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| Time Traveler #1 |
The idea such travel could be “real” was introduced to me at paranormal events. Researchers have theorized for years that certain hauntings could be “slips in time” or “time glitches.” I began to think…. Wouldn’t it be fun to drop one of my modern-day characters into the past? Or, the reverse! It’s the narrative of some truly entertaining movies and books. Think Kate and Leopold and Lost in Austen. And, dare we forget Outlander? How about we add some ghosts? A Christmas Carol is the most famous that comes to mind.
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| Time Travelers #2 |
I gain inspiration for my time-traveling characters from a variety of sources - people I know and meet, those I read about, historic places, grand hotels, and especially haunted locations. Names often come from gravestones and old census records. Like most authors, I try to stay true to the time period of the book. It’s fun and interesting to research such history. It’s even a bit spooky, how many of my story ideas and characters fall neatly into place like puzzle pieces.
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| Time Travelers #3 |
I’ve scattered a few of my antique photos throughout this post. They are a fascinating mix of people, places, and things. So, tell me, what do these characters "say" to you? They are not connected in any way, so you can choose just one or comment on each.
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| Time Traveler #4 |
Psst…I’ll tell you a secret. The first photo—the one at the top of this post, Time Traveler #1—she IS a character in my next Time Traveler’s Journey Series novel. Isn’t she magnificent with that chatelaine about her neck and waist? If you're unfamiliar with the chatelaine, visit Collector’s Weekly - “It’s the killer mobile device for Victorian women.”
I'm sharing more of my antique photographs over on Facebook. Stop by and take a peek.
Until next time... Thank you for reading. I hope you're doing okay during these challenging times. Be safe, stay well. I am thinking of you often.
~ Kathryn
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| Time Travelers #5 |
Don't forget our April Giveaway!
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I'm also participating in the Easter Egg Scavenger Hunt. I've hidden an Easter Egg in one of these three places.
Find the egg and then return to the Rafflecopter Form to enter the date, my name, and where you found my egg to claim your entry.
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Best of luck to everyone!
this is so cool!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Peggy! I love rambling around antique shops for inspiration. Someday!
DeleteI love the idea of searching for old photographs for inspiration. This is a great tip, kathy! And you know I'm a time travel girl too. I love the premise. I can't wait to read what your next book will be like! Great post!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Maddie! It's fun to discover all there is to learn in these old photographs. They often send me on treasure hunts for more info on things like chatelaines.
DeleteDo you think chatelaines will come back in style. I'd like one. This page is fun to read. Thanks. Love the pictures.
ReplyDeleteI would LOVE to find an antique chatelaine for myself! TOTALLY would make it part of my Fall In Love with New England Halloween costume! Just imagine what those Victorian woman would think of our cell phones. 😁
DeleteI have a couple "time travel" books, but I use the concept of reincarnation. In Timeless, especially, I had fun researching Louisville in the 1890's. Most authors create a back story for their characters to explain why they do what they do in the present. What if our present lives were influenced by our past ones, not just our current one? Interesting...
ReplyDeleteVERY interesting, Jan! It's fascinating stuff to delve into, and super-fun to write about! Thanks for reading and sharing. 🙂
DeleteWhat a wonderful post! I love antiques and always wonder who held a certain object way back when. I love going to antique stores, looking at old photos etc Not sure I could ever write a time travel, but I love reading them.
ReplyDeleteOh, I bet you could, Karen, especially if you enjoy all those things! The moment I hit "post" on Facebook, and Time Traveler #1's face lit up the screen, I wondered... What would this woman think of where her photo is now? It's wild to imagine who has held these antique photos in their hand. Thanks for reading!
DeleteLove these old pictures! I'm fascinated by the history of people and how they lived. And your Time Traveler's books are so amazing! Great reads!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Kari, that's so very kind of you! I can't wait to be back hunting for these treasure. Some are even sold in bundles, so you never quite know what you're getting until you open the package. Grown up author fun! LOL
DeleteWay cool! The post, the photos, the time travel concept. Pretty sure I have a time travel romance I started writing some years ago.
