Julie Lence is Jingling Christmas Bells

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The Fillies are very happy to welcome Historical Western Romance author Julie Lence! We hope you make her feel right at home. She has a giveaway so scroll down.

Happy Friday, Petticoats & Pistols! I always enjoy visiting with you and I’m blessed to return this year. For those who don’t know me, I’m historical western romance author, Julie Lence. Something about the ‘old west’ spoke to me when I was young and never let up. For over a decade, I’ve been writing about rugged cowboys and defiant outlaws and the women who’ve managed to tame them without breaking their spirit and zest for life. Since we’re fast approaching the holiday season, I thought I’d share with you an interview Camille Prescott gave not too long ago. She’s the heroine from All I Want for Christmas Is You, a short story I released last year exclusively through Amazon. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BDGFKF7N

 

Alongside her parents and sister, Camille has lived on the family farm in Texas her entire life. Her father took ill last winter and passed, leaving Camille, her mother and sister to take over his chores and keep the farm going. Even before losing her father, Camille knew she never wanted to labor in the fields or chop wood. Watching her sister don a man’s coat and trousers and struggle to keep up with their father’s chores solidified her determination to find a man wealthy enough to ensure the future she wanted. But, as Camille and I settle around the table in her kitchen, a pot of tea and the heavenly aroma of warm cinnamon wafting up from the apple pie on the table before us, you’re about to discover that the best laid plans are always susceptible to change.

Julie: Thank you for meeting with me, Camille. What can you tell me about Burke Montgomery? What did you think the 1st time you saw him?   

Camille: The first time he came to the farm was with Landry, to help Slade put a new roof on the barn. Slade’s an outlaw and married to my sister. Landry is Slade’s brother. He’s also an outlaw and owns the saloon in Jackson Creek. Burke is his bartender. I only caught a glimpse of Burke that morning as he and Landry rode across the front yard toward the barn. Ma snuck up behind me and yanked me away from the window, bade me to mop the floors. From what I remember, Burke sat upright in the saddle and didn’t wear a hat.

Julie: What was your 2nd thought?

Camille: I really don’t know. I guess I thought him handsome enough, (she answers, adding a dollop of cream to her tea.) His shoulders are a lot broader than Doug McCallister. Doug is my sister’s ex-fiancé and wealthy. He had enough men working on his ranch to guarantee I’d never work in the fields. He seemed to like the way I brushed up against; I was sure he’d propose marriage to me before the end of the year. (She wrinkles her nose.) Burke has the nicest eyes, but he didn’t have the wealth to keep me from blistering my hands the way my sister blistered hers when she took over Pa’s chores… before Slade came along and took control of the farm.

Julie: How did you go from having an interest in Doug McCallister to having an interest in Burke?

Camille: Doug and his father fell on hard times and moved away. Before that, Ma insisted on several occasions that Burke join us for the evening meal. He was quiet those nights and had impeccable manners. (She pushes the plate of ginger cookies toward me. ) Have one.

Julie: I can’t resist; fresh from the oven, they smell heavenly. Thank you. (I bite into the cookie. Mmmm… they taste every bit as heavenly as they smell.)  So, it was during one of those meals that you began to have feelings for Burke?

Camille: Good heavens, no.  His chiseled cheeks may have been enticing, but he was still Landry’s bartender, and bartender’s don’t make a lot of money. (She breaks off a bite of cookie.) Besides, it was right before Doug moved away that Glen Stafford came to Jackson Creek to help his uncle enlarge the Stafford property. Glen has pretty eyes, and gossip around the church yard hinted he had just enough wealth to afford me the lifestyle I wanted. Then Sarah Jane stole him from me. (Camille pouts.) I was heartbroken. (And brightens.) But then, Burke happened along and that’s when I had a change of heart regarding him and his work.

Julie: What do you like most about Burke?

Camille: Where do I start? (She bites down on her fingernail for a moment.) He’s loyal, kind, caring. He loves me, and when he holds me in his arms—arms that are more muscular than any man I know—I feel cherished and safe, happier than I’ve ever been.  He’s a good man, and I’m a lucky girl.

Julie: How would Burke describe you?

Camille: Smug, sassy, bold… He likes that about me. (She smiles fondly.) He’d also say I’m a good cook, the prettiest girl in all of Texas, and the only girl he’s ever loved.

Julie: And you love him?

Camille: More than anything in the world.

To find out just what caused Camille to have a change of heart and determine she loves Burke, I’m giving away an ebook copy to 2 lucky readers. But first…. tell me your favorite Christmas song.

 

As always, I enjoy meeting fans of western romance. To connect with me, please visit my website or Facebook page. Thank you for visiting with me, and Thank You Fillies for allowing me the opportunity to once again chat with your readers.

http://www.julielence.com

http://www.facebook.com/JulieLence

Hugs,

Julie 

 

 

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50 thoughts on “Julie Lence is Jingling Christmas Bells”

    • Jingle Bells is so much fun. I also like Jingle Bell Rock. Brenda Lee did a great job with that one.

