[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” equal_height=”yes” content_placement=”middle” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”center” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” id=”homeAuthor” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” gradient_type=”default” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” el_class=”authorCol aos-slide-right aos-once-false aos-duration-1000″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/2″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” column_padding_type=”default” gradient_type=”default”][image_with_animation image_url=”65″ image_size=”full” animation_type=”entrance” animation=”None” animation_movement_type=”transform_y” hover_animation=”none” alignment=”center” border_radius=”20px” box_shadow=”none” image_loading=”default” max_width=”100%” max_width_mobile=”default” el_class=”signImg”][vc_column_text css=”” el_class=”txtBlock” text_direction=”default”]Lisa Lacriola is a writer, poet, and essayist in the Chicagoland area. An excerpt of her memoir-in-process was published in Minerva Rising in 2012 under the pen name T. Langdon Squire. She has received two awards of merit from National Louis University’s journal, Mosaic, for her non-fiction essays “Like a Phoenix I Rise” in 2017 and “Transitions” in 2019. She briefly had a bi-weekly column, “Squire’s Corner” that was published for www.IllinoisEagle.com. In addition, she was featured in Jack Rinella’s online publication, Leather Views, Issue #23 in 2009, for her article “Wherefore Art Thou Lesbian”. Book Three: Evolution in The Order of the Wolf: Species Chronicles will be forthcoming in the near future. For more information on Lisa, please check out her blogsite at http://thrusquireseyes.squarespace.com/.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” el_class=”authorCol aos-slide-left aos-once-false aos-duration-1000″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/2″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” column_padding_type=”default” gradient_type=”default”][image_with_animation image_url=”17″ image_size=”full” animation_type=”entrance” animation=”None” animation_movement_type=”transform_y” hover_animation=”none” alignment=”center” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” image_loading=”default” max_width=”100%” max_width_mobile=”default” el_class=”imgFluid”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”full_width_background” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” equal_height=”yes” content_placement=”middle” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” top_padding=”100″ constrain_group_1=”yes” bottom_padding=”100″ text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” id=”homeAbout” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” gradient_type=”default” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” el_class=”aboutCol” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/2″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” column_padding_type=”default” gradient_type=”default”][image_with_animation image_url=”16″ image_size=”full” animation_type=”entrance” animation=”None” animation_movement_type=”transform_y” hover_animation=”none” alignment=”center” border_radius=”20px” box_shadow=”none” image_loading=”default” max_width=”100%” max_width_mobile=”default” el_class=”imgFluid”][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” el_class=”aboutCol” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/2″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” column_padding_type=”default” gradient_type=”default”][vc_custom_heading text=”A Little Extra About Me” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:left|color:%23151515″ use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”” el_class=”heading”][vc_column_text css=”” el_class=”txtBlock” text_direction=”default”]I’ve been writing since I was in grade school. The first story I wrote was The Haunted House. The cover was put together with the use of thin cardboard and black felt and it was donated to my grammar school’s fun fair and purchased by my 4th grade teacher, Mrs. Kelly. I’ve honed my craft since then, relying on poetry as a kind of therapy as I became an adult, especially after telling my parents, I was gay, when I graduated high school.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”” el_class=”txtBlock” text_direction=”default”]Never one to get discouraged, I persevered, majoring in English at Northeastern Illinois University where I received my B.A. in 2010. It wasn’t until I got accepted into National Louis University’s M.S. in Written Communications Program, that I grew as a writer and expanded my repertoire to include fiction, non-fiction, prose, as well as, erotica. When I graduated in 2020, I officially began working on The Order of the Wolf. The story that started as my thesis project became my first full-length fiction novel.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”” el_class=”txtBlock” text_direction=”default”]Whenever asked, I’d say that music has influenced my writing heavily. There’s something so melodic, rhythmic, and magical about stanzas and words expressing a feeling or story. I’ve been fortunate to have lived an extraordinary life so my writing is a reflection of those experiences, some positive, others, negative. I’ve never limited myself, whether personally or in my writing pursuits. I’m a firm believer that life is meant to be lived, not observed through narrow lenses.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”full_width_background” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” bg_color=”#d9fafc” scene_position=”center” top_padding=”100″ constrain_group_1=”yes” bottom_padding=”100″ text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” class=”aboutWolve” id=”homeTestimonials” disable_element=”yes” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” gradient_type=”default” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_custom_heading text=”Why Witches and Wolves…” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:center|color:%23151515″ use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”” el_class=”heading”][vc_column_text css=”” el_class=”txtBlock” text_direction=”default”]I have been fascinated by wolves since I was in kindergarten and used to dream about what it would be like to be one, thus the story idea for the book. I enjoy reading anything that has supernatural elements like magic, witches, vampires, werewolves, shapeshifters, and otherworldly beings. I spent a good deal of time researching this book and found that throughout history many stories about witches, wolves, and/or werewolves can be found in every region on this earth.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”” el_class=”txtBlock” text_direction=”default”]My obsession with wolves began when I traveled to New Mexico and went to the Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary. The very idea of being close to the wolves and listening to their magnificent howls was incredible. The Howling Franchise and the Underworld Series are by far my favorite movies in this genre, so, it was important to create a story that somewhat kept in line with this but added some nuances and originality not previously done before.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”” el_class=”txtBlock” text_direction=”default”]I also wanted my story to have relatable characters and how they deal with conflict, self-discovery, acceptance, isolation, and love, but without the gore and horror. Hopefully, I have accomplished this with The Order of the Wolf: Species Chronicles Series.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]