Through the Seasons of Mayfield: Lorraine Buxton Reflects on Her Latest Novel

Lorraine Buxton returns to the cherished village of Mayfield in Mayfield Blooms & Balloons – a deeply moving and emotionally rich continuation of her much-loved series. Spanning a full year, the story follows the lives, losses, joys and turning points of a cast of familiar faces as they navigate the highs and heartbreaks of family life, friendship and new beginnings.

With her signature blend of tenderness, honesty and compassion, Lorraine captures the essence of what makes a community and what helps us keep going when everything changes. We spoke to Lorraine about the emotional heart of Mayfield Blooms & Balloons, the realities behind her fiction, and the enduring power of love in all its forms.

This story carries such emotional depth – love, loss, hope and healing. What inspired this particular chapter in the lives of Mayfield’s residents?

In the previous two books there had been some significant changes in the lives and homes of the characters. I felt that this chapter needed to bring together those changes. I had to consider how those characters would be affected by them and what it would be like continuing to live within the Mayfield community. I think many of us go through changes like these, and we have to find ways of dealing with them and adapting our lives, our homes, and sometimes our mindset in order to cope.

The story spans a full year, with changing seasons reflecting life’s transitions. Did you always envision the story unfolding over that kind of time frame?

I thought originally I would start the story at a different point in the year. But thinking about the devastating incident in the previous book, it felt more appropriate to start in that timeframe. So I let the ideas take me throughout a whole year of events, celebrations, and village life.

Many readers will feel deeply connected to the themes of family, grief, and moving forward. Were there personal experiences or emotions you drew upon while writing this book?

I find I always draw upon personal experience for the emotional lows and the highs. But I do try to imagine how my character would cope, react, or deal with that experience. The person I am writing about has been given their own character and background, and if I do my job correctly, the reader will know, or at least imagine, what that person would do in real life.

Although each person is fictional, and we can play around with human behaviour, I try to make my characters as true to life as possible. I want them to be ‘human’. To be relatable to the reader. I have been asked if I base any of my characters on people I know. I don’t, but I do think of certain traits the people I know have, and I try to build upon that. I believe people are so individual and unpredictable, and so to be believable, my characters have to be like that too.

Mayfield Blooms & Balloons balances moments of quiet grief with bursts of community spirit and joy – how do you approach writing that emotional balance?

I find life is like that, isn’t it? One minute you may be overwhelmed with grief, and the next you may be reminiscing with someone and be smiling and laughing at the memories you have. If you are going through a particularly hard time, I think it helps to know it won’t last forever. It may feel that way, but life moves on, change comes, and there will be brighter days.

Some scenes are incredibly moving. Was there a particular chapter or moment that was especially emotional for you to write?

When I am writing, I am in that moment and eager to get to the next, but sometimes when I read back what I have written, I find it’s emotional. The most emotional chapters for me are the ones where the characters don’t believe in themselves or think that others don’t believe in them. That comes from my own personal beliefs, and the writing probably expresses that clearly.

One of the book’s strengths is its portrayal of family relationships in all their complexity. What do you hope readers take away from those dynamics?

I hope that readers see the family relationships as representative. Families are messy, relationships are messy, and I hope that I portray that in my books. I think Mayfield is a magical place, but I try to be more down to earth with the interactions between the characters. I think the relationship between the sisters changes throughout each story. Each one depending and relying upon the other. New romantic relationships can be hard to navigate, and I hope I have been fair with my interpretation of that.

Mayfield Book Corner, Lorraine Buxton

This is part of a continuing series – how has your connection to Mayfield and its characters evolved as you’ve revisited them in each book?

Mayfield Eats & Treats, Lorraine Buxton

Yes, this is my third visit to Mayfield, and each book has the shop or the cafe that is central to its story. The first visit was to Mayfield Book Corner, and the story was about two sisters and their relationship to Mayfield. Many of the same characters are woven throughout the three books, but the second story was about the owner of Eats & Treats, the cafe in Mayfield. Her story was about the way a cafe becomes a hub for the community, and villages depend upon those places. So no matter what is going on in their personal lives, they show up and show concern for others in their community. But in small villages it is difficult to hide any discretion or secrets. So I wanted to show how individuals, families and groups come together to support those they care for.

This, the third venture into Mayfield, introduces a new shop, Blooms & Balloons, and a few new characters and follows the timeline of the previous book, so I feel it brings the story and the whole community together. I had thought this may be the last visit to Mayfield, but who knows?

Your stories offer comfort without shying away from real-life challenges. What draws you to writing about life in this honest and heartfelt way?

Mayfield feels like a warm hug, and I do think such places exist. But even in beautiful places, in traditional households, and within caring families, there is often upheaval. Tragedy, domestic abuse, violence, betrayal, hardship, infidelity and loss can happen to anyone. As will the celebrations, anniversaries, weddings and births. Life is unpredictable and unfair, and for many it’s incredibly hard; it’s how we deal with it and how we find and accept support from others that can help. I wanted to show that in my stories. I wanted them to be honest. I hope they are.

When you’re not writing about Mayfield, what brings you peace or sparks your creativity in the real world?

I love being in nature. For most of the year I live with my husband in a caravan by the side of a lake. My view is different every morning. Sometimes the lake is full of wildlife, and the water is constantly changing depending upon the weather. We can go for walks around the site and the other lakes and be surrounded by nature. I find it calming and grounding.

I love gardening, reading and, of course, writing. I am constantly writing in my head, and eventually it goes on to paper or my laptop. My go-to is usually poetry. I’ve written poems since I was about eight years old. I find the rhythm of poetry soothing. Being with my family brings me peace, especially if we are all together, because then I know where everyone is and how they are, and I don’t have to worry about them.

Where can readers connect with you and stay updated on your future writing and Mayfield’s continuing story?

I do use Facebook to post information about upcoming book releases, and they can find me under Lorraine Buxton Author or Rainbow Lovers. I am on Instagram and, of course, Amazon. My books and some information about me are on there, and anyone can follow me there.