I always appreciate hearing how other authors navigate the writing life, especially the balance it takes to hold space for creativity amid the everyday. Tracey Mayhew’s simple tip on how to balance writing and life is so simple, you might wonder why you haven’t tried it before.
Tracey Mayhew’s Book & Writing Process
Table of Contents
Q: What is the title of your book, and what is it about?
A: All I Want For Christmas: Jess Harrison returns to her hometown to support her best friend through her marriage break-up after a tragedy drove her away three years ago. She has no intentions of staying, but things start to change for her when she meets a handsome newcomer—and his dog!
There’s something deeply comforting about a return home story—especially when it’s laced with healing and unexpected love. I admire how you’ve layered warmth with emotional depth here.
Publication date: November 2, 2018
Q: What genre is All I Want For Christmas?
A: Small town romance
Small town settings carry such a quiet magic, don’t they? The intimacy of community creates a perfect backdrop for stories of redemption and connection.
Q: What inspired you to write All I Want For Christmas, and how did you come up with the idea for it?
A: First and foremost, I love Christmas! I love watching Hallmark Christmas movies, too, and I wanted to recreate that same atmosphere with the book set in the UK. A big trope in these kinds of stories is the MC coming home and battling her ghosts, and I wanted to explore that trope with Jess.
I feel this! Those cozy, snowy narratives often awaken a longing in us to believe in second chances. Setting it in the UK adds such a lovely, familiar texture too.
Q: What themes and tropes are included in All I Want For Christmas?
A: Family and friendship, grief, allowing yourself to trust those around you, and finding love
These are some of the most tender themes to write about. Grief and trust walk hand in hand, and it’s beautiful when love can gently meet both.
Q: Who is the ideal reader for All I Want For Christmas?
A: Anyone who loves a good romance set in a small town. If you love Hallmark movies, you’ll enjoy this book.
It’s heartening to write for readers who crave comfort and a soft place to land. These stories often give more than entertainment—they offer emotional respite.
Q: Are you a plotter, pantser, or plantser? Share a bit of your writing process.
A: I tend to be a plantser. I start with a plan, but I allow myself (or rather, I allow my characters) to steer me away from the plan sometimes. Sometimes, they know better than I do what their story requires and, when that happens, I can’t fight it; I just have to trust the process.
I completely relate. It’s challenging to follow where the characters lead, but it often reveals truths we didn’t know we were writing toward.
Q: Can you share an instance where real-life events inspired your writing?
A: I don’t know if this counts, exactly, but my travels have definitely inspired my writing. The town of Keldsthwaite, for instance, where All I Want For Christmas is set is based on a village in the Lake District called Glendridding, it’s set on my favourite lake, Ullswater. I knew when I saw that place that I wanted to set my story there.
Settings are powerful carriers for memory and emotion. I love how your connection to Ullswater shaped your fictional world. It’s often those life-changing experiences that anchor our stories.
Q: Have you been able to incorporate your previous experience in your jobs/education in your writing?
A: Oh yes! I’m a teacher in real life, and one of my other books, Lessons in Love, is about a romance between two teachers teaching in a small Cotswolds primary school. While I haven’t shared any of my direct teaching experiences in the story, a lot of what happens in the school is inspired by my day job.
That subtle authenticity shines through when we write from lived rhythms. Even when the moments are fictional, the emotional truths are real.
Q: How do you deal with perfectionism?
A: I used to really struggle with it… until I realised that there is no such thing as perfectionism. When I realised that, writing became a lot easier. As long as I can say I’ve done my best, I’m happy with that.
Yes! There’s real freedom in letting go of perfection. The page becomes more welcoming when we trust that our best is enough.
Q: How do you handle moments when inspiration seems hard to find?
A: I go for a walk and listen to a podcast… I find that taking my mind away from the problem does far more good than trying to force anything.
Such wise advice. Sometimes the best ideas arrive when we step away and let silence or our stories wash over us.
Q: How important are book reviews?
A: Very! Not only do they help with spreading the word about my books, but they also help to know how readers feel about my books. I love seeing people comment on what they love, and it’s also useful to see what people aren’t enjoying so much.
Feedback can be a gift—both the praise and the critique. I appreciate your openness to both sides of the conversation.
Q: How do you balance the demands of writing with other responsibilities?
A: Google Calendar is my best friend! Although that’s not to say that I always stick to my schedule, it helps to know what I have to do in a week, even if it does require juggling a few days around.
I smiled reading this.😍 I find structure grounding too. It’s reassuring to know even flexible schedules can hold space for creativity.
Writing Advice from Tracey Mayhew
Q: If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?
A: You don’t have to write every day. When I first started, I kept hearing that the best way to write a book was to write every day, but that just didn’t work for me, especially as I have a day job. So my advice to my younger self (and to anyone else) would be: write regularly, but not every day.
That’s such a nourishing reminder. A sustainable rhythm is always more powerful than the one we feel pressured to mimic. Consistency is more important than perfection.
Q: What do you need in your writing space to help you stay focused?
