What’s in it for me? (Article)

Why choosing a novel by Lori Villarreal is a decision you can trust

 

This is my opportunity to present a sort of informal resume describing my background and to explain my qualifications as a writer of fiction. My goal is to perhaps gain an undecided reader’s trust in the entertainment value of my books and woo them into trying at least one of my romance novels.

I read a lot. Every single day. My personal library consists of nearly 500 romance novels, mostly printed versions, but my Kindle list is steadily growing. Needless to say, I never find myself without something to read! When I don’t have a new book waiting like a Christmas present yet to be opened, I pick one from my collection and read it again. Many have been read two or three times, especially those from my favorite series.

 

What do I get from reading romance novels?

Merely by turning the first page, I’m instantly transported to a different time and place. I become a silent observer (a voyeur, if you will) of a story as it unfolds. I’m allowed into the most private and intimate thoughts of the characters. I’m a witness to their struggle to overcome conflict. I experience their pain, sorrow, joy, their successes and failures right along with them, and feel a connection on a human level. I can relate.

Would the fact that I read a lot make me a good writer? Not necessarily. It just means I’m an avid reader and know good writing when I read it.

I have an artistic background. I spent most of my young life in creative pursuits like drawing, painting, and writing. As a budding artist, I took any art class available and in my spare time experimented with different mediums and techniques. I worked with pencils, ink, acrylics, and oils. I played around with clay, calligraphy, silk-screening, and created a line of stuffed characters from original cartoons, which I then sold at local craft shows.

 



Gabriella from Whispers in Time
(rendered illustration by Lori Villarreal)



I continue to nurture my creative side by way of website and graphic design, book cover design and, most recently, 3D graphic illustrations of by books’ characters.

Would being artistic make me a good writer? Probably not in and of itself.

I have a 21-year background in the IT industry, which includes 12 years in website design. I went to school while living in West Palm Beach, FL, earning an associates degree in computer programming in 1991. I’ve done everything from data entry to network administration and database development. As part of the process of programming and development, technical writing is a necessary skill in the documenting of a project, as well as creating understandable end-user instructions.

Would my background in the computer industry make me a good writer? Maybe from a technical standpoint, but not necessarily as a fiction writer.

Currently, I’m a freelance writer and reporter for The Township Times, a local weekly newspaper, covering human interest stories. I attend community and special events, interview key individuals and other participants, and take pictures. I then combine the information I obtain from the event with research on the subject matter to create a well rounded, interesting article.

Would being a newspaper reporter make me a good writer? I should hope so! But we’re still not quite there. A news article is designed to portray factual information, with little emphasis on artistic prose.

I’ve had kind of an adventurous life, having been divorced once and married a second time, lived in Michigan, Florida, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, and Texas. So, it goes without saying that I’ve had a few jobs! I’ve worked for small companies and large corporations in industries like information technology, publishing, marketing, retail, restaurant, healthcare, manufacturing, automotive, mortgage, military, education, customer service, sales, construction, and journalism.

Would having many different jobs in many different industries make me a good writer? No. Having had a lot of jobs has given me life experiences to draw on, but as a whole or individually, those experiences wouldn’t necessarily make me a good writer.

Then what do you, as a reader, get out of reading my books? You might ask, “What’s in it for me?”

All the things I just mentioned, when considered separately, wouldn’t necessarily make a person a good writer. I’m an avid reader. I have an artistic background. I’ve lived in different places. I’ve worked in many industries. I’ve experienced nearly every level of the publishing process (including agent queries and rejections!). I write for a newspaper.

When all those elements are combined, however, along with the trial-by-error experience of novel writing going back six years, research experience, study of fiction writing, courses in creative writing, critiques and feedback, I’m better able to put together the whole package: a solid plot, realistic characters (including strong, independent women and hot alpha males), a pervasive illusion of reality, an interesting setting, and a happily-ever-after ending.

To sum it up, you (the reader) are the beneficiary of a lifetime of experiences gathered together that results in a romantic and compelling story in such a way so that it:

• Nurtures your romantic nature
• Gives sustenance to your imagination
• Indulges your need for entertainment
• Nourishes the intellect with an endless supply of subject matter
• Inspires you to achieve your own goals
• Fulfills your wanderlust—allows you to travel without setting foot outside your door

With these things in mind, I believe you will enjoy my books!

