

This sounds like a real heart warming book and I would love to read it so please enter me in the giveaway.

Thanks for opening it to worldwide entries.

Much appreciated.

Carol T

buddytho {at} gmail DOT com

Jana said...

Sounds really awesome!
Thanks for the giveaway!
Rathouska.jana@gmail.com

Marjorie/cenya2 said...

This book sounds like an amazing storyline and I would love to read it.

cenya2 at hotmail dot com

Karey said...

You know, I should have mentioned, being an old school house, the ceilings were 15 feet high, so floor to ceiling bookshelves were A LOT of bookshelves. I wish I had pictures of it.

Thanks for the fun interview. It was a pleasure.

Karey

Unknown said...

Gifted sounds very intriguing . . . I especially am curious to find out what the "special gifts" are.

Sassy said...

This sounds like a pretty interesting book. Thank you for the giveaway.

sassysasha817 at gmail dot com

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the chance to win "Gifted"
The book sounds wonderful. Loved the interview about the author.
I'm always interested in other peoples lives.
I'm GFC follower - Cindy Macbeth
cindymacbeth at gmail dot com

lindseybousfield said...

Would love to read this!

leebee19(at)gmail(dot)com

ArtemisG said...

Gifted sounds amazing and the cover is so beautiful. Thanks for the giveaway!

artgiote at gmail dot com

Darlene said...

Great interview, and sounds like a great book!

My email address is darlenesbooknook at gmail dot com.

Thanks for the giveaway!

Rebecca Adams said...

Karey is my cousin! I've never really had anyone so close to me that has been an author, so it's really fun having a cousin as an author (and becoming more and more famous by the minute)! ;) I have read Gifted and I loved it! The characters are very memorable, especially Anna. It was a very touching story, especially the beginning where it talks about the parent's struggle to have children, as I am having a hard time having children myself. I may just have to adopt, and I would love to adopt a girl like Anna! :) If I win the giveaway, I would give the book to a close friend or family member who hasn't read it yet since I already own a copy.

Rebecca Adams said...

Oops, forgot to add my email:

rebecca_adams20(at)hotmail(dot)com

Mutti said...

Another wonderfully interesting book... and so different from the others you have reviewed. I haven't made it to Idaho recently, but did get to Bear Lake last week... that is pretty close. ...At least it is close to some of YOUR stories which I love!

missy said...

I'd love to win a copy of this book! I loved the interview. It was fun to learn more about Karey -- I'm already a fan of hers from her blog and I love her perspective on life! I would totally love to live in a converted schoolhouse. What a fun memory.

missystowell{at}gmail{dot}com

Pain SUX said...

oldest of 11, wow!!!

soklad82@hotmail.com

nicolesender said...

I would love to read an inspiring book this summer.
nicolesender(at)yahoo(dot)com

AimeeKay said...

This book looks extremely interesting, and I would love to live in a room with floor to ceiling bookshelves!
Thank you for the giveaway!

aimeelavalle(at)gmail(dot)com

GFC Follower-AimeeKay

Carina L. Tai said...

This sounds like a wonderful book!

alicia.aatran@yahoo.com

Mary Preston said...

GIFTED looks amazing.

Now on my list.

marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

Linda Kish said...

I would love to read this book.

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Dinda said...

Nice interview !!!
Gifted sounds like interesting book.

dl(dot)love(dot)freedom(at)gmail(dot)com

Carrie and Spencer said...

I love reading stories that I can learn from while still enjoying a good book. Gifted sounds like a wonderful story and I look forward to reading it, even if I don't win. :-)
carriebadurek(at)gmail(dot)com

mamabunny13 said...

Sounds like something I would enjoy. Please count me in. Thanks.
mamabunny13 at gmail ot com

Jennifer R said...

Linda, thanks for such a great interview with Karey. I'm envious of the library bedroom she had while growing up and living in the school!
Thanks,
Jen
jryder416 at yahoo dot com

Tiffany Drew said...

This was such a great interview. I would love read Gifted, it looks like a definite page turner. Win or lose, I'll be reading it. But of course, I'd really prefer to win it :) Thank you for the chance at it!

jaidahsmommy(at)comcast(dot)net

Mickey said...

Thanks for the giveaway!!

imabookshark AT yahoo DOT com

Reading Away The Days said...

Hey! That is awesome you lived in an old schoolhouse. I think that would be quite cool :)

I have wanted to read Gifted for a while :)

meganmcdade2008@yahoo.co.uk

Mona said...

Thanks :)
It sounds like a great read.
It must have been so interesting to live in a schoolhouse. I would have loved to have a library for my bedroom.

monagargATyahooDOTcom

Michele said...

Thanks for the interview. Its always nice to learn more about the authors!!

GFC Michele Luker

jmluker at winco dot net

Printed Memories said...

What an incredible story. And the message is inspiring to say the least. I love books who walk on the awesome side and this sounds like one of them!!!

Printed Memories said...

sorry and my email is musicandwriting@aol.com

Unknown said...

sounds like a great book.

unforgetable_dreamer_always (at) hotmail (dot) com

Anonymous said...

This sounds fascinating!
Thanks for the giveaway!

Shelleyrae @ Book'd Out
www.bookdout.wordpress.com

bookd.out at gmail dot com

Karen said...

Her story about the inspiration for the book nearly brought me to tears! What a fabulous story this must be.

kpuleski at gmail dot com

SarahChristine said...

Sounds like an amazing book! (and great interview too)

pinktooth2 (at) yahoo (dot) com

Tran D said...

This book sounds great! Great interview! thanks for the giveaway!

alice13188 AT yahoo DOT com

Anonymous said...

Great interview, the book looks awesome.

Morganlafey86(at)aol(dot)com

Lisa said...

Wow, this book looks awesome. I'm definitely going to add it to my tbr pile. Thanks for the chance to win!

lhoffpauir at gmail

MannaB said...

I would feel so weird living in a school house!

crazypplrok at gmail dot com

Tammy said...

I would love to read this story. Thank you for the giveaway and the opportunity to win. I'm a new follower. GFC=Tammy
tmdahle@centurytel.net

Krystal Larson said...

edysicecreamlover18ATgmailDOTcom Krystal Larson Thank you!

Trista Siegel said...

Wow, this sounds like a great book. Loved the interview.

tsiegel333@yahoo.com

Elle said...

This sounds like a truly wonderful book. I would love to read it.

The author sounds like someone I could be friends with too.

Thanks! elleberra at gmail dot com

Linda Weaver Clarke said...

Congratulations, Tammy. You are the winner of this wonderful book. I know you'll enjoy it. Stay tuned for more giveaways this week.