Monday, September 25, 2006

10 little things about Kathleen McGowan

Have you heard of the author more controversial than Dan Brown and The Da Vinci Code? Meet Kathleen McGowan, an American author and self-proclaimed descendant of Jesus of Nazareth and Mary Magdalene.

Kathleen has spent twenty years researching the legends surrounding the Gospel of Mary Magdalene on four continents. She has immersed herself in the culture and folklore of Mary Magdalene, which is primarily an oral tradition that features an ancient prophecy about the coming of “The Expected One,” a special seeker who has been chosen by divine providence to bring Mary Magdalene’s long-hidden message to the world.

1. Favorite comfort food: PB and J. There’s really nothing like it when the jam is strawberry and the milk is cold. If I’m feeling really in need of comfort, then add Lay’s potato chips. And three days at the gym.

2. Weirdest thing you like to eat: French fries dipped in bleu cheese dressing. Reminds me of high school, at Bob’s Big Boy after football games.

3. Favorite TV show and/or favorite movie: I love reality TV: the cheesier, the better. It is the ultimate escape for me—gets me away from the intense, cerebral nature of my research. Give me a Project Runway marathon when I’m stressed out and it’s better than therapy.

I could keep you here all day in terms of films. I love ensemble movies like The Big Chill and The Breakfast Club, but my “go to” film has to be Chocolat. Something about that combination of French magic and Johnny Depp with long hair and an Irish accent just works for me. And for the record, I loved Johnny Depp before he was Jack Sparrow. We’re talkin’ 21-Jump-Street-Cry-Baby-Johnny-Depp.

4. If you could wake up tomorrow in the body of someone else currently living, whom would you pick? Hmmm... Great question. I think for me it’s more about waking up in the brain of somebody else. In that case it would have to be the current Pope, because then I could access the Vatican archives, particularly those that are off limits to anyone but him! I would open that third prophecy of Fatima and see what it really says, then find out all there is to know about “Pope Joan,” the woman who disguised herself as a man so she could teach in the Church, but not until I found that evidence that Jesus and Magdalene were married which several priests have sworn to me exists there somewhere...

5. 3 things you never leave your house without: My cel phone (boring, but true), tarot cards (there is always a deck in my purse—did you know that tarot cards were created to tell the story of the bloodline in late medieval Italy?) and a notebook that my kids refer to as my “Grail Diary.”

6. Last movie you watched: The Matador, with Pierce Brosnan in the role of his life. Loved it.

7. Man (besides hubby) you think is too gorgeous for your peace of mind: Isn’t George Clooney pretty much every woman’s imaginary boyfriend? Because for me, gorgeous is every bit as much about personality, humor, strength of conviction and integrity as it is about that chiseled face. And Clooney seems to be all about those things in my book. Oh yeah, and Johnny Depp, of course. But remember that I saw him first.

8. Book you’re reading right now: I’m always reading several non-fiction books at a time for research purposes. My focus at the moment is a rare British biography of Matilda of Tuscany, an astonishing woman of the middle ages. For pure recreation, I allow myself historical fiction IF and only if it’s not in my genre or subject matter. My escapist novel at the moment is the latest from Philippa Gregory, The Boleyn Inheritance. I cheated and got an advance reading copy from my publisher. Loving it.

9. What one toiletry item could you never live without? Eek. Choosing between moisturizer and a toothbrush is like choosing between oxygen and water. Can’t I please have both?

10. Which famous person, now dead, do you wish you could have seen naked? Oh my! I’m a classic rock and roll kinda gal, so I’m gonna go with Jim Morrison. Or maybe Jimi Hendrix.

*Tune in tomorrow for a very interesting two-part interview Trollop conducted with Ms. McGowan. Till then!
**BBC discussion has been moved to start Monday, October 2nd.


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31 comment(s):

Blogger Harlot said...

Read the interview and i think it's very interesting--loved her answers. And she loves Johnny Depp before his pirating days. :P

9/25/2006 12:39:00 PM  

Blogger Isabella said...

I've heard of Ms. McGowan months ago when her book was about to be released. Gotta say I was very interested. Looking forward to the interview, ladies.

