Lily's Post: AKA HOLY CROW that was hard...

(That's what she said). Actually, I almost gave up on trying to pinpoint the proper "feel" of Lily via visual, because all the actresses I came across that had the right hair color, age, etc. looked like they were trying out for the cover of Playboy and/or were severely malnourished. That depth of feeling, the compassionate eyes, the sweetness of face and determination that came with her character, I couldn't find it anywhere. I was about to give up and tell you guys that I just couldn't locate a good facsimile. But then... a stroke of luck.



I'd been looking in all the wrong places, I guess. Not sure why it didn't occur to me that Liv Tyler would make a beautiful Lily, but, for lack of a better response, DUH.

Lillian Hunt - Main protagonist, Seers of Light.

Fun facts

~Has an innie belly button.
~Gets turned on by sarcasm.
~Has a super sensitive sense of smell.
~Cannot stand fish.
~Burns everything she tries to cook... even toast.
~Likes cats more than dogs.
~Likes dresses more than jeans.
~Favors very hot weather over cold.

Where to even begin!

I was reading a review of Seers by someone on Goodreads the other day, and though they loved the book, they wanted to strangle the hell out of Lily. This really fascinated me, that someone had such a very negative feeling about the character. It also didn't surprise me, to some extent, that people would be angry with Lily's initial foolishness and over-emotional responses. Remember that she is an Empath... and every strong emotion someone else is feeling around her becomes her emotion, at least until she is enlightened enough to know the difference. Christian felt hate--she trusted Christian, therefore, she hated William. In the beginning, that is.

Moving along, you guys have probably read my feelings on strong women. You know how important a self-aware, independently significant female character is to me. And it's even more important when paired with someone who can show and display, bravely, their love and emotion.



There are a lot of books out there that utilize the damsel stereotype. And come on, we all enjoy that sometimes, right? Heck, my main protagonist in Whisper of Light isn't exactly up to par in the sense of self-worth area, but inevitably I hope that every woman finds her inner strength and purpose in this life so that she doesn't depend on anyone else for happiness or validation. That was Lily's job in Seers of Light--to learn to love with all her soul, to experience the needs and feelings of others, but not to lose her head in the process. Abram tells her,


"Until now, you've only ever sensed the depth of Narcissus’s fixation. I have brought you here that you might glimpse it with your own eyes. Glimpse it without, of course, losing yourself in it. Live along side it with wisdom, lest it absorb you."

Abram knew that, as humans, especially as women, we have a tendency to give ourselves away without caution, to let others drain us dry of ourselves while trying to make everyone happy. Lily was especially susceptible to this risk.

You'll notice how much she cries about pretty much everything that moves her. This sensitive nature annoys some folks, confuses others, and amuses the heck out of William. It comes almost without choice. How can you not feel for people, when all you can do is feel for people? This is the downside of an Empathic Endowment.



It also means that she can sense her own purpose, even though she can't begin to imagine what it is without a little help from those crazy Sentients. Haven't you felt this way? Haven't you had that nagging, "What the hell is missing in my life" feeling? Has it led you to change, whether dramatically or not, the events in your life for the better? Some folks give these feelings negative labels. A quarter/midlife crisis, maybe. But I don't buy that. I think that when we feel like something is missing... it is. When life is picking and stabbing and prodding at you to change something... you should! It's not an accident, by any means. It's a calling. And it's scary as hell.

I should know. Trust me.

And Lily knew. She knew that whatever she was doing out there in Pennsylvania, it wasn't where she was supposed to be. Her soul felt it. Some readers question Lily's quick and easy transition into a life that would seem absolutely absurd to some. I don't. Not even for a minute. Haven't you ever been so sad, so lost and empty that you just ached for change? You knew it had to come. Lily knew it when she saw it. You would too.

She may have known that change is good, but Lily doesn't see all the details at first. She's still stuck in this mindset that screams black and white, because that is how she was raised. If Christian tells her that William is evil, he's evil. Vampires are bad, right? They killed her mom, they killed Daniel Wright. Her gut emotion rules her. But that same annoying empathic urge that causes her to act impulsively at times is also her saving grace. She can't hide from the truth of William's goodness for very long--not when working so intimately with him. Ah, that Abram. He's no slouch. He knew what he was doing.

Lily finds a connection that is beyond anything she'd imagined for herself because she lets go of those "should be's' that I mentioned in an earlier post. She went with the call of her heart and bliss followed.



She was the hero of the book, in my strong opinion. She was the white knight who conquered her own personal dragons in order to find the courage to help those who needed her. Her character continues to teach me about myself, and I pray that she'll do the same for everyone who reads Seers of Light.

Love you all,
Jen