Interview & Giveaway with Kathleen Gallagher

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Hi Kathleen, Welcome Back to Books-n-Kisses. Last time you were here I let you take over the blog and talk about your book Echoes at Dawn’s play list. Shall we talk some more about you?

Kathleen: Hi Kelly, It’s great to be here. Thank you for inviting me back to Books-n-Kisses. I had an amazing time on my last visit. I’m happy to have the opportunity to chat a little more.

Q1) Tell us a little about yourself

Kathleen: Well, let’s see… I’m a woman who has many roles, as so many of us have today. First, I’m a wife, mother and grandmother of three boys. I’m also a registered nurse, who works in an emergency room. The rest of the time, I write romance and women’s fiction. We have two furry friends, a lovable dog Chaz and a feisty cat, named Cairo. They give us unconditional love, especially when we offer them extra treats.

Q2) Describe Echoes at Dawn in 140 characters or less.

Kathleen: Echoes at Dawn is my debut novel released by Decadent Publishing.
It is a story about a man and a woman who find each other in the midst of change and struggle to free themselves from their tumultuous pasts.


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


Waterfront restaurant chef Madeline Young adores her job. If only her love and family’s lives were as successful as her career. With a teenage son, who spends time in the emergency room for alcohol poisoning and a dementia-plagued mother, Madeline doesn’t know how much more she could handle. Then her mother enlists the help of her deceased twin sister, Mary, to guide Madeline to find happiness. An early dawn visit from the spirit directs Madeline to volunteer at the local hospitals center for addiction recovery, where she comes alive for the first time in many years under the attention of Nat Griffin.


Nathaniel Griffin, a part-time counselor and contractor, fascinates his clients with his lectures. In keeping with his philosophy of professionalism, Nat prefers to keep his personal life private. When attraction tests his beliefs, Nat must confront his marred past. Is he willing to face his demons or take the easier path and remain isolated?


Can unworldly ghosts save this couple from their own self-destructive behavior? Will they be able to accept change and move forward, or allow secrets to stand in the way?

Q3) How did you come up with the idea for this story?


Kathleen: Old black and white photos have always fascinated me. One day while rummaging through the basement, I came across a family portrait from the early 1900’s. I’m not sure what the occasion was, but the relatives gathered together adorned in their fancy outfits. The expressions on their faces lacked enthusiasm and were absent of smiles. The little girls in the front row even looked somber. No matter how I tried, I could not get the people in the snapshot out of my mind. Eventually, 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? On the other hand, 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 party dresses with high top shoes, my imagination took over. They became sisters with a special bond. Do sisters have a connection unlike other 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 romance, Echoes at Dawn.

Q4) What did you find most challenging about writing this story?

Kathleen: I found the character of Nat Griffin quite a challenge. He’s a complex guy who has a rough exterior, yet a tender heart. To create a balance between the two was not easy. His strong independent nature did not want to follow the path I created for him. You’ll simply have to read Echoes at Dawn to find out more.

Q5) Have you always wanted to be an author?

Kathleen: Actually, I wanted to be an actress when I was younger. I would gather my group of girlfriends and arrange a show production in my back yard. When I got a little older, I turned to reading and wrote poetry and short stories. The dream of being on Broadway ended quickly, especially since I couldn’t sing. I suppose I’ve always been a writer at heart. I adore romance and all the challenges the characters face in an attempt to find love.

Q6) What do you do when you are not writing?

Kathleen: Besides spending time with my family, one of my favorite things to do is to relax on the beach with a good book. I could sit on the water’s edge with a romance novel for the entire day. Since I live in the state, I can visit the wonderful Jersey Shore often.

Q7) Favorite book and why?

Kathleen: My favorite book is The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks. He captivated me with his beautiful tale of endless love. When I read the tender story of Noah and Ali, the passion of a love that lasted a lifetime touched me deeply and inspired me to attempt to do the same for my readers.

Q8) Favorite inspirational quote and why?

Kathleen: The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched – they must be felt with the heart.
Helen Keller

This is a simple statement, yet powerful and true!

Q9) What is your current work in progress?

Kathleen: Thanks for asking that question, Kelly. I’m working on a contemporary romance entitled, A Single Word. It’s a story about an aspiring anchorwoman, Savannah Mason, and the challenges she encounters while faced with the disapproval of her career by her affluent family.


Savannah dreams of being a headliner on the evening news, but her estranged father Dr. Stuart Mason will not accept it. He had big plans for his only child to take over his medical practice one day.


The last thing Savannah wants is to meet a doctor; however, an opportunity to advance her career and interview the bestselling author Dr. Rob Sinclair takes her on a journey to places in her heart that have been closed for years.


Rob Sinclair may be a top cardiac surgeon, with a new book about to be released, but his doubts as a parent escalate after his wife abandons her family for a hippy musician she dated in high school.


Will Savannah be able to offer her heart, as she battles the recurrent nightmare of a life changing decision she made in college? How does a man who has always placed his work above his personal life, learn to love again, and will he ever be able to trust a woman?

Q10) Anything else you would like to share with us?


Kathleen: Echoes at Dawn was released as an e-book in March 2011 and the paperback copy of Echoes at Dawn was released on August 28. It has been so exciting and I look forward to hearing what people think of my story. It is available HERE

I enjoy making new friends.
Blog: http://kathleensplacetoreflect.blogspot.com/?zx=254bc48f9a5c4876
Website: http://kathleenanngallagher.net/Home.html
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000735541011
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/Kathleenwrites

Kelly: Kathleen, Thank you so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to sit down with me and share your story. I look forward to reading more of your books in the future.

Your welcome and it’s always a pleasure to visit Books-n-Kisses.