Q&A With Becki Willis

Author Becki Willis returns to Plain Talk to chat about her newest novel, Inn the Spirit of Legends (Spirits of Texas Book 1).

What inspired you to write this book?

Confession: I’m a total history geek, particularly when it comes to Texas history.

Being a stickler for details, I don’t write historical fiction because I’m afraid of getting some minute detail wrong. (I just hate it when an author uses modern-day phrases in a period piece, don’t you? Pulls me right out of the story and makes me wonder what else she got wrong.)

This new series has just enough historical facts to satisfy my inner thirst for research while offering up a modern-day story that even non-history buffs can appreciate. Plus, it’s set in one of my favorite places (the beautiful Texas Hill Country) so in-person research is twice as much fun!

What can we expect from you in the future?

I’m planning several books for this series, all revolving around the old stagecoach inn–hence the spelling of the title. Each title will begin with ‘Inn the Spirit of …’ followed by the theme of that particular book. The first book is Legends and revolves around an old legend of hidden treasure.

As for other projects, I’m currently working on the seventh installment of the popular The Sisters, Texas series. Stay tuned for a BIG announcement concerning that series! My goal is to squeeze in one stand-alone novel each year, but the truth is, there’s never enough time to write all the stories rolling around in my head.

How did you come up with the concept and characters of the book?

We’ve all heard about them, ‘towns’ that are auctioned off on the internet to the highest bidder. It seemed like a fun backdrop for a story, particularly when the ‘winner’ is a reluctant participant in the whole process.

In my story, Hannah’s extravagant uncle thinks he’s found the ultimate birthday gift, giving her a town that shares her name. Neither are prepared for the responsibilities –or the surprises– at come with the property.

Can you tell us a little bit about the characters in Inn the Spirit of Legends?

Hannah, the reluctant new innkeeper, soon fall under the spell of the tranquil countryside and the possibilities for a real future here.

Walker is the handsome but maddening attorney who oversees the trust fund for the property. It may be her town, but she must run all major decisions by him.

The spirits include a delicate Southern belle, a rusty but honorable cowboy, and a stoic Native American medicine woman.

Add in a menagerie of animals and a lively pair of elderly caretakers, and the tiny little town is far from boring!

What did you enjoy most about writing this book?

Research, of course. (Big smile.)

Do your characters seem to hijack the story or do you feel like you have the reigns of the story?

My characters always hijack my stories! Honestly, outlines only go so far, because I never know what will happen in my books until the characters tell me. That’s half the fun of writing!

Inn the Spirit of Legends Spirits of Texas Book 1 by Becki Willis
Genre: Paranormal Cozy Mystery

Synopsis

From the author of The Sisters, Texas Mystery Series, and Forgotten Boxes, comes an intriguing new book series, the Spirits of Texas Cozy Mysteries.

When the tiny hamlet of Hannah, Texas goes up for auction, Hannah Duncan’s fun-loving uncle sees it as the perfect gift for her thirtieth birthday. After all, what’s more fun than a town bearing your own name?

Nestled in the beautiful Texas Hill Country, the ‘town’ isn’t much — a dozen or less buildings in various stages of disrepair—but it comes with a dedicated pair of caretakers, a menagerie of farm animals, a surprisingly generous trust fund, enough stipulations to make her head spin, and a handsome but maddening attorney to oversee the handling of the estate.

Originally a stagecoach stop, Hannah, Texas resolves around the historic and rather charming Spirits of Texas Inn. The old inn comes with a colorful past, the mystique of hidden treasure, loyal guests who still book summer vacations there, and three surprise residents: true spirits of the past, who didn’t cross over as expected.

Now Hannah has her hands full, coming to terms with her unexpected status as an innkeeper, adjusting to life in the country, fighting her attraction to attorney Walker Jacoby, plus dealing with ghosts!

To top it off, two fortune hunters arrive to search for the hidden treasure, and they don’t care who stands in their way. They’ll stoop to any means—including murder—to get their hands on the legendary stash of gold.

Don’t miss out on the excitement, right from the beginning. Book your visit to Hannah, Texas today!

Add to your Goodreads shelf.

Purchase on Amazon for $0.99.

About Becki Willis

Becki Willis, best known for her popular The Sisters, Texas Mystery Series and Forgotten Boxes, always dreamed of being an author. In November of ’13, that dream became a reality. Since that time, she has published eleven books, won first place honors for Best Mystery Series, Best Suspense Fiction and Best Audio Book, and has introduced her imaginary friends to readers around the world.

An avid history buff, Becki likes to poke around in old places and learn about the past. Other addictions include reading, writing, junking, unraveling a good mystery, and coffee. She loves to travel, but believes coming home to her family and her Texas ranch is the best part of any trip. Becki is a member of the Association of Texas Authors, the National Association of Professional Women, and the Brazos Writers organization. She attended Texas A&M University and majored in Journalism.