9/25/2006 12:48:00 PM  

Blogger Polly King said...

I searched for Kathleen McGowan and it led me to The Expected One. I really like historical fiction and her book seems like the type I would enjoy. But based from her claims, is the book fiction or non-fiction?

9/25/2006 01:55:00 PM  

Blogger Jolie said...

This is why being an author rocks. When mere mortals like me have to wait for the actual release date of a book, they simply get ARCs by great authors and don't even have to pay for it!

9/25/2006 03:07:00 PM  

Blogger C Bradshaw said...

George Clooney is everyone's dream bf. If he gets married, I'll be one of those who will cry their eyes out. Unless he finally realize that it's little ol me that he loves and I'd be the one who would end his bachelorhood. Boy, that'd be the day. LOL! Can't wait for the interview!

9/25/2006 03:50:00 PM  

Blogger Marg said...

I have this on my TBR shelf at the moment. I am very much looking forward to reading it!

9/25/2006 04:41:00 PM  

Blogger Jordis Juice said...

You know, I was really looking forward to the BBC. :P But this interview looks good, ladies.

9/25/2006 05:19:00 PM  

Blogger Ladybug said...

Great Q&A. Ms. McGowan, I loved that movie The Matador. I think Pierce Brosnan is very handsome. LOL. Speaking of Pierce, I'm still seething over the fact that they replaced him as James Bond. And for a blond guy at that!

9/25/2006 05:37:00 PM  

Blogger Isabella said...

There's a new James Bond?

9/25/2006 08:20:00 PM  

Blogger Danielle De Barbarac said...

Fun answers! Kathleen, I didn't know that about taro cards. I used to play it with my girlfriends. We got that little cutout ones from Cosmo. LOL

Izzie, the new James Bond is Daniel Craig. He'll be in Casino Royale.

9/25/2006 08:43:00 PM  

Blogger Lorelei said...

Oh, I have this book in my pile! Looking forward for the rest of the interview!

9/25/2006 09:29:00 PM  

Blogger C Bradshaw said...

Izzie, Daniel Craig is that Brittish actor who was in the movie Elizabeth (Cate Blanchett). Not really who I would picture as James Bond but I think he's gorgeous. LOL

9/25/2006 09:32:00 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Blond Daniel Craig as Bond - bletch! ... one non-hit wonder in the making ... but I digress.

Looking forward to the rest of this interview.

9/25/2006 09:34:00 PM  

Blogger C Bradshaw said...

Aggie, I think Daniel's very handsome. There's something about those Brits that makes me drool. LOL He's definitely hotter than Hugh Grant, you gotta admit that!

9/26/2006 01:51:00 AM  

Blogger Rachel said...

Oh, I love The Breakfast Club and Chocolat and Johhny Depp of course, lol. Looking forward to the rest of the interview, ladies.

9/26/2006 01:52:00 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Interesting piece of fiction, given that this author has changed her name and her life story so many times over the last ten years it's difficult to guess what she's going to "be" next: covert IRA operative, hereditary high priestess of an Irish witch coven, editor of a newspaper that denies she ever worked there, beneficiary of the estate of astrologer Linda Goodman (denied by the executor of Goodman's estate), and now the "expected" descendant of Jesus and Mary Magdalene. Hopefully once day she'll invent a new persona she'll stick with.

10/05/2006 05:53:00 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said...

I have known Kathleen McGowan for 12 years. I know her family and we spent time in Europe together so I am qualified to set the record straight. This person is posting these lies all over the internet. She has 6 different identies on Amazon. She even stalks Kathleen on Amazon.com USA, Amazon, UK,Amazon Canada and Amazon Germany posting the same lies. Here is why. But first,The post regarding Kathleen McGowan changing her name,(She married someone with the last name McGowan) wow. Regarding IRA operative, she worked as a writer for a Los Angeles based newspaper called "The Irish Times & Entertainment" and lived in Ireland. While living in Ireland she interviewed people who claimed connections to all paramilitary groups. The author of the post is related to a person who stole from Linda Goodman and is bitter because Kathleen knew Linda and knew this person stole from Linda. kathleen outed this person and now she is bitter. And last but not least, Kathleen is a decendant of JC & MM but so are millions of others that is except this bitter bitter little woman.

