The House on Tradd Street - Author Interview - Karen White

Anne Hathaway, the 26 year old actress who has had a string of hit movies to her name, currently, "Rachel Getting Married" and most recently "Get Smart" has been chosen to play the leading actress role in the novel, The House on Tradd Street by author Karen White.

The Real Hollywood’s Book Chat welcomes author Karen White, author of the paranormal romance novel, The House on Tradd Street (New American Library, Nov. '08). Karen is on a virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book Promotion and has graciously agreed to an interview. Find out who she picks to play the leading actor in the novel.

ABOUT THE BOOK:
Practical-minded Charleston realtor Melanie Middleton hates to admit that she can see ghosts—even to herself. But now she’s going to have to accept it. Because an old man she met only days ago has died, leaving Melanie his historic Tradd Street home, complete with housekeeper, dog—and a family of ghosts anxious to tell her something…

Enter Jack Trenholm, a gorgeous writer obsessed with unsolved mysteries. He has reason to believe that some diamonds that went missing from the Confederate Treasury a century ago are hidden in Melanie’s new home. So he decides to turn the charm on with the new tenant, only to discover that he’s suddenly the smitten one...

But it turns out that Jack’s search has caught the attention of a possibly malevolent ghostly presence. Now, Jack and Melanie must unravel a mystery of passion, heartbreak, and even murder. And they must hurry, for an evil force—either dead or alive—lies in wait…

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
It was love at first sight when White first visited Charleston and South Carolina’s lowcountry in 1995. She says it was “inevitable” that she would set several novels in the area, as she did with 2005’s The Color of Light, which Booklist praises as “an accomplished novel about loss and renewal.” Three years later, she returned to the there with The Memory Of Water and, now, to Charleston with THE HOUSE ON TRADD STREET. Her love of the southern coast shows no sign of abating. Her next novel, The Lost Hours (May 09) is set in and around Savannah.

Karen White’s work has appeared on the South East Independent Booksellers best sellers list. Her recent novel The Memory of Water, was the Borders Books and Atlanta & Company’s Book Club Selection for May, topped off at the end of the month with their live, television interview with Karen. The Memory of Water, which is well reviewed in Atlanta Magazine and an array of other print and online book media, and was adopted by numerous independent booksellers as a book club recommendation and as a featured title in their store. It’s been back to press five times since its March 2008 publication, the first time within its first four weeks on sale. It is one of NAL/Accent’s fastest selling titles.

Adding to the excitement of The Memory of Water’s March 2008 debut, was the resounding, continued recognition achieved by White’s 2007 novel Learning to Breathe. This spring Learning to Breathe was honored with a National Readers’ Choice Award, the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence, and the Virginia Romance Writers HOLT Medallion. It was also named a finalist for the Romance Writers of America’s Award for Best Novel, the Colorado Romance Writers Award of Excellence and the Georgia Author of the Year Award.

White credits years spent listening to adults visiting in her grandmother’s Mississippi kitchen, sharing stories and gossiping while she played under the table, with starting her on the road to telling her own tales. The deal was sealed in the seventh grade when she skipped school and read Gone With The Wind. She knew—just knew—she was destined to grow up to be either Scarlet O’Hara or a writer.


Hi Karen White,

Welcome to The Real Hollywood’s Book Chat,

Karen: Thanks for having me and for giving me this opportunity to chat with readers, both old and new.

RH: If your book were sold for movie rights which actor/actress would you want to play the main character?

Karen: That's a toughie for me because my characters were created in my head and don't really look like anybody! But, since I call THE HOUSE ON TRADD STREET my "Sixth Sense meets Moonlighting" book, I obviously have a fascination with Bruce Willis. So, if he were about 20 years younger (like in his Moonlighting days) he'd be perfect for the role of Jack Trenholm, bestselling novelist of true crime mysteries. For Melanie Middleton, the uptight insecure Realtor who listens to ABBA, I could see Kate Hudson or Anne Hathaway.

RH: Who would you want to play the supporting characters?

Karen: Melanie's best friend, Sophie, is a latent-hippie free spirit who teaches historical restoration at the local college and is a favorite character of mine. I picture her as sort of goofy--but with an unidentifiable quality that attracts men. I think Tina Fey would be great playing her. And for Chad, her sidekick who's from California and calls everyone "Dude"--I can see Brad Pit at his goofiest.

RH: If you book was already sold for movie rights tell how it felt to be approached by Hollywood and what the journey has been like.

Karen: I wish!! Come back in a few years and ask me this again.


RH: Who is your favorite actor and/or actress?

Karen: I'm a bit of a traditionalist and an addict to Turner classic movies---my favorites are from the heyday of Hollywood: Elizabeth Taylor, June Alison, Sophie Loren. I do like a few of the younger set--Keira Knightly (LOVED her in Pride & Prejudice), Natalie Portman, Anne Hathaway, Kate Hudson. For guys--my perennial favorites would be the late Paul Newman, Robert Redford, Gregory Peck, Sean Connery. The newer actors would be Tom Hanks, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Steve Carrel.

RH: Is there a movie you could watch over and over again?

Karen: I could and I have--Gone With the Wind!

RH: Who is your favorite author? What books have you read by this author?

Karen: I love too many books to pick a favorite, but my FIRST favorite book was Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell. I've also read her Lost Laison, which I believe is her only other known published work.

RH: What is next on the horizon for you?

Karen: THE HOUSE ON TRADD STREET---a ghost story/romance/mystery set in Charleston comes out on November 4, 2008---and its sequel is scheduled for November 2009. In between I have a book, THE LOST HOURS, a southern family drama/mystery/romance set in Savannah, comes out in May 2009. I've been very busy!

RH: Where can my readers find your website?


Karen: People can find me at www.karen-white.com


I thank you being sharing your book with The Real Hollywood’s Book Chat and I wish you continued success on your virtual book tour.

Thanks again for having me!

THE HOUSE ON TRADD STREET VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR '08 officially began on November 3 and end on November 26. You can visit Karen's blog stops at www.virtualbooktoursforauthors.wordpress.com in November to find out more about her latest book!

As a special promotion for all our authors, Pump Up Your Book Promotion is giving away a FREE virtual book tour to a published author or a $50 Amazon gift certificate to those not published who comments on our authors' blog stops. More prizes will be announced as they become available. The winner(s) will be announced on our main blog at www.pumpupyourbookpromotion.wordpress.com on November 30!