AP Author Spotlight: Lucie Ulrich

 

Lucie Ulrich

 

Website: lucieulrich.com

Blog: lucieulrich.com

Twitter ID: @LucieUlrich

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/dashboard

Facebook: www.facebook.com/inspywriter

 

Describe yourself in three words:

positive, friendly, family-oriented

 

Tell us a little about your latest release:

The Rose Ring

With a will that reads like a piece of fiction, the return of his long-lost brother, and the possibility of losing the family ranch, Micah Cooper calls on high school friend, Sky Baxter, to bail him out of a bad situation.

Though her brain tells her no, Sky’s heart says yes. She accepts Micah’s in-name-only proposal, knowing it’s unlikely anything permanent will come of it. She’s been in love with him since the ninth grade, and if he hasn’t figured it out by now, there’s little chance he ever will.

When an unexpected kiss ignites a spark, giving Micah hope for a possible future with Sky, a tragic accident threatens to take it all away. Torn between following his heart, doing the right thing, and forgiving the past, Micah is lost in a whirlwind of pain and emotions. Will he make it through the next two years, or will a long-kept family secret be the undoing of them all?

When I originally wrote The Rose Ring, it took place in New York instead of Montana, and had a feisty grandmother instead of a feisty aunt. I set it aside to pursue publication of a different book, and didn't look at it for a while. When I came back to it, I wanted a more "homey" feel, so I changed the setting to a cattle ranch, added a brother, an ex-girlfriend, an ornery pregnant horse and a crippled pup. I just went for it all. Lol!

 

What is your earliest memory?

I was around 2 or 3. I don't remember how it happened, my family was at a lake or beach, and I suddenly found myself face-first in water. I couldn't get up and remember feeling panicked. A stranger picked me up and returned me to my parents. That man, whoever he may be, was my guardian angel that day.

 

What would you consider the greatest moment in your life?

I know I should probably say my wedding day, or the day I gave birth to my first child, but in all honesty, it was the day I received my first writing contract. Marriage and childbearing included my husband, but writing was mine alone.

 

What’s the hardest thing in in life you’ve done?

Dealing with my mother's dementia and having to put her in a nursing home, My father didn't handle things well, so that was an added struggle.

 I'm greatful to God that Mom went fast, and that I got to hold her hand and be with her as she took her final breath.  That was nearly two years ago. I still miss her, but through it all, my relationship with my father inproved a hundredfold.

 

What have you learned in life so far?

That if you want it, you'd better go after it, because it's not going to come to you.

 

 

Everyone’s favourite question: if you could invite five people for dinner, who would it be?

There are hundreds of famous or influential people I could think of (dead or alive), but quite frankly, I would much rather sit down with family and friends. So, my list of five would be: Rick (husband), Jamie (daughter), Josh (son), and Pam and Phil (best friends).

 

 

Chance for our readers - what else would you like to know about Lucie Ulrich?

My Town in Three Photos - Jacksonville

by Lucie Ulrich

 

At 885 sq miles, Jacksonville, Fl, is the largest city in land area in the contiguous Unites States. It boasts a population of 821,784, according to the 2012 census.

 

Situated along the St. Johns River, Jacksonville is known for its many bridges. It is a major port city, and proud military town. Naval Air Station Jacksonville is located four miles from the city’s business district, while Naval Station Mayport is located at the mouth of the St. Johns River.  

In the early 20^th century, when Hollywood hadn’t quite come into the picture, Jacksonville was known as the Winter Filmmaking Capital of the world. Movies are still made here, though not to the degree they had been years earlier. Every year since 2003, the Jax Film Fest is held either downtown, or in one of the surrounding historical areas.

 

 

 

 

 

RELEASE DAY: Lucie Ulrich "The Rose Ring"

 

Blurb:

With a will that reads like a piece of fiction, the return of his long-lost brother, and the possibility of losing the family ranch, Micah Cooper calls on high school friend, Sky Baxter, to bail him out of a bad situation.

