The Ghost and Mrs. Miller Archives

Jun 2nd Sandra Tilley, Author of The Ghost and Mrs. Miller

Give a warm welcome to Sandra Tilley, author of The Ghost & Mrs. Miller!

Pull up a chair, grab a drink of your choice from the cooler or there’s a pitcher of fresh lemonade on the counter. Chocolate Chip or Peanut Butter cookie are on the plate beside the pitcher. So let’s find out a little about Sandra and her guests, Eli Anderson and Libby Carlisle Miller of The Ghost and Mrs. Miller.

Eli, how about you go first? Tells us about the real you. What event in your past has left the most indelible impression on you?

Freshman year at the University of Alabama, tore my ACL in a freak accident playing flag football with a bunch of sorority girls. Lost my scholarship and my dreams of the NFL. Thought that was life-changing. Until I had to identify my best friend’s body. Changes your perspective on everything.

What do you most value?

Family.

What is the type of woman you want to spend the rest of your life with?

That’s easy. I knew in kindergarten Libby Carlisle was the only girl for me. But she ended up marrying my best friend.

What do you consider most important in life?

I’d have to say honor. If you don’t stand for something, what’s your point? If I tell you I got your back, you don’t need to turn around and look.

What is your biggest secret?

Never told. Never will.

Awww…. you’re no fun! Well, Libby, you’re next. Who are you really?

Are you talking yesterday or five minutes ago? Thought I knew who I was–until Neil betrayed me.

Who were the biggest role models in your life?

My mom and dad. Mom could be a little overwhelming at times. Of course with three daughters, I totally get it. But Dad could jump into the middle of a three-ring sister argument, start his clowning around and make us all laugh. We knew the clown had another side, though. If Mom needed backup, he was strong, too.

What kind of man do you want to spend the rest of your life with?

Do I have to choose right now? Neil and I married right out of high school, and I literally went from living with my mom and dad to living with my husband. Now that he’s gone, I want to be in charge of myself for a while.

What kind of man would you never choose?

Never choose a bully.

What is most important to you in life?

My children.

What is your biggest fear?

Neil finding out that I lied.

LIbby and Eli, thank you so much for being here!

Sandra, just a couple more questions. Tell us a little about writing this story. Was it fun or difficult? Do your characters always act as you expect? Are you a plotter, or fly (write) by the seat of your pants?

I’m basically a plotter, but I do love it when the characters take over. This story began as four short stories; and after eights year and seven name changes, it became The Ghost and Mrs. Miller.

Wow, those are a lot of changes.

Sandra, Wwat is The Ghost and Mrs. Miller all about?

Libby Miller is a good Southern girl, and good Southern girls know the rules. But Libby forgot about fate. And fate has no rules. On Libby’s nineteenth wedding anniversary, she catches Neil cheating with his assistant; and fate whips up a tornado of turmoil. But the storm’s not over until the karmic gods have finished playing and Neil’s flipped his BMW and his ghost is swinging from the chandelier. How is Libby supposed to grieve and raise their teenage children with Neil’s ever-present, meddling ethereal presence? She wants to move on with her life, if only Neil will transition to where ever it is he needs to go. And adding to the karmic soup are two men from Libby’s past–both of whom want a second chance.

Can we have a peek between the pages?

“I was your high school sweetheart and husband for nineteen years. I’ve only been dead for two months. Why aren’t you despondent with grief? Or at least sad?”

The weight of his words pressed down, pinning my eyes to the ground. I felt his eyes digging into my skull, but I couldn’t lift my head to meet his accusation. I removed a flip-flop and swatted at a line of ants traveling inside the groove of grout between the stones. “The therapist says we handle grief in our own way.” I turned my head to the side. “How can I be sad if you’re still here?”

You can find The Ghost and Mrs. Miller at The Wild Rose Press and Amazon.

Wow. A little more about Sandra:

She grew up in a small town near Birmingham, Alabama, where friends always entered through the back door and where everyone spoke the same language—Southern. After a successful teaching career, she packed up her pearls and headed toward her inspiration: the sugar-white beaches of Orange Beach, Alabama, on the blue-green waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

Follow Sandra on Facebook at Sandra Fetner Tilley-Author and on Twitter @SandyFTilley. Or stop by her web page at http://www.sandratilley.com/

It was wonderful having you with us today. Please feel free to stop by anytime. Good Luck with The Ghost and Mrs. Miller.