Genevieve Kingston: Did I Ever Tell You?

Genevieve “Gwen” Kingston joins Carol Fitzgerald to discuss her memoir, DID I EVER TELL YOU?, which is a Bookreporter Bets On selection. When Gwen was three years old, her mother, Kristina, was diagnosed with breast cancer; she passed away when Gwen was 11. When Kristina realized that her cancer was terminal, she created a box filled with individual presents for each year through Gwen’s 30th birthday, as well as special occasion notes for events like engagement, marriage and first baby. With just those last three to open, Gwen explored what these treasures had meant to her along the way. Life lessons and gifts were shared that showed what Kristina wanted to be sure her daughter knew, a guiding light of sorts for when she was not around. It was as much about the note that accompanied each present as it was about what was inside. Gwen talks about taking this box with her from place to place as she moved across the country. Trained as a playwright, she explains the difference between writing for the stage and penning a memoir. She points out that she showed the book to her brother and some close family friends before publication to be sure she had the facts right and that their memories aligned. Gwen also narrated the audiobook and notes what she learned from that experience. And she reveals what is next for her. Book discussed in this episode: DID I EVER TELL YOU?: A Memoir by Genevieve Kingston: https://www.bookreporter.com/reviews/did-i-ever-tell-you-a-memoir Our Latest “Bookreporter Talks To” Interviews: Terah Shelton Harris: https://youtu.be/9wmUdzlRuJ4 Ann Hood: https://youtu.be/KvHoLDZQSAQ Mary Kay Andrews: https://youtu.be/fPgCOM0Dfxg Simone Gorrindo: https://youtu.be/pgg46TW63SY Megan Miranda: https://youtu.be/VqZ_EEV5JbE Anna Quindlen: https://youtu.be/JiOt8pz9kLo Tamron Hall: https://youtu.be/XIgoGu-Qpc4 Kristin Hannah: https://youtu.be/rQpe4F0jLe8 Hank Phillippi Ryan: https://youtu.be/WgMH-QE2Jb0 Ashley Elston: https://youtu.be/RAA3xm1_z_o Our Latest “Bookaccino Live” Book Group Events: Kate Morton: https://youtu.be/P8nwLRTAaFg Shelby Van Pelt: https://youtu.be/V2RbvnDn_rs Lisa See: https://youtu.be/GV3G-szlWHU Dani Shapiro: https://youtu.be/Qwb4YxxQIPU Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan: https://youtu.be/A4t2w8dat7c Alice Elliott Dark: https://youtu.be/4fgncFSfeM0 Laura Dave: https://youtu.be/fD82fbLJ1Pg Kristin Hannah: https://youtu.be/p4dVHdVZC3I Allison Pataki: https://youtu.be/7HmJlMd0V1A Fiona Davis: https://youtu.be/DT-XR5ue_5Q Nita Prose: https://youtu.be/f_Ev0KN8z2M Sign up for newsletters from Bookreporter and Reading Group Guides here: https://tbrnetwork.com/newsletters/ FOLLOW US on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bookreporter Website: https://www.bookreporter.com Art Credit: Tom Fitzgerald Edited by Jordan Redd Productions