Researching for Whispers in Time (Article)

When I decided to write my first book, I wanted to write about time travel. I’ve always been fascinated by the notion of what would happen if a modern-day woman (or man) were to suddenly find themselves in the past. How would she react? What would he experience in such a different environment? What would the smells be like, the sounds?

So, I knew I wanted to write a time travel romance novel, but what would the premise be – how, exactly, would the heroine be thrust into the past? Where and when in history would she end up? I had to think of something that made sense, in a fantasy fiction kind of way, of course. Because, really, as far as I know, time travel hasn’t been achieved…yet.

I decided on time-travel-by-ancient-stone-artifact. What I then needed to do was create an explanation for the Stone’s mystical powers. It just made sense to use Celtic folklore as a basis for the Stone’s magic. I did some research into the Celtic gods and goddesses and linked a couple of them to the Stone.

Damon and Gabriella (3D illustration rendered by Author)

I chose nineteenth-century England because that’s a time period I enjoy reading about in the form of romance novels, and being an American, I’m intrigued by the world of the nobility of that era. And, being American, I had no idea how to properly address a member of the “peerage” or what the order of the hierarchy (titles) was, other than what I’d read in books.

I had to learn the order of importance (Duke, Marquess, Earl, Viscount, Baron, and Baronet) and how a peer of the realm was addressed depending on the circumstances, how a wife was addressed, a daughter, a married daughter, the eldest son, younger sons, wife of the younger son, or the mother.

There’s the formal announcement or correspondence (His Grace the Duke of Glastonbury, K. G.), the salutation on formal correspondence ("My Lord Duke,"), an informal announcement or social correspondence (His Grace The Duke of Glastonbury, K. G.), the salutation on social correspondence ("Dear Duke of Glastonbury," or, more familiarly, "Dear Duke,"), the address in speech ("Your Grace" (by inferiors) or "Duke" (by social equals) the first time in conversation, followed by "Sir" (or "Glastonbury," if addressed by a very close friend or relative), the reference in speech ("His Grace" (by inferiors), or "The Duke" (by social equals)), and the signature on social correspondence (Glastonbury).

Whew! It’s a very complex system and I still need to refer back to my notes once in a while!

Once I got all that out of the way, I was ready to construct my story. But first I had to create my characters. I had to decide what Gabriella would look like, such as her hair color, eye color, skin tone, body type, and what kind of personality she would have. The same went for Damon and all the other characters. And voila, with Whispers in Time we get Gabriella, a confident modern-day American woman meets stuffy nineteenth-century aristocrat, and turns his world upside down.

 

TWELFTH MOON (paranormal romance) will be offered for FREE this week, Oct. 18-21

3D Graphic Illustrations

I’ve been working on creating 3D graphic illustrations of the characters in my books. I started with Whispers in Time, rendering images of Gabriella and Damon. The software I’m using allows me to choose a model and from there I can adjust the body shape and size, morphing any body part to achieve the desired results. I then add hair and clothes, change eye color, lash thickness, and hair color. I can pose the models, from full body positions, right down to the smallest digit on a hand. I can also add lighting and camera angles, backgrounds and even props.

Damon St. Tremaine, Sixth Earl of Arrowood

 

I’m still learning the nuances of the software, but so far I’ve had a lot of fun creating my characters just how I imagined them when writing the stories. You can view renditions of Gabriella and Damon on my website. Stay tuned for additional and updated images as I tweak and refine my illustrations for all of my books!

The Devil Rogue FREE

Today is the last day to get my historical romance, The Devil Rogue, for FREE on Amazon!

Free Android App

I've created a free Android app for my website.

Free on Amazon

The Devil Rogue is FREE on Amazon starting today through Sunday (July 22).

The Devil Rogue

Amazon Ranking

I know it's been said not to put too much store in Amazon's sales ranking system, but I just had to mention that Whispers in Time just ranked #75 under books/romance/time travel. To me, that's significant, at least for as long as that lasts! Those rankings continually change.

Line from The Devil Rogue

“It’s been my experience that most ladies are quite fastidious about their appearance, right down to the very tips of their toes.”

