The Gift: Behind the Scenes

Why I Wrote This Book: Universal Truths Spanning Time and Culture I have always been inspired by different spiritual paths and traditions. Each spiritual tradition depicts truth in its own unique way. In this story, I have pulled aspects of African American, Native American, Arabic, Persian, and Western Christian cultures to illustrate how beauty, truth, and love are universal spiritual themes. Each tradition the main character, Anne, encounters share an important truth that helps her on her quest.  Another important theme to me is the idea of place and time, and how that impacts the people living in community. I chose the setting of rural Vermont in the 1960s because I feel that it best embodied a place where communities were still close-knit, dependent on family and friends for support, and living off the land. Our sense of place is what most centres us in the world, and I find that for myself in the hills and farmland of rural Vermont. I have always been inspired by Wendell Berry’s sense of place in his novels about the Kentucky towns and farmland, and I wanted to explore a similar community experience from my own home base in rural New England.  The 1960s were a time of great cultural change in America, and yet there were still rural communities that maintained commitment to deeper, unchanging shared values. I felt that a small farming community staying true to who they were in the midst of great social change--portrayed in this story by Anne’s parents--was the perfect environment for Anne to experience the profound challenges faced on her quest and undergo her own coming of age.  Two of the most compelling themes in this particular story for me as an author are temptation and sacrifice. I wanted to demonstrate how within temptation each of us ultimately has a choice. In order for the greatest good to prevail, that choice often requires a level sacrifice. I tried to portray this on multiple levels through the many encounters with others that Anne experiences in the story.  I always took great joy in telling stories to my own two children, now adults, throughout their childhood. Many of the themes in this story--adventure, encounters with the supernatural, family, and place of belonging--were included in the stories I told them over the years. I wanted this story to feel accessible to older children and teens as a coming-of-age adventure—and it could simply be read as such. However, it was also my intent for adults to connect with the deeper themes layered throughout the story and resonate with the experiences of other characters beyond the teen protagonist.  I would love to hear how this story has resonated with you! 

Post Views : 93