August 4, 2025 • 46 mins
Gail Priest, award-winning author of Soul Dancing, shares her journey from theater teacher to novelist and how her background in education and counseling psychology influences her storytelling. Her passion for writing stories about healing from trauma and family secrets offers readers hope and the possibility of second chances.
• Background in theater and education provides foundation for character development
• Theater training translates directly to novel writing through understanding narrative arcs
• Soul Dancing won 2024 Book of the Year by American Writing Awards
• Stories focus on healing within families and second chances
• Nature and coastal settings serve as characters in her books
• Being "productive without attachment" helps overcome creative blocks
• Annie Crow Knoll trilogy inspired by time spent on the Eastern Shore
• Theater education builds transferable skills including teamwork and empathy
• Finding confidence is an active choice rather than something that magically appears
• Connecting with others on a soul level creates meaningful relationships
• Hope appears as "an eternal flame that will not go out"
If you enjoyed this episode, you can find Gail's books on all major online retailers and in independent bookstores. Visit gailpriest.com to sign up for her newsletter and follow her on social media to keep up with her upcoming novel "Hope is a Thing with Feathers."
Gail Priest — Author of the Annie Crow Knoll trilogy and Eastern Shore Shorts
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
Welcome to Soul Sisteries.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
What a great conversation we've just had with
Gail Priest, a fabulous authorof many, many, many
award-winning books mostspectacularly I will say the
Soul Dancing book and we've justhad a great conversation with
her about her journey and herexperience and just really kind
(00:28):
of offering hope to all of herreaders.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
And I feel like I totally met a soul sister right
there.
So everybody listen in.
I think you will too.
Amazing woman, Great story.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
Okay, okay, well, welcome to Soul Sisteries, where
we are here with Gail Priest, afabulous author who I was
introduced to after reading heraward-winning book Soul Dancing.
Gail has a passion for women'sfiction.
Her degrees and work in theater, education and counseling
psychology inspire her storiesof healing from trauma and
(01:07):
secrets within families.
A dash of romance and her loveof second chances are always in
the mix.
The settings of her novels areinfluenced by her time spent on
the coast of New Jersey and theeastern shore of Maryland.
Soul Dancing is Gail's mostrecent book and it was selected
as 2024 Book of the Year by theAmerican Writing Awards and it
(01:29):
placed first in the BookfestAwards for Paranormal Romance,
women's Fiction and Book Cover.
It was a Kindle Book Awardsemifinalist for Romance and an
American Fiction Awardsemifinalist for Women's F
fiction.
Firebird Book Awards awarded itfirst place in cross-genre and
second place in women's fiction.
Her other award-winning booksinclude A Collingswood Christmas
(01:54):
inspired by Gail's hometown andher fondness for the winter
holidays, the Annie Crow KnollTrilogy, which includes Annie
Crow Knoll, sunrise, sunset andMoonrise, and Eastern Shore
Shorts her collection of shortstories set in various eastern
shore towns, and I recommend allof them.
Gail lives in New Jersey withher husband and their Havanese
(02:18):
dog, annie.
When she's not writing orteaching, gail can be found
reading or looking for birds andsea glass along the beaches and
bays of the East Coast.
So welcome Gail.
Speaker 3 (02:30):
Thank you so much.
I'm very happy to be here withyou and Donna.
Speaker 1 (02:34):
Yes, Well, we're so pleased and so grateful, and so
looking forward to spending thistime together.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
Yeah, great.
So I'm going to let Gail justkind of share what she wants.
But I have to point out acouple of things, because of
course I love your books andthat's what I know, and of
course now I'm seeing your dog'sname is Annie, so I'm assuming
that's where the character Anniein the trilogy comes from, but
maybe I'm wrong.
And looking at your background,my background is in education
(03:03):
and counseling psychology.
Donna's background is educationand theater, so there's
definitely this connection, andDonna is also a writer.
So I am just really hoping thatyou will share with us kind of
your journey from thisbackground in education and
theater and how that got you towriting these award-winning
(03:24):
books.
Speaker 3 (03:27):
Boy, it's so exciting that we have so much in common.
Yes, yeah definitely.
I actually wrote the trilogybefore we got Annie, so Annie is
named after the character inthe trilogy.
I love, I love that.
Okay, if we had gotten a maledog, we would have named him
Packard after Annie's love.
(03:48):
Yeah, gary picked up this puppyand said this is the one.
So we went with it, sweet.
So I started doing theaterreally in high school and I knew
I wanted to be an educator andcontinue to do acting.
(04:08):
So I began with a theaterdegree at Rowan Well, it was
Glassboro State College, nowit's Rowan University and then I
got my master's in counselingpsychology, which led me to
guidance counseling at TempleUniversity in Philadelphia.
But while I was doing my careerin theater and in education, I
(04:33):
started writing about 25 yearsago, seriously writing, and I
wrote a couple of plays and ascreenplay.
And then Gary and I startedrenting a cottage in this little
group of cottages on theeastern shore, on the uh, on the
Chesapeake Bay.
And while we were there we werethere for 17 years, but that
first year we were there Istarted coming up with this idea
(04:57):
for a novel and I'm like Ihaven't written a novel.
I have to figure out how to dothat.
But I did figure it out, and sothat's how the Annie Cronall
trilogy happened.
I didn't know I had a trilogy inthe beginning.
I just thought I was writingone book, but it became two and
then three.
So, yeah, I really love theEastern Shore and the setting is
(05:23):
very important.
In most of my writing it's likeanother character, almost, yes.
And then I wrote Eastern Shoreshorts and soul dancing.
And then the last winter, well,in the fall, I took an older
short story and turned it into anovelette and that's A
Gollllywood Christmas and I putthat out for the holidays.
(05:46):
Yes, yes.
So I still teach.
I'm part-time, I retired fromfull-time but I still teach.
I'm an adjunct in the theaterdepartment at Rowan University.
Speaker 2 (05:57):
Oh, okay, interesting .
So that's interesting to mebecause you're adjuncting in
theater and I was thinking, oh,are you working in the clinical
psych program at all?
So that's interesting that yourfocus is theater.
So I have to say I'm new to theEast Coast.
I think I shared that with youbefore.
I'm originally from the WestCoast, so I love just the way
(06:20):
that you portray the East Coastand I've not been to the
Chesapeake Bay, but it'scertainly on my list.
But I've gone to the JerseyShore so far and I'm looking for
the sea glass and all thethings that you talk about in
your stories.
I just want to be in thosesettings.
So it's just absolutely abeautiful, beautiful portrait
(06:41):
and for me, with the theme ofour podcast here, which is hope
for me, it gives me just a lotof hope, and as did your book,
soul Dancing.
So I want to talk about that alittle bit, if we can.
Speaker 1 (06:54):
Can I jump us also into something I'd love you to
dig more into?
It was just a throwaway commentyou made about, you know,
learning to write a novel and Ineeded to figure it out.
And you said and I did figureit out.
Well, there's a whole lot.
I did figure out how to write anovel and I would love for you
(07:16):
to talk a little bit about thatas well.
But let's turn it over to youto share what you'd like.
Speaker 3 (07:23):
All right, Diane, what was your original question?
Speaker 2 (07:26):
Well, I just want to talk a little bit more about
soul dancing, because that isthat's what sucked me into just
kind of this world that you weredescribing in that book.
And then, of course, I went tothe Collingswood Christmas and
then I went to the trilogy, wentto the Collingswood Christmas
(07:49):
and then I went to the trilogyand so much hope found through
this.
It's funny because it says theParanormal Award and I didn't
quite think of it as paranormal,but I guess it certainly is.
Speaker 1 (07:56):
Well, you and I, sis, live in a different world.
It's all just paranormal, isjust okay, that's just life
paranormal is just okay.
Speaker 2 (08:04):
That's just life.
Yes, just life.
Speaker 3 (08:05):
Right.
Speaker 2 (08:05):
So I'm curious about that hope that was created in
that soul dancing story, and Iguess maybe did you think about
that when you were writing it.
Was it your intent to writethis hope-filled book?
Or I don't understand thewriting process like you two do.
Speaker 3 (08:28):
Well, I really write about healing within families,
which gives you hope that itcould happen and second chances
that you may be able to forgiveyourself or forgive others.
And it became a verysignificant element in soul
dancing.
It's in my other books, butthis one I feel is the strongest
(08:49):
and I wanted to put mycharacters kind of through their
paces where they were going tobe able to resolve some very
difficult family situations andsee what came of that.
But the idea of the vehiclejust was a gift from the
(09:11):
universe that Charlene wouldwake up in a younger woman's
body and be carrying a baby,delivering a baby.
That really wasn't a plan, itjust sort of came to me and so I
ran with it and I didn't worryabout the paranormal element.
I didn't even know really whatto call it.
Diana, I, I, I felt like I waswriting women's fiction with a
(09:34):
romance.
But then when I had to marketit and um answer questions about
the genre, I thought, well,there's this body switching
thing.
I guess the closest thing isparanormal.
Yeah, I say it's women'sfiction with a paranormal twist.
