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Karen White | Filing The Well
May 18, 2010
Right now I’m visiting my parents at their home in Nashville, Tennessee. I’m on
my way to the Southern Kentucky Book Festival and my dad suggested that since
Nashville is between my home in Atlanta and the Festival in Bowling Green, I
might want to stop and stay a day or two. I’ve just emerged from their basement
with three suitcases stuffed with about five decades of photographs that will
find their way to my car trunk before I leave. Now I know why he wanted me to
stop by and "visit."
I’m a self-proclaimed "scrapbooker." I love pouring over old photographs,
peering at the younger faces of my grandparents, parents and siblings,
recognizing a favorite sweater or toy, plate, a piece of furniture, and even
expressions on those faces. These photographs are like a piece of history I can
hold in my hand, and can even relish the hours and hours it will take to sort
through them, organize them, put them into albums. Hours I don’t really have
right now (ack-two book deadlines this year plus the release of two other
books!), but hours I look forward to.
My maternal grandmother died this past February at the age of ninety-five. I
traveled to the Mississippi Delta for her funeral where a full-blown family
reunion (all of her still living children-six of them-plus all of her nineteen
grandchildren and a sprinkling of the great and great-great-grandchildren) were
there. I brought my sixteen-year-old son with me (my husband and daughter, who
were to follow the next, day got snowed in in Atlanta). It was a bit of a
culture shock for my son ("Yes, dear, these are your people. No, dear, you
shouldn’t need a translator.") We had a wonderful time, and it was so
gratifying to see him talking shop (football, Tour of Duty on the PS2) with my
cousin’s son since my cousin and I had been as thick as thieves when we were the
boys’ age. We had a big spaghetti dinner (just like my Italian grandmother
would throw for us) and we talked and laughed late into the night.
Everybody’s sending me their photographs from that night because I told them I
wanted to do a scrapbook album of our grandmother’s life, with pictures from her
early childhood, marriage, motherhood, and culminating with the family gathering
celebrating her life. I’m inundated with photographs that need to be sorted,
scanned, and cataloged on my computer. Gosh, book deadlines? What’s that?
I’ll get it done. I’ll find a way. Because as important as my books are to me,
so is the rest of my life and my interests outside of writing. This is what us
writers refer to as "filling the well." We need to experience life to be able
to write about it. Having interests and a passion outside of writing is as
imperative to my writing as is the actual sitting down at my computer is. It’s
what makes me a better writer.
It’s also spending time doing other things and not even thinking about writing
that gives me my story ideas. While at my brother’s wedding a few years ago in
the Outer Banks of North Carolina, my family and I took a tour of the Cape
Hatteras lighthouse. While there, the tour guide mentioned the presence right
off the shore of a sunken German U-boat from WWII. I was astounded. Had
Germans really come that close the US mainland? How was it possible that I
hadn’t known? And so the story behind ON FOLLY
BEACH (out May 4th, 2010) was born.
It’s these serendipitous tidbits that I collect while experiencing life that
feed the well of my writer’s imagination.
My grandmother’s funeral was no different. While studying my family over
spaghetti and meatballs, I felt a story forming in the back of my head. There’s
something about the Mississippi Delta and its inhabitants that’s just made for
storytelling. I didn’t write a word the entire three days I was down there, but
I got lots and lots of story ideas. And character ideas. And photographs,
Comments
42 comments posted.
Re: Karen White | Filing The Well
Karen this certainly sounds great. I love ties with the past and it's antiquities. I have never heard of a bottle tree and this promises a great mystery set in the South.
(Susan Lathen 6:12am May 18, 2010)
Your "second" life sounds just as fascinating as your first one. Hope that you maintain both sides of your life and enjoy doing them both!
(Joanne Reynolds 6:28am May 18, 2010)
I love looking through old family photos. These people came before me & brought me to where I am today.
(Mary Preston 8:11am May 18, 2010)
It's a good day whenever you learn something new!! Although I am sorry for your loss, I share your passion for collecting old photographs of the family, as well as tidbits about the relatives. It's good to keep them on record for future generations, as well as you using them for ideas for your books. Great idea!! Can't wait to read them!
(Peggy Roberson 8:32am May 18, 2010)
i have been tracing our families' geneaiogies for some years. I love it when I find a story there. Like your grandmother, my mother's generation is now gone. I am the matriarch and there is a lot I don't know when the others ask me. I wish I had started saving the stories much earlier!
(Karin Tillotson 8:55am May 18, 2010)
Family, not necessarily relatives, is what it is all about.
