Meet Lucie Bellerose, MC of TL Brown's Bellerose Witchline Series

Natural witch Lucie Bellerose first flew off the pages of TL Brown’s Through the Door, Book 2 in the Door to Door Mysteries series. Her next appearance came months later in Book 3, Doors Wide Open, of the same series. I loved Lucie from the start—strong, thoughtful, independent, and who doesn’t love a gal who can read the tarot, cast spells and … Wait! How about I let Lucie speak for herself?👇

Q: What’s your full name?

A: Lucie Bellerose.

Q: How old are you?

A: I was born in 1984. The book I’m currently living in (Walking a Fine Witchline) takes place in fall 2022, so I’m still 38.

Q: When’s your birthday?

A: April 26.

Q: Where were you born?

A: The city of Matar in the Salesman Empire.

Q: Are you a main character?

A: I started as a side character with a small—but important—role in the Door to Door Paranormal Mystery series before my story was moved to my own series (Bellerose Witchline), where I serve as the main character.

Q: Do you have any nicknames?

A: A former lover calls me his Wayward Witch. My “cat” sometimes calls me Lucious—a play on my name.

Q: Do you have a catchphrase?

A: I didn’t realize I did until T.L. Brown’s husband pointed out that I frequently use variations of “I’ll deal with it when the time comes” or “I’ll deal with it later.” *shrugs*

Q: What do you do for work/career?

A: I received a stipend (and a sizeable lump sum) from the Congress of Empire Witches (CEW) following my year studying with a ~~sadistic teacher~~ witch in France to find a way to strengthen my thinning witchline. While I no longer receive the stipend, I’ve worked as a Tarot card reader with a large client list. I’ve also recently received a job offer to help another witch with research. He is looking for certain books and passages that might explain an illness plaguing some Empire witches.

Q: Without giving anything away, do you have scars? Physical or emotional?

A: A few physical scars—nothing worth mentioning. Emotional scars…don’t we all have them?

Q: What do you know about your backstory so far?

A: I was born in the city of Matar in the Salesman Empire. Both of my parents died young in separate accidents, and I was raised by my late Aunt Lettie. I do not have any siblings. I never married and do not have children. I attended college and earned my degree.

Q: Describe where you live.

A: I have a nice two-story townhouse in the Clover District—a four-block section of brownstones on the north side of Matar with a ‘stem’ of townhouses trailing southward on a slightly curved avenue. The pattern resembles a four-leaf clover, hence the name.

Q: How many stories have you been in?

A: Published novels? Four. The fifth one in my series is in the works. I have been—admittedly reluctantly—included in several of T.L. Brown’s Instagram writing challenge stories (posts). I don’t typically enjoy them, but a few were fun…like the time I rendered Templeton speechless when I asked him to rub sunscreen on my bare back. THAT was a good day!

Q: Plans for future stories?

A: Well, as I mentioned earlier, T.L. Brown is currently working on Walking a Fine Witchline. I think she intended to write a book after that, which would bring the Bellerose Witchline series to a final count of four books, but I’m not sure if that’s still the plan.

Q: As a character, who is your favorite character in your stories?

A: Oh…oh, I’m not answering that! But Emily Swift has a good heart, and I love her. She makes cameos in my books here and there.

Q: Do you have superpowers or defining traits you’d like to share?

A: I don’t really have a “superpower” per se, but I am a natural witch. I can control fire and light. I can also “wake” the Crimson Stone and draw on its energy to supercharge my abilities. I do a small amount of spellcasting, and that work varies. I’m also skilled at reading Tarot, but it’s something that can be learned. It’s not really a “power.”

Q: If you could have any superpower, what would it be?

A: That’s a good question. I think if it was a “power” of sorts, I would like to tap into an energy that would heal all the thinning witchlines in the Empire—even those belonging to families who have not been very “friendly” to me. I don’t want any natural witchlines to die out. It’s the biggest part of who we are.

Q: Are you a good guy/gal or a bad guy/gal?

A: I think I’m good.

Q: Any archenemies you can tell us about?

A: Unfortunately, there are a few enemies…Mostly, other witches who are not happy with my choices—or the level of power I’ve developed. But I’ve worked very hard to strengthen my witchline, and that’s where I draw it from. The Congress of Empire Witches (CEW) is definitely no longer a fan of what I did, what I can do, and the non-witch friends I’ve made. The CEW consists of many bigots.

Q: How about a love interest? Do you have a significant other?

A: It’s complicated.

Q: Do you have any phobias?

A: I don’t enjoy things crawling on me.

Q: Do you ever lie? Or are you always truthful?

A: I can’t always reveal things. I am truthful, but sometimes, there are secrets that need to be kept. Not everyone understands.

