The Allotment on Willow Tree Lane is featured in my local paper - The Western Mail

Here are the questions the lovely Jenny White asked me...

The article in The Western Mail

Where do you live and when/how did you come to live there?

I’m a valleys girl born and bred, but lived across the border in England for several years. I returned to my homeland about sixteen years ago because I missed it so much and I now live near Caerphilly, not far from the top of a mountain where the views are fantastic. I can’t imagine living anywhere else – Wales is in my blood, which might explain why I have set so many of my novels here. And I wanted to put Wales firmly on the map when it comes to romantic fiction.

How did your surroundings influence/inspire this novel?

The Allotment on Willow Tree Lane grew from a what if idea about a piece of unused land near where I live, because I thought it would make the most fantastic allotment! It’s also a haven for wildlife, alive with buddleia, hawthorn trees and loads of wildflowers, and I would hate to see that disappear, so I dreamt of having an allotment that nurtures both.

There is also a big chunk of me in the book as I love growing vegetables, but I also want to ensure insects, birds and other little critters can find food and a home in my garden.

What did you do before becoming a novelist and how and why did you become a novelist?

It didn’t occur to me that I could be a writer until I was in my late forties, and like many novelists work ran alongside writing for quite a few years, to be fitted in around the day job (I was a school administrator) wherever and whenever possible.

My journey to publication began when my sweet little West Highland terrier passed away and I found myself writing an uplifting romance, with her as the inspiration for the book. I self-published that novel plus two others, and after receiving good reviews for all three, I pitched my next book to Canelo in 2018, who was at that time mainly known as a digital-first publisher. I was subsequently offered my very first contract and they bought the rights to the other three books at the same time.

Canelo continues to publish my novels at the rate of two per year, both in ebook and paperback format, and my eighteenth book with them will be out in September. I am so very grateful for Canelo’s belief in my writing and story-telling ability, and with three further novels contracted to them for 2025 and into 2026, I’m thrilled to continue our partnership.

How would you sum up the type of fiction you write - and why do you write this type of fiction?

Feel-good, heartwarming romance! I write the kind of books that take you out of yourself for a while and make you forget your worries. They are sometimes referred to as “cosy” romances, because of the feelings they evoke. In addition to that, many of my novels have themes of nature and the natural world running through them, as well as small community and village settings, which I enjoy writing about. I like to think of my novels as the bookish equivalent of a cwtch.

The reason I enjoy writing this type of fiction is because I enjoy reading it. Exploring the complexities of love, passion, and intimacy, and the development of a romantic relationship whose narrative usually includes various obstacles, conflicts, or challenges that the characters must overcome to achieve the happy ending that this genre demands, is hugely satisfying and rewarding.

Besides your surroundings, what inspired The Allotment on Willow Tree Lane?

The Allotment on Willow Tree Lane was inspired by the name Damon, and a photograph of a man with curly dark hair past his shoulders and a guitar in his hand. Sometimes that is all it takes to spark the imagination and for the germ of an idea to take root and grow.

Tell me a bit more about Ceri and Damon, and why you created those characters (with those jobs and backgrounds) in particular.

Ceri appears in the first story set in Foxmore, The Corner Shop on Foxmore Green, as the sister of one of the main characters. She works in a garden centre near Cardiff but wants to run a plant nursery, so I moved her to the quaint little village of Foxmore, located at the southern end of the Snowdonia mountain range. I felt she had her own story that needed to be told, and her own romance of course, and this is where Damon comes in. I wanted a character whose life is a complete contrast to hers, and what could be further from that than a rock star?

Damon was a joy to write. Without giving too much away, I hope I have crafted a character whose complexities resonate with readers. Flawed protagonists are the best kind, I think!

However, it is safe to say that I don’t create my characters; rather, I get to know them. It’s as though they have always been in my subconscious, waiting for their time in the light.

What, for you, is the secret of writing a good romance?

I believe it is essential for the characters and their relationship to resonate with the reader, and are relatable, three-dimensional, and have distinctive personalities and emotional depth. There also needs to be a strong and believable connection between the romantic leads: the reader has to become so invested in the characters’ growing feelings for each other, that they root for them to get together despite the challenges or obstacles that are thrown in the way of true love. The resolution of these challenges should contribute to the growth of the characters and the strength of their relationship.

But no matter the setting, the circumstances, or who the characters are, the romance has to be centre stage in romantic fiction, and a happy-ever-after or a happy-for-now ending is essential.

What writers have influenced or inspired you and why?

There are so many fantastic authors that have influenced my writing, that I hardly know where to start! The indomitable Sophie Kinsella and Helen Fielding, who write with such humour, are reading stalwarts of mine, and then there is Katie Fforde, Jenny Colgan and Veronica Henry, who often set their novels in idyllic English settings such as cosy cafes or small villages, and explore themes of family, friendship, and community.

What did you enjoy about writing this book? Did it pose any challenges?

I enjoyed every part of writing this book. I always do. From the moment of conception to the very last word, is a delight. To me, it’s a privilege and a blessing to be able to write books that people love to read, but writing a full-length novel does require a degree of discipline, and this one was no different.

What do you hope people get out of it?

I want my readers to experience a degree of escapism and to immerse themselves in my fictional world where they can take a break from the challenges of everyday life.

I also try to elicit a wide range of emotions in my readers, from joy, humour, and excitement to sadness and longing. Experiencing these emotions vicariously through the pages of a book can be quite cathartic and emotionally satisfying.

What are you working on next?

I have just begun writing a brand-new series which is set in Scotland this time. Most of my novels are set in Wales, but I thought it would be nice to explore some other parts of our wonderful country. But wherever my books are set, romance and happy-ever-after are at the heart of every one of my novels.

Read The Allotment on Willow Tree Lane.

All Lilac Mills books

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About the Author

Lilac Mills writes heartwarming romance inspired by life in the Welsh countryside, her love of simple pleasures, and the beauty of everyday moments. She’s the author of over twenty feel-good novels, and also writes as Liz Davies and Etti Summers. Meet her here.