Speaker 2 (09:51):
Yeah, yeah.
And you know, I think I guessmy original years ago thought of
paranormal was like never goingto happen, not reality.
So that was my old belief.
Today I'm like it doesn't seemtoo far fetched.
I think that could happen andso I think it did just really,
myself and the group that readthe book with me, we very much
(10:11):
thought this is real life.
We loved it.
Speaker 3 (10:13):
So yeah, Good, I'm glad it came across as a
possibility.
Speaker 1 (10:18):
Yes, and I understand that in authoring I mean there
are of course we know inpublishing there are certain
tags that we need to attach toour writings and that you have a
set list from which to choose.
And this is how things aremarketed and you have to fit and
adapt whatever it is you'vedone into those that phrasing.
So I understand completely whenyou say well, that's the one I
(10:41):
guess I need to select, becausethat makes sense.
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (10:46):
I hear that, yes, I hope so.
I mean some people their facelights up when I say paranormal
and then other people go, oh,I'm not interested.
So I just go with it.
Whatever happens happens.
Yeah, yes, donna, the questionabout how did I write this novel
, the first novel.
Yeah, you're going tounderstand, being a theater
(11:08):
person, how much the theatertrains you to write Absolutely.
And also I'm a theater teacher,so I'm even more aware.
I directed shows.
I had to mark beats in scripts,so the arc of the play is the
same as a novel, it's justlonger.
Yeah, character description,development.
(11:29):
I was an actor for a long timeso I understood getting into the
character's head.
Yeah, and then the wholeconcept of kind of reaching the
audience is very theatrical aswell.
And when I'm writing it'scinematic to me.
I hear my characters talking tome and a lot of times I see
(11:50):
imagery.
So that helps with all of that.
And I also took some workshopsand I had great editors, so I
had a lot of help to figure outwhat I was really doing.
Yeah, yeah.
So that's kind of how ithappened.
Speaker 1 (12:07):
Yeah, I don't think that everybody understands the
collaborative nature of writing.
Yes, there is that author who'sdoing this work, but boy, we,
none of us do that in isolation,in a vacuum.
There is that beautifulcollaboration with an editor, In
isolation, in a vacuum.
There is that beautifulcollaboration with an editor.
And well, you can't give toolittle credit to a good editor.
(12:32):
A good editor is an amazing, anamazing gift, and, of course,
the whole production team.
It really is that collaborativeeffort.
So what do you think?
I hope this isn't too nebulousa question, but what do you
(12:55):
think it is that gave you theinner assurance and that
confidence that you could infact do this thing, Because many
people dream it and they I havean idea and the execution of it
is a lot of hard work and that,of course, can be off-putting
but also just that belief inyourself that you could do this
thing and you could bring it tofruition.
Where do you think that came?
From within you?
(13:15):
How did you come by that?
Speaker 3 (13:17):
The funny thing is that I still question that.
When I started a new novel, I'mlike can I really do this?
So it's a struggle, but I thefirst.
The first uh influence thatpops into my head is my father,
because he instilled in me asense of being confident and
asking for what you want anddoing what you want and not to
(13:43):
be afraid of how people willreact.
Just just try it.
Speaker 1 (13:49):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (13:50):
So that was the start , and I had to face some demons
early on because I was nottremendously successful in high
school and I was being trainedto be a secretary or a
receptionist, oh dear God.
So nothing wrong with that.
It just wasn't going to beright for me to be cooped up in
an office.
So they're brilliant assistantsand I've depended on them
(14:13):
myself, but I really wasn'tgoing to be happy and I was
terrible at it.
I couldn't remember theshorthand.
I really wasn't going to behappy and I was terrible at it.
I couldn't remember theshorthand.
I typed like a pianist, becauseI played the piano earlier in
my life.
No, I was a mess.
So anyway, then I realized Itook a gap year and then I
(14:34):
thought I really want to go tocollege for theater.
So that's what I did and I sortof faced those demons and
pushed forward and I found someprofessors who were very
supportive of me, luckily, andthat made a big difference.
When I first went into theclassroom I was pretty much of a
disaster.
We didn't prepare teachers wellback in the 70s.
(14:56):
Now we do, and I'm a part ofthat.
Two of my classes are theatereducation courses and I'm doing
exactly that, helping thestudents prepare to go into the
classroom.
I love that.
Anyway, I had two teachersveteran teachers take me under
their wings and if it weren'tfor Kitty and Ruth, I probably
(15:16):
wouldn't have had a career ineducation.
So you know, it's just keepingat things.
Yeah, partway through mygraduate degree I was like what
am I doing, you know?
And I was working full time, Iwas going to temple at night.
It was a lot.
But my father also taught meyou finish things, that you
begin.
So I'm glad that I finished it,because that whole background
(15:40):
has influenced my teaching andmy writing and characterizations
when I'm acting, getting intothe character and what they're
going through.
Then I started writing a playand I thought, well, this is
something new, uh-huh.
But it went well and I had avery positive experience.
(16:03):
So I just kept building on that.
Yeah, you know, it's a matterof trust, trusting the universe,
trusting yourself, listening toyour inner voice, yeah, and not
listening to that negativeinner voice, turning that off.
Speaker 1 (16:19):
Absolutely, absolutely so interesting.
Thank you for all of that.
Part of my journey is what I'verealized in doing what I do is
that confidence is a choice.
I choose confidence.
It's not just this thing thatmagically washes over me and I
(16:39):
now am confident and here I go,but I am electing confidence,
and that feels akin to some ofwhat you shared there.
I also want to just comment,boy, the theater arts are
transformative, aren't they?
They just are powerful andpotent, are powerful and potent,
and even if one is not a famousstage performer or what have
(17:05):
you, what the work in the artscan do for a person is on a very
personal level, is so powerfuland strong.
Speaker 3 (17:19):
Wouldn't you agree?
Yes, absolutely, and I would.
To parents, uh, whose studentswere in high school performing
arts programs and they'd be like, how are they going to make a
living?
How are they going to make aliving?
And, and I would be honest,they may not make a living as an
actor or a designer or whateverright some of them have yeah,
some of my have, but most ofthem will not.
(17:41):
But I want the parents tounderstand the skill set that
you get from doing theatertranslates to any possible
career.
You know they have to problemsolve, they have to work as a
team, they have to deal withtime management, they need to be
empathetic, they need tocommunicate.
Speaker 1 (18:00):
It's so many skills you learn from theater have you
(18:23):
and you need to hire somebodywith these skills.
Hire a theater kid.
They have got what you need,and that is certainly true.
We've discovered.
Speaker 2 (18:29):
Very true, yeah.
Yeah, it's fun listening tothis discussion just because,
knowing how deeply embedded mysister is in theater and writing
, and then just hearing thesimilarities with you two, it's
very interesting.
I didn't know all of thisbefore coming in today.
Speaker 1 (18:45):
I feel like we have a new soul sister.
Speaker 2 (18:48):
Exactly.
Speaker 3 (18:49):
Yes, yes.
Speaker 2 (18:50):
Yeah, so speaking of soul, your book, soul Dancing,
and of course we are soulsisteries.
I would love to hear if you canshare how do you make soul
connections?
Speaker 3 (19:08):
I feel as though I'm lucky.
I have relationships in my lifethat are connected on that
deeper spiritual level andthat's why, even though it
happens quickly in soul dancing,stan knows that Charlene, even
though she's in another body,and Hattie, after some testing,
(19:32):
realizes it is her best friendCharlene in this other body.
So I believe we have these deepspiritual connections and I
feel like I have that with myhusband and also I have four
very dear girlfriends and wecall ourselves the Solstice
Sisters.
(19:52):
Oh, after my mom passed away, Istarted celebrating the winter
solstice with these women, andthat was like 45 years ago, and
we get together often, butspecifically during the
equinoxes and the solstices, tocelebrate and we have a very,
(20:17):
very deep connection.
Speaker 2 (20:19):
Wow, that's absolutely beautiful.
We have a very, very deepconnection.
Wow, that's absolutelybeautiful.
And something that I've foundsince I've moved to this coast
also is a group where I amcelebrating those very things,
and it's been absolutely amazing.
Good for you, yeah.
Speaker 1 (20:33):
It's so intriguing you share that For many, many
years a couple of decades I hada group of friends and we called
ourselves the GGs and we saidit was either girl gathering or
goddess group.
But we did it.
We met regularly and we sharedthose type of experiences,
encounters, and were fullyopen-hearted with each other.
(20:56):
And, boy, that is a powerfulthing to exist.
I understand what you're sayingwhen you say you've got those
relationships, and they are alot of the reason why you are
where you are and you have thoseconnections.
It's beautiful, wonderful, yeah.
Speaker 3 (21:12):
Yeah, definitely, thank you yeah.
Speaker 2 (21:21):
You shared with us a little bit of your start.
I think you said in high school, in theater in high school, and
then went into college andmaster's degree in clinical
psych and then writing andpublishing all of these books.
Now I am curious, if you thinkback to maybe your first theater
experience in high school Idon't know how old were you you
13, 14, 15, maybe what wouldyour younger self looking at you
(21:46):
today?
