Greetings!
Quintessential Christmas is all about Noa Sinclair's journey through a rough holiday season. She may not be feeling so jolly, but every Grinch needs a Cindy Lou Who. For Noa, that's her best friend Lucy.
"Lucy’s effervescent bubble provides a faint glimmer of hope that the world isn’t completely bleak. She’s been a ray of sunshine through my cloudy brain since we met at freshman orientation."
To learn a little more about this charismatic character, the following would be the book's Prologue if it was written in Lucy's point of view.
Lucy's Prologue
Ever feel like life is going too well?
​
You’ve got "the dream job". The never-feels-like-work type.
For me, it’s being my own boss slinging sandwiches out of my five-star city food truck. Sure, I had humble beginnings with an Easy-Bake Oven before I graduated to grandmother’s kitchen. Then, in what seemed like a blink, I came face-to-bumper with this commercial kitchen on wheels at a time when we were both headed for the dump. That’s right, life wasn’t always all cherry lemonade. But taking the sweet with the sour is partly how I ended up here. It all comes together, like the decadent layers of a summer berry trifle.
Since I practically live in my truck, my wheel-less abode doesn’t really matter. It’s mostly a place to shower off grease, launder stains, and practice new recipes in the gastro galley—that’s basically the same size as my mobile version. The freedom to go wherever the road leads is like waking up to new possibilities every morning. I just choose to return to the same bustling street corner. If it ain’t broke . . .
Plus, I was instrumental in moving my college roomie, Noa, out of her parent’s basement. What kind of bestie would I be if I just up and left her to wander these rough streets on an empty stomach? She needs me. Well, she needs my signature breakfast burrito, at least. I can see her mouth watering from here. When our eyes meet from across the street, it’s a similar spark to all those rom-comy scenes we love to ogle over. Okay, I ogle. Noa snores. But our relationship runs deeper than any romantic one I’ve experienced so far.
And who needs one significant other when you have lines of adoring fans hungry for more? I know some people prefer not to be married to a job, but this gig is more than an occupation. It’s a calling—that I humbly and enthusiastically answer on the regular. Grandma would be proud. I know Noa is, hence why she helped me finance this dream a few years ago. That could have been pride blended with the fact the burrito she’s currently drooling over is always on the house.
So, if you’re like me and wondering how it can possibly get any better, I’ll let you in on a little secret: It already is. How do I know? We’re getting to that.
When you’re riding the wave of optimism from having it all—friends, food, and fun—let it flow and wash away any doubts that you don’t deserve it—like milk washes away heartburn. We’re all destined for greatness. You get to decide what greatness means. And what better time to claim it than right now?
The world can be a dark place, but your positivity can be a bright spark. When you’re ready to spread some of that light around, there’s always one place you can turn.
Hungry for more? Read Quintessential Christmas to discover Lucy and Noa's recipe for success.
