27 January 2022 Who is Angelee Tilson

Who is Angelee Tilson?

                  A common question for most writers is; “Did you base your main character on someone you know?”  Very simply, my answer to this question about Angelee Tilson is “no”. 

So, who is Angelee Giselle Tilson? She is the heroine of my first book, Angelee’s Dilemma. She, and her family, lived in my mind for well over 30 years.

Why did it take so long to writer her story?  And why did I write her story?

Why did I need so many years before I actually wrote her story?

It took that long, because my time was taken up with simply living, especially when I was in full-time employment and later missions.    

Although I attended the Youth With A Mission, School of Writing, in 1994, I had no idea about developing characters, how to structure a novel or how to outline a book-length project.  I was stuck for many years. 

I keep in touch with another writer, Donna Fletcher Crow.  She taught at the School of Writing.  I asked her how she kept her focus and motivation.  She replied that she organised the story by outlining her plot. 

Truly, I am thankful for the internet, because it was how I found K. M. Weiland and her website, Helping Writers Become Authors.  Three of her books and workbooks equipped me, in a very practical way, to actually get the story from my heart and head onto paper.  *

More About Angelee

.               Angelee’s story takes place in 1917-1918.  Her character’s birthday is 2^nd June 1899.  Her story begins near her 18^th birthday.  Her struggle is discovering God’s answer to “Now What?” for her life. 

                Angelee’s best friend has wanted to be a nurse since childhood.  Angelee’s older brother and his best friend are away at college, studying for careers in medicine and law, respectively.  Angelee’s younger sister is passionate about art, and painting. 

                Feeling like the odd one out, Angelee wants to discover her life’s purpose and call. 

                In the early 1900’s most women thought about getting married, having a family.  Yet, more women were beginning to explore opportunities in pursuing education. 

                Angelee works as an assistant to a wealthy widow, who is also a business woman.  While important, Angelee finds no real fulfilment in the work. 

                When war is declared, everything changes.  Angelee seeks ways to make a difference, doing what she does know, until she can discover the gift God has given her.

Why was it important for me to write her story?

                Why did I write Angelee’s story?

 At age 17, when I graduated from high school, I had no sense of direction or purpose.  Like, Angelee, I was asking the Lord, “What’s next?” 

                I ended up working in an office.  Then I went to college for a year.  At the end of that year, I had no idea of what I wanted a degree in.  So, through a series of events, I found my way into barber college.  That is another story, for another time.

                I wrote Angelee’s story because I wanted my readers to follow her journey of self-discovery.  I wrote her story because all of us have seasons of “What now, God?”  I wanted to show people how Angelee learned to hear and recognize the Good Shepherd’s voice. 

                Just as Angelee discovered, life has no “pat answers”.  We have to face our fears, take risks and live with hope and love. 

                I wrote Angelee’s story, hoping that her story might be helpful to someone else.    

Serving Jesus, Author of our faith

Dalletta