  6. Hello Julie! And welcome! I would have to say White Christmas sung by Bing Crosby! I’m from Florida, so it seems I love all the songs with “snow”in them! Not really surprising, huh? LOL

    I love these interviews with the main characters! Gives them life!

    • Hi Tracy. So glad you liked the interview with Camille. I agree that it’s always fun to get to know a character better.
      White Christmas is my favorite Christmas movie and 2nd fav song. Love Bing Crosby but it’s Vera-Ellen who always has my attention. I could watch her dance all day. I’m from New York and now live in Colorado, so I see snow every year. Some years more than others, lol. Some of out mountains got s dusting these last 2 nights, but it’ll be gone in a day or so.
      Thank you for joining me. Have a great day.

  8. “I’ll be home for Christmas” is the first song which comes to mind, followed by, “Mary, did you Know?” the first one is kind of sad as I have not been home for Christmas for too many years. It kind of fell apart after my mother passed away in 1967. Our family was so close and her tragic death took us all very hard. ‘Honey” is another sad song I relate to my mom as it was popular at that time of her passing. I know, not Christmas.

    • I’ll Be Home for Christmas is a great song. Living away from family, I, too, choke up sometimes when I hear it. The holiday season always makes me long for NY and home, but as soon as New Year’s is over, I’m past that feeling. Sometimes even before then. Wishing you all the best this holiday season, Judy. Hugs!

  9. Welcome, Julie! We’re so happy to have you back with your Christmas book. 🙂 Love the interview. Sounds like Camille and Burke were made for each other. I really love The First Noel but I also love Blue Christmas. Enjoy your visit. Much love.

    • Hi Linda. Thank you so much for having me. It’s always a joy to visit with you and your readers.
      Blue Christmas has been sung by so many, but my favorite has to be Elvis. He has the voice to rouse so much feeling, plus he was so gosh darn handsome! He shoulda been a cowboy, lol. Hugs to you.

    • Hi Renea. This is another favorite of mine. We usually get to sing it at Christmas Mass. Sometimes the following week, too. Thanks for visiting with me.

    • Hi Cindy. Silver Bells has always been a favorite since childhood. I think I sang it at the numerous school Christmas concerts and it just stayed with me.

    • Hi Laurie. This one I do not know. I’ll have to Google it. Thank you for sharing and visiting with me.

  15. My favorite Christmas song is Silent Night. Not entering this ebook giveaway as I am not tech savvy and dont read ebooks, but Thank you. Have a Great weekend. Your book sounds and looks Very Intriguing! I will be adding it to my TBR .

    • We get to sing Joy to the World at our church’s Christmas Mass. It just puts me in a great mood. Brenda Lee and Rockin Around the Christmas Tree is a fun tune. When I hear it, I’m dancing and singing along. Thanks for chiming in.

  18. Hi Julie,
    My favorite is a catch 22 between Oh Holy Night and O Come All Ye Faithful! I cannot choose.

    • Hi Sandy. So nice to see you here. Oh, Holy Night & O Come All Ye Faithful are both pretty songs. In church, we usually see Oh Come All Ye Faithful on Christmas Day. It really touches on the soul. One of our fav Christmas movies is Deck the Walls, ad I like when Kristen Chenoworth sings O Holy Night. She has such a pretty voice. Hugs to you and thank you for joining me.

    • Hi Adrianna. I have not heard Josh Groban’s version of O Holy Night. Will have to check it out. Thank you for visiting with me.

  21. Hi Julie, Hope, you had a good visit with P&P. I enjoy, O Holy Night, and All I Want for Christmas Is You.
    Your book sounds like a very interesting read. I mostly enjoy print books, hopefully; this one will be in print also. Enjoy the upcoming Holidays. They aren’t that far away.

    • Hi Lois. Thank you for stopping by to get to know Camille. As of right mow, I have no plans to put it in print, since it is a short story. I hope you have a Happy Holiday Season, too, and Oh Holy Night is a wonderful song.

  22. I live so many Christmas songs, it’s hard to choose a favorite. But I’ll go with Away in the Manger because our youngest son says without it, there would not be Christmas.

    • Hi Linda. You’re youngest sounds like a sweetheart, and he’s absolutely right. Thank you for stopping by to chime in. I like Away In The Manger, too.

  24. I have two favorites: Carol Of The Bells (my cell phone ring tone year round) and Mary Did You Know?, which is melancholy but beautiful. The Pentatonix do very nice version of both of them.
    Thanks for the fun post today.

  25. Hi Patricia. Love Pentatatonixversion of Mary Did You Konw. They are such a talented group. Having Carol of the Bells as a ring tone must keep you in a festive mood all year. So much fun!

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