I was anxious to learn more about Secret Speakers and Karey's writing process. She graciously agreed to do an interview with us. Not only that, but Karey also sent us a video, in which she answers more of our questions!!
How did the story for Secret Speakers come about? I've started reading it, and it's really sucked me in. It's such a fascinating story.
Surprisingly, Secret Speakers began twelve years ago when I had a desire to write a non-fiction book about life skills for women and teens who are beaten down. At the time it was called, Click Your Heels Three Times.
A few years ago, in a moment of private grief, I asked, "What can I create that's good?" Almost robotically, I went to a box of books I had inherited from my grandmother. My hand went to a dark blue book that had the word "education" imprinted on the spine. It was musty and printed in the early 1900's. I flipped it open and one sentence jumped off the page that read, "Students learn best through story." I felt like I'd been hit over the head with a brick. Ideas began to flood my mind and they haven't stopped since. I went upstairs and started tapping away feverishly on the computer, knowing that I was to write a novel--not any novel--but an underground novel where readers could take many things away from it on many levels, like a parable. I use the word underground, because one of my childhood heroines was Harriet Tubman. She's still one of my heroes. She found a way to bring people to freedom right under the noses of those who wanted to keep them enslaved.
A few years ago, in a moment of private grief, I asked, "What can I create that's good?" Almost robotically, I went to a box of books I had inherited from my grandmother. My hand went to a dark blue book that had the word "education" imprinted on the spine. It was musty and printed in the early 1900's. I flipped it open and one sentence jumped off the page that read, "Students learn best through story." I felt like I'd been hit over the head with a brick. Ideas began to flood my mind and they haven't stopped since. I went upstairs and started tapping away feverishly on the computer, knowing that I was to write a novel--not any novel--but an underground novel where readers could take many things away from it on many levels, like a parable. I use the word underground, because one of my childhood heroines was Harriet Tubman. She's still one of my heroes. She found a way to bring people to freedom right under the noses of those who wanted to keep them enslaved.
What an amazing journey it's been for you. Congratulations on Secret Speakers release! Using three words, how would you describe your book?
I'm just shooting off the cuff here, so the three words that come to mind in describing Secret Speakers are: Transformational. Multi-layered. Lasting.
What would you like your readers to take away from reading, Secret Speakers?
A couple of things come to mind. I would like my readers to come away from reading Secret Speakers with the knowledge that they (or those around them who might be suffering) are never, ever alone, even in their darkest hours. I would also like them to be filled with the hope that this life is a time to prepare to meet God, and that no matter what we go through, if we hang on and have not only hope, but charity for others, we will be carried along by unseen hands, even in our suffering.
That is a very powerful and one I'm sure many readers will take away from Secret Speakers. What authors have influenced your writing?
The authors who have influenced me the most are C.S. Lewis' favorite author, George MacDonald, Victor Hugo, Charles Dickens and Charlotte Bronté . . . and C.S. Lewis.
I love C.S Lewis. What motivates you to write?
I'm motivated to write by an overwhelming, passionate desire to create a lasting legacy for my children (and their children's children) and to create awareness for the global need to educate marginalized girls, women, and their sons. That might sound strange since Secret Speakers is a young adult novel, but there you have it!
Wonderful motivation! Is there any writing advice you have learned over the course of writing Secret Speakers, that you would like to share with aspiring writers?
Hmmm. Writing advice, what would it be? Ask for inspiration. Ask what you are meant to create that's good. Be open. I believe we're all here for a purpose, and if you feel compelled to write, don't try to come up with things that are different and unusual. Those things will take care of themselves if you stay true to the purpose of who you are and what you're meant to accomplish. We all have a book inside us. We're living our own stories every day through what we observe and experience. I believe those things allow us to write what we know and are meant to offer the world.
What is one of the most rewarding things you have experienced being a writer?
This is a fun one! The funnest part of being a writer is connecting with my readers! Secret Speakers is a big, extended family. I've got over 3200 friends on Goodreads. 700 people there and on Facebook signed up for my Read and Rate It event in late 2008. Those who survived reading the manuscript online, helped shape the story in small ways, and we had a blast! On a more personal note, the MOST rewarding thing I've experienced is growing closer to my children in ways that are really meaningful.
Another fun thing that's come about from all this starting One Million Butterflies where people create as many handmade butterflies as possible to be used in a wall mural by 2012. It's to celebrate global education for girls. I'm having a blast doing it!
What a great opportunity for book readers to help spread the word about global education for girls! Please enjoy the video chat that Karey has done for us, talking about her amazing journey in writing her book Secret Speakers and what Secret Speakers is about.
If you have any questions for Karey, please leave them in the comments, and we'll be
sure she gets them and we'll post the answers.
Thank you so much Karey for taking the time to visit with us!
To learn more about Karey, please visit her here http://kareyshane.com/ and to learn more about Secret Speakers, please visit here http://www.SecretSpeakers.com/.
Don't forget, you can pick up Secret Speakers now.
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This looks like an interesting read. Loved the interview!! And on the website it says..."if you loved the Chronicles of Narnia..." that's always a hook for me!!
ReplyDeleteLove the synopsis: "Fair O’Nelli is a normal girl, except for one small fact: She has spent the last nine years of her life living in a cellar with her loyal dog, studying the Scrolls of Truth by mysterious finger light, educated by her mother in the dark of night to avoid being discovered. She knows that her father and brother are missing or dead.
Fair is set free on the day she comes of age, when it’s safe for her to be seen. While on the grassy path to find Selador’s Gate in the company of three guardians, little does Fair know she’s about to end up in the middle of a dark secret the parents of Cloven Grave know nothing about, where the key to survival is learning to see things as they are.
In it’s simplest form, Secret Speakers is about leaving home and returning safely once again."