Show & Tell Saturday with Kathleen Gallagher

I may have mentioned in another post how I got my inspiration for my upcoming release Echoes at Dawn, but I’ll use this opportunity to elaborate.  Old black and white photos have always fascinated me.  I found a family portrait from the early 1900’s.  I’m not sure what the occasion was, but the relatives gathered adorned in their fancy outfits.  The expressions on their faces lacked enthusiasm and were absent of smiles.  The little girls even looked somber.  I starting thinking about how different the snapshots from that era seemed, compared to the one’s today.  Everyone always looked so serious back then.  There had to be an explanation, I surmised.  I began to research articles and came up with different concepts.  I read about the technology taking longer to capture a shot, making it difficult to maintain a smile while waiting.  Another couple of theories I found were the lack of proper dental care may have kept people from showing their smile, or posing devices making it uncomfortable.  Some speculate about the stress of a difficult life keeping them from looking happy. Others say the portrait may have been the only one ever taken for people to remember them by, so they chose a stoic pose.  I’d say it’s most likely a combination of all of the factors.

 Family and photo sessions have changed dramatically over the years. Today we are told to say a catch phrase for the camera and most of us automatically brighten our expression.  We usually welcome the opportunity to show our smile.  The mystery behind the old photo made me curious. I found a vintage frame for it and displayed it in my house.

As time went on, I began to wonder more about the lives of the people in the picture. Were the little girls anxious to return home to play with their dolls? Or were they tired from doing their chores?  Could they be anticipating a party afterwards?  Were the husbands and wives arguing, or exchanging fond embraces earlier in the day?  After staring at the girls wearing the frilly dresses with matching bows, my imagination took over.  They became twins with a special bond. Do twins have a connection unlike other pairs of siblings?  What would happen if one of them left this world early?  I began to piece together what turned out to be the premise for my paranormal romantic read, Echoes at Dawn.

The strangely intertwined lives of a widowed mother, a charismatic bachelor, and an elderly woman come together in order to show that in life there are no coincidences, only destiny.

Madeline Young loves her job as a chef in a waterfront restaurant. Her love life is where she has problems.  She realizes she must stop dating the wrong men, especially ones that are too young for her, or she’ll spend the rest of her life alone.  To complicate matters further, her elderly and, often times, forgetful mother needs to move in.  Then, to make matters even worse, Madeline's rebellious teenage son spends a day in the emergency room for alcohol poisoning.  Madeline's mother wants her to find true happiness and feels compelled to enlist the help of her deceased twin sister, Mary, by using her Ouija Board.  Together, they conjure up a plan to find Madeline the perfect match.  Madeline has an early dawn visit from Aunt Mary, who directs her to volunteer in a local hospital.   Madeline finds much more than she ever expected when she enters the hospital’s center for recovery. 

Nathaniel Griffin fascinates his clients with his lectures, but often uses his busy schedule to avoid social situations.  In keeping with this philosophy, Nat prefers to keep his personal life very private.  However, when given the assignment to orient a lovely new volunteer, her seductive charms soon tug at his heartstrings.  Unfortunately, before he can commit to the relationship, Nat must confront his marred past.  Is he willing to face his demons, or take the easier path and remain isolated?   

The unexpected return of twins who left this world early, carry the key to unlock the reluctant bachelor’s past.  They are called upon to perform one final mission of love before they can rest. Will they accomplish their assignment or will it be too late?

It can be fun creating stories after looking at old photos.  Have you ever wondered about what was going on in the lives of your ancestors after looking at their old images? 

Three Way Thursday with kathleen Gallagher

What am I thankful for?

I have many things to be thankful for. The love and support of my family remains on the top of my gratitude list. They are the guiding force behind all of my endeavors. I never forget how fortunate I am to have each and every one of them in my life. The next thing I’m thankful for is my new friends at Decadent Publishing. Since I joined them in October, I have been consistently amazed at how talented, friendly, and funny they are. Someone will always reach out to assist you, if you have a question. I’m also forever thankful for my ability to be able to face each challenge, knowing, I’m where I should be. When I learn from my mistakes, it keeps me motivated. Lastly, I’m thankful everyday that my passion for writing, makes me look forward to each new day.

