Please join me HERE TONIGHT, Wednesday April 16th @ 8PM EST (5 PM Pacific) for a live chat with author Karen White.
Karen White is the author of the novel "The Memory of Water". On the night their mother drowns trying to ride out a storm in a sailboat, sisters Marnie and Diana Maitland discover there is more than one kind of death. There is the death of innocence, of love, and of hope. Each sister harbors a secret about what really happened that night-secrets that will erode their lives as they grow into adulthood.
After ten years of silence between the sisters, Marnie is called back to the South Carolina Lowcountry by Diana's ex-husband, Quinn. His son has returned from a sailing trip with his emotionally unstable mother, and he is deeply disturbed and refusing to speak. In order to help the traumatized boy, Marnie must reopen old wounds and bring the darkest memories of their past to the surface. And she must confront Diana, before they all go under.
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Comments: 110
So here is my question: How can you manage to be a writer AND a mom? When my kids were young - I could not manage at all. Now that one is in college and the other in high school, I do work at a job and I am freelancing, but trying to eke out time to work on my novel....I would really love to work at home...then i could work 8 hours a day on it...I've done frozen waffles, too, btw and more...how many hours can you manage in a day? And is it morning or night - or between helping your kids...It is SUCH a tough balance.
Welcome to Gather Karen White! We look forward to spending the next hour with you as you answer Gather member questions about your novel "The Memory of Water!"
It looks like you already have a couple of questions above to get you started.
I wanted to say that I LOVED your book! I finished reading it a few days ago and it was wonderful! I posted my review here on Gather yesterday!
I enjoyed The Memory of Water a lot. I was wondering what other books you have written - and if any of them have similar themes?
Firstly--let me apologize about Monday night. After I got there and posted a comment, I waited for others to comment and when nothing happened after awhile, I signed off. Duh--I didn't know about that refresher button!! Live and learn...
ANYWAY, yes, I have 7 other novels and all with similar themes (southern women's fiction about family dynamics with a little bit of a mystery and love story thrown in). You can see a list, read excerpts, check out the covers, read reviews etc. on my website at www.karen-white.com
Gas prices are out of this world, it costs me near $80 to fill up our pick-up these days! With two young kids, soccer, dance, swim lessons, school --- we go through the gas!
My daughter takes her driver's license test this Saturday so now there will be THREE cars I'm buying gas for. I told her that if she runs all of my errands I pay for gas. Can't decide if that's a good deal yet or not.
I'll definitely check that one out, Karen! And no problem about the chat the other night- glad that I was able to make it to this one. =)
What inspired you to write your book?
Who or what has influenced your writing?
Do you listen to music when you write?
It looks like a good one!
Also, not a question but I really enjoyed the parallels between the two mute characters - Gil, choosing not to speak because of his fear of exposing the truth, and the grandfather - who wanted to be able to speak, but wasn't able to because of the stroke . How Gil feared 'liars going to hell' because of his grandfather's lessons, and how the grandfather used the bible to communicate - I liked how that all intertwined.
I would be more than happy to send you MY copy of the book! Just send me a private Gather message with your mailing address and I'll get it out to you!
1) I was inspired (in part) by an article I read in a women's magazine written by two grown sisters who'd been raised by a bipolar mother. It was horrifying to read how at very young ages (6 and 8) they had to get themselves up, dressed and fed for school each morning on their own. Mind-boggling really, especially as a mother myself.
2) Every great book I've ever read has inspired me to write a book of my own that would evoke the same feelings in my readers. The Lowcountry inspires me with its awesome beauty and so does great music. (And it all depends on my mood!)
3) I can not listen to music with words or a heavy beat when I'm writing. Either classical or very quiet jazz only. Although for inspiration I'll crank up a CD of a favorite composer and listen for a bit but will have to turn it down or off to get writing.
Please, Please, please let her know I loved it!!! Gather actually sent me a book and I wrote a review of it on here! It is not my usual type of read/book AT ALL But i really really loved it!
I love it when that happens! I've done that with my own writing, and it always amazes me how much it comes together afterwards. I'm currently in the process of editing my novel and short story collection with hopes of publication someday - do you have any advice for budding authors like me who are looking to break into print with their first book?
No, I don't have any first-person experience with bipolar disorder. Only what I learned in my psych classes in college and in research for the book. I read a lot of first-hand accounts to understand what it was like to live with a person afflicted with the disease and then let my imagination do the rest.
The water in the Atlantic along the southern coast in the summer is quite balmy--if it's under 80 degrees, it's too cold for me. :-)
Fortunately, none of his kids (including me) inherited the illness, and once he was diagnosed he did pretty well on medication.
The only think that's sort of 'autobiographical' is the story about the black and white puppy, U-dog. We actually got a black and white puppy while I was writing this book and I used the story that Marnie tells Gil about the name of the puppy with my own children. :-)
I noticed that too - though to some extent I wondered if that was an intentional choice on her part, if Diana wanted the water to take her under, to maybe close the cycle of what happened, or maybe end the Maitland curse. Maybe to atone for what happened with Gil on their last boating trip by saving him and sacrificing for him.
Sorry your hubby left you with an empty tank... baaaaaddd hubby! ;-D
~ Nancy
post BOTH pictures! He sounds so darn cute! And SO tiny compared to our 3 dogs! And yes, we do love dogs!
Enjoy talking with Karen, everyone, and be sure to read her terrific books! ~ Nancy
I do want to invite everyone over to my website to join my mailing list (you'll get a postcard from me whenever I have a new book out) or to request a personalized or signed bookplate for your book. The address is: www.karen-white.com.
I have two brothers no sisters myself- but they escaped all that because they're both older than me. ;)
too funny! I have a younger sister and a younger brother! My sister and I have an amazing bond and relationship even as adults!
And my daughter's name is Stephany! :)
My son, however, is Mr. Math & Science. I guess this clean division might have something to do with my husband being a banker whose emails make me cringe they're so boring
My dad's name is Steven! His sister, Donna, was 11 months older than him and always called him Stephanie when they were kids!
When we found out we were pregnant with our daughter, she was due a week before my dad turned 50!
So, we named her Stephany after him!