11/02/2006 01:25:00 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said...

hello Vicious Trollop..
(cute choice of names!)
It's a relief to see that someone actually cares enough to want to hunt down the truth before making a judgement. First let me assure you that many people know McGowan from her very long internet troll days.Anyone who's spent any amount of time on religious-discussion lists has probably encountered this person...she's cycled through a couple of schticks before this one, all equally silly. Her original claim about 'bloodlines' just started recently.If it had started twenty years ago before anyone else poublished it, she would have to have been 12 years old.

Her 'secret documents' stuff had a slightly different flavor when she was peddling 'secret documents' about the Emerald Tablets. Now it's devolved from "I am the Chosen One" to 'oh, there are millions, I just think I am one' kind of talk...I don't think she realized that a story that might make you seem mysterious and special on Yahoo might not stand up to world-wide press scrutiny. (Yet another reason it is always stupid to be vain)
She herself said she was having visions from Linda Goodman that gave her post mortem permissionj to represent her on earth. Really? This was from McGowan herself.

Regarding the other claims, someone named 'Charles' posted a lot of the info on the internet because his mother knew McGowan when they worked at Disney World. And because he knew people who knew the inside info on the Linda Goodman case..most of these incidents began in chat rooms and forums...the people posting about it now are people who knew her from those forums.
There are at least two forums thatare now discussing the glaring historical flaws in the book plus McGowan's discrepencies: the forums are maintained by people who have also known McGowan for 10 years or more..including the one she calls" bitter little woman" who happens to be a very successful London author and editor that wasn't fooled so easily by McGowan.
McGopwan told a reporter that she worked for the 'The Irish Times" that article is still online. Then she had to change her story when the Irish boys proved it was untrue. Her claims about working covert even included vivi\d desvriptions about how hard it was to wash off dried blood. Now she says she only "wrote" about it, not experienced it...Is all this getting hard to follow?
I see where someone here also claims that McGowan "knew" Linda Goodman. That story had to be retracted by McGowan herself. After claims she "knew" LG, Kathleen had to recant because actually they only had one brief telephone conversation, and they never actually ever met, and Kathleen was never given permission by LG to use any of her material. That permission went to Crystal Bush, who asked McGowan simply to help her organize and edit, not publish the material as her own..which is what she tried to do after she was "let go" from the Goodman project.
Well, I could go on, but I wont. I'm sorry you couldn't Google up enough background facts to check for yourself. Many others have.
This is not about religious persecution of this author, and it's not about "liable" or "slander" or "stalking" this author because no one wants to end up in courts with her again (which she is always threatening everyone who disagrees with her or gives her book a bad review) . This IS about integrity and about McGowan selling falsehoods to the public and to her publishers.
I hope she doesn't write anymore, and I hope she doesn't try to make a movie from this, because the informed public will go very very hard on her, for the glaring historical errors in her book and for her outrageous unsubstantiated claims. She could easily be back in the courts again...it's already been discussed online.
I may not have bookmarked the sources for all the information, but others have. You can take that to the bank (or to the judge)
Have a pleasant day...

11/13/2006 09:27:00 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said...

hello Vicious Trollop..
(cute choice of names!)
It's a relief to see that someone actually cares enough to want to hunt down the truth before making a judgement. First let me assure you that many people know McGowan from her very long internet troll days.Anyone who's spent any amount of time on religious-discussion lists has probably encountered this person...she's cycled through a couple of schticks before this one, all equally silly. Her original claim about 'bloodlines' just started recently.If it had started twenty years ago before anyone else poublished it, she would have to have been 12 years old.

Her 'secret documents' stuff had a slightly different flavor when she was peddling 'secret documents' about the Emerald Tablets. Now it's devolved from "I am the Chosen One" to 'oh, there are millions, I just think I am one' kind of talk...I don't think she realized that a story that might make you seem mysterious and special on Yahoo might not stand up to world-wide press scrutiny. (Yet another reason it is always stupid to be vain)
She herself said she was having visions from Linda Goodman that gave her post mortem permissionj to represent her on earth. Really? This was from McGowan herself.