ReplyDeletePerfect time to dust that one off, Kathleen! It's fun stuff to write. BUT...I will say... It's challenging to keep all your threads going and not tangling or dropping off. MANY, many hours of plotting, planning, and discussing with anyone who will listen to me goes into these books. 🙂
DeleteLove the photos and the post! And I understand completely about "puzzle pieces" coming together like magic in the books we write. Wishing you the best, as always!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Judith! I know you understand about story magic; we've certainly shared a bunch of fascinating tales. Best to you and yours as well! ❤️
DeleteI am so fascinated by the idea of time travel and different dimensions. i absolutely love old photos and create a little story of what they were doing or what their life might have been like in my mind. Old photos are such a gift and great legacy. I have some interesting stories about the house I am are living in, making it impossible not to believe in the paranormal. I look forward to your next book.
ReplyDeleteHey, Kate! We're kindred spirits, I know! The old photos are a great legacy, and I will admit to being sad they're in these antique and/or thrift shops. That there's no family to care for them or perhaps even value them. Hence, they come home with me and now are shared with all of you. A weird little adoption thing I've got goin' on. LOL
DeleteI love the old photographs!
ReplyDeleteIt's an addictive hobby, Liz. Just one more place. Look, another antique shop! ...and I LOVE IT!
DeleteI love to go antiquing as well. There is something about the 19th century is intriguing to me.
ReplyDeleteMe too, Deborah! SO much was happening, things changing. The women of the century are particularly interesting to me. Thanks for reading and commenting. We'll have to share "antique stories" someday! 😁
DeleteI think the research must be half the fun! Photographs are so evocative. I was once doing a historical photo inventory for a town I used to live in, and one of the people in the photos became the inspiration for Aunt Augusta, the meddling matchmaker ghost in my small town romance series. Great post!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE IT, Judy! Now I MUST meet Aunt Augusta! Great name BTW. 😁
DeleteI love this post, Kathryn! What a neat way to find inspiration.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Satin! It was fun, looking through my collection of treasures again for this post. Thanks for reading!
DeleteAn awesome post! I would love to have one of these. Very handy. I hate purses, but always need things. The old pictures are great, too.
ReplyDeleteRight?!! Some chatelaines were simple, decorative, like jewelry even, while others were serious tool belts. My character is a head housekeeper with quite the serious attitude and...you guessed it...a serious chatelaine! LOL
DeleteLoved your post, Kathy, and the photographs. I've got several vintage photographs of my grandparents and other long-passed relatives. I love the idea of "adopting" these photos.
ReplyDeleteI'm a sap, Joan, what can I say? LOL Some of these photos are just too special to leave in a shop. I've even returned days later to "adopt" a photo that stayed with me. Looking at one now that occupies a great place in my writer's space.❤️
DeleteI love time travel stories and old photographs.
ReplyDeleteKindred spirits we be, Mary! Thanks for reading and commenting!🙂
DeleteI love love time travel so much! Definitely checking out your books!
ReplyDeleteMsredk at aol dot com
Awesome, Msredk! You'll have to keep in touch and tell me what you think of my time travelers. I'd LOVE to hear your thoughts!
DeleteI love old photographs. Sadly, my cousin's wife, the person in my father's family who had most of the family photos, sold them at a garage sale to an antique dealer! It was difficult not to strangle her when I heard her say this. Now when I go into an antique shop I look for family photos. Names I used in historic novels come from ancestry or census of the time the person would have been born. Like you, I try to be accurate in all my research and supply it so that it doesn't distract the reader.
ReplyDeleteOMG! I would have freaked! I'm the keeper of most of my family's old photographs, some of which go back to the late 1800's. I have a few great ones from my husband's side as well. But photographs were expensive, and our ancestors were not wealthy people. They were mostly from special events - weddings, christenings, etc. Some of my favorite family photos though are from the 40's and 50's, when my parents first met and were married. ❤️
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