Meet Lillie - Not Graceful, But Likable

Greetings, everyone!

I'm hard at work on Book Two of The Biggest Small Town Ever series. Shooting for a fall release, and have spent most of my "writing" time this morning trying to decide on a title. Mind you, there is a rough draft. I'm in revisions, and I want to share a cover with you, but ummm... Graphic artists kind of need a title to design your cover. Imagine that.

Anyway, in the meantime, I thought maybe you'd like to meet Lillie. Lillie is the main character in Book Two, and she has no idea what life-changing bombshells are headed her way. So I decided to interview her this morning so you could get to know her. I'm lying to her to get her to talk. Don't judge me.


Me: Hi, Lillie. I'm with the Church Choirs of America Journal, and we're interviewing choir members from different churches in the Southeastern area. Your name came up. Mind if I have a few minutes of your time?

Lillie: Not at all! I'm a talker. Ask away.

Me: What got you started singing?

Lillie: Both of my parents were musicians. My mom played the flute, and my dad played the cello - both for the South Carolina Philharmonic so music's in my blood. We spent a lot of time at church so I starting singing with the kids' choir and never stopped.

Me: Do you have a favorite song?

Lillie: That's a tough question. That's like making me choose between my children, if I had any.

Me: Favorite singer, songwriter, or composer?

Lillie: I really love Dennis Bell. I love his film scores. They're just epic. And when he does write a song for a movie, it's so good to sing. It's not church music, though. That might not fit your article.

Me: No worries! Do you have an opportunity to sing music like that often?

Lillie: Not as much now. In high school, I sang with the competition choir and did solo competitions, but now I really just sing with church.

Me: Did you consider performing professionally?

Lillie: I did, but I changed my mind in college and decided to pursue business instead.

Me: That's quite a leap.

Lillie: Well, I wanted to be practical, and I love my job now so I certainly wouldn't change it.

Me: What do you do now?

Lillie: I'm the office manager of an architectural firm downtown.

Me: Columbia has architectural firms?

Lillie: (blinks at me in annoyance) Obviously.

Me: Okay. (clears throat) So any plans to pursue music otherwise?

Lillie: I had been thinking about it, but almost two years ago, I was in a car accident with my parents, and I honestly haven't thought about it since.

Me: I'm sorry to hear that. Do you have any other family?

Lillie: I have an older brother.

Me: Is he in the choir?

Lillie: No. He's an IT geek, who plays the drums. Our neighbors loved our family growing up. (chuckles)

Me: I'm sure. Thanks for your time, Lillie.

Lillie: No problem.


I should note that Lillie then tripped trying to get out her chair, caught herself, and knocked over my drink. That girl is a real klutz, but a lovable klutz. I can't wait for y'all to meet her.