Regarding the other claims, someone named 'Charles' posted a lot of the info on the internet because his mother knew McGowan when they worked at Disney World. And because he knew people who knew the inside info on the Linda Goodman case..most of these incidents began in chat rooms and forums...the people posting about it now are people who knew her from those forums.
There are at least two forums thatare now discussing the glaring historical flaws in the book plus McGowan's discrepencies: the forums are maintained by people who have also known McGowan for 10 years or more..including the one she calls" bitter little woman" who happens to be a very successful London author and editor that wasn't fooled so easily by McGowan.
McGopwan told a reporter that she worked for the 'The Irish Times" that article is still online. Then she had to change her story when the Irish boys proved it was untrue. Her claims about working covert even included vivi\d desvriptions about how hard it was to wash off dried blood. Now she says she only "wrote" about it, not experienced it...Is all this getting hard to follow?
I see where someone here also claims that McGowan "knew" Linda Goodman. That story had to be retracted by McGowan herself. After claims she "knew" LG, Kathleen had to recant because actually they only had one brief telephone conversation, and they never actually ever met, and Kathleen was never given permission by LG to use any of her material. That permission went to Crystal Bush, who asked McGowan simply to help her organize and edit, not publish the material as her own..which is what she tried to do after she was "let go" from the Goodman project.
Well, I could go on, but I wont. I'm sorry you couldn't Google up enough background facts to check for yourself. Many others have.
This is not about religious persecution of this author, and it's not about "liable" or "slander" or "stalking" this author because no one wants to end up in courts with her again (which she is always threatening everyone who disagrees with her or gives her book a bad review) . This IS about integrity and about McGowan selling falsehoods to the public and to her publishers.
I hope she doesn't write anymore, and I hope she doesn't try to make a movie from this, because the informed public will go very very hard on her, for the glaring historical errors in her book and for her outrageous unsubstantiated claims. She could easily be back in the courts again...it's already been discussed online.
I may not have bookmarked the sources for all the information, but others have. You can take that to the bank (or to the judge)
Have a pleasant day...

11/13/2006 09:29:00 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Kelly Flemming who is responsible for most of the slander against McGowan was all over the Internet a while back claiming to have been married to John the Baptist in a past life. McGowan's portrayal of the Baptist has obviously gotten under her skin. She also claims to make special healing oils. After reading her nasty words about McGowan (on the post just b-4 this post), I certainly don't want to bring anything she touches into my home. Bottom line these people are jealous. Check out the extent of Kelly Flemmings writings on MM.

http://www.kingsolomon.com/literary/bibtales/fetter.htm

11/20/2006 03:02:00 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Read the long winded post on the 13th. Notice Ms Flemming (calling her self anoyomous) I know it is her because she cut and pasted her trash from another location where she used her name) "OUTS" the person who is being called"Bitter little woman " on the Amazon forum as Robin Crookshank. I come to this conclusion because Flemming left crookshanks web site address on the Amazon forum. No one at the Amazon forum actually knew who "Bitter little woman " was but now we do. It is Roibin Crookshank Hilton. Google up what she has done lately as an author and you will see why she has so much time on her hands.

Check ou Crookshanks hate fest.

http://www.mania.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2469&page=14

11/20/2006 03:17:00 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said...

FYI. Those who claim there is no such paper as The Irish News in Los Angeles might wnt to go to www.theexpectedone.com. I went to www.theexpectedone.com and saw the Irish News reviews on McGowans web site. There is also an image of the Irish Newspaper. Those people who say the paper doesn't exist know it does but are trying to discredit McGowan with their lies. . These haters also go so far as to say they called Irish locations in LA and no one heard of the Irish news a local LA paper. I googled irish import shops in LA and called one. The Irish Import shop on Vine st in Hollywood Tel: 323 467 6714 told me the carried the paper for several years(new owner) and she knew the publisher etc so the point is these people are lying about the irish news paper and everything else the write. Jealousy eats you up I just hope it happens sooner rather than later for these fools.

