Today, I’m interviewing Vada Faith from the novel Vada Faith written by Barbara Whittington. I hope you enjoy the interview.
1. Please tell us a little bit about what is currently going on in your life?
When I decided to become the first surrogate mother in Shady Creek, West Virginia, I believed it would make me special. Call me selfish. I wanted a down payment for a fancy new house in the swanky new subdivision of Crystal Springs – which I was never gonna get working at the beauty shop with my judgmental twin, Joy Ruth, even if we did own the shop. I wanted more than I had. Much more! John Wasper, my husband, has never been accused of wanting to get ahead in life working at this little limping along trucking company.
I knew if I was ever going to amount to anything big I had to make it happen. John Wasper would live in that old run down Victorian of Grandma Belle’s until we were both dead. He thinks it is famous. Big deal. It is rumored Eleanor Roosevelt once sat in the wicker chair that still sits on our front porch. Well, I had this urgent need to do something big. Different. I was afraid I was going to explode with the feeling. Having my own set of twin girls delighted my soul. It just wasn’t enough.
Then, like an answer to a prayer, Roy and Dottie Kilgore swooped into town, wanting a child of their own and bringing money to burn. What did I have to lose? Of course, that was before I learned the difference between talking about being a surrogate mother and actually being one. Especially when there was that danged egg to be considered. If only it hadn’t been for that egg, things might have worked out different. Better. But, now? Well, I’ll never know, will I?
2. What made you want your story to be told?
I wanted people to learn from my mistakes. And I wanted them to know that good can come from our mistakes. If you love someone enough. That you can always change and grow even when you think you are done with all that.
Roy Kilgore swayed me when he told me when this whole ordeal started it was easier to get forgiveness than permission. He wanted me to be a surrogate for them without John Wasper’s support. I learned that permission is one thing. Forgiveness is another. You have to be careful when you are dealing with issues that not only change your life but the life of those you love.
3. What lead you to make the changes you did in your life?
I hate to say this but Miss High and Mighty (me) grew up during this time. Change is tough. And painful. I saw my own faults. I would always leap before I looked. Then, the mote was removed from my eyes, as the Bible says. ( I am a Baptist and can tell you what the Bible says but not where to find it. Sorry!)
4. In your life, what has empowered you?
Family. I can finally say that after years of not feeling loved by my mother. When she left our family without any notice or reason, I felt unloved. Like I’d done something wrong. When I learned as an adult why she left it all made perfect sense.
5. What are strengths and weaknesses?
My strengths are now I know I’m strong. I stand on the shoulders of all the strong women who came before me. I know I am surrounded by family and friends who love me. I’ve been through the fire and came out on the other end ok. Even that crazy Doreen Moon over at the beauty shop who screws up her hair every other week and expects me to make her look like a movie star loves and supports me. That’s what makes life worth living. Every day miracles.
6. Describe what being a self-rescue princess (a strong, confident woman) means to you.
I would never have called myself a self-rescue princess until recently. It took an ordeal that almost cost me my family to realize how strong and confident I really am. I guess we have to be tested by life’s storms to really know what we are made of. I learned I am a survivor.
7. What one advice/wisdom would you like to pass onto young women?
Don’t be so strong-minded that you can’t learn something from someone who is older and wiser. Someone who has been around the block a time or two. Maybe even your parents or grandparents.
8. Favorite quote or Bible verse.
My favorite quote now is the one on the plaque still by our back door that belonged to John Wasper’s Grandma Belle. It says, “Bloom where you are planted.” This is something I live my life by every day now. If we all did this we might be a tiny bit happier.
9. If your story had a theme song, what would it be?
In honor of the Elvis look-alike in the concert in Shady Creek, I have to say in the beginning it was Hound Dog by Elvis Presley because I was “crying all the time.” Then from the middle to the end it changed to Love Me Tender, also by Elvis, because throughout the book John Wasper loved me tender.
10. Will you be continuing your journey in written form?
I’m happy to say that I am in the middle of an adventure as we speak. A baby boy has joined our household making John Wasper a very happy man. With the arrival of Sweet Baby James, named after James Taylor whose music I adore, we ended up having quite an upheaval in our lives. A near tragedy strikes and we have to be stronger than we’ve ever been. You’ll have to look for this story sometime in 2013, tentatively titled Sweet Baby James.
11. Is there anyone in your life (friend, family member) who will be sharing their life?
I would not be surprised if Joy Ruth does not want to claim an entire series for herself. She’s very pushy and demanding as you probably noticed in Vada Faith. Her teaming up with John Wasper’s brother Bruiser can only lead to some kind of mischief. SO you’ll have to stay tuned.
If you’d like to learn more about Vada Faith’s author, please visit:
The Self-Rescue Princess 