Author Spotlight: Lucy Felthouse

Inspiration

In this section, discuss the inspiration behind your story. What sparked the idea for the story? Did anything specific inspire the characters or setting? What research was involved in developing the story? This section aims to give readers a glimpse into the genesis of the novel.

Funnily, I had the cover for this book before anything else! I purchased it as a pre-made from one of the fabulous cover artists I use, then my brain slowly started to come up with something to fit it. As I often do, I wanted to play around with the idea of stereotypes. So I wanted my main female character, who technically identifies as a witch, not to be what most people would expect. So while she is a witch, Willow doesn’t fit into any kind of neat box, hence the book title, “Not That Kind of Witch”.

I did a lot of research for this book, including reading several books on green witches, house witches, garden witches, etc. I also visited a lavender farm, went to a beekeeping talk and a natural beauty workshop (more info on my Substack, if you’re interested.). I just wanted to get a real feel for what my character would experience in her day to day life, and of course, make sure I was getting my facts right. And, I have to say, I had a lot of fun doing it!

Writing Process

In this section, share details about their writing process. Do you have a specific routine or writing schedule? What challenges did you face while writing the novel? Did you encounter writer’s block? How did you overcome it? This section aims to provide aspiring writers with insights into the writing process.

My writing process is always pretty chaotic. I don’t write full time, and I often go months without writing because I’m working on other projects. The majority of this book got written during National Novel Writing Month, November 2023. During that period I hit my needed word count every day. Then life happened, and a vacation, and other work, and Christmas, so I didn’t actually get the book completely finished until early February 2024. On the whole, though, when I was actually writing, I didn’t find it challenging because I knew where I wanted the story to go, and very much enjoyed spending time with the characters. It was such a fun process!

Character Development

In this section, discuss how you developed the characters in your story. What inspired their personalities, quirks, and motivations? Did any of the characters change or surprise you during the writing process? This section aims to provide readers with a deeper understanding of the characters they’ve grown to love.

The story centres almost entirely around how the pandemic and lockdowns affected the lead female character, Willow, and her grandmother, Annie. Her mental health was severely affected, resulting in agoraphobia, germophobia and anxiety. This was the entire basis for Willow’s personality, quirks and motivations. She wanted to protect her vulnerable grandmother from COVID, and pretty much everything in the story is linked to that. Other things feed into this, and off of this, which you’ll see throughout the story. I don’t want to give too much away!
It was a tricky, emotional story to write at times, because I wanted to make sure I was doing the characters justice, and covering the topic sensitively. I hope I achieved that.

Setting and Worldbuilding

In this section, discuss the setting and worldbuilding in your story. What inspired the location? Did you create any unique customs or cultures? How did you create a sense of atmosphere and mood? This section aims to give readers a sense of the world the story inhabits.

This book is actually pretty unique amongst my work because in many of my books the characters travel, go out and about a lot, visit places, etc. Whereas because the whole premise of this book is that the main character is agoraphobic, the vast majority of the book takes place in her house and garden. So in my head I invented this lovely old, sprawling property that’s been in Willow’s family for generations, and gave it a massive garden, a glasshouse, etc. Willow and her grandmother love their home, and I hope that comes across in the book, because I enjoyed inventing it and spending time there in my head.

I hope the atmosphere and mood came across naturally with the picture I painted, and how the characters behave. I tried to really capture their love for the location they’re in and hope that shines through.

Closing Thoughts

In this section, share any final thoughts on your story. What message or themes do you hope readers take away from the story? What are you most proud of in the story? This section aims to provide readers with a final reflection on the novel.

Mostly, I’d like people to take hope away from this story. Willow starts the book in a pretty difficult place, mentally, and there’s lots of turmoil and revelations throughout, but she learns to be kind to herself, patient with herself, and she slowly moves towards a much better place—with a little help.

I’m really pleased with how this book turned out. It might have some darker, more difficult themes, but it also has a lot of lightness and fun, which I feel is an accurate representation of life. Things are rarely black and white in real life. Even in our darkest moments we can find joy and laughter. I tackled some tough, emotive topics, and brought the characters through the other side in what I hope people will find to be an enjoyable read.

Can Willow let go of her fears and begin living her life again, or will her issues get the better of her?

Willow Green is having a hard time of it. Losing her job at the beginning of the pandemic and her elderly grandmother’s ‘clinically vulnerable’ status have resulted in her becoming housebound. While her entrepreneurial, hard-working spirit and the knowledge passed down through generations of green witches in her family mean she has solved her employment problem, her fear of going out, of allowing the dreaded virus into the house she shares with her grandmother, is far from resolved. In fact, it seems worse than ever.

That is, until Joe Lane comes along. The handsome care worker turned delivery driver does Willow a favour, gaining her attention and reluctant admiration. He’s got plenty of baggage of his own, but he also has the skills and temperament to help her with her problem—and he really seems to care.

The question is, will she let him get close enough to try?

Not That Kind of Witch is a standalone M/F steamy contemporary romance.