11/20/2006 03:27:00 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anonymous stated on her Nov 13th post:McGopwan told a reporter that she worked for the 'The Irish Times" that article is still online. Then she had to change her story when the Irish boys proved it was untrue. Her claims about working covert even included vivi\d desvriptions about how hard it was to wash off dried blood. Now she says she only "wrote" about it, not experienced it...Is all this getting hard to follow?


WHERE IS YOUR PROOF ANY OF THIS HAPPENED?> You also lie that the paper in Los Angeles doesn't exist. go to mcgowans web site and there you will find an image of the Irish News a LA based paper. You are such a lier.

11/20/2006 03:38:00 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said...

The information about the Irish newspapers is online. Go to the Slugger O'Toole forum..They're in Ireland and they did the investigating into McGowan's claims.
You were very selective in what you chose to attack, and how...What about the Linda Goodman case? I notice you avoided mentioning that one at all..
would you care to comment? Gotta tell you though I wont reply to you anymore,Kathleen.

11/21/2006 05:12:00 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said...

You quote Slugger O toole web site. That is so funny.

The Irish newspaper that McG wrote for and that you reported doesn't exist is on her website www.theexpectedone.com. As far as Linda Goodman goes the only thing I know about LG is that post on amazon.com by McG claiming that Crystal Bush was a fraud who stole from Goodman I believe that story just like you believe someone called SLUGGER O TOOLE.

This is the post from MCG re Linda Goodman

http://www.amazon.com/gp/pdp/profile/AW6QQWCD6LPUG/ref=cm_cr_auth/002-6080967-2099233

11/21/2006 11:10:00 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said...

http://sluggerotoole.com/index.php/weblog/comments/former_irish_news_editor_direct_descendant_of_jesus/P25/

I went to the website you mentioned. The address us listed above for those who want the truth. This liar is trying to mislead people. The Slugger O tool web site explains how this story got started. Alo go to www.theexpectedonecom/interviews.html to see a copy of th eirish news& ntertainment. The same paper this liar is reporting all over the net doesn't exist

11/21/2006 11:42:00 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said...

I see where this can get very complicated and long drawn out. The niggles are in the little details...for example no matter how many times you say an Irish newspaper really does exist in Los Angeles the original cause of consternation is over the fact that McGowan was accused of being behind that paper, specifically of writing her own review of herself, by herself, and for herself. That has been the major bone of contention at the amazon.com forum. To many others who read there (and who have known McGowan for years) it appears obvious that McGowan is having a love-in of herself, writing her own glowing reviews everytime a negative criticizm dares to appear about her book.
There is no point in referencing the Linda Goodman-Bush debacle with information from McGowan. It is necessary to get the view from the other side, such as Crystal Bush herself. That's called fair and impartial reporting. After all, that did involved McGowan and a court case. both sides must be reported and their views available. To have 'just' McGowan's side of things is not going to clear up anything. Especially since McGowan claimed that Linda Goodman "channeled" and spoke to her.

There's a web page online, an interview or a forum (I can't remember which) where McGowan claims to be a hereditary witch based on something she believes about her Irish background. This is not good, when McGowan has now claimed she has "channeled" information at least three different times: in the Goodman case, as a witch, and from Magdalene herself. Each involved publishing efforts (which would translate into money-making schemes).
Finally, there is this new approach of McGowan's that for her it's all about "love and forgiveness." If people don't resonate with love (for her ideas) then they are not truth-seekers. No this is incorrect if McGowan means that everyone must love and forgive 'Her" ...

applying this kind of New Age freedom of expression that McGowan demands for herself does not translate into legal, moral, and responsible common sense and integrity that needs to be applied here.

It's certainly prudent that McGowan defend herself against false charges, but first get to the heart of the problem and discern how it all started. That's what any lawyer would do.
The issue was never " did an Irish newspaper exist" The issues were (#1) which one actually interviewed her? (2) which one was she actually editor of? (3) When? (4) Where? (5) For how long? (5) who was the ditor and who "interviewed" McGowan and when...

It seems simple enough to get to the bottom of this.

But I doubt this forum is the right place.

