First and foremost I want to thank Lucy for taking the time to answer my questions. Lucy is an award-winning author of erotic romance several novels whcih can be found on her website.
Q. How did you come up with the story of Willow and her grandmother?
A. This story actually came to life because of the cover. The cover was for sale in the cover artist’s group, and I really loved it, so I purchased it without having a story in mind. But as soon as I’d bought the cover things began bubbling away in the back of my mind. By the time I came to start writing I basically had an idea of how the book would start, who the main characters would be, and roughly where things would go. The rest very much came naturally as I began to write.
Q. Writing post pandemic, must have been hard. Did the story relate to anything you experienced or seen?
A. Not personally, no. But the pandemic and lockdowns hit people very hard, and in very different ways. I’d read about them and seen them on TV. I knew there was a tough, hard-hitting story to write, one situated very much in real situations, but with a positive outcome. I think in this post-pandemic world, we all need to recognize what’s happened, but also have hope that things can, and will, get better.
Q. The garden you described in the book, real or fiction?
A. Total fiction, but made up of bits and pieces of gardens I’ve visited before, as well as parts completely imagined.
Q. Have you thought about writing more on Willow’s “witchcraft” storyline?
A. Not really, no. I felt it worked well as a standalone story with rounded character journeys for all three main characters. I’m not sure there’s much more I can add about Willow’s witchcraft without it reading more like a how-to manual than a fictional novel.
Q. Why did you throw in the “steamy” aspect in the story? Was this because you write it normally and wanted to have your touch?
A. I didn’t feel like I “threw it in”. It felt to me like a natural progression for the characters, as adults with emotional and physical desires. It was, when compared to many of my other books, a very slow burn, but Willow and Joe waited so long, I think they deserved a sexy payoff!
Q. Do you think it would have been the same had it been less erotic? Say a more conversative approach to Willow’s and Joe’s relationship?
A. I guess I could have deliberately left any of the steamy parts out of the book, but as someone who writes door-open sex scenes, it felt weird. Willow and Joe are responsible adults who can do what they like, so why not make love on the page? I toned down the language a lot due to Willow’s personality being a little more shy and conservative, but still feel (and hope!) I created a loving relationship with a satisfying physical element. The book is marketed as steamy, so if readers aren’t into steamy scenes, I’d either say don’t read the book, or just skip those parts!
The next few questions are more general questions in getting to know the the author.
Q. What will be your next work of fiction?
A. I will soon be starting work on a short story for a charity anthology. I only have a very vague outline at the moment, but I’m sure when I start working on it, things will soon slot into place.
Q. If you were to start your writing career all over again what is one thing you would change?
A. I wouldn’t have been so trustful of people who claimed to have my best interests at heart.
On the side…this seems like a potential story here…maybe for the next interview!
Q. What advice would you give your younger self?
A. Read contracts thoroughly before signing them, and understand exactly what rights you’re signing away, and for how long.
Q. How do you feel about self publishing?
A. I love it. It gives me the freedom to write what I want, when I want, and to be in control of every aspect of putting my book out there. It’s not for everyone, as there’s an awful lot of technological stuff to learn about, but I actually really enjoying learning new things, so that isn’t a problem for me.
It has been a pleasure reading Lucy’s answers, I hope my readers enjoy this as much as I did. The review for Lucy’s “Not That Kind of Witch” is posted.
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