What would she say about you?
What would she think about you?
Speaker 3 (21:53):
I think she would be surprised and proud and also
probably feel better aboutherself that she would be able
to take this journey.
Because I was a junior in highschool and I really was very
(22:17):
insecure and my father had toldme to be confident.
The reality was that I was abundle of nerves and didn't know
where I was headed and confusedabout what I was supposed to do
with my life and had a notgreat boyfriend and all kinds of
things that mess with.
You know kids' heads andparticular girls, but I know
(22:40):
boys suffer too.
So when I did my first play, itwas a comedy and I made the
audience laugh I mean bellylaugh and I went off stage and I
could hardly breathe because Irealized that really made me
happy.
I loved it.
I love to make people laugh.
(23:02):
It felt so good.
So that was kind of thebeginning of the book.
Speaker 1 (23:07):
Yeah, oh, I love that .
I feel that you know it's funnybecause I can think back on
times in which I've performed.
Some of those most memorablemoments for me are exactly that,
when you just really got thatpowerful audience reaction and a
laugh is one of the most potent, of course, so I can understand
(23:28):
that certainly.
You also commented that youreally were a bundle of nerves,
and isn't that true of so manywho find themselves in theater
also that there's just theretends to be, a rampant sort of
insecurity, and through thatthere's this powerful discovery
(23:49):
of self, of life, of others, andwonderful connections made.
It's just, it's an interestingcombination, I think.
Speaker 3 (23:57):
I agree and I have found as an educator that a lot
of the kids who feel like theydon't fit in anywhere, they fit
into the theater.
Oh for sure.
And they're accepted and theystart feeling more confident.
That's the other thing that I'mso happy about.
They may not become an actor,but they're more confident about
(24:18):
who they are and theyunderstand themselves a lot
better.
I would avoid very much everdoing therapy with my students.
I would guide them and ask themquestions that would help them
to be able to portray a role and, in hand with that, they get
(24:39):
more confident in themselves.
Speaker 1 (24:41):
And it's very exciting.
And self-discovery.
You said so beautifully,exactly, so I've seen it again
and again.
Speaker 2 (24:49):
Yeah, yeah Well, and as a therapist who has watched
my sister do her work withchildren's theater for many
years and seeing the amazingsupport and growth and
development in these kids duringthat process, I mean definitely
different than therapy, but sotherapeutic at the same time.
Speaker 1 (25:10):
So, yeah, amazing, so well, let me ask you a question
, gail.
Do you, through your life'sjourney, have you discovered or
do you live by any sort of lifephilosophy, a motto, something
that you really tie to, that hashelped you move forward in all
(25:33):
of these endeavors?
Speaker 3 (25:37):
Well, I belong to this wonderful national group
called the Artist ConferenceNetwork and I meant to mention
them before when you wanted toknow how did I know I could do
whatever I was doing?
Yeah, we were a coachingcommunity and there's no
critique, and you were trainedto look at your language and
(26:01):
what you're telling yourself andhow to step out of those
stories, those negative stories,and we have specific questions
that we use in our coaching.
And you set goals.
That's the big thing.
I used to have my students setgoals too, especially my seniors
, and these goals are mostlyartistic goals, and you also
(26:25):
come up with a vision that helpsyou for that particular year,
that supports you, so that youcan, when you start feeling like
you're veering off course, youcan say your vision or something
that really you attach to, thatgets you out of your negative
(26:50):
space.
So one of my lines that I sayto myself that really helps is
be productive without attachment, because I want things to go a
certain way.
Speaker 2 (27:02):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (27:03):
And I want this and I want that.
Well, that can stop me fromworking, because I'm not getting
those things that I'm getting.
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (27:12):
I'm writing that down .
Speaker 3 (27:15):
I'm going to get out of that.
Yeah, be productive withoutattaching anything to it.
Whatever happens happens, buthere I am.
I'm creating.
Speaker 1 (27:24):
For the sake of creating.
Speaker 3 (27:26):
I love that Take it, creating Absolutely.
Speaker 2 (27:30):
I love that and I love that that be productive
without attachment and I'mthinking just so many areas of
my life how valuable that is,because we tie this being
productive to the outcome.
Like I'm going to be productivebecause this is the outcome and
if I'm not getting that outcome, well then I'm not doing this
(27:52):
production piece and that's notreally what it's about.
It's just about producingregardless of the outcome.
Right, I do.
Speaker 1 (28:00):
I do love that yeah, you know we do a lot of
celebrating of the outcomes aswell and whatever this product
is, and you know, and that theyes, there's a sense of
accomplishment, but it reallyisn't all about that.
It is that, that way of living,that productive, creative way
(28:21):
of living, which is the goodstuff.
Right, that's what feeds thesoul.
Speaker 3 (28:25):
Yeah, yeah, absolutely yes, and we need to
celebrate while we're takingthat journey.
Yes, that's a journey to find away to acknowledge that in
yourself and in others whoyou're helping, along with their
journey.
Speaker 2 (28:43):
Yeah, for sure, Gail.
Who or what inspires you?
Speaker 3 (28:51):
The first thing that pops into my head is nature, and
that's why my settings areusually in some kind of an
outdoor not always, but usuallyan outdoor setting.
I love nature.
I love to be on the beach.
I enjoy swimming in the bay,watching birds.
My husband and I are bothbirders.
(29:13):
There's so much healingpotential in nature If we get
outdoors and take a deep breathand get away from all the things
in our heads.
Nothing makes you more presentthan trying to find that bird,
because you know it's in thearea and you heard it and you
haven't seen it.
Wow, you're right there withyour binoculars, right?
(29:36):
You're not thinking aboutanything else or worrying about
anything else, right?
Speaker 2 (29:41):
Right Beautiful yeah.
Speaker 1 (29:43):
Absolutely Right.
Beautiful, yeah, Absolutely.
So, yeah, you know, and it'sinteresting birding you
mentioned that seems to be juston the rise right now.
More and more people aregetting involved.
Yeah, and I've not been abirder.
It sounds very therapeuticactually, and even and like
meditative, Is it?
Am I understanding correctly?
Speaker 3 (30:04):
Yes, I do find it meditative.
It's funny how things come intoyour life and my husband and I,
after my mom passed away, Iwent on a yoga retreat to Cape
Midpoint in New Jersey.
It's the most southern point inour state and it's on the
(30:27):
Delaware Bay and on the AtlanticOcean and I was like whoa, this
place is so charming and sobeautiful and there's all this
nature.
So we started vacationing therebecause I didn't really know
about that particular spotbefore then and it's a huge
(30:47):
hotspot for birding.
People come from all over theworld to bird in Cayman Point
because there's a great deal ofmigration movement in the fall
and also in the spring, ofmigration movement in the fall
and also in the spring.
They are coming.
The young birds are coming downalong the coast because they
don't know any better, Right,and they see the Delaware Bay
(31:09):
and they're like, oh my gosh, Idon't want to go across that.
And they kind of come up intothe point to sort of figure out
what they're going to do.
And some of the birds willtravel up the bay and cross at a
more narrow area.
Some of them just power acrossbecause they can.
But you see all these fabuloushawks and in the spring you see
(31:30):
all these warblers.
It's a great place to be, andthe monarch butterflies also
migrate through Cape May Point.
Speaker 2 (31:40):
Oh, I might need to go check that out.
I was actually just thinkingthis morning.
I don't see many butterflieswhere I am, and in California I
had them all the time, so I mayneed to make that trip.
Speaker 1 (31:53):
So beautiful, beautiful, yeah.
So, gail, in this life journey,you clearly have accomplished a
great deal and you've beenreally intentional about how you
live.
How do you hope, or do you giveit any thought?
How do you hope, that otherswill remember you when it's your
(32:15):
time to move on?
Speaker 3 (32:17):
Yeah, yeah that's a really deep question.
Well, I hope my students willremember me as a compassionate
teacher and someone whoencouraged them and really cared
(32:37):
about them and I do.
That's why I'm still teaching.
My friends are like when areyou going to retire Totally?
And I'm like, nah, I don't know, I may never because it's still
.
So'm still teaching.
My friends are like when areyou going to retire Totally?
And I'm like, no, I don't know.
I may never, because it's stillso rewarding to me and it's been
super fun because I've beenteaching, experiencing, acting
for several years.
But then we started theseeducation courses that I had the
(32:59):
joy of developing thecurriculum and when I get to
work with these young people whothink they might want to become
theater teachers, that is areal kick.
So I hope that they remember mefondly and that my little part
in their life was positive, andI hope that my readers come away
(33:24):
from my various books with asense of well at first, kind of
an escape from all the toughnessin life.
You know, you just sort of getinto a book and get lost and
fall in love with the charactersand don't have to worry about
real life stuff for a while.
Watch the characters struggleinstead.
(33:45):
But I hope they see, uh, thepotential for yeah, or healing,
for, um, taking control of theirlives.
I mean, that's a struggle forall of us.
I, I still struggle.
