Southern Novelist Shares Charleston's Appeal

By Ashley Taylor

Author Karen White highlights historic Charleston through several of her recent novels.

Charleston is known for its historic homes, beautiful gardens, and rich history. The architecture is some of the most unique of its kind.

With all that Charleston has to offer, it is not unusual that many authors choose to write about the Holy City. Karen White is one of the many wonderful writers who have brought Charleston to the attention of readers across the nation

Growing up in London, England, Karen White is now a resident of Georgia and is very passionate about the South, especially the Lowcountry. In an interview with White, I asked what her inspiration was for writing books based in the historic Charleston and Savannah areas.

White responded, “From the first time I visited the Lowcountry, I knew it held a special place in my heart. I loved the smells, the sights, the marsh, the Spanish moss, the architecture--all of it fed my writer's soul. I've been inspired to write about it ever since”.

The House on Tradd Street, which has a storyline based directly in the downtown Charleston area, is very accurate in its portrayal of daily life in Charleston. Tradd Street is an area with homes that are hundreds of years old and are some of the most beautiful in the southeastern United States.

Main characters Melanie Middleton and Jack Trenholm embark on an adventure to find the diamonds of the Confederate Treasury that are believed to be hidden in an historic house on Tradd Street. The house, which Melanie has happened to inherit from her paternal grandparents, is also known to be haunted by both good and evil spirits. Melanie knows this for a fact, as she has a gift for communicating with spirits.

This novel, like her others, includes mystery, romance, and involves paranormal activity. When asked what her inspiration for writing about both good and evil spirits was, White responded by saying, “My dad used to read me "real life" ghost stories and unsolved mystery books as bedtime reading when I was a little girl. It fostered in me a life-long interest in all things paranormal. My paternal grandmother also had a penchant for talking to dead people, so I guess I grew up thinking that wasn't all that out of the ordinary.”

White’s novels are written very accurately, and it is clear that much research had to have been conducted beforehand. When asked about her research methods, White responded, “Walking the streets, eating in the restaurants, and visiting sites are the best kind of research. And for the first book, The House on Tradd Street, I had a retired Charleston tour guide read it to make sure I had everything right.”

Based in Savannah, Ga., The Lost Hours introduces a character by the name of Piper Mills who was involved in a near-fatal horse-riding accident. This accident has unfortunately caused Piper to give up all hope of becoming an Olympic gold medalist.

When Piper was just 12 years old, she helped her grandfather bury a box in the backyard, which remained untouched for 12 years. After the death of her grandfather, she inherits the home along with many of its secrets.

She later finds out that the box contained torn scrapbook pages from an earlier era, a charm necklace, and a newspaper article dating back to 1939 about an infant that was found floating in the Savannah River. Piper realizes, after the death of her grandmother, that she kept many secrets—some of which she may have been ashamed.

The Girl on Legare Street is a continuation of The House on Tradd Street, with Melanie Middleton and Jack Trenholm reuniting for yet another adventure. After receiving a deadly and dangerous premonition, Melanie’s mother Ginnette returns to Charleston to protect her daughter.

Ginnette, having deserted Melanie more than thirty years ago, is aware of the fact that her daughter has no interest in seeing her or reuniting with her. Unfortunately for Melanie, Ginnette is not going to give up so easily.

Like Melanie, Ginnette also has the ability to communicate with spirits. Ginnette moves into her ancestral home on Legare Street, and she needs her daughter’s help in releasing an evil spirit in the house. With Jack’s help, Melanie and her mother must fight together to save themselves and what is left of their family, their beautiful residence on Legare Street.

White’s novel On Folly Beach was just published in May 2010. White’s most recent novel focuses on the lives of two war widows living on Folly Beach who happen to have a commonality, despite the fact that they live 60 years apart.

They both happened to have owned the same book store, just decades apart from one another. A box of old books hiding love notes is discovered and the lives of these two women come together, giving a young widow hope of having a second chance.

White has published 11 award-winning novels, including The Girl on Legare Street, which debuted at #31 on the New York Times Bestseller List. She will be following-up with two more books in the series for The House on Tradd Street.

When asked if she could give me any hints as to what readers could expect from the third installment of The House on Tradd Street, she said, “All I will say is that the character introduced in the last pages of The Girl on Legare Street will be a major focus of the story. Beyond that, my lips are sealed.”

Karen White exemplifies the classic beauty of a true southern lady. She encourages feedback from her readers and enjoys meeting those who love her novels.

If you have any questions or comments for Karen White, you can visit her website at www.karen-white.com or contact her at authorkarenwhite@aol.com.