How My Time Travel Works

 

Are you fairly new to reading time travel? When I started writing it, in 2019, I was new to writing it, but not new to reading it. I was a big Diana Gabaldon fan, not just on the TV series, but I've read every one of the Outlander books. Since I was a child I found the idea of going to another time fascinating, but I noticed that every author had a different vision as to how it should work. By know you know that, in my mind, it happens through DNA and family connections, and not with machines.
Recently there was a discussion about the ages of my characters and how it all works. I can tell you this. In my time traveling world, the years are parallel, and by that I mean, they are continuously happening at the same time. Confusing? It is to me, too, which is why I keep a family tree on each line and detailed dates and places. Here's how it goes for the main character, Francine Clark, in the A Slip in Time series. Fran was born in 1994, so at the beginning of the series in 2019, she is 25 years old. When she pops back to 1875, she is still 25 years old. She will age according to her original birth year, but they are always 144 years apart.
In 2025 she is 31
In 1881 she is 31
In 1882 she is 32
In 2036 she is 42
In 1929 she is 79 --that would be 2073-- which is why it would be such a disaster for her to return to her own time.

When you started the new series Branches of Time, Skye, did you notice that Ginny and Daniel were not as old as they were in Yesterday's Memories, Book 12 of a Slip in Time? That's because Skye began in 1907, so they were only in their mid fifties then. In other words, I went backwards twenty-two years to when Skye was only twenty. 2051(future)-144=1907(past)

When you read my books it's best to watch the year changes within that story line, but please don't get too bogged down in the family details and years. I'll keep it straight for you and try to remind you along the way. And I keep a list of characters and their relationships at the back of the book, just in case you need to refresh yourself, but beware of spoilers.
Hope this helps for those of you who have been asking.

Branches of Time

 

I love seeing all four books of my newest series together.  I can't wait for you to see the next cover I have planned for book 5! In the meantime go to Amazon.com/author/obrienjane for a list of all of my books. Be sure to read any of my series in order for the full romantic experience. 

New Release!

                                                           

 My newest book, Finding Cade, Branches of Time, #4, has just been released in both Kindle and paperback!

Read the description to see what exciting words are about to come your way, then click on any linked title to take you directly to the Amazon page.

Cade Kent Kestler has been a caring and protective brother, always watching out for his daring sister, Skye, since the day she was born.  But this time he had to take care of himself.

Cade and Skye only recently learned that their parents had time-traveled with them from 2035 to 1885 as children, in order to find a safe way of living.  Now that the secret is out and they have learned how to time travel themselves, the adventurous Skye was eager to seek out her ancestors and immerse herself in their lives, but Cade was against this practice, saying it was dangerous and would only lead to trouble.  Unfortunately, the time has now come when Cade has no choice.  He has to use their secret power in order to save himself from a fight that was about to prove deadly.  Escaping the only way he knew how, he pressed his secret button and discovered he had gone farther back than he had planned.  He was now in 1831 in a Potawatomi village along the shores of Lake Michigan.

Who are these people, and how will they receive him?  Why does he feel so comfortable here?  How is it possible that he can understand their language?  And why does he feel a close connection to the lovely Kewaunee, the native woman who saved his life?

When Skye discovers her brother is missing, the frantic search begins.  She turns to the love of her life, Remington Hart, a man from the future who first came to take her back to the year where she belonged.  Remington has a tracking device which should be able to find Cade, but it has failed.  Rem has promised Skye he will do all he can to find Cade, but will it be enough?  Will Cade be lost to them forever?  Will Skye and Rem’s love survive the turmoil?

Continue this family saga with Finding Cade, Branches of Time, Book 4.  There is danger everywhere as the future encroaches on the past.  Who will survive and who will not?

If you’re a fan of Diana Gabaldon and the Outlander, you will love this series.