Sunday, December 30, 2012

Interview with Sweet Romance Author Karey White


Karey White is the author of two novels. Her book, Gifted, was a 2011 Whitney Award Finalist. Besides writing, she enjoys baking, reading, traveling and spending time with family and friends. Before she started writing, she owned a wedding cake shop and designed and sold clothing. Her greatest joy comes from being a wife and mother. She has a wonderful husband and four fantastic children. Her favorite quote and the motto she tries to apply to her life is “faith and fear cannot co-exist.” Karey White is an author, a wife and a mother of four.

Welcome back to my blog, Karey. Please tell us about your new book, For What It's Worth.

It’s the story of 24-year-old Abby Benson. An inheritance from her aunt gives her the ability to make her dream of owning a wedding cake bakery a reality. She hires (and falls for) Dane, a handsome contractor who helps her renovate the bakery. Unsure what to charge for her cakes, Abby has a crazy idea to let the customer decide what they think their cake is worth. This plan has its ups and downs, but the novelty of the idea makes her a local celebrity. When she is interviewed on television about the unusual idea, business booms and Abby has cake adventures she never dreamed possible. But as her fame grows, Abby is swept up in a whirlwind that threatens everything she values. With the challenges that face her, will she be able to determine what is worth the most?

Where did you get your inspiration for this novel?

I owned my own wedding cake business for about a dozen years. When I delivered an especially interesting cake to a wedding, the mother told me she was surprised what a bargain it was. I started wondering what she’d have been willing to pay for the cake if it had been up to her. Pretty soon I had ideas for the book that I couldn’t wait to write.

Owning your own wedding cake shop must have been a fun experience. What kind of research did you do for this book?

There’s always the little things like researching restaurants and details about location, but for most of the story, my research had been done during the years I’d made wedding cakes.

I love it when authors add real life situations to their stories, such as your Wedding Cake Shop. Do you put real experiences in your books, too?

All the time. I don’t know how authors don’t. People who know me well will see little things about me in my writing. In For What It’s Worth, the setting is Seattle, Washington, a place I lived for awhile. A couple of the experiences Abby has with her cakes are things that really happened as I did cakes and I used a few of my favorite cakes as ideas for the cakes she makes. I never did the self-pricing idea, although I think it would have been fun to try. I was never that brave.

Thank you for this awesome interview, Karey. It was fun getting to know you. Everyone enjoys learning more about an author’s life and the inspiration behind the story. I know I do.

28 comments:

daysease said...

Sounds like a "sweet" read. Could definitely stand to read something light and different. "Choose what to pay" sounds interesting to me... Sounds like their might be some humor in the mix, as well. That's a plus! Thank you for the chance...


Celita
mrsdayseye at tiscali dot it

Debbie Curto said...

Wow this sounds like a great read! Always looking for new author
likesmusic2@consolidated.net

apple blossom said...

oh, I'd love to be included in this book giveaway this week thanks

ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

Brooke said...

I'm looking forward to reading this book. And, I should start using the author's family quote in my own family "faith and fear cannot co-exist".

Brooke
bacarter630@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

Interesting premise - what is this worth to you?. I'm sure we have all been in a situation where we had to choose - although maybe not deciding about cakes!
Bonnie Hilligoss/bonhill@speakeasy. net

Tiffany said...

Who doesn't want to read a book about cake? This book sounds super fun. I'd love to win! Thanks for the chance.

Katherine said...

What a fun idea for a book! I'd love to read it!

katsaddress AT gmail. DOT com

pol said...

little different and sounds like a great story , nice to meet this new author to me...does sound like a sweet romance since it about Bakery..
thanks for sharing this author and the book.

Paula O(kyflo130@yahoo.com)

Jubilee Reviews said...

That sounds so interesting!! Melanieinoh2003 at yahoo dot com

Gail Pallotta said...

Oh, what a fun sounding book. Reading about it made me think of a movie I saw a few years ago about a lady in a bakery.

Congratulations on your writing success and your new book.

Paula Winsor said...

It's good to get to know you a little bit better even though you no longer live in Twin. I enjoyed Gifted and have yet to experience your latest and greatest. Congratulations on your success.

Linda Kish said...

I would love to win a copy of this book. It sounds terrific.

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Mary Preston said...

A great post thank you. I certainly want to read more.

It makes sense to incorporate your own experiences into your writing.

marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

Teresa Higginson said...

What a fun story and interesting take on pricing of things valued by us. Can't wait to read it! teresahigginson72@gmail.com

Jennifer R said...

I love the concept of having the customer decide the value. I've read recently about restaurants doing the same thing. Most people do seem to be fair about it. Thank you!
jryder416 at yahoo dot com

Candi said...

Sounds like a fun read!

candi.stephenson@gmail.com

Connie said...

Hi! The book sounds fun and happy to read. :)

cheralyn said...

This sounds like a very interesting book,I definitely want to read it. Thanks for the chance to win it! cheryllynne(at)rocketmail(dot)com

Dianne Munson said...

This sounds like a fun book and one that is not as 'heavy' as some of the ones I have been reading. I would enjoy getting it!! Thanks for the opportunity.


Dianne Munson

Tressa said...

This has been on my tbr list before the book even came out. Thanks for the giveaway and interview!

tressa dot sherman at hotmail dot com

LAWonder said...

It definitely is something you personally know about. That s great. I think this sounds like a fun yet inspiring story. I would love to win it and add it to my library.

Jamie Leigh Martin said...

Wow! So much art in her life!

jamielovesweeping@gmail.com

Katie said...

I love the cover. The story sounds wonderful. I can't wait to read it.
rkdmh@comcast.net

Unknown said...

This looks like a wonderful book! Thanks for the chance! stephanielovessweeping@gmail.com

Cindy said...

This looks like a fun read. Letting people pick the price of their cakes could prove to be quite interesting.

I'd like to enter for the hard copy of this book. My email addy is cindialtman at gmail.com (spaces removed and @ sign instead of "at" being spelled out)

Christine said...

Hi Karey and Linda! I'm so glad I made it here in time to enter! :)

Karey I tried cake decorating when I was 18-20 but I just wasn't very good at it, although I always wanted to be better, but it wasn't in the cards I guess. But I love what the stories about and would love to read it. My Mom would enjoy your book also.

Faith and fear cannot co-exist) I believe that yet I guess I haven't conquord it yet. But that's a great Idea for my New Years resolution. Leave it all up to God. Thanks so much!

So glad you were here promoting your book. Thanks for the chance to win it. I'd need print, please. I don't have a ereader. Thanks! Christine
chirth7@yahoo.com

Linda Weaver Clarke said...

Congratulations, Jamie! You are the new winner of this wonderful book. I know you'll enjoy it. Stop by often to see what the new book giveaway will be.

Anonymous said...

All things British! Onward Downton Abbey AND Shirley Raye Redmond.
Betty Bauer