11/22/2006 10:55:00 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Like carl rove, now you try to spin the subject because you and your other liars have been caught. YES the lies put out there by you and your bed buddies was that the paper didn;t exist. You posted that earlier and asked people to go to slugger o tooles web site. Now that it has been proven that your a liar Suzanne Olsson you try to spin it asking questions about the paper. Go find who owns the paper, who edits it where it is based how long it has been around . Go do this your self you fanatic. You went to all this trouble why not finish your little pathetic project. Order the paper from one of those sites. Cal the publisher and get the answers you seek.I posted a location in Hollywood that carries the paper. SOme of us have bigger goals in life than sneaking around in the dark trying to dig up shit on sucessful people. Go to Vons and pick up any one of 20 trash magazines. they have the answers to other questions you probably are investigting like Who killed Laura Palmer, Who killed kennedy etc.

Go find the info on the paper you seek. I doubth McGowan has the time to answer your questions even if she wanted. She has a life and 2 more books are coming out I'm sure she's busy. For those of you who don;t know this nut job, google Suzzanne Olsson. Nuf said

11/23/2006 04:41:00 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Oh...You mean this forum? And this post by Olsson? She's saying McGowan got certain key ideas from her,and she's already been to an attorney about McGowan's claims about her book. Here's one of Olsson's posts about McGowan:________

Hi DVB...
On the advise of my attorney, I should not post at amazon if it has anything to do with McGowan because we may go to court someday.

I have worked with an attorney about certain matters between McGowan and myself, but I have hesitated to 'jump in" to any litigation. I prefer to observe from the sidelines what fate has in store for McGowan. I have other matters going on in my life about my research and my book and I don't want it tainted by any association with her.

Her latest contributions, presumably as "Anna" refers to someone in England? I tried to see what posts you are refering to, but I couldn't find them all...however, it does seem obvious that it's Kathleen behind all those posts. She seems to be making only the flimsiest effort to hide her identity..

Is she trying to imply that someone here ( this forum) stole from Linda Goodman and is known at this forum? I came into this McGowan saga rather late, after someone contacted me about Kathleen and her seeming use of my creative material, ideas from my book, and ideas from my life.
That's why I took such an interest in this forum and the discussions about McGowan. And why I am interested in the outcome of the Dan Brown case..

I know there was a past between RCH and Kathy because RCH is mentioned as having emials and inside info. Does anyone know how to contact that Crystal Bush woman or her children? I've seen them refered to several times in internet posts. They would probably know more.

Regarding the reviews about Starbird, I have never read her books, and what little I know about her, she is an ordained minister in a new age church movement for the feminin divine. (?) .I know several very nice women involved in these movements but I personally have different interest and certainly very different conclusions about history and who/what Magdalene was. Otherwise, I know little or nothing about Starbird except that I don't agree with her conclusions. Again, this is a reflection of my years investigating the entire Biblical story from the eastern perspective on the Old Silk Road.

Well, interesting new developments, eh? . Thanks for posting the info DVB..

Suzie

11/23/2006 06:47:00 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Your message from Olsson to one of Robin Crookshanks cronies claims she hasn't gotten involved in the Amazon.com discussions.

She got involved alright and then wimped out but we all have copies of her hateful attacks on McGowan. She thinks by deleting them she has washed her hands. This is all you will find at amazon.com Suzzanne but we have your posts in full waiting for you if you would like to be reminded of what you said.

Suzanne Olsson In reply to an earlier post Deleted by the author on Oct 18, 2006 7:45 AM PDT

11/23/2006 06:28:00 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Please go to McGowan's page at AMAZON.COM. Today there are 89 reviews. Click on the words (89 reviews)

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/customer-reviews/0743299426/ref=cm_cr_dp_pt/103-2688640-4817415?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books

Notice of the last 10 reviews 8 of the reviewers used their REAL names. 2 used FAKE names.

Notice anything strange? Keep in mind olsson posted here using 2 fake names and on another site using 3 kake names.Bottom line on the AMAZON.com forum,when people post positive reviews they have used REAL NAMES. When people post nasty reviews they use FAKE names. It's not my opinion, see for yourself.

11/29/2006 04:58:00 AM