I am often asked, “Which character is your favorite?” Definitely, LoRetta Ghere, Annie’s beloved aunt! My mother often told me about her Aunt LoRetta whom she and her brothers and sisters called “Aunt Retta.” I choose to call my character “Aunt Lo” because I love that creative space between the name “Lo” and how high she soars in my books.
Readers first meet Aunt Lo, a librarian and artist, in “One Christmas.” My Great Aunt Retta was, in fact, an incredible artist. I have her painting of blue-eyed Jesus hanging in my home to this day. When I crafted my character, I thought of the extraordinary woman my mother often described and call upon Aunt Lo to inspire my readers to always reach for the best in themselves.
Author: Patra Ann Taylor
Patra Ann Taylor is the author of "One Christmas," an historical novel set in the Midwest during the Great Depression. A writer and editor for more than 30 years, Taylor is a long-time contributor and former managing editor of the Charleston Mercury. The first novel in her upcoming Anna Ghere Mysteries series is slated for release in January 2025. Additionally, she is working on Mullet and Marsh Hens, a biography of Lowcountry legend, J. Sidi Limehouse, III, and the re-release of her Christmas novel. The mother of three sons, Taylor lives in Mount Pleasant, S.C. with her husband, Stephen Bucher, and their Australian terrier, Olive.
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