Coping Through Creativity: Las Vegas Author Unveils ‘The Cursed Promise’
Shaylea Gallagher overcomes her traumatic past by writing a young adult fantasy novel centered on a character with mental health conditions.
On a rainy afternoon, Shaylea Gallagher, a Las Vegas-based author and graphic designer, met me at Makers & Finders in Downtown Summerlin.
Shaylea entered the coffee shop wearing a blouse with yellow and orange flowers, fitted jeans, and tan boots that matched her belt. Gold chains with pendants draped from her neck, one of an eye and one of a sun, accompanied by a pair of dangling earrings. Styled straight, her long blonde hair framed her petite face. She wore black gemstone bracelets and a Lilo & Stitch timepiece on her wrist. As she sat down at the table, her blue eyes and warm smile kindly greeted me.
Occasionally, Shaylea sipped on a glass of water while we discussed her debut fantasy novel, The Cursed Promise. The story follows Nadine Aburdene, the princess of Osnar, who was born with “The Curse.” Her royal family is known for bearing twins, the first being “The Ruler,” and the second being “The Curse.” She must find a suitor unafraid to die before she turns 18 to break the curse. If the curse is not broken by then, she will face an untimely death. In the midst of an overbearing twin brother, a cruel father, a kind prince, and a silver-eyed stranger, she wonders if unconditional love is possible.
Translating Pain into Pages
While working as a video game tester, Shaylea was inspired to write her self-published book, The Cursed Promise. During overtime hours, boredom struck, so she doodled in her journal to pass the time. What started as simply a remedy to restlessness grew into the beginnings of a fantasy young adult novel.
Initially, she took interest in exploring the concept of unconditional love. She had no interest in writing a cliche narrative about love resolving all conflicts. Shaylea knows firsthand that romance and friendship are not a cure-all antidote. She experiences depression, anxiety and complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD),
“For a long time, I had trouble even admitting to myself that I had PTSD. In my mind that was something that only people who went to war experienced,” she said. “I sat down one day with a therapist and they’re like, you have PTSD.”
The Las Vegas author advocates for mental health, encouraging people to question the concept of unconditional love. Between Shaylea’s traumatic childhood experiences, past abusive romantic relationships and the tragic loss of her father, she channeled these complex emotions through her characters to heal.
“I took a lot of inspiration from my personal struggles,” said Shaylea. “Oftentimes, when we are struggling to love ourselves, we’ll take love wherever we can get it, even if it’s not the healthiest.”
In The Cursed Promise, Nadine experiences both verbal and physical abuse. Shaylea’s descriptions of abuse in the novel impacted a reader so much that they reached out to her.
“A reader on TikTok messaged me and said, ‘Hey, the verbal abuse really stuck with me. Did you go through it?’ I told them yes, and I helped them through their own stuff.”
Healing Through Love: A New Chapter
While she was writing the manuscript, her spouse helped her overcome a challenging obstacle. Perfectionism. He knew if she waited for perfection, she would never publish it.
“People hated The Hunger Games, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a great book. A lot of people hate Twilight and it’s still one of the biggest books of our time,” he pointed out. “Just because someone doesn’t like it, doesn’t mean that someone else isn’t going to love it.”
Before Shaylea met her husband, she was on the verge of deleting her dating app, but she gave it one last try. Then, she met him and he saved her life. Three months into their relationship, she lost her ability to walk and still has no idea why. Since they were in the early stages of dating, she offered him an out, but he stayed. Five months later, her father died.
“I wasn’t sure anyone could love without conditions,” she said. “I knew it was possible because of the way he loves me. After I lost my dad, I was depressed. I wasn’t the nicest, and he stuck by me and did everything for me. I couldn’t ask for a better husband.”
Nurturing Creative Talent
In her youth, Shaylea was always artistic, always her own person. Her mother Carrie told me over the phone. Carrie lives in Reno now, working as a respiratory therapist, but her children were born and raised in Las Vegas. Despite the distance, she talks to her daughter every day.
Carrie recalled Shaylea, as a child, asking for paper to draw on for Christmas. Her daughter naturally possessed a flair for the arts, much like her late father. However, not every household is as supportive of an artist lifestyle. She offered advice for parents concerned about their children’s creative ambitions.
“Support your children and what they want to do. It makes them a better human being. Do not force them to do something that they don’t want to do because it’s just going to make their life miserable. I know that the arts are hard, and it’s not an easy way to make money. But if they can find a way to push through and do their dream, it is amazing. Please listen to them.”
Cloudy Days, Sunny Prospects
While Shaylea and I stepped outside of the coffee shop, a steady drizzle with gray skies surrounded us. She opened a translucent Paris umbrella to shield herself from the rain. To keep her nerves at bay, she didn’t eat or drink anything during our conversation. However, she confessed that she’s genuinely a big foodie.
“When I leave here,” said Shaylea, “I’m going to order a Big Mac at McDonald’s. I’m so hungry.”
We laughed and parted ways.
Don’t miss the chance to meet Shaylea at her upcoming book signing event at the Barnes & Noble on 567 N. Stephanie on June 8, 2024 at 1p.m. At the event, she will make a very special announcement. The Cursed Promise is now available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
If you or someone you know is experiencing abuse or mental health issues, please seek professional help immediately.
Domestic Abuse Hotline: 1 (800) 799-7233
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Hotline: 1 (800) 662-4357
Remember, you are not alone. Help is available.