Christian Fiction -- Inspirational -- Historical
My grandmother, Lillian Lyman Morningstar, was a little girl growing up in the early 1900s, a Victorian time when the Gibson Girl figure was fashionable, trolley cars and horse-drawn buggies were the mode of transportation, mustard plasters, Monarch oil, and Sloan’s liniment were routine home remedies, and Fels-Naptha soap was a household name.
Lillian was a pastor’s daughter. This is her tale—about her father, Charles Wesley Lyman, an Evangelical Minister, her mother, Florence Lyman, a Catholic-turned-Protestant, who admired the works of American author and poet, Ella Wheeler Wilcox, and followed the teachings of Mary Baker Eddy, the discoverer and founder of Christian Science.
Lillian’s older sister, Mabel, was a child prodigy, on her way,
even as a teenager, to becoming a compelling speaker, and eventually, minister of her own congregation as an adult. When she spoke, there was something about her. When she took the floor to speak anything at all, there was that intangible feeling of substance beyond sound.
Through Mabel’s guardian angel, she sees future events before they happen. One event in particular will have such an astounding affect it will change Mabel’s life forever.
Lillian’s Irish grandmother, Leticia Simmons, was a precocious, true-believing Catholic, just five feet tall, with her black lace cap and shawl, her black bombazine dress and her white apron trimmed in Irish lace.
From Chicago to Wisconsin to the shores of Michigan, this close-knit family endures life, strange events, and unforeseen obstacles through their faith in God, perseverance, and solidarity, finding joy as they navigate through their daily lives. It is a poignant and, at times, humorous, story, not unlike what families are experiencing today. Times are hard for many families today, families who have been forced to economize due to the rising cost of living, suffered a job loss, or a home foreclosure—a loss of dignity.
This story is a refreshing testament of how faith in God, faith in each other, can lift us up, give hope for the future, and inspire optimism when things seem to be at their worst. It is a sweet, charming and inspirational story told to me by my grandmother, from her perspective as young girl.
(Paperback version coming soon)
“Papa started as a tent evangelist. Talk about charismatics! Papa must have invented it—or them—in a day when charismatic still meant you were so sickeningly charming you couldn’t stand yourself if you thought about it.”-- Lillian Lyman Morningstar
Lori Villarreal: Writer / Author
Saturday, July 13, 2013
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Kissing Mr. Bellamy FREE on Amazon
Start the new year with a little romance! My historical novel, Kissing Mr. Bellamy, is available for free on Amazon Kindle through Sunday, January 13.
Emily Templeton’s uncle is dead and a valuable Egyptian relic is missing. The story centers on the murder investigation, delving into Miss Templeton’s expertise in the area of antiquities, tombs, mummies, and metaphysical phenomena, as well as Roger Bellamy’s skills as an investigator, and his gift of psychic cognizance.
As the investigation progresses, so does the attraction between them. For the prim and proper Miss Emily Templeton, kissing Mr. Bellamy has become a most un-prim-like, improper obsession. You see, she’s gotten into the habit of naming each instance they’ve kissed! But Mr. Bellamy is not who he seems, and when Emily finds out the truth, she must decide if loving him is worth the risk. A series of clues lead them to a list of suspects, a secret society, and a mysterious sacred order.
Could an ancient Egyptian curse be responsible for her uncle’s death?
Emily Templeton’s uncle is dead and a valuable Egyptian relic is missing. The story centers on the murder investigation, delving into Miss Templeton’s expertise in the area of antiquities, tombs, mummies, and metaphysical phenomena, as well as Roger Bellamy’s skills as an investigator, and his gift of psychic cognizance.
As the investigation progresses, so does the attraction between them. For the prim and proper Miss Emily Templeton, kissing Mr. Bellamy has become a most un-prim-like, improper obsession. You see, she’s gotten into the habit of naming each instance they’ve kissed! But Mr. Bellamy is not who he seems, and when Emily finds out the truth, she must decide if loving him is worth the risk. A series of clues lead them to a list of suspects, a secret society, and a mysterious sacred order.
Could an ancient Egyptian curse be responsible for her uncle’s death?
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
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!
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
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
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
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!
Sunday, September 16, 2012
The Devil Rogue FREE
Today is the last day to get my historical romance, The Devil Rogue, for FREE on Amazon!
Monday, July 23, 2012
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