Blessings,
Marjorie
(Marjorie Carmony 8:58am May 18, 2010)
My grandmother had a bottle tree outside by her porch and all the glass were in the process of changing colors it was wonderful.I also love to scrap but do not have the time, Your book sounds good and I plan to add it to my read list.
(Vickie Hightower 9:16am May 18, 2010)
Hi, Karen!
Sorry about the loss of your grandmother, but glad to hear you had your family around you minus your hubby and daughter who got snowed in.
I also love old photographs. Wish I had retained all of the information about past relatives that was told to me. Unfortunately the photos I received from my dad after his death last year didn't have any writing on the back of them, so I had to guess.
I love family reunions. We have one on my side of the family the end of May. Really looking forward to it.
Thanks so much for your article and giveaway!
(Cathy Phillips 9:32am May 18, 2010)
My grandmother was very special to me as well. My mother would send me to the island of Puerto Rico, in the summer, to be with her. I learn so much with her. I was #6 of 7 kids, my mom did not have much time, but my grandmother always did. I went 3 different times in my life before she left this world and my last time I was a young adult and learn even more of her great talents and skills. She was specal and the memories will always be mine.
(Cynthia Plaza-Harney 9:39am May 18, 2010)
I is wonderful to know where we come from; I come from a line of Vikings and to see how your past; the past of family reflects on you. I for one take great pride in my "people" Vikings amd the Swedish. Proud people, Tuff people. It would be great to read your books.
(Kathy Vallee 9:44am May 18, 2010)
Hi. You're a new writer for me. This book sounds intriguing. I'll look for it.
elainec
(Elaine Carlini-Davis 11:09am May 18, 2010)
Karen--My mother helped treat U-Boat victims in a make-shift hospital in South Louisiana early in WWII. The boat had come up the Gulf of Mexico. Like you, I recall being very surprised when I first learned how far the Germans came. FYI, I love your Tradd and Legare Street books. They are absolutely wonderful.
(G S Moch 11:21am May 18, 2010)
Nothing like trips home to bring back the memories. I was fortunate in that I was able to be with my grandmother (and my mother) the last week of my grandmother's life.
(Shannon Scott 12:05pm May 18, 2010)
I love looking through our old pictures. I wish I knew everyone in them.
(Linda Kish 12:09pm May 18, 2010)
I love the cover photos where were they taken?
(Catherine Myers 12:28pm May 18, 2010)
I'm happy your basement treasures were not ruined in the flood.
I had 2 aunts who had a bottle tree. When I was young I would alway touch the bottles. One of the aunts was a bottle collector, so they were able to change out the bottles according to the holiday.
(Sandra Dickey 12:38pm May 18, 2010)
Wish I had more photos of my grandparents... she had some of when they were younger, but my uncle threw them out... what a loss and waste.
(Colleen Conklin 1:04pm May 18, 2010)
I enjoy reading alot of new books, summer is coming and I can't wait to sit outside and listen to the birds and read some good books!
(Lisa Walinski 2:01pm May 18, 2010)
So many warm memories of my grandmother..this weekend I made potato salad (her recipe) and served it in her green salad bowl that she always used to use. Memories, sweet memories...
(Patricia (Pat) Pascale 2:07pm May 18, 2010)
You're books sound
interesting. I think that
stories that include a lot of
details and inspiration from
the authors' own lives are
usually the ones that I feel
most connected to the
characters.
(Jacqueline Cook 2:28pm May 18, 2010)
My Grandmother who helped raise me died when I was in the 5th grade , I am now 75, and I miss her as much today as then. I am now reading Angel's Peak and I want you to know that I have stayed up 4 nights this week and was almost late for work(Library) while getting to this book. Could not put them down!! Love Virgin River and all the people who live there and will be moving there.
Liz
(Liz Campbell 2:41pm May 18, 2010)
Having a large extended family must be really fun for a writer what with all the different potential characters and situations. :)
The problem I have with old photographs is that many times no one bothered writing on the back who the people in the photo were and when it was taken. It would make sorting old family photos easier, especially if the only person who would know is recently deceased.
(S Tieh 2:52pm May 18, 2010)
It's wonderful that you can pick up tidbits of information (local history, family stories, etc, and weave them into your writing. I think it is great that you can use those experiences to enrich your characters. I also love looking at family photos, both old and new!
(Marguerite Guinn 3:18pm May 18, 2010)
I can't wait to grab a copy of ON FOLLY BEACH, it sounds fantasic and I think it's facinating to hear how the story began to come together as a story idea for you. I'll be looking for your book!!
