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Without The Usual Hype
Epiphany’s Gift follows a woman with psychic abilities, that gets entangled in a mystery involving corporate corruption and supernatural phenomena. Where did the inspiration for this mystery come from?
I’ve been doing research at the Cassadaga Spiritualist Community for over 30 years and have become friends with an especially adept medium. I’ve learned so much about psychic phenomena and I wanted to write about it as a “serious” topic without the usual hype. Also, as an art historian (Professor Emerita of Art History, Santa Fe College), I am very concerned about art theft and the international black market in art and antiquities. AND as an environmental activist I am eager to alert my readers to environmental issues and their consequences. This all came together in Epiphany’s Gift.
Epiphany has to hide and ignore her natural psychic abilities for most of her life only embracing them later in life. What do you think were some of the defining moments in Epiphany’s development?
Many people are very skeptical or even hostile to psychic phenomena. I wanted my protagonist to experience these problems and have to struggle to work through them. I hope this provides a model for others who have encountered the same obstacles. I think that visiting Lilly Dale and becoming friends with Albert and “finding her tribe” really allowed Epiphany to embrace her psychic gifts.
What were some goals you set for yourself as a writer in this book?
In all my books, I try to educate my readers about issues that I think are important while also telling them a great story. I used this same concept in teaching art history courses for 30 years!
What is a significant way your book has changed since the first draft of Epiphany’s Gift?
Revisions are always the most challenging part of writing. I write out my complete concept and then go back and refine, add, subtract et. Until I’m satisfied with the package. But there is always room for a few more tweaks.
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Dr. John Bernhardt, Epiphany’s former art history professor and mentor, believes regional fracking operations are responsible for the recent earthquakes. After identifying a secretive petroleum company as the perpetrator, he wonders if the environmental disasters are somehow connected with the disappearance of a drawing from a local museum. Twenty-four hours after he writes an article about his theory, he is found dead of an apparent heart attack.
When John’s ghost appears to tell Epiphany he was murdered, she becomes determined to find his killer. Aided by a former FBI art-crimes investigator and an eccentric artist, Epiphany must use her psychic skills to locate the missing art and identify the killer. Unfortunately her efforts to bring the guilty parties to justice are thwarted. Even a state senator cannot help. As the earthquakes escalate, Epiphany must decide whether to continue her battle for justice or suspend her investigation to protect her family.
Set against a backdrop of psychic phenomena, corporate corruption, and global climate change, Epiphany’s Gift illustrates the perennial battle between good and evil.
-Andrew Nichols, PhD, Director, American Institute of Parapsychology
Epiphany’s Gift
Epiphany knew that she was not a typical child, even at a young age. She could feel things more vividly, talk to people who aren’t exactly alive, and she can foresee events before they would occur. She didn’t mind that she was unusual. The men in her life did. She was reprimanded whenever she talked about her intuitions, afraid that people might think that she was wrong in the head. Even after she married and had a family of her own, she spent the majority of her adult life denying the abilities she had.
Years later, when visiting her hometown, she was called on by an old friend to help with an art theft that the police couldn’t seem to solve. Only a couple of days after, she is faced with a series of mysterious events—an irregular number of earthquakes, visions depicting the imminent destruction of nature, and the sudden and suspicious death of her mentor. With the help of her visions and her friends (living and otherwise), will she finally have answers to all the questions, or will she open up doors that should have been kept shut?
Epiphany’s Gift is a riveting story that revolves around the main character and her clairvoyance gift. At the same time, it deals with the urgent topic of global warming and its negative consequences. The author, Mallory O’Connor, has masterfully woven the supernatural theme with environmental science and turned it into this brilliant story. The book is backed by a copious amount of research, and as a result both areas are seamlessly intertwined while feeling deep and intriguing.
The author’s ability to shift from Epiphany’s visions or dreams into what is perceived as her reality is worthy of mention since putting realism, and extrasensory perception into writing are two very different forms of expression. Also, O’Connor’s switches between timelines are almost flawless, which is an admirable feat on its own. All of these factors contributed to a more in-depth understanding of the main character’s insight, and because of this, the readers’ absorption of the story is reinforced.
Epiphany’s Gift is a thrilling novel filled with action and suspense. It has a commendable call to action for our environmental awareness backed by facts. This exhilarating novel will keep readers on edge with a supernatural mystery to solve while navigating corporate corruption and a killer on their trail.
Pages: 228 | ASIN : B07R8BQFTB
LITERARY TITAN 