An Interview with Lucy Rocke
Lucy Rocke writes women’s contemporary romance, featuring strong female leads finding their way back to themselves alongside their search for love. A fan of a good romance, fantasy, or cottage-core story herself, Lucy loves nothing more than snuggling up under a blanket with a new book and a hot drink.
What inspired you to start writing this book?
This book was a cathartic write for me; I had a series of medical nightmares resulting in multiple surgeries and chemotherapy, all while trying to care for my two young children. It was a horrible, hard time and as I was healing, I was desperately trying to recover who I was as a person, a mother, a friend, a wife—everything.
Tell us the story of your book’s current title. Was it easy to find, or did it take forever?
It took a long while, as I wanted to hint at the various levels within the story: the romance, the friendships, the seasonality, as well as the practical part that the main character, Cassie, takes on a role as a window designer for the holidays. I’m not one hundred percent sold that I achieved all that, but A Window into Christmas at least samples the majority of what I was trying to get across!
Describe your dream book cover.
The book cover for A Window into Christmas is perfect; it showcases the cosy Christmas vibes of an English festive high street perfectly, and the burgeoning love between my main characters. I’d never say no to a bit of gold-foiling or gilded edges, though.
If your book had a soundtrack, what are some songs that would be on it?
All I Want for Christmas is You, of course, plus a general soundtrack of well-known festive favourites. I’d add in some classical Christmas songs as well, just to lend ambience to the scenes in cafes, pubs, at carol concerts, and within the glittering department store. There might even be a few mopey tracks on there for the “figuring things out” phase Cassie’s BFF has to go through.
What books are you reading (for research or comfort) as you continue the writing process?
Right now, I’m moving into writing a new book set in the summer, but I’m all over reading my favourite fantasy genre. I’ve been reading Nine Tailed by Jayci Lee and loving it so much I’ve got the next book already queued up to go once I get a minute.
What other professions have you worked in? What’s something about you that your readers wouldn’t know?
I have worked many professions; I’ve been in marketing, analysis, branding, floristry, veterinary, landscaping, children’s outreach, oooph, so many. It’s how I get my inspiration and research. I even worked at a cemetery once!
What’s one thing you hope sticks with readers after they finish your book?
I hope readers come away with a cosy sense of satisfaction. I want to be a part of the preparation for the festivities, a snuggly-warm book to curl up with on a not-so-snuggly-warm day, and, most of all, I want my Christmas romance to comfort those in need of comforting, the same way I enjoyed slow-paced romance books during my own personal recovery.
Are you a writer, too? Submit your manuscript to Atmosphere Press.
Atmosphere Press is a selective hybrid publisher founded in 2015 on the principles of Honesty, Transparency, Professionalism, Kindness, and Making Your Book Awesome. Our books have won dozens of awards and sold tens of thousands of copies. If you’re interested in learning more, or seeking publication for your own work, please explore the links below.