Q: Do you have a best friend? If so, could you tell us about them? Their traits?

A: My best friend is Rabbit. He is so special to me.

First, I think I need to explain some things. The biological makeup of all Rabbits includes both human and Rabbit DNA—no, not the furry bunny variety. Rabbits are one of the many types of beings in the Empire, alongside witches, Salesmen, shifters, seers, and others. The Rabbits are a sub-community, prone to communal living and sometimes making their own laws. They’re also more technologically advanced than anyone else in the Empire—even the government. The Rabbit network is impressive and extensive.

All Rabbits age INCREDIBLY slowly, so although “my Rabbit” looks like he’s almost 30, he’s actually somewhere in his mid-50s. All Rabbits are called…Wait for it…Rabbit. You get used to it.

Rabbits are vegetarians and fair-skinned, with dark hair and brown eyes that tend to shift to solid black when they are angry, hyperaware, vulnerable, aroused, or in attack mode. They can see in the dark and are skilled fighters.

My Rabbit knew Emily Swift’s late father and is “friends” with Templeton. They’ve known each other for a long time. Rabbit is friendly and loving, with a smile that lights up a room. But don’t be fooled into thinking he’s a pushover. For better or worse, I’ve seen him show feral, righteous anger, and he can become violent if there is an injustice to his brethren or if you have hurt someone he loves.

Rabbit is physically demonstrative, loves death metal, and is honest, loyal, hard-working, and inclusive. Not everyone knows this, but he can sing. My life is better with him in it.

Um…What was the question again?

Q: Do you have a pet?

A: Funny story: I once had a cat called Flame. Now I have a shapeshifter living with me…called Flame.

Q: Name three things you love.

A: My friends, great music, and where I live (Matar).

Q: Name three things you loathe.

A: People who choose NOT to be kind, classists/bigots, and those who wield their power for selfish reasons or to be cruel.

Q: What’s your favorite food?

A: Anything involving bread, wine, and cheese.

Q: What music do you like?

A: Rock n’ Roll, mostly. Classic Rock and some of the harder rock groups. I can’t pick a favorite.

Q: If you had a theme song, what would it be?

A: This is a great question, but it’s a tough one, too. T.L. Brown creates a fantasy soundtrack for each book she writes, and some songs represent scenes or even me. There is one song, though, written by Audioslave called I Am the Highway. Brown once told me that I was “the sky.” I kind of like that.

Q: Do you like to read? What sort of books?

A: I love to read! Right now, I’m drawn to vampire fantasies (surprised?), but I truly enjoy digging into non-fiction for research and increasing my knowledge of my craft and spell casting.

Q: Do you drive? If so, what type of vehicle do you have? Or do you walk? Take public transportation?

A: I walk when I can—the Clover District is perfect for it, but I also drive a RAV4.

Q: What’s the most beautiful thing you have ever seen?

A: I’m lucky to have seen many beautiful things in my life, but once I sort of “turned” Templeton’s eyes a brilliant shade of blue. It’s a moment I’ll never forget.

Q: What’s the most horrendous thing you have ever seen?

A: Too many things, and I don’t want to talk about them. I’d rather look forward.

Q: Does your author make you do stupid things? If so, would you like to share an example?

A: That’s something I never thought about. She often runs her characters through hell, and I would like a break.

Q: If you could visit a fictional place, other than our own, where would you go?

A: There’s a book by A.J. Hackwith called The Library of the Unwritten. As a lover of libraries, I’ve fantasized about going to the “Unwritten Wing—a neutral space in Hell where all the stories unfinished by their authors reside.”

Q: Are there other fictional characters you would like to meet?

A: I’ve met a bunch already! When T.L. Brown used to participate in writing challenges where authors would insert their characters into each other’s stories, I got to know characters like yours: Marnie, Danny, and Tom. It was so much fun! I would love to meet witch Ava O’Keefe from Julie Embleton’s Moonstone & Mugwort. I think we could learn much from one another.

Q: Do you ever worry that your author will kill you off?

A: Yes.

Would the author like to comment on any of the character’s answers?

T.L. Brown’s answer: Everything she said is true … But I’m a little curious about her answer about her best friend, Rabbit. She spent a lot of time on that one, didn’t she?

If you missed my recent Indie Author Chat with TL Brown, you can read it here: https://sharitmitchell.com/2024/05/29/indie-author-chat-with-tl-brown/

My ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review of A Thin Witchline Between Love & Hate is short but oh so sweet. And right below it, you will find a link to the 5-⭐ review of Crossing the Witchline. Here’s a spoiler: I loved both and cannot wait for Walking a Fine Witchline.