It's not like I have all theanswers, not at all you learn.
Hopefully you're learning untilyou do go over.
Speaker 1 (34:06):
You know to the other side, I think that's kind of
the point, right, that we're allhere learning as we go, and if
we had all the answers, we maybewouldn't be here, right, yeah,
yeah.
Speaker 2 (34:19):
Yeah, for sure.
So I think that this is kind ofprobably time for us to get
into our rapid fire questions,which aren't so rapid, Gail.
We're just going to ask youquestions.
These are not deep, I don'tthink, and just kind of off the
top of your head, the firstthing that comes to mind.
If you're like walking up tothe stage to get your award,
(34:45):
your next award, and they'replaying the music, what would be
your walk-in song?
Speaker 3 (34:52):
Oh my gosh, this is not going to be rapid fire on my
end.
Let's see.
Oh my gosh, it's a okay, maybeit's um, maybe it's.
Speaker 1 (35:16):
These boots were made for walking.
I love it.
That's so fun.
I think you're like the secondperson third maybe that's come
up before and uh, I think thatsong is deep in all of our
psyches.
I love that, yeah.
So here's another question whatbook changed you?
Speaker 3 (35:36):
And there are a few, but the first one that pops into
my head is Siddhartha.
I can't say it right now,siddhartha, because I was in
high school when I read it andit just opened up so many
questions for me.
I reread it.
(35:58):
I don't know potential to allowthings, to let go of things and
to not attach yourself tooutcomes.
Yeah, that was a big one.
The other one was the.
Prophet, I did my seniorEnglish term paper on the
(36:23):
Prophet.
And I had all of his, all ofGibran's books.
I really had a whole collectionfor a long time.
I loved his poetry and, again,the sense of peacefulness.
Speaker 2 (36:36):
Yeah, beautiful.
Yes.
What movie lives rent-free inyour brain?
Tootsie.
Speaker 1 (36:48):
Oh, that's such a good one.
Speaker 3 (36:50):
It is just so charming and timeless and funny.
And I just love, love, love,the actors.
Speaker 1 (36:58):
The performances are stellar yeah.
Speaker 3 (37:01):
Gosh, it's just beautiful.
Speaker 1 (37:03):
Might be time for a rewatch.
Exactly, I need to revisit thatone.
Yeah, what did you love doingas a kid that you love doing to
this day?
Speaker 3 (37:17):
Taking long walks on the beach.
Yeah, you know, back in the dayour parents didn't know where
we were.
We didn't have cell phones, wejust sort of ran around like
little banshees and we came home.
I had to come home at sixo'clock and there was a church
chime that I knew.
When that was chiming I had tohead for hours and wander around
(37:37):
the beach and walk and look atthe birds, even though I didn't
know what they were because Iwasn't a birder.
But I was fascinated by themand smelled saltwater, yeah.
Speaker 2 (37:59):
Sounds amazing, even right now just picturing that
you paint a good picture.
Speaker 1 (38:03):
Yes, yeah.
Speaker 2 (38:06):
What in your world is lighting you up right now?
Just yeah that, so you paint agood picture.
Yes, yeah, what in your worldis lighting you up right now?
Speaker 3 (38:12):
oh, I don't know if I feel so lit right now.
Speaker 1 (38:17):
I can hear that.
Speaker 3 (38:19):
you know it's challenging right now.
We're in a difficult time.
It's a little extra challenging, but quite a lot challenging
because I don't know what'sgoing to happen and I find
myself worrying about what'sgoing to happen.
Speaker 2 (38:34):
I hear that.
Speaker 3 (38:35):
But my writing still lights me up, Even though I
struggle with it.
My dear dear husband and deardear friends light me up.
The dog lights me up, so I'mlucky and I can go out.
I can go outside.
I'm so grateful to be healthyand be able to enjoy nature.
Speaker 2 (38:54):
Yeah, beautiful, beautiful.
Speaker 1 (38:56):
Yeah, absolutely.
And just to say you're notalone in that feeling of
overwhelm and concern and Ithink you know all people of
consciousness and compassion areright there with you.
Speaker 2 (39:14):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (39:14):
Yeah, okay.
So if hope had a color, whatcolor is hope?
Speaker 3 (39:34):
I, it's a.
The first thing it came to mewas red, but I want to be more
specific.
It's, it's this glowing,burning red.
It's the eternal flame thatwill not go out yeah, I that I
love that so much.
Speaker 1 (39:44):
And, boy, that is a writer's answer, but that's
gorgeous.
And I think you're our firstread, but I love that eternal
flame nature of it.
Oh, I'm going to like think onthat one.
Speaker 2 (39:55):
Yeah, so it is that eternal flame.
Read what does hope sound like?
Speaker 3 (40:10):
I'm going to sound so redundant, but it's the sounds
of nature, it's the ocean, it'sa river flowing.
Speaker 1 (40:24):
It's the beautiful smell and sound of wind through
the pines.
Yeah, yeah, I appreciate that.
All right, complete thestatement.
Speaker 3 (40:30):
Creativity is possible for everyone yes, yeah,
yeah um, let's see how aboutcompassion is.
Stepping outside of yourselfand considering what the other
(40:53):
person's going through.
Speaker 2 (40:55):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (40:57):
Yeah, yes, the meaning of life is.
Speaker 3 (41:07):
Service to others.
Speaker 2 (41:10):
Gorgeous.
And what about hope?
Hope is.
Speaker 3 (41:16):
A thing with feathers .
Speaker 1 (41:18):
Yes, it is Emily Dickinson.
Speaker 3 (41:20):
Yes, my favorite Also the title of my next novel.
Speaker 2 (41:26):
Is it really Okay?
I'm ready for that one.
I can't wait.
I can't wait.
Speaker 1 (41:35):
Yep, yep, gail, this has been just such a joy talking
with you.
I absolutely do feel that weare kindreds, but I honor your
journey and really appreciateyou sharing here with us.
It's been lovely.
Speaker 2 (41:49):
Yeah, yeah, so will you share, Gail?
I know we talked about whatbooks you have.
Fun that another one's comingout.
I'm curious if you have like adeadline for that one or if it's
, you know, still a ways off.
But I would love for you toshare where anybody can find you
maybe your web page, socials,where they can find your books.
Speaker 3 (42:16):
Yes, my website is gailpriestcom simple and
everything's on there.
Okay, my books, usually, whereyou can find them, how you know,
you just click on the uh, onthe uh image, and you'll of the
title sorry the cover and you'llget links.
(42:36):
Um, my newsletter sign up is onthere and that's a really great
place to know what I'm doing,what I'm up to, where you'll
find me, yes, but that's also onmy website.
I try to keep that up andaccurate.
Great, my books are availableon all the online retailers, but
(42:59):
also in a lot of indiebookstores.
I really support indie booksyes, let's support independent
booksellers.
Speaker 1 (43:05):
Yes.
Speaker 3 (43:06):
Yes, yes, yes, so they'll have me on there.
Yes, yes, beautiful.
You know, I have a Facebookpage.
I have an author Facebook page.
I have.
I have a group on Facebookcalled Gail's Birds of a Feather
it's a running theme and I'm onInstagram too.
Speaker 1 (43:29):
Yeah, Well, I'm impressed with your media game.
Speaker 2 (43:32):
Very good and robust.
Yeah, and we will definitelyshare those things.
We'll share them with thelisteners and we'll share them
on our social media so peopleknow where to find you.
And I just want to say that itwas so much fun having you join
a scale today.
I will say how much Iappreciated you joining our book
club when we were discussingyour book.
(43:53):
That was just so very graciousof you to join us.
I know the ladies absolutelyloved it and I will continue to
follow you.
I will continue to read yourbooks and I cannot wait for the
next book to come out.
So you know we'll be in linefor those, Maybe at your next
book signing.
Speaker 3 (44:10):
I love going to book clubs, either in person, if
they're not too far away, ohwonderful.
It's fun and I'm always happyto do it, and I was so happy to
come today and you both arelovely, oh, and it's so cool
that you're sisters we are,that's another special element.
(44:32):
I didn't grow up with a sister,so I have friends that are like
sisters, but having a sister isvery special.
Speaker 1 (44:40):
It is.
Speaker 3 (44:40):
It is so welcome and comfortable, and I just think
we're kindred spirits.
Speaker 2 (44:45):
Yep, I know we are.
I agree there's this soulconnection and I believe that
you know we come into, you knoweach other's lives for a reason,
and so I think this is prettyamazing.
So, and I will thank my friend,Catherine, who turned me on to
your book in the first place,and I think she got to you
because she met you down by theshore and that was pretty
(45:05):
amazing.
Speaker 1 (45:05):
So just how we're another soul sister that we hope
to have a conversation.
Yes as well.
Amazing, yeah, this is.
This is lovely and veryinspiring.
Everyone go grab a book, listen, read and listen.
Listen in to that, to all thatGail has to share Definitely
(45:26):
words worth making part of yourworld.
Thank you so much, Gail weappreciate it.
Speaker 2 (45:31):
Thank you, Gail.
We'll talk soon.
