Wisdom of the Ages: An Interview with Caroline Scott Keener, author of He Said, They Said

Caroline Scott Keener is a wife, mother, and shamelessly doting grandmother. With her husband, John, she divides her time between their mountain home in Linville, NC, and the family farm on the North Carolina/Virginia border where she grew up. She is once again appreciating life on the farm with its vistas of lush green pastures, woodlands, Carolina blue skies, and unobstructed sunrises and sunsets.

You can buy He Said, They Said here.

Are you a writer, too? Submit your manuscript to Atmosphere Press.

Tell us the story of your book’s title. Was it easy to find, or did it take forever?

I thought a LOT about potential book titles, and for a long time nothing seemed right. When He Said, They Said came to mind, I felt pretty sure that it was a good choice. Then when I thought of using the Disraeli quote as I subtitle, I knew I had it! I think the two together well describe the contents of the book.

How did it feel when you first saw your book cover? Or when you first held your book in your hands?

Seeing the cover was the BEST! Ronaldo was such a pleasure to work with. I was thrilled! I still think it’s perfect!

What other professions have you worked in? What’s something about you that your readers wouldn’t know?

I was in sales and sold industrial packaging systems for 3M.

What was the most rewarding/meaningful part of publishing your book?

I absolutely loved working on this project which morphed into a book. Closely reading the source material—both scripture and secular writings—enriched my life and is without doubt one of the most meaningful and rewarding things I’ve ever done.

What is one thing you hope readers take away from reading your book? How do you envision your perfect reader?

The words of this book are obviously not my own. It is a collection of the words and thoughts of others and, I believe, are some of the most beautiful ever written. I think the perfect reader is the one who is drawn to this book for whatever reason and will have time to read it slowly and allow the original writers and thinkers—ancient and contemporary—to speak to them as they did to me.

How was working with Atmosphere Press? What would you tell other writers who want to publish?

It was a great experience to work with Atmosphere Press and I’ve already recommended them to a friend, a first-time writer. I knew NOTHING; had no idea what to expect. What I found was a group of people who seemed genuinely interested in my book and led me step by step throughout the process. I never felt any stress.

You can buy He Said, They Said here.

Are you a writer, too? Submit your manuscript to Atmosphere Press.