I can imagine that your cat‘s presence and a calming scent make the space feel alive with possibility.
A: I need a clear space, a candle or my aromatherapy diffuser, a mug of mint tea, a bottle of water, and my cat, Sue.
Q: Do you celebrate milestones? How important do you believe it is for authors to celebrate when they meet their goals or hit milestones?
A: I do! That usually means that I treat myself to some chocolate! It is important to celebrate the little wins and milestones because this is your journey, and if you’re not celebrating, no one else will celebrate with you.
Yes! We’re not always good at doing this, but small celebrations are soul-fuel, and honoring tiny victories keeps us going toward the bigger ones. Besides, chocolate is always fun. LOL.
Q: What is one writing resource that you couldn’t do without?
A: I have a laptop raiser that I absolutely adore. I have a bad neck, so having the laptop screen raised while I write is invaluable to me. Luckily, I have a portable keyboard, which makes typing easier too!
It’s often the simplest tools that become essential. I love how you’ve adapted your space to care for your body and your words.
Just for Fun
Q: If you could have any superpower, what would it be? Why?
A: I would love to have some kind of elemental powers just because I think it would be so cool!
Ooh! I’m thinking Aang from Avatar: The Last Airbender.
Q: If you could have dinner with any fictional character, who would it be and why?
A: Ooh, that’s a tough one! If I had to choose just one, it would be Bobby Bruna from the Skandar series because I think she’d be really fun and lively. Also, I’d love to try one of her Emergency Sandwiches (IYKYK)!
Love this answer! Those lively, big-hearted characters stay with us long after the page. Sandwiches are fun.
Q: What is your favorite book and why?
A: There are so many books I love, but one of my all-time favourites is Eragon. It really awoke something in me and was the inspiration for me deciding to write. Plus, it’s about dragon riders, and dragons are cool!
The books that awaken something in us are the ones we tell our children about. I love dragons! They have a way of unlocking the imagination in fierce and beautiful ways.
Q: If you were not a writer, what would you want to be and why?
A: I honestly can’t imagine being anything other than a writer! If I had to choose, though, I’d say librarian because what could be better than being surrounded by books and people all day?
Love this image…still surrounded by stories, and remaining part of that magical exchange between reader and word.
Q: What‘s the scariest thing you’ve ever done for fun?
A: Zip-lining! Seeing the ground rush up to meet you is absolutely terrifying, but also a lot of fun!
I’ve always wanted to try, but haven’t made it there yet. LOL.
Q: If your characters hosted a dinner party, who would cause the most chaos and why?
A: Oh, that would be Kate Marsh from the Appleford series because she’d try to get into everyone’s business – she’d only have the best intentions, but I can see her rubbing people up the wrong way!
Characters like Kate are so fun to write. They stir the pot, but often with the best intentions. I imagine her as both chaos and charm.
Q: What’s your writing kryptonite—the one thing that can completely derail your progress?
A: My cat! If I’m writing and my cat comes to sit on my lap, that’s it! I’m pretty much done with writing until she decides she wants to leave!
So many authors have this struggle! There’s no negotiating with a cat once they’ve claimed your lap.
Q: If your characters had access to social media, what kind of content would they post?
A: Kate (Not Just For Christmas) would post about her cat, Luna, for sure! Jess (All I Want For Christmas) would post about her tearooms and the sumptuous food they offer. Sofia (Crazy For You) would post about her pregnancy and then her baby. I think most of my other characters wouldn’t be that bothered by social media.
It’s delightful how well you know your characters’ lives beyond the page. These little details make them feel real.
Q: If your keyboard could talk, what would it say about your writing habits?
A: Probably that I need to write more often than I do!
That gentle nudge is familiar. But I believe the pauses between writing are necessary for clarity and creativity.
Let’s Connect with Tracey Mayhew
Q: What are you working on next?
A: I am currently working on two books: The Dating Game, the next book in my Appleford series, and Rivers of Blood & Fire, the last book in my current fantasy series.
What a rich balance—romance and fantasy. It’s inspiring to see you moving fluidly between genres while staying true to your storytelling voice.
About All I Want For Christmas
Will Christmas be the only thing Jess finds herself falling in love with this festive season?
After a devastating loss tore her family apart, Jess Harrison left the lakeside village she calls home and hasn’t looked back. Three years on, she returns to help Holly Richards, her best friend and business partner, through her own rough patch and quickly finds herself falling back into village life as if she’s never been away.
But a chance meeting with a handsome stranger soon has Jess confronting her own ghosts of Christmases past and she finds herself accepting his offer to help her rediscover her Christmas spirit.
Can friendships, both old and new, help restore Jess’ faith in Christmas and will she find love along the way?
About Tracey Mayhew
I’m a cat and dog mama and love spending time with my menagerie of furry friends. I love to get out and about in the British countryside when I can and my travels often inspire my writing – especially if it involves a quaint village or a castle ruin! Besides that, I run a YouTube channel where I post a new video each week, sharing my love of reading and writing.
Connect with Tracey Mayhew on her Website | Author Central | Facebook | YouTube | Instagram