What have I been thinking about?

I’ve been thinking a lot about how far my character Madeline Young and Nathaniel Griffin have come, since the first day I created them. One slow morning in the emergency room, I sat at my desk daydreaming. I grabbed a piece of scrap paper and jotted down the premise for Echoes At Dawn. Another nurse, who is also a writer and I got together and made a pact to write everyday, until our stories were finished. We kept our promise, and went on to complete our novels. My hero and heroine have come a long way, since that first day in the emergency room. I love them both and I’ve learned so much from them. I only hope my readers will love them, too.

What am I thirty for?

I want to read my name on the New York Times Bestseller’s List. It must be a wonderful thing for a writer to know that their work is loved and touches so many people. I believe a thirst for what we desire can move us forward and helps make the impossible happen. If we look at ourselves as never being able to accomplish our goals, then we never will. We all start somewhere and learn as we go along. Today, I value the power of positive affirmations and I try to envision my dreams.

Before I became a registered nurse, I worked in a file room. I wanted to go back to school, but at the time, I never thought it was possible. The company had problems and I found myself on unemployment. My son encouraged me to go back to school and I took the chance, after changing my doubts and fears, into goals. I learned to reach for what I wanted.

Now, eighteen years later, I’m writing, which I also thought I missed out on. Now, I’m an upcoming published author and I have an opportunity to accomplish something I’ve always wanted to do. Thirst is a good thing; it makes your dreams become a reality.

A Wild and Wonderful Gift

by Kathleen Gallagher

I tried to think of something to write about for Wild Wednesday, but I could not come up with an idea. I recently redecorated my home and packed away some old boxes in the basement. I came across some of my old memorabilia as I sifted through the items. There it was! The idea I was looking for was right in front of me. It was my Father’s magic wand.

Growing up with my family was anything but ordinary. My father was a professional magician and he taught me all of his tricks. Our house looked like everyone else’s, but when my friends came over, my Dad would pull quarters out of their ears or make a dove appear out of nowhere. You could say I had a wild and fun childhood.

When I was in grammar school, at recess, my Father would entertain my classmates when he dropped off my lunch bag. My friends would gather in a circle on the playground while he amazed them by making a simple red ball disappear in thin air by using his wand. The kids would beg me to tell them how the tricks were done, but I never gave away his secrets. The mystical appeal would have been broken if I let them in on the inside information.

My Father kept all of his spectacular illusions in a secluded area of the house. We had two small rooms that he converted into his domain. He painted the inside gold and hung a long black velvet curtain to separate the work space from his office. A large birdcage sat in the corner where four magnificent doves sat waiting for their master. My Father spent hours trying to come up with new ideas for his act. He loved to see his audiences eyes light up, especially the children, when he amazed them during each performance.

Dad liked ghost stories too. When he was a young boy, he pulled a prank on his neighbors by using cloths and sticks to mimic a spirit’s appearance. That was his first attempt to thrill an audience and it must have worked. The people in town talked about it for years.

I was proud to be the magicians little helper and I was usually the first one to get a glimpse of each new feat. My favorite prop was a huge round hoop that was covered with silver glitter. It was used to demonstrate the levitation trick where a woman floated in the air. My older sister assisted with that one, since I wasn’t tall enough to wear the long flowing shirt.

I treasure the times I spent assisting my Father perform. I must have been bitten by the magic bug myself. Although I don’t see myself in front of an audience, I like to add a magical element to my stories. I believe his influence had a lot to do with my interest in writing and my imagination.

Magic is all around us, if you open your eyes to it. Thanks Dad.

Kathleen is the author of Echoes At Dawn, soon to be released at Decadent Publishing!