Thanks for joining us today onSoul Sisteries.
Speaker 1 (45:35):
And thanks for sharing stories with us.
We'd love to hear your storiesas well and keep the
conversation going, absolutelykeeping the hope going.
So we're really hopeful thatyou'll connect with our guests
as well, who have great storiesto share.
Go ahead and follow them invarious social media platforms
or live venues, wherever it isthat they're performing and
(46:00):
sharing what they do.
Speaker 2 (46:01):
We would love to have you follow us on all of our
social media platforms,subscribe and rate, as that will
help us get our message of hopeout to others.
Thanks for listening to SoulSisteries.
Welcome to Soul Sisteries.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
What a great conversation we've just had with
Gail Priest, a fabulous authorof many, many, many
award-winning books mostspectacularly I will say the
Soul Dancing book and we've justhad a great conversation with
her about her journey and herexperience and just really kind
(00:28):
of offering hope to all of herreaders.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
And I feel like I totally met a soul sister right
there.
So everybody listen in.
I think you will too.
Amazing woman, Great story.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
Okay, okay, well, welcome to Soul Sisteries, where
we are here with Gail Priest, afabulous author who I was
introduced to after reading heraward-winning book Soul Dancing.
Gail has a passion for women'sfiction.
Her degrees and work in theater, education and counseling
psychology inspire her storiesof healing from trauma and
(01:07):
secrets within families.
A dash of romance and her loveof second chances are always in
the mix.
The settings of her novels areinfluenced by her time spent on
the coast of New Jersey and theeastern shore of Maryland.
Soul Dancing is Gail's mostrecent book and it was selected
as 2024 Book of the Year by theAmerican Writing Awards and it
(01:29):
placed first in the BookfestAwards for Paranormal Romance,
women's Fiction and Book Cover.
It was a Kindle Book Awardsemifinalist for Romance and an
American Fiction Awardsemifinalist for Women's F
fiction.
Firebird Book Awards awarded itfirst place in cross-genre and
second place in women's fiction.
Her other award-winning booksinclude A Collingswood Christmas
(01:54):
inspired by Gail's hometown andher fondness for the winter
holidays, the Annie Crow KnollTrilogy, which includes Annie
Crow Knoll, sunrise, sunset andMoonrise, and Eastern Shore
Shorts her collection of shortstories set in various eastern
shore towns, and I recommend allof them.
Gail lives in New Jersey withher husband and their Havanese
(02:18):
dog, annie.
When she's not writing orteaching, gail can be found
reading or looking for birds andsea glass along the beaches and
bays of the East Coast.
So welcome Gail.
Speaker 3 (02:30):
Thank you so much.
I'm very happy to be here withyou and Donna.
Speaker 1 (02:34):
Yes, Well, we're so pleased and so grateful, and so
looking forward to spending thistime together.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
Yeah, great.
So I'm going to let Gail justkind of share what she wants.
But I have to point out acouple of things, because of
course I love your books andthat's what I know, and of
course now I'm seeing your dog'sname is Annie, so I'm assuming
that's where the character Anniein the trilogy comes from, but
maybe I'm wrong.
And looking at your background,my background is in education
(03:03):
and counseling psychology.
Donna's background is educationand theater, so there's
definitely this connection, andDonna is also a writer.
So I am just really hoping thatyou will share with us kind of
your journey from thisbackground in education and
theater and how that got you towriting these award-winning
(03:24):
books.
Speaker 3 (03:27):
Boy, it's so exciting that we have so much in common.
Yes, yeah definitely.
I actually wrote the trilogybefore we got Annie, so Annie is
named after the character inthe trilogy.
I love, I love that.
Okay, if we had gotten a maledog, we would have named him
Packard after Annie's love.
(03:48):
Yeah, gary picked up this puppyand said this is the one.
So we went with it, sweet.
So I started doing theaterreally in high school and I knew
I wanted to be an educator andcontinue to do acting.
(04:08):
So I began with a theaterdegree at Rowan Well, it was
Glassboro State College, nowit's Rowan University and then I
got my master's in counselingpsychology, which led me to
guidance counseling at TempleUniversity in Philadelphia.
But while I was doing my careerin theater and in education, I
(04:33):
started writing about 25 yearsago, seriously writing, and I
wrote a couple of plays and ascreenplay.
And then Gary and I startedrenting a cottage in this little
group of cottages on theeastern shore, on the uh, on the
Chesapeake Bay.
And while we were there we werethere for 17 years, but that
first year we were there Istarted coming up with this idea
(04:57):
for a novel and I'm like Ihaven't written a novel.
I have to figure out how to dothat.
But I did figure it out, and sothat's how the Annie Cronall
trilogy happened.
I didn't know I had a trilogy inthe beginning.
I just thought I was writingone book, but it became two and
then three.
So, yeah, I really love theEastern Shore and the setting is
(05:23):
very important.
In most of my writing it's likeanother character, almost, yes.
And then I wrote Eastern Shoreshorts and soul dancing.
And then the last winter, well,in the fall, I took an older
short story and turned it into anovelette and that's A
Gollllywood Christmas and I putthat out for the holidays.
(05:46):
Yes, yes.
So I still teach.
I'm part-time, I retired fromfull-time but I still teach.
I'm an adjunct in the theaterdepartment at Rowan University.
Speaker 2 (05:57):
Oh, okay, interesting .
So that's interesting to mebecause you're adjuncting in
theater and I was thinking, oh,are you working in the clinical
psych program at all?
So that's interesting that yourfocus is theater.
So I have to say I'm new to theEast Coast.
I think I shared that with youbefore.
I'm originally from the WestCoast, so I love just the way
(06:20):
that you portray the East Coastand I've not been to the
Chesapeake Bay, but it'scertainly on my list.
But I've gone to the JerseyShore so far and I'm looking for
the sea glass and all thethings that you talk about in
your stories.
I just want to be in thosesettings.
So it's just absolutely abeautiful, beautiful portrait
(06:41):
and for me, with the theme ofour podcast here, which is hope
for me, it gives me just a lotof hope, and as did your book,
soul Dancing.
So I want to talk about that alittle bit, if we can.
Speaker 1 (06:54):
Can I jump us also into something I'd love you to
dig more into?
It was just a throwaway commentyou made about, you know,
learning to write a novel and Ineeded to figure it out.
And you said and I did figureit out.
Well, there's a whole lot.
I did figure out how to write anovel and I would love for you
(07:16):
to talk a little bit about thatas well.
But let's turn it over to youto share what you'd like.
Speaker 3 (07:23):
All right, Diane, what was your original question?
Speaker 2 (07:26):
Well, I just want to talk a little bit more about
soul dancing, because that isthat's what sucked me into just
kind of this world that you weredescribing in that book.
And then, of course, I went tothe Collingswood Christmas and
then I went to the trilogy, wentto the Collingswood Christmas
(07:49):
and then I went to the trilogyand so much hope found through
this.
It's funny because it says theParanormal Award and I didn't
quite think of it as paranormal,but I guess it certainly is.
Speaker 1 (07:56):
Well, you and I, sis, live in a different world.
It's all just paranormal, isjust okay, that's just life
paranormal is just okay.
Speaker 2 (08:04):
That's just life.
Yes, just life.
Speaker 3 (08:05):
Right.
Speaker 2 (08:05):
So I'm curious about that hope that was created in
that soul dancing story, and Iguess maybe did you think about
that when you were writing it.
Was it your intent to writethis hope-filled book?
Or I don't understand thewriting process like you two do.
Speaker 3 (08:28):
Well, I really write about healing within families,
which gives you hope that itcould happen and second chances
that you may be able to forgiveyourself or forgive others.
And it became a verysignificant element in soul
dancing.
It's in my other books, butthis one I feel is the strongest
(08:49):
and I wanted to put mycharacters kind of through their
paces where they were going tobe able to resolve some very
difficult family situations andsee what came of that.
But the idea of the vehiclejust was a gift from the
(09:11):
universe that Charlene wouldwake up in a younger woman's
body and be carrying a baby,delivering a baby.
That really wasn't a plan, itjust sort of came to me and so I
ran with it and I didn't worryabout the paranormal element.
I didn't even know really whatto call it.
Diana, I, I, I felt like I waswriting women's fiction with a
(09:34):
romance.
But then when I had to marketit and um answer questions about
the genre, I thought, well,there's this body switching
thing.
I guess the closest thing isparanormal.
Yeah, I say it's women'sfiction with a paranormal twist.
Speaker 2 (09:51):
Yeah, yeah.
And you know, I think I guessmy original years ago thought of
paranormal was like never goingto happen, not reality.
So that was my old belief.
Today I'm like it doesn't seemtoo far fetched.
I think that could happen andso I think it did just really,
myself and the group that readthe book with me, we very much
(10:11):
thought this is real life.
We loved it.
Speaker 3 (10:13):
So yeah, Good, I'm glad it came across as a
possibility.
Speaker 1 (10:18):
Yes, and I understand that in authoring I mean there
are of course we know inpublishing there are certain
tags that we need to attach toour writings and that you have a
set list from which to choose.
