Happy Tuesday, cyber surfers. Welcome to another edition of What A Character, a weekly conversation with new, diverse and interesting characters. Bebe is this week’s victim interviewee, but after handling the leering attentions of all those men in the lingerie boutique where she works, I have no doubt she can hold her own.

Thanks to Lily Carlyle for loaning us her heroine from Santa Bebe, part of the For the Love of Christmas anthology from Still Moments Publishing.

Welcome Bebe. Let’s get started, shall we? In Twitter fashion, tell us about your story in 140 characters or less.

Bebe: I think that since all men are jerks anyway, I may as well find a rich one. But is it possible that this year, the whole Christmas package is right under my tree?

Mac: Hey, it’s just as easy to fall in love with a rich man, or so my mom always told me. Of course I didn’t listen, but that’s another story… Where was I? Oh, yeah. What do you consider your biggest strength? Biggest weakness?

Bebe: I would say that  my biggest strength is my determination to improve myself. I save my money to go to school, and I try not to fall into my mom’s way of doing things. But right along with that is my unshakeable belief that with hard work and good luck, I’ll find the kind of magic I’ve always wanted. Even though I grew up too fast, there’s a part of me that hasn’t grown up, that still has that childlike sense of anticipation.

My weakness? Undoubtedly my inability to trust people, especially the kind of person who has a penis.

Mac: LOL Yeah, I can think of a few penis wielders who can’t be trusted. The romance genre is often heavy with heartbreaking conflict, but what makes you laugh?

Bebe: James’s awkwardness. He takes everything so damned seriously, and all it takes is a little shimmy from me and he practically dies from embarrassment.

Mac: Oh that James. *sigh* But you know what they say. It’s the shy, quiet ones you have to watch out for. What was the toughest aspect of your story for you and your author, Lily, to work through?

Bebe: Oh, undoubtedly the love scene. The writer, Lily, is as her name suggests pretty pure. She and I are easily embarrassed. I was a bit uncomfortable with her intruding on my personal moment.

Mac: Hmmm, now you have me wondering how you feel knowing all those readers are intruding on your personal moment. Ain’t I a stinker? LOL Okay, how about sharing a short excerpt from your favorite scene in the story? And tell us why it’s your favorite.

Bebe: I sighed. In preparation for the holiday, the owners had strung thousands and thousands of white fairy lights along the eaves, around the windows, and in the shrubbery around the house. Tasteful, yet different in its very extravagance. As I watched, someone lit the Christmas tree, visible through a large window. I gasped, admiring its shimmery appearance through some translucent drapes.
The beeping of a horn behind me brought me out of my reverie, and I accelerated, glancing back one time at the beautiful house, wondering what its residents were doing on this Saturday night before Christmas.

This scene summarizes what I want most from life—financial stability without sacrificing whimsy.

Mac: Sweet! And don’t we all want that on some level? Thanks so much for playing along with us today, Bebe. Before you go, is there anything you’d like to ask the cyber surfers?

Bebe: So, maybe I was wrong in thinking that money is an important quality to look for in a man. What would you say is the most desirable quality in a romantic partner?

Santa Bebe by Lily Carlyle: While visions of wealthy men danced in her head…will Santa bring Bebe what she’s always wanted this year?

For the Love of Christmas Anthology is digitally available @ Still Moments Publishing E-book store | Amazon

Or in print @ Createspace

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