Power of the Empathe

The empathe feels the emotions of others. This power is meant to guide by “listening” to these in need of aid. Once the ability is activated, its power can be difficult to endure. For the weak-minded every emotion will feel crushing. Ultimately, the fragile mind will collapse. Only through strong-will and control will you survive it.

 ~ The Conduit by Stacey Rourke ~

As a psychic I sometimes read books that have these abilities in them and I scratch my head. Where do authors get their ideas? Recently I read a wonderful book by Stacey Rourke, The Conduit. It is the first in The Gryphon Series. Many authors like to glamourize all things related to psychic abilities. This book by far is the closest to reality that I have ever read, in Celeste’s abilities she has to learn to use them, just as I did. Her first ability is as an Empath but she gets lots of other cool super hero type stuff too. LOL  This is an amazing series and I insist you all run and get your own copies as soon as possible! This is a fiction series but I love the fact that the psychic side hit so close to home for me. So I decided to ask Stacey how she came to write the Empath so well.

 

Can you tell us about the series?

It centers around a creature known as the gryphon. Three siblings are bound to him through a Celtic pact their ancestors made. Older brother Gabe gets the ability to shapeshift into a lion, little sister Kendall grows the wings of an eagle and Celeste, the middle child, is the Conduit of the Gryphon. He gives her whatever power she needs in life threatening situations, which is good considering there's an army of demons out to kill her.

 

How did you settle on the gifts of your characters?

It started with the pieces of the Gryphon-his lion side, his eagle side, the strength that defines him. But as I got to "know" the characters I realized the anger Gabe was harboring and I thought it would be interesting to make Celeste an empathe so she could learn something about someone so close to her that had been bottling his feelings up for way too long. He's in emotional turmoil, but no one really knows because he insists on being Mr. Macho. That idea intrigued me.

 

Do you know anyone with the gifts, or do you have any yourself?

 I have known people that are intuitive to a degree that really makes you wonder how much deeper that talent really lies, but that's about it.

 

I love your description of meditation in the first book. Do you meditate, or did you research it?

Actually I am very much Celeste in that scene. I have tried meditation...repeatedly. Unfortunately, just like Celeste, my inner monologue wouldn't shush long enough for me to appreciate it. I need to find my mental mute button.

 

Many authors put a piece of themselves in their books. What part of your books do you feel is a part of you?

My sarcasm, definitely. Also my willingness to sacrifice myself for those I love. I can totally relate to her feeling on that.

 

And finally how do you write the Empath so well?

I wouldn't call myself an empathe by any means, but I do feel I can tune into the emotions of others to some degree. For me it’s more physical cues and observation. I took that and amplified it by about a million. Where as some of us suffer a heart ache when we see someone we love suffering, what if we actually felt what they felt? If their pain became ours? Or to the other extreme to feel the giddy glee of another person? It would be so unsettling to have foreign emotions invading your body. I'm glad I captured it well!! Thank you!

 

I want to Thank Stacey again for visiting and letting me pick her brain. I have nothing but wonderful reviews about this series and you already know I love it! So go pick up a copy or two for yourself. And for those of you that picked up on it and wondered. Empath does have two different spellings. It's like color and colour. They are both right, it isn't repeated typos. LOL ;)

The Conduit on Amazon

Don't actually click the pic, it won't take you inside. LOL But if you go check out the Amazon page you can.

To check out a AWESOME give away for Stacey's book go to: Alli's Nook