And this is how things aremarketed and you have to fit and
adapt whatever it is you'vedone into those that phrasing.
So I understand completely whenyou say well, that's the one I
(10:41):
guess I need to select, becausethat makes sense.
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (10:46):
I hear that, yes, I hope so.
I mean some people their facelights up when I say paranormal
and then other people go, oh,I'm not interested.
So I just go with it.
Whatever happens happens.
Yeah, yes, donna, the questionabout how did I write this novel
, the first novel.
Yeah, you're going tounderstand, being a theater
(11:08):
person, how much the theatertrains you to write Absolutely.
And also I'm a theater teacher,so I'm even more aware.
I directed shows.
I had to mark beats in scripts,so the arc of the play is the
same as a novel, it's justlonger.
Yeah, character description,development.
(11:29):
I was an actor for a long timeso I understood getting into the
character's head.
Yeah, and then the wholeconcept of kind of reaching the
audience is very theatrical aswell.
And when I'm writing it'scinematic to me.
I hear my characters talking tome and a lot of times I see
(11:50):
imagery.
So that helps with all of that.
And I also took some workshopsand I had great editors, so I
had a lot of help to figure outwhat I was really doing.
Yeah, yeah.
So that's kind of how ithappened.
Speaker 1 (12:07):
Yeah, I don't think that everybody understands the
collaborative nature of writing.
Yes, there is that author who'sdoing this work, but boy, we,
none of us do that in isolation,in a vacuum.
There is that beautifulcollaboration with an editor, In
isolation, in a vacuum.
There is that beautifulcollaboration with an editor.
And well, you can't give toolittle credit to a good editor.
(12:32):
A good editor is an amazing, anamazing gift, and, of course,
the whole production team.
It really is that collaborativeeffort.
So what do you think?
I hope this isn't too nebulousa question, but what do you
(12:55):
think it is that gave you theinner assurance and that
confidence that you could infact do this thing, Because many
people dream it and they I havean idea and the execution of it
is a lot of hard work and that,of course, can be off-putting
but also just that belief inyourself that you could do this
thing and you could bring it tofruition.
Where do you think that came?
From within you?
(13:15):
How did you come by that?
Speaker 3 (13:17):
The funny thing is that I still question that.
When I started a new novel, I'mlike can I really do this?
So it's a struggle, but I thefirst.
The first uh influence thatpops into my head is my father,
because he instilled in me asense of being confident and
asking for what you want anddoing what you want and not to
(13:43):
be afraid of how people willreact.
Just just try it.
Speaker 1 (13:49):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (13:50):
So that was the start , and I had to face some demons
early on because I was nottremendously successful in high
school and I was being trainedto be a secretary or a
receptionist, oh dear God.
So nothing wrong with that.
It just wasn't going to beright for me to be cooped up in
an office.
So they're brilliant assistantsand I've depended on them
(14:13):
myself, but I really wasn'tgoing to be happy and I was
terrible at it.
I couldn't remember theshorthand.
I really wasn't going to behappy and I was terrible at it.
I couldn't remember theshorthand.
I typed like a pianist, becauseI played the piano earlier in
my life.
No, I was a mess.
So anyway, then I realized Itook a gap year and then I
(14:34):
thought I really want to go tocollege for theater.
So that's what I did and I sortof faced those demons and
pushed forward and I found someprofessors who were very
supportive of me, luckily, andthat made a big difference.
When I first went into theclassroom I was pretty much of a
disaster.
We didn't prepare teachers wellback in the 70s.
(14:56):
Now we do, and I'm a part ofthat.
Two of my classes are theatereducation courses and I'm doing
exactly that, helping thestudents prepare to go into the
classroom.
I love that.
Anyway, I had two teachersveteran teachers take me under
their wings and if it weren'tfor Kitty and Ruth, I probably
(15:16):
wouldn't have had a career ineducation.
So you know, it's just keepingat things.
Yeah, partway through mygraduate degree I was like what
am I doing, you know?
And I was working full time, Iwas going to temple at night.
It was a lot.
But my father also taught meyou finish things, that you
begin.
So I'm glad that I finished it,because that whole background
(15:40):
has influenced my teaching andmy writing and characterizations
when I'm acting, getting intothe character and what they're
going through.
Then I started writing a playand I thought, well, this is
something new, uh-huh.
But it went well and I had avery positive experience.
(16:03):
So I just kept building on that.
Yeah, you know, it's a matterof trust, trusting the universe,
trusting yourself, listening toyour inner voice, yeah, and not
listening to that negativeinner voice, turning that off.
Speaker 1 (16:19):
Absolutely, absolutely so interesting.
Thank you for all of that.
Part of my journey is what I'verealized in doing what I do is
that confidence is a choice.
I choose confidence.
It's not just this thing thatmagically washes over me and I
(16:39):
now am confident and here I go,but I am electing confidence,
and that feels akin to some ofwhat you shared there.
I also want to just comment,boy, the theater arts are
transformative, aren't they?
They just are powerful andpotent, are powerful and potent,
and even if one is not a famousstage performer or what have
(17:05):
you, what the work in the artscan do for a person is on a very
personal level, is so powerfuland strong.
Speaker 3 (17:19):
Wouldn't you agree?
Yes, absolutely, and I would.
To parents, uh, whose studentswere in high school performing
arts programs and they'd be like, how are they going to make a
living?
How are they going to make aliving?
And, and I would be honest,they may not make a living as an
actor or a designer or whateverright some of them have yeah,
some of my have, but most ofthem will not.
(17:41):
But I want the parents tounderstand the skill set that
you get from doing theatertranslates to any possible
career.
You know they have to problemsolve, they have to work as a
team, they have to deal withtime management, they need to be
empathetic, they need tocommunicate.
Speaker 1 (18:00):
It's so many skills you learn from theater have you
(18:23):
and you need to hire somebodywith these skills.
Hire a theater kid.
They have got what you need,and that is certainly true.
We've discovered.
Speaker 2 (18:29):
Very true, yeah.
Yeah, it's fun listening tothis discussion just because,
knowing how deeply embedded mysister is in theater and writing
, and then just hearing thesimilarities with you two, it's
very interesting.
I didn't know all of thisbefore coming in today.
Speaker 1 (18:45):
I feel like we have a new soul sister.
Speaker 2 (18:48):
Exactly.
Speaker 3 (18:49):
Yes, yes.
Speaker 2 (18:50):
Yeah, so speaking of soul, your book, soul Dancing,
and of course we are soulsisteries.
I would love to hear if you canshare how do you make soul
connections?
Speaker 3 (19:08):
I feel as though I'm lucky.
I have relationships in my lifethat are connected on that
deeper spiritual level andthat's why, even though it
happens quickly in soul dancing,stan knows that Charlene, even
though she's in another body,and Hattie, after some testing,
(19:32):
realizes it is her best friendCharlene in this other body.
So I believe we have these deepspiritual connections and I
feel like I have that with myhusband and also I have four
very dear girlfriends and wecall ourselves the Solstice
Sisters.
(19:52):
Oh, after my mom passed away, Istarted celebrating the winter
solstice with these women, andthat was like 45 years ago, and
we get together often, butspecifically during the
equinoxes and the solstices, tocelebrate and we have a very,
(20:17):
very deep connection.
Speaker 2 (20:19):
Wow, that's absolutely beautiful.
We have a very, very deepconnection.
Wow, that's absolutelybeautiful.
And something that I've foundsince I've moved to this coast
also is a group where I amcelebrating those very things,
and it's been absolutely amazing.
Good for you, yeah.
Speaker 1 (20:33):
It's so intriguing you share that For many, many
years a couple of decades I hada group of friends and we called
ourselves the GGs and we saidit was either girl gathering or
goddess group.
But we did it.
We met regularly and we sharedthose type of experiences,
encounters, and were fullyopen-hearted with each other.
(20:56):
And, boy, that is a powerfulthing to exist.
I understand what you're sayingwhen you say you've got those
relationships, and they are alot of the reason why you are
where you are and you have thoseconnections.
It's beautiful, wonderful, yeah.
Speaker 3 (21:12):
Yeah, definitely, thank you yeah.
Speaker 2 (21:21):
You shared with us a little bit of your start.
I think you said in high school, in theater in high school, and
then went into college andmaster's degree in clinical
psych and then writing andpublishing all of these books.
Now I am curious, if you thinkback to maybe your first theater
experience in high school Idon't know how old were you you
13, 14, 15, maybe what wouldyour younger self looking at you
(21:46):
today?
What would she say about you?
What would she think about you?
Speaker 3 (21:53):
I think she would be surprised and proud and also
probably feel better aboutherself that she would be able
to take this journey.
Because I was a junior in highschool and I really was very
(22:17):
insecure and my father had toldme to be confident.
The reality was that I was abundle of nerves and didn't know
where I was headed and confusedabout what I was supposed to do
with my life and had a notgreat boyfriend and all kinds of
things that mess with.
You know kids' heads andparticular girls, but I know
(22:40):
boys suffer too.