Though her brain tells her no, Sky’s heart says yes. She accepts Micah’s in-name-only proposal, knowing it’s unlikely anything permanent will come of it. She’s been in love with him since the ninth grade, and if he hasn’t figured it out by now, there’s little chance he ever will.

When an unexpected kiss ignites a spark, giving Micah hope for a possible future with Sky, a tragic accident threatens to take it all away. Torn between following his heart, doing the right thing, and forgiving the past, Micah is lost in a whirlwind of pain and emotions. Will he make it through the next two years, or will a long-kept family secret be the undoing of the Cooper family? (or… be the undoing of all of them?)

 

 

Author:

Lucie Ulrich hasn’t stopped writing since her first skit was performed on a church stage more than fifteen years ago. An avid reader, she enjoyed sharing her passion for writing and storytelling with her middle and high school drama students. No longer part of the teaching profession Lucie looks forward to traveling the country with her husband, Rick, seeking story ideas, taking photographs, and enjoying life to the fullest.

 

Now available on
ღ Amazon ღ Barnes & Nobel ღ Smashwords ღ

 

Excerpt:

CHAPTER ONE

Sky Baxter leaned against the worn red counter and stared through the diner’s plate glass window. Dime-sized snowflakes flitted around the streetlamps before joining the three inches already on the ground.

Sighing, she thought of the fur-lined boots sitting on the rubber mat by her front door. Why hadn’t she listened to the weatherman?

“Go home, Sky.”

She pivoted toward the small kitchen area behind the counter. Her boss and friend, Carl Johnston, scraped charred burger remains from the grill.

“But I still need to mop the floor.”

“I’ll mop. You go.”

“It’s only ten blocks. The snow won’t pile up that much more in the next few minutes.”

He stepped into the dining area, his limp more pronounced after the long day. “All the same, I’d rather you leave now.” He held out her parka and handbag. “And call me when you get there.”

Carl lived upstairs and didn’t have to worry about cold or snow. She knew he would have driven her if he could, but he’d given up driving two years ago. An auto accident had left him with a severe limp. That in itself wouldn’t have stopped him, but burying his wife a week later did.

“Guess you’re right.” Sky threw on her parka, covered her long black ponytail with a knit cap, and shoved her hands into a pair of gloves. She planted a kiss on his cheek. “See you tomorrow.”

Cold air and heavy snow swirled around her as she darted across the street and hurried down the sidewalk. A familiar black pickup stopped in front of her as she was about to step off the curb. The passenger window lowered. “Need a lift?”

Sky peered into the cab. The sight of Micah Cooper’s crooked smile sent a wave of heat from her icy nose to her frozen toes. She’d been crazy about him since high school. “I’m not fool enough to say no.”

He pushed the passenger door open. “I always knew you were smart.”

Scraping the snow from her shoes on the running board, she climbed in. “If I were smart, I’d have worn my boots today. That and figure out a way to buy a car.”

With a quick flick of his wrist, Micah put the truck in gear and pulled out into the nearly deserted street. “News flash. You have to know how to drive before they’ll give you a license.”

“Yeah, well, if my mother had ever owned a car, or could have afforded Driver’s Ed when I was in school, I’d already know how to drive. Besides, learning isn’t the problem. Saving is.”

“Hang in there. Who knows? Some customer might just leave you a thousand dollar tip tomorrow.”

 “Pssh. We’re talking Elk Flats, Montana, not New York City. The biggest tip I’ve ever gotten is six bucks. Old man Bentley left it after he pinched my backside and I didn’t slap him.”

Micah laughed. “With his arthritis, I’m surprised you felt anything.”

“That was two years ago. He doesn’t come in much these days.” The truck was warm, so she pulled off her hat and gloves. “Speaking of coming into town, I’m surprised to see you so soon. You normally don’t show up twice in one week.”

He stopped for a red light. “This month’s co-op meeting was moved up at the last minute. I also have a meeting with my grandfather’s lawyer in the morning.”

“You staying in town, then?”