Book Tour – The Scent Of Inspiration By Phillipa Ashley

So, while the idea of writing a book about a flower farm appealed to my romantic side I also knew I’d have to do a lot of research. On the up side, this involved a trip to one of my favourite places in the world: the Isles of Scilly, where my new Little Cornish Isles series is set.

The mild climate of this beautiful archipelago off the coast of Cornwall, means that stunning scented narcissi can be grown all from October to April. There are many varieties and colours, from snowy Paper Whites to vibrant orange and yellow Soleil D’Or. The blooms are flown out to the mainland UK just when we all need a splash of colour most and in time for Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day and Easter.

Years ago, there used to be scores of narcissi farms across the isles but these days, only a handful survive. However, they are thriving. In September 2017. I spent a day chatting to local growers and visiting their farms. When the heavens opened on me, followed by glorious blue skies, I had a small taste of the conditions they have to deal with while producing the perfect bloom, at the perfect time, for us to enjoy. My research on flowers and growing narcissi commercially has also given me a new appreciation of gardeners and a healthy respect for flower farmers.

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‘Spring on the Little Cornish Isles: The Flower Farm’ is the second book in the series. Each full-length novel is a standalone romantic story set on a different fictional island. You can also catch up with favourite characters from previous books and see how they’re getting on. The Flower Farm is set against the backdrop of a fictional narcissi farm on the island of St Saviour’s and follows the story of flower farmer, Jess, her twin brother, Will, and their new recruit, Gaby.

There’s a lot of laughter in the story. After getting a soaking and being pictured on the farm website with scraggy hair and waterproof trousers, I soon realised you need a good sense of humour to work in all weathers in the outdoors! The novel also contains some emotional themes that took me to places I hadn’t expected. While I was writing it, it was impossible not to see the rhythm of the seasons as a positive metaphor for the cycle of life – or to think deeply about what making the most of life really means.

Not only did my visit inspire my writing, but also made me fall a little bit more in love with my garden. So, when I returned, I bought some hardier varieties of daffodils and dwarf narcissi and planted them on a cold November day.