So when I did my first play, itwas a comedy and I made the
audience laugh I mean bellylaugh and I went off stage and I
could hardly breathe because Irealized that really made me
happy.
I loved it.
I love to make people laugh.
(23:02):
It felt so good.
So that was kind of thebeginning of the book.
Speaker 1 (23:07):
Yeah, oh, I love that .
I feel that you know it's funnybecause I can think back on
times in which I've performed.
Some of those most memorablemoments for me are exactly that,
when you just really got thatpowerful audience reaction and a
laugh is one of the most potent, of course, so I can understand
(23:28):
that certainly.
You also commented that youreally were a bundle of nerves,
and isn't that true of so manywho find themselves in theater
also that there's just theretends to be, a rampant sort of
insecurity, and through thatthere's this powerful discovery
(23:49):
of self, of life, of others, andwonderful connections made.
It's just, it's an interestingcombination, I think.
Speaker 3 (23:57):
I agree and I have found as an educator that a lot
of the kids who feel like theydon't fit in anywhere, they fit
into the theater.
Oh for sure.
And they're accepted and theystart feeling more confident.
That's the other thing that I'mso happy about.
They may not become an actor,but they're more confident about
(24:18):
who they are and theyunderstand themselves a lot
better.
I would avoid very much everdoing therapy with my students.
I would guide them and ask themquestions that would help them
to be able to portray a role and, in hand with that, they get
(24:39):
more confident in themselves.
Speaker 1 (24:41):
And it's very exciting.
And self-discovery.
You said so beautifully,exactly, so I've seen it again
and again.
Speaker 2 (24:49):
Yeah, yeah Well, and as a therapist who has watched
my sister do her work withchildren's theater for many
years and seeing the amazingsupport and growth and
development in these kids duringthat process, I mean definitely
different than therapy, but sotherapeutic at the same time.
Speaker 1 (25:10):
So, yeah, amazing, so well, let me ask you a question
, gail.
Do you, through your life'sjourney, have you discovered or
do you live by any sort of lifephilosophy, a motto, something
that you really tie to, that hashelped you move forward in all
(25:33):
of these endeavors?
Speaker 3 (25:37):
Well, I belong to this wonderful national group
called the Artist ConferenceNetwork and I meant to mention
them before when you wanted toknow how did I know I could do
whatever I was doing?
Yeah, we were a coachingcommunity and there's no
critique, and you were trainedto look at your language and
(26:01):
what you're telling yourself andhow to step out of those
stories, those negative stories,and we have specific questions
that we use in our coaching.
And you set goals.
That's the big thing.
I used to have my students setgoals too, especially my seniors
, and these goals are mostlyartistic goals, and you also
(26:25):
come up with a vision that helpsyou for that particular year,
that supports you, so that youcan, when you start feeling like
you're veering off course, youcan say your vision or something
that really you attach to, thatgets you out of your negative
(26:50):
space.
So one of my lines that I sayto myself that really helps is
be productive without attachment, because I want things to go a
certain way.
Speaker 2 (27:02):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (27:03):
And I want this and I want that.
Well, that can stop me fromworking, because I'm not getting
those things that I'm getting.
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (27:12):
I'm writing that down .
Speaker 3 (27:15):
I'm going to get out of that.
Yeah, be productive withoutattaching anything to it.
Whatever happens happens, buthere I am.
I'm creating.
Speaker 1 (27:24):
For the sake of creating.
Speaker 3 (27:26):
I love that Take it, creating Absolutely.
Speaker 2 (27:30):
I love that and I love that that be productive
without attachment and I'mthinking just so many areas of
my life how valuable that is,because we tie this being
productive to the outcome.
Like I'm going to be productivebecause this is the outcome and
if I'm not getting that outcome, well then I'm not doing this
(27:52):
production piece and that's notreally what it's about.
It's just about producingregardless of the outcome.
Right, I do.
Speaker 1 (28:00):
I do love that yeah, you know we do a lot of
celebrating of the outcomes aswell and whatever this product
is, and you know, and that theyes, there's a sense of
accomplishment, but it reallyisn't all about that.
It is that, that way of living,that productive, creative way
(28:21):
of living, which is the goodstuff.
Right, that's what feeds thesoul.
Speaker 3 (28:25):
Yeah, yeah, absolutely yes, and we need to
celebrate while we're takingthat journey.
Yes, that's a journey to find away to acknowledge that in
yourself and in others whoyou're helping, along with their
journey.
Speaker 2 (28:43):
Yeah, for sure, Gail.
Who or what inspires you?
Speaker 3 (28:51):
The first thing that pops into my head is nature, and
that's why my settings areusually in some kind of an
outdoor not always, but usuallyan outdoor setting.
I love nature.
I love to be on the beach.
I enjoy swimming in the bay,watching birds.
My husband and I are bothbirders.
(29:13):
There's so much healingpotential in nature If we get
outdoors and take a deep breathand get away from all the things
in our heads.
Nothing makes you more presentthan trying to find that bird,
because you know it's in thearea and you heard it and you
haven't seen it.
Wow, you're right there withyour binoculars, right?
(29:36):
You're not thinking aboutanything else or worrying about
anything else, right?
Speaker 2 (29:41):
Right Beautiful yeah.
Speaker 1 (29:43):
Absolutely Right.
Beautiful, yeah, Absolutely.
So, yeah, you know, and it'sinteresting birding you
mentioned that seems to be juston the rise right now.
More and more people aregetting involved.
Yeah, and I've not been abirder.
It sounds very therapeuticactually, and even and like
meditative, Is it?
Am I understanding correctly?
Speaker 3 (30:04):
Yes, I do find it meditative.
It's funny how things come intoyour life and my husband and I,
after my mom passed away, Iwent on a yoga retreat to Cape
Midpoint in New Jersey.
It's the most southern point inour state and it's on the
(30:27):
Delaware Bay and on the AtlanticOcean and I was like whoa, this
place is so charming and sobeautiful and there's all this
nature.
So we started vacationing therebecause I didn't really know
about that particular spotbefore then and it's a huge
(30:47):
hotspot for birding.
People come from all over theworld to bird in Cayman Point
because there's a great deal ofmigration movement in the fall
and also in the spring, ofmigration movement in the fall
and also in the spring.
They are coming.
The young birds are coming downalong the coast because they
don't know any better, Right,and they see the Delaware Bay
(31:09):
and they're like, oh my gosh, Idon't want to go across that.
And they kind of come up intothe point to sort of figure out
what they're going to do.
And some of the birds willtravel up the bay and cross at a
more narrow area.
Some of them just power acrossbecause they can.
But you see all these fabuloushawks and in the spring you see
(31:30):
all these warblers.
It's a great place to be, andthe monarch butterflies also
migrate through Cape May Point.
Speaker 2 (31:40):
Oh, I might need to go check that out.
I was actually just thinkingthis morning.
I don't see many butterflieswhere I am, and in California I
had them all the time, so I mayneed to make that trip.
Speaker 1 (31:53):
So beautiful, beautiful, yeah.
So, gail, in this life journey,you clearly have accomplished a
great deal and you've beenreally intentional about how you
live.
How do you hope, or do you giveit any thought?
How do you hope, that otherswill remember you when it's your
(32:15):
time to move on?
Speaker 3 (32:17):
Yeah, yeah that's a really deep question.
Well, I hope my students willremember me as a compassionate
teacher and someone whoencouraged them and really cared
(32:37):
about them and I do.
That's why I'm still teaching.
My friends are like when areyou going to retire Totally?
And I'm like, nah, I don't know, I may never because it's still
.
So'm still teaching.
My friends are like when areyou going to retire Totally?
And I'm like, no, I don't know.
I may never, because it's stillso rewarding to me and it's been
super fun because I've beenteaching, experiencing, acting
for several years.
But then we started theseeducation courses that I had the
(32:59):
joy of developing thecurriculum and when I get to
work with these young people whothink they might want to become
theater teachers, that is areal kick.
So I hope that they remember mefondly and that my little part
in their life was positive, andI hope that my readers come away
(33:24):
from my various books with asense of well at first, kind of
an escape from all the toughnessin life.
You know, you just sort of getinto a book and get lost and
fall in love with the charactersand don't have to worry about
real life stuff for a while.
Watch the characters struggleinstead.
(33:45):
But I hope they see, uh, thepotential for yeah, or healing,
for, um, taking control of theirlives.
I mean, that's a struggle forall of us.
I, I still struggle.
It's not like I have all theanswers, not at all you learn.
Hopefully you're learning untilyou do go over.
Speaker 1 (34:06):
You know to the other side, I think that's kind of
the point, right, that we're allhere learning as we go, and if
we had all the answers, we maybewouldn't be here, right, yeah,
yeah.
Speaker 2 (34:19):
Yeah, for sure.
So I think that this is kind ofprobably time for us to get
into our rapid fire questions,which aren't so rapid, Gail.
We're just going to ask youquestions.
These are not deep, I don'tthink, and just kind of off the
top of your head, the firstthing that comes to mind.
