Guest Post: Lilac Mills
- Rebekah Louise
- Aug 28, 2017
- 3 min read
Today on the blog we are speaking to the lovely Lilac Mills. She is chatting to us about what the term Chick Lit means to her and some of her thoughts behind her books. Lilac also gives readers 5 new interesting facts about herself (keep reading to find out what the are).
What does chick lit mean to you?
I've always enjoyed the genre, to the point that I now read little else - though I do make forays onto the slightly heavier and more serious "women's fiction ".
Actually, that demarcation might be just in my head and no one else's!
Collins Dictionary's definition of Chick Lit is, modern fiction about the lives and romantic problems of young women, usually written by young women.
Yes, that’s correct, but it's also much more than that (and Chick-Lit novels aren't necessarily written by young women either!). It's romantic, but romance is not always the main focus. It's light-hearted, but can address deeper issues.
But what it definitely should be, in my mind at least, is heart-warming. It should give you that feel-good aaahh at the end of it. It should take you out of your own life and drop you in the middle of someone else's, where you don't have to think too much or too deeply or struggle to see the message – it should be pure entertainment.
And that’s what I try to achieve with my own writing. With Under the Cherry Tree I hope had the ahhh factor (it had dogs in it – how could it not?), but it also addressed feelings of grief and loss, and in some places was quite emotional, as many readers have told me. (Psst, I’ve got a confession – I intended to make my readers cry. Sorry…)
When I came to write Elephant and Pinky Moon, I deliberately wanted to produce a lighter, funnier story, and though my initial plan was to kill off one of the main characters, I changed my mind, and one of the main reasons was that I didn’t want to become known as the author who always murders her characters, though please be aware, I might bump others off in subsequent books…
My aim seems I have succeeded, as readers are reporting how much it made them laugh. But also, there is a thread running through the story, which is epitomised in Flossie – live life to the full, because you’ll be old before you know it!
Another thing which I also wanted to explore in my stories, is the relationships between the young women who are normally featured as main characters in Chick Lits, and older people, and Elephant and Pinky Moon was the perfect vehicle for this. So although this particular Chick Lit novel fits the definition in the respect that the main character is a young woman, Flossie is just as prominent, and she is quite an elderly lady.
I’ll let you in on a secret too – this particular novel wasn’t written by a “young” woman, though I do still feel, and sometimes act, about twelve!
Here’s the blurb for it, in case you’re interested
Twenty-eight-year-old Nina lives a quiet, unassuming life, happy (ish) with her job, maybe not quite as happy with her non-existent love-life (but no one can have everything, right?) and content to trundle along with her nice, predictable daily routine.
That is, until Nina is persuaded to accompany her octogenarian grandmother on a beach holiday to Turkey.
Nina envisages sedate walks along the promenade, afternoon naps by the pool, and bingo in the evening. What she actually gets is too much vodka, adult games of "pin the tail on the donkey" and dancing on a bar whilst flaunting her knickers - and that's just her gran!
You can find Elephant and Pinky Moon on Amazon in ebook or print.
And if you want to connect with me (I love talking to my readers) I’m on Twitter, Facebook, or message me via my website. Oh, I’m on Pinterest too, but I’m having a bit of trouble getting my head around that particular site! (it’s probably my age…).
A few things about me that aren’t on any of my author bios -
I always wanted to be an astronaut
I won a hula-hoop competition when I was eleven (though to this day, my mother maintains I was the only one who entered. Of course, I don’t believe her!)
I have a thing about pygmy goats – don’t judge me
I don’t like soaps (and I don’t mean the kind you wash with, those I do like!)
I have an addiction to liquorice, and more recently, giant inflatable lobsters (don’t ask!)
If you would like to promote your Chick Lit or Women's Fiction Short Story, Novelette or Novella please get in touch with Rebekah Louise.
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