Thanks!
(Dena King 3:35pm May 18, 2010)
On Folly Beach is just the type of book I love to read. I am looking forward to reading it.
(Barbara Andersen 3:40pm May 18, 2010)
Karen this sounds wonderful. My husband and I have had a family chart done for his side. Still working on mine. My daughter, like you is an avid scrapbooker and has done 1 for each year of her 4 children. She has also done dvd's of pictures from all of the family members for birthdays and such. I love anything from the past.
(Cindy Olp 4:21pm May 18, 2010)
I lost my dad in November and now it is the photos of him I go to when I want to see him... There is just something special about them!!!
(Brandy Blake 4:30pm May 18, 2010)
My grandmother passed away several years ago and I still miss her.
(Sherry Russell 5:22pm May 18, 2010)
There is nothing like family so attend every event you can and take many pics. I think making a scrapbook about your grandmother is wonderful. My daughter has plans to do this for my Mom who passed away in Jul 06 at 85 and Dad who passed away Dec 92'. So many memories will be put on paper with pics for all to see. The family is sending in pics they have to share..
(Brenda Hill 5:50pm May 18, 2010)
I love the story line of On Folly Beach. I loved to talk to my Grandmother about things in her life and still go through old letters and journals that she kept.
(Lori Duhoski 6:02pm May 18, 2010)
Family is what life is all about! I would love to read these stories, they sound like wonderful reads. Please enter me! Also I would love to go to the KY book festival
(Gail Hurt 6:31pm May 18, 2010)
I love books of this type! I would love to read yours.
(Lisa Garrett 8:26pm May 18, 2010)
Sorry about the loss of your grandmother. Enjoy all your wonderful memories.
My almost 92 year aunt is very ill and has been the matriarch of our family for a long time now and family events have always centered around her.
(Pat Lieberman 8:45pm May 18, 2010)
Pictures is what I would take if there is an evacutation. They are memories of the good and bad times but mostly of families and friends.
(Kai Wong 9:22pm May 18, 2010)
sounds great
(Sagrario Vigil 9:43pm May 18, 2010)
I'm so sorry for the loss of your grandmother, mine is 95 and stil working at the middle school 20 hours a week and driving! I don't know what I'll do when I lose her, but she has been great about keeping journals, pictures in albums by family's, has a family tree done, we found out we were related to June Carter Cash! Family is great!
I love family reunions so much and keeping photographs!
(Brenda Rupp 12:15pm May 19, 2010)
I wish I knew more about my family's history. A relative of my husband has made a book of his side of our family. Such family histories are so nice to have. Good luck at sorting threw the many photographs.
(Gladys Paradowski 3:00am May 19, 2010)
I am so sorry you lost your
Grandmother. You were lucky to have
had her in your life for so long. I too
come from a large family. It is
wonderful and chaotic when everyone
gets together. A few have started
compiling family histories and photos.
We are all spread out today, that we
are missing a very important part of
family life. When I grew up, my great
grandmother, all 4 of my
grandparents, my Mother's 8 siblings
and Dad's 6 siblings, plus the
multitude of cousins all lived in the
same area. Add to that a large
number of great aunts & uncles and
some second cousins, and we were
quite a crowd. There was always
someone around (we averaged 15
cousins at our house most weekends)
and you got to know the generations
and hear the family stories. We do not
live close to any family and my
children and grandchildren barely
know any of their relatives. We have
tried, but it has been a long time since
everyone could travel to a family get
together. It is really a loss that can't
be replaced. There is the feeling of
being a part of something and truly
belonging.
(Patricia Barraclough 3:02am May 19, 2010)
I love scrapbooking but have become lazy and enjoy the online version where you can pick your backgrounds and easily scan letters, birthday cards and take photos of precious things to put in the books eg. those cool art projects that the kids make that I have no more room for :)
(Darci Paice 3:05am May 19, 2010)
What a beautiful way to come up with an idea for a book, while surrounded by family and celebrating the long life of a loved one. I'd love to read the result!
(Sandra Grauschopf 1:17pm May 19, 2010)
hello well i do not now waht to say ubt i lov eot hav eyour book and read it abn blog about it on mutly sites
(Desiree Reilly 3:05pm May 19, 2010)
I wish I'd had more photos of family
events as the older I get the more I'm
forgetting. It's really important to record
those events with photos, video and
stories to pass on to the next generation.
(Sue Ahn 11:48pm May 19, 2010)
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