If you're like walking up tothe stage to get your award,
(34:45):
your next award, and they'replaying the music, what would be
your walk-in song?
Speaker 3 (34:52):
Oh my gosh, this is not going to be rapid fire on my
end.
Let's see.
Oh my gosh, it's a okay, maybeit's um, maybe it's.
Speaker 1 (35:16):
These boots were made for walking.
I love it.
That's so fun.
I think you're like the secondperson third maybe that's come
up before and uh, I think thatsong is deep in all of our
psyches.
I love that, yeah.
So here's another question whatbook changed you?
Speaker 3 (35:36):
And there are a few, but the first one that pops into
my head is Siddhartha.
I can't say it right now,siddhartha, because I was in
high school when I read it andit just opened up so many
questions for me.
I reread it.
(35:58):
I don't know potential to allowthings, to let go of things and
to not attach yourself tooutcomes.
Yeah, that was a big one.
The other one was the.
Prophet, I did my seniorEnglish term paper on the
(36:23):
Prophet.
And I had all of his, all ofGibran's books.
I really had a whole collectionfor a long time.
I loved his poetry and, again,the sense of peacefulness.
Speaker 2 (36:36):
Yeah, beautiful.
Yes.
What movie lives rent-free inyour brain?
Tootsie.
Speaker 1 (36:48):
Oh, that's such a good one.
Speaker 3 (36:50):
It is just so charming and timeless and funny.
And I just love, love, love,the actors.
Speaker 1 (36:58):
The performances are stellar yeah.
Speaker 3 (37:01):
Gosh, it's just beautiful.
Speaker 1 (37:03):
Might be time for a rewatch.
Exactly, I need to revisit thatone.
Yeah, what did you love doingas a kid that you love doing to
this day?
Speaker 3 (37:17):
Taking long walks on the beach.
Yeah, you know, back in the dayour parents didn't know where
we were.
We didn't have cell phones, wejust sort of ran around like
little banshees and we came home.
I had to come home at sixo'clock and there was a church
chime that I knew.
When that was chiming I had tohead for hours and wander around
(37:37):
the beach and walk and look atthe birds, even though I didn't
know what they were because Iwasn't a birder.
But I was fascinated by themand smelled saltwater, yeah.
Speaker 2 (37:59):
Sounds amazing, even right now just picturing that
you paint a good picture.
Speaker 1 (38:03):
Yes, yeah.
Speaker 2 (38:06):
What in your world is lighting you up right now?
Just yeah that, so you paint agood picture.
Yes, yeah, what in your worldis lighting you up right now?
Speaker 3 (38:12):
oh, I don't know if I feel so lit right now.
Speaker 1 (38:17):
I can hear that.
Speaker 3 (38:19):
you know it's challenging right now.
We're in a difficult time.
It's a little extra challenging, but quite a lot challenging
because I don't know what'sgoing to happen and I find
myself worrying about what'sgoing to happen.
Speaker 2 (38:34):
I hear that.
Speaker 3 (38:35):
But my writing still lights me up, Even though I
struggle with it.
My dear dear husband and deardear friends light me up.
The dog lights me up, so I'mlucky and I can go out.
I can go outside.
I'm so grateful to be healthyand be able to enjoy nature.
Speaker 2 (38:54):
Yeah, beautiful, beautiful.
Speaker 1 (38:56):
Yeah, absolutely.
And just to say you're notalone in that feeling of
overwhelm and concern and Ithink you know all people of
consciousness and compassion areright there with you.
Speaker 2 (39:14):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (39:14):
Yeah, okay.
So if hope had a color, whatcolor is hope?
Speaker 3 (39:34):
I, it's a.
The first thing it came to mewas red, but I want to be more
specific.
It's, it's this glowing,burning red.
It's the eternal flame thatwill not go out yeah, I that I
love that so much.
Speaker 1 (39:44):
And, boy, that is a writer's answer, but that's
gorgeous.
And I think you're our firstread, but I love that eternal
flame nature of it.
Oh, I'm going to like think onthat one.
Speaker 2 (39:55):
Yeah, so it is that eternal flame.
Read what does hope sound like?
Speaker 3 (40:10):
I'm going to sound so redundant, but it's the sounds
of nature, it's the ocean, it'sa river flowing.
Speaker 1 (40:24):
It's the beautiful smell and sound of wind through
the pines.
Yeah, yeah, I appreciate that.
All right, complete thestatement.
Speaker 3 (40:30):
Creativity is possible for everyone yes, yeah,
yeah um, let's see how aboutcompassion is.
Stepping outside of yourselfand considering what the other
(40:53):
person's going through.
Speaker 2 (40:55):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (40:57):
Yeah, yes, the meaning of life is.
Speaker 3 (41:07):
Service to others.
Speaker 2 (41:10):
Gorgeous.
And what about hope?
Hope is.
Speaker 3 (41:16):
A thing with feathers .
Speaker 1 (41:18):
Yes, it is Emily Dickinson.
Speaker 3 (41:20):
Yes, my favorite Also the title of my next novel.
Speaker 2 (41:26):
Is it really Okay?
I'm ready for that one.
I can't wait.
I can't wait.
Speaker 1 (41:35):
Yep, yep, gail, this has been just such a joy talking
with you.
I absolutely do feel that weare kindreds, but I honor your
journey and really appreciateyou sharing here with us.
It's been lovely.
Speaker 2 (41:49):
Yeah, yeah, so will you share, Gail?
I know we talked about whatbooks you have.
Fun that another one's comingout.
I'm curious if you have like adeadline for that one or if it's
, you know, still a ways off.
But I would love for you toshare where anybody can find you
maybe your web page, socials,where they can find your books.
Speaker 3 (42:16):
Yes, my website is gailpriestcom simple and
everything's on there.
Okay, my books, usually, whereyou can find them, how you know,
you just click on the uh, onthe uh image, and you'll of the
title sorry the cover and you'llget links.
(42:36):
Um, my newsletter sign up is onthere and that's a really great
place to know what I'm doing,what I'm up to, where you'll
find me, yes, but that's also onmy website.
I try to keep that up andaccurate.
Great, my books are availableon all the online retailers, but
(42:59):
also in a lot of indiebookstores.
I really support indie booksyes, let's support independent
booksellers.
Speaker 1 (43:05):
Yes.
Speaker 3 (43:06):
Yes, yes, yes, so they'll have me on there.
Yes, yes, beautiful.
You know, I have a Facebookpage.
I have an author Facebook page.
I have.
I have a group on Facebookcalled Gail's Birds of a Feather
it's a running theme and I'm onInstagram too.
Speaker 1 (43:29):
Yeah, Well, I'm impressed with your media game.
Speaker 2 (43:32):
Very good and robust.
Yeah, and we will definitelyshare those things.
We'll share them with thelisteners and we'll share them
on our social media so peopleknow where to find you.
And I just want to say that itwas so much fun having you join
a scale today.
I will say how much Iappreciated you joining our book
club when we were discussingyour book.
(43:53):
That was just so very graciousof you to join us.
I know the ladies absolutelyloved it and I will continue to
follow you.
I will continue to read yourbooks and I cannot wait for the
next book to come out.
So you know we'll be in linefor those, Maybe at your next
book signing.
Speaker 3 (44:10):
I love going to book clubs, either in person, if
they're not too far away, ohwonderful.
It's fun and I'm always happyto do it, and I was so happy to
come today and you both arelovely, oh, and it's so cool
that you're sisters we are,that's another special element.
(44:32):
I didn't grow up with a sister,so I have friends that are like
sisters, but having a sister isvery special.
Speaker 1 (44:40):
It is.
Speaker 3 (44:40):
It is so welcome and comfortable, and I just think
we're kindred spirits.
Speaker 2 (44:45):
Yep, I know we are.
I agree there's this soulconnection and I believe that
you know we come into, you knoweach other's lives for a reason,
and so I think this is prettyamazing.
So, and I will thank my friend,Catherine, who turned me on to
your book in the first place,and I think she got to you
because she met you down by theshore and that was pretty
(45:05):
amazing.
Speaker 1 (45:05):
So just how we're another soul sister that we hope
to have a conversation.
Yes as well.
Amazing, yeah, this is.
This is lovely and veryinspiring.
Everyone go grab a book, listen, read and listen.
Listen in to that, to all thatGail has to share Definitely
(45:26):
words worth making part of yourworld.
Thank you so much, Gail weappreciate it.
Speaker 2 (45:31):
Thank you, Gail.
We'll talk soon.
Thanks for joining us today onSoul Sisteries.
Speaker 1 (45:35):
And thanks for sharing stories with us.
We'd love to hear your storiesas well and keep the
conversation going, absolutelykeeping the hope going.
So we're really hopeful thatyou'll connect with our guests
as well, who have great storiesto share.
Go ahead and follow them invarious social media platforms
or live venues, wherever it isthat they're performing and
(46:00):
sharing what they do.
Speaker 2 (46:01):
We would love to have you follow us on all of our
social media platforms,subscribe and rate, as that will
help us get our message of hopeout to others.
Thanks for listening to SoulSisteries.
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