The Devil Rogue

Quote from Kissing Mr. Bellamy

“I’ve already told you, I am no gentleman, Miss Templeton,” he said in a deep, sinful tone, “so you might want to re-think your ideas about safety.”

Kissing Mr. Bellamy

Quote from Whispers in Time

“My God, I always knew she would come, but now that she’s here…oh, dear Lord…it’s really true.”

Whispers in Time

Popular Kindle Highlight from Amazon.com

This popular Kindle highlight from Twelfth Moon, as posted on Amazon.com, actually begins like this:

“I found out she’d married my best friend, Gavin Thompson, only a month after I’d left. She’d been writing to me and all along she’d already been married to another man.”

Highlight:
“How awful!” Cadence sat up, turning to look at him with a fierce scowl. “Do you want me to eat her?”

Twelfth Moon, Legend of the Pantera

Get Whispers in Time for FREE

Whispers in Time is still FREE for the rest of today!

Thank you for these wonderful reviews!

5-Star review for Whispers in Time:

Steamy, wonderful romance

By Ms.V

I absolutley loved Kissing Mr. Bellamy, and found myself actually loving this one even more!

Like Emily and Roger from Kissing Mr. Bellamy, Gabriella and Damon were oh so very HOT! I could not get enough of their chemistry and desire for eachother. I felt the author did a much better job with the storyline in this novel and was not as repetitive as KMB, therfore it earned the top rating for me.

I felt so connected to Gabriella and Damon and completley fell in love with them and all the secondary characters especially Lady Claire who kept me laughing throughout this novel for her undeniable wit and charm!

I highly recommend this one and you will not be dissapointed!

 

4-Star review for The Devil Rogue:

 

Good Read

By tlc

 

This was a good story line and had lots of funny and quick glibs as well. Angela's grit and stamina are very well done and as the story progresses it is easy to see why she is as she is. As a romance, it is a page turner for the most part. All authors have lulls but if a book can take you into the room and you can smell the wax from the candles then it is well written. This book does that. Worth the read.

 

5-Star review for Kissing Mr. Bellamy:

 

A Little Bit of History, Loads of Fun

Sheiglagh "Sheiglagh" (Dallas, TX) - See all my reviews

History, historical romance and erotica are seldom used together in one sentence, but for "Kissing Mr. Bellamy" you can use all three and then add laugh out loud funny at the same time.

The prequel, concurrent and sequel to "Whispers of Time," "Kissing Mr. Bellamy" follows Roger Bellamy, a private investigator and Emily Templeton, a scholar of Egyptian history and a spinster whose uncle recently died. Though the magistrate ruled the death as natural causes, Emily believed that her uncle was murdered because of a tiny red mark at his neck.

For those who have read "Whispers of Time," Gabriella and Damon (the protagonists in that book) make cameo appearances. And for those who have not read the other book, "Kissing Mr. Bellamy" gives enough material to explain Gabriella and Damon's presence.

The book tells the story of how Emily and Roger solved the murder, caught the culprit and of course, their whirlwind courtship and how they fell in love.

***MY TAKE ON THE STORY***
There was an instant spark between Roger and Emily. Roger figured out early on that behind the dowdy appearance of Emily is a very beautiful woman. Emily on the other hand found Roger's dark countenance complete with his facial scar dangerously attractive.

But, the sexual attraction is only half of the story. The other half is both parties are also intellectual equals. And this is the reason why I gave this book five stars. A lot of historical romance novels and of course, romantic erotica included, the woman is just this beautiful girl that more often than not is damsel in distress or just chattel. Emily being portrayed as an independent and intelligent woman, albeit poor and spinsterish give a different view of women from the Regency Era.

There is also the aspect of Egyptian history. Though a small part of the book, the information given by the author actually makes the story telling very interesting and thus also explains a lot of things that were going on in the peripheral. I was not expecting a history lesson like "The Mummy", but what was given was very enlightening and in tune with the story.

And finally, the humorous way the story was told, on how Roger and Emily interact is priceless! The setting is of course very Regency Era and the speech is actually proper for the time period. You can actually hear the characters talk in their very aristocratic British accents and you cannot help yourself but laugh because what they're saying can be transported to the 21st century without losing its meaning.

 

5-Star review of Twelfth Moon:

Wonderful Book!

