Thanks go out to Kaitlin O’Riley, author of several excellent historical romances, for answering our Reincarnationist QA today! Kaitlin O’Riley’s new novella, “Immortal Dreams” in the anthology Yours For Eternity, with the authors Hannah Howell and Alexandra Ivy, involves a love that endures past lives.  Please visit her at www.KaitlinORiley.com

THE QUESTIONS:

What is your most marked characteristic that you believe could be a hold over from a past life?

My inner sense of calm is pretty strong.  Sometimes I feel that I’ve been through the worst and nothing will ever be terrible enough not to survive.  So I guess in some previous life I lived through some horrific events and my current life seems mild in comparison!

What is your principle defect that you believe may be inherited from a previous incarnation?

For someone who has grown up on the shore, always near the ocean or a river, I have an inexplicable fear of deep water, which makes me believe that in a past life I drowned.  Maybe I was on the Titanic?!

Which of your favorite heroes do you think you could have been and why?

Margaret Mitchell, because I can’t even imagine writing a novel as long as Gone With the Wind by hand or on an old typewriter!  That is a woman determined to write!

What three people from history would you like to have over to dinner for a discussion about reincarnation?

This is a tough question, especially with a limit of three!  Historically I think it would be fascinating to talk with Anne Boleyn and get the inside story of what really went on with Henry VIII.   It would also be interesting to talk to Alexander Hamilton, one of the Founding Fathers, about what he thinks of the United States now. I recall learning in history class that he was supposedly handsome and charming as well, which are traits always welcome at a dinner party.  Lastly, I would love to invite Dean Martin, because naturally he would bring Frank and Sammy and to hang out with that whole Rat Pack crowd would be so much fun.  And of course to have him sing to me, well, that would be just amazing…

What do you think happens when we die?

I think, or would like to think, that our souls go to a peaceful and beautiful place where we are reunited with the other souls we have loved, before we are placed into new bodies to live life again and learn new lessons. In a sense we are always with those we love and that is very comforting.

When you come back next time, who (or what!) would you like to be?

Is saying a princess too predictable?  No, actually, I would love to come back as someone very adventurous or historically significant — the first person to do something new, invent something, cure a disease, or travel to some unexplored place.

 

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