THE STARLIGHT INN - Lucie Ulrich - One Free Print Book or Ebook

Dear Readers, if you’ve followed my blog very long, you know that my favorite things about Christmas are the Christmas novels and novellas. Lucie and I were both author participants at the Crave Him! event the day before the ACFW Conference in September. I believe this is the first time we met in person. She gave me a copy of The Starlight Inn, a Christmas novella. When I read it, I knew I had to schedule it on my blog to introduce both the book and Lucie to you.

Welcome, Lucie. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.

I do my best to keep myself out of my books, but inevitably some familiar phrase or mannerism shows up. I have to be careful not to make any young character sound older than they are. In truth I write more of my taste/style into my books. My kitchen remodel showed up in one, while my dining room table and chairs showed up in another.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

Propose to my husband. Well, not in so many words. We’d been dating for a couple of years and had talked a little about marriage, but my not-yet-husband wasn’t in a big hurry. One day, while we were driving, I turned to him and said, “So, are we going to get married or not?” Some proposal, right? Lol!

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

I never had a desire to write until I became part of my church’s drama team when I was in my early-forties. The moment I wrote my first skit a few years later, I knew God had put something in me that had never been there before. It took a little longer for me to have a go at writing novels, and another nine years before I signed my first book contract, but that first skit was all it took for me to know.

Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.

I’m all about romance, and that’s usually what I stick with. I tend to read more Christian/inspirational books but I will read secular as long as it’s clean. I prefer contemporary to period pieces, but I do enjoy the occasional western or WWII read. I’ll also throw in a good biography from time to time.

How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?

It helps that my husband and I are retired, so our world isn’t as rush, rush as it used to be. We set aside three or four times a month to check out estate sales, and we enjoy road trips (short or long), and taking the occasional trip to the mountains. One thing I do differently from my husband is that I use my phone as little more than a phone. I’m not a social media fiend, but I do find myself distracted when I’m at home and on my laptop. When I leave the house, I refuse to take social media along with me. I chose to disconnect from the influences and opinions everybody feels the need to share, and enjoy whatever I’m doing at the moment. Some people think I’m crazy, but grocery shopping is one of my favorite escapes.

My husband won’t even get a smart phone. He has a flip phone, and he calls mine a smart phone and his a dumb phone. He does, however, ask me to look for things on my phone a lot. How do you choose your characters’ names?

Mostly from names I love—at least for the first name. I’ve also been known to check out lists of names online if I’m looking for something a little more unusual. I’ve been known to change a character’s name if, as I’m writing, I realize it simply doesn’t fit. In an upcoming book, I researched Scottish names for my male lead. Even though he’s American, his father comes from Scotland, and I wanted something simple, yet fitting. In my series that takes place at various inns around the country, the only recurring character is an elderly woman named Tillie. Technically, it’s Matilda, but her character is a free spirit (and a bit of a busybody), so Tillie suits her best. As for surnames, if nothing pops into my head, I go to the Internet. If a name reminds me of someone I’m not fond of, or had a bad experience with, that name is out!

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

Raising two children who love the Lord. That’s not so say there weren’t a few rough patches along the way, but to see my children honor and serve God in their daily lives, as well as their jobs, blesses me beyond words.

If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?

Probably a mule. I can be very stubborn at times. Lol!

What is your favorite food?

Steak—preferably medium rare with just the right amount of spices. A close second would be some authentic Tex-Mex.

Our taste in food is similar. We’ll celebrate our 53^rd anniversary this weekend at Abuelo’s. What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?

Self-doubt. When I first started writing, I was like a machine—nothing got in my way. I had stories to tell and I told them—not that many of them were read by more than a handful of people. It was easy because I didn’t have to worry about sales, promotion, blogging (which I seldom do), social media interaction, and everything else that comes once a book is published. 

I have five (going on six) books to my credit, which in the grand picture, isn’t all that much. I never set out to write sequels, yet I have two in the works. I’m a slow writer, which means time lags between books. I check my Amazon numbers often—too often, and I compare myself to other authors.

It’s an ongoing struggle, but I’m learning to encourage myself and put my trust in the One who gave me the desire to write. If a story or character touches one reader’s life, I’ve done my job.

Tell us about the featured book.

The Starlight Inn is my first novella and first Christmas story. It’s a fun, light romance that takes place primarily in Vermont.

 On her way to celebrate her birthday and Christmas with her family, Ella Dixon finds herself trapped in the middle of a blizzard. She seeks refuge at The Starlight Inn. Though the inn is full, an elderly guest offers to share her room. Accepting the kind offer, Ella soon realizes Tillie Spencer isn’t your average “little old lady.” She knows things nobody else does, and appears to come and go on a whim.

Nick Wallace runs the inn along with sister, Fran. The attraction Nick feels for Ella is instantaneous and unexpected, but with the miles that separate them, and both busy with their careers, Nick doubts much will come of their Christmas Eve meeting. Tillie, on the other hand, holds a much different view.

Please give us the first page of the book for my blog readers.

Christmas music filled Ella Dixon’s workspace, lifting her spirits as it always did this time of year.

 

Her cell rang.

She ignored it.

Three minutes later it rang again. Without looking, Ella knew who was on the other end.

Finishing the hem on a pair of women’s black silk pants, she set them aside to be pressed, and reached for her phone. “Hi, Eva. What’s up?”

“Seriously, Ella, why can’t you ever answer the first time I call?”

Ella did everything she could to tamp down her rising frustration. She loved her sister, but they didn’t come close to filling the mold most twins fell into. Fraternal, not identical, they didn’t even look alike. Two inches taller, Ella’s light brown hair and hazel eyes contrasted with her sister’s sandy blond hair and amber eyes.

“We’ve been through this before, Eva. When I’m in the middle of a project, I sometimes don’t even hear the phone.”

“I know, but with Christmas Eve, not to mention our birthday party, two days away, I assumed you’d be done with work and ready to head out.”

Unlike her sister who was married, the mother of one with another on the way, Ella was single and ran her own sewing and alteration business. She glanced at the rack holding three dresses, a skirt, and two pair of pants that needed to be worked on. “Like I told you last night, this is the typical holiday rush. All of my clients are picking up their items by Monday morning, which means I should be on the road no later than ten o’clock, giving me plenty of time to arrive before the party.”

“As usual, you’re leaving things to the last minute. You do know there’s talk of bad weather, don’t you?”

How can readers find you on the Internet?

http://www.lucieulrich.com    

https://www.facebook.com/inspywriter/

Thank you, Lucie, for sharing this book with my blog readers.

Readers, here are links to the book.

The Starlight Inn - Paperback
Starlight Inn (A Tillie Spencer Novella Book 1) - Kindle

Lucie will give a print book if the winner is in the U. S. and an ebook if the winner is outside the US. Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory or country if outside North America. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

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