By

Heather - See all my reviews

The book itself was wonderful. I was captivated and brought in from the beginning. The way the story unfolded was great, and it let me get completely sucked in and lost in the world. I found myself sneaking away to read it, and finished it in the span of a very busy weekend.

Free Promo

As a special offer for Mother's Day, Whispers in Time will be FREE on amazon.com this Saturday and Sunday, and The Devil Rogue will be FREE on amazon.com on Monday (May 14).

A note about Twelfth Moon

It was brought to my attention that I had misspelled a couple of words: lightning (spelled as lightening - ouch!) and reins (spelled as reigns). I cringe every time I think about someone reading my book and seeing those mistakes! I do know how to spell those words in the correct context - I just missed them during my many editing sessions.

I have corrected the misspellings and re-uploaded to amazon. Whew.

Free Promos Can Generate Positive Book Sales

For many authors, the knee-jerk reaction to the thought of offering their book for free may be to shy away from it. We all want to make money as a result from the hard work we put into our writing. Contrary to the idea that if you give something away for free you won't make any money, my book sales have actually skyrocketed since the implementation of free promotions. Through Amazon's KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing) platform, I have been able to offer my books for free for a specified number of days.

Since I began the promos, I've had a combined total of nearly 25,000 free downloads of three of my books, with sales increasing exponentially. Whether this is a fluke or not remains to be seen. It could be that March and April are high-selling months because of tax refunds. Time will tell if this method is sustainable over the remaining months of the year.

So, in keeping with that marketing idea, my first book, Whispers in Time, will be offered for free this week (April 18 - 20).

The Devil Rogue free downloads

I had about 11,000 free downloads of The Devil Rogue during my promo on Amazon.

An explanation about Whispers in Time and Kissing Mr. Bellamy

Whispers in Time

This is my first book, which I finished writing about six years ago. It has been edited, tweaked, rearranged, and tightened up since then. It was originally published as a paperback through an independent publisher, who shortly after publishing my book, went out of business. Faced with a dilemma, I decided to publish a new version of the paperback myself. When that became an expensive endeavor, I decided digital publishing was the way to go.

Over the years, I’ve gained a better concept of writing fiction, hence the many other changes Whispers in Time has gone through since that first publication. Although I believe that I still have a long way to go as a writer, at least to be considered in the same category as some of my favorite authors, Whispers in Time is still an entertaining read with all the elements required to make a good romance story.

Kissing Mr. Bellamy

After finishing Whispers in Time and re-reading/proofreading/editing it about a million times I desperately needed a break from that story. I began work on The Devil Rogue and when I finished with that one, revisited Roger and Emily from Whispers in Time. I had totally fallen in love with those two characters and felt compelled to tell their story.

It was a difficult undertaking, to say the least, to turn Emily Templeton’s investigation into the murder of her uncle and the growing relationship with Roger Bellamy into a stand-alone book. The fact that the timeline of their story overlaps Gabriella and Damon’s in Whispers in Time made it a challenging process (understatement).

I couldn’t begin their story where Whispers in Time left off because Roger and Emily had already met. I needed to explain the circumstances of their meeting, Roger’s friendship with Damon, and how it pertained to the story. There are a couple instances in the book that seem repetitious, but are actually events seen first through the eyes of Emily, and then Roger (or vice versa) – or events from Gabriella or Damon’s point of view in Whispers in Time, and the same event seen from Roger’s point of view. It wasn’t thrown in there as filler or to beef up the word count. I have quite an aversion to meaningless prose used just to take up space. This was intended for the reader to have a better understanding of what happened in Whispers in Time and how those events had a profound effect on Roger and Emily’s relationship.

 
All I ask is that you read the story and enjoy the interaction between Roger and Emily.

The Devil Rogue is FREE

My historical romance, The Devil Rogue, is free on Amazon until Sunday, April 8. Also, my time travel romance, Whispers in Time, is only $0.99 for a limited time.


I'm happy to announce that I had over 15,000 free downloads of Twelfth Moon and Kissing Mr. Bellamy, combined, as a promos on Amazon!

Get Twelfth Moon for FREE

Twelfth Moon, Legend of the Pantera will be free on Kindle from March 22 thru March 25!