Q&A: author Emma Cowell

Lucy NathanNews - Interviews Tuesday, 6th May 2025

The author of Under the Lemon Tree tells BookBrunch about love, grief, and her long-term relationship with Greece

Could you tell us what Under the Lemon Tree is about, and what inspired it? 
My fourth novel is about self-discovery and healing and coming to terms with loss. It is a common theme in all of my books along with a romantic element, though they are very different stand-alone stories. The island of Agistri inspired me - my writing always begins with a place that burrows beneath my skin and urges me to explore it. Under the Lemon Tree is about family secrets and loss featuring a sibling relationship - a male and female set of twins. Twins feature frequently in Greek mythology, which is a passion of mine. I also have twin godchildren, cousins and friends, and it’s a fascinating bond. I wanted to pay homage to a lot of my Greek friends with their incredible familial bonds and the conflict and comedy that naturally arises from that.

Under the Lemon Tree is set on the Greek island Agistri, and your other books are also set in Greece - how does the Grecian setting inspire your work and how do you research?
I’m in a long-term relationship with Greece and it was love at first sight! Something about the culture and history speaks to me and I’m in awe of the pride so many Greeks have in their country and flag. The climate and food are of course heavenly, but it is such a romantic place - especially the mainland. I’m ashamed to say my research process consists mainly of sitting in tavernas, ordering delicious food and people-watching for hours on end. It’s a way to immerse myself in the culture and rhythm of Greek life. I also ask my Greek friends endless questions and often the amusing things they tell me end up in one of my books. I’ve written chunks of every novel so far in Greece, usually on a research trip to the place it’s set. There is something about being where you’re writing about that changes the experience significantly. Not that the writing comes easy, but it perhaps comes easier...

What's your writing process? 
I have a full-time day-job, so I write in the evenings and weekends - there is no such thing as spare time in my life! I’m a very visual person and need to counter my ADHD with sensory tools that I’ve learned work for me. I make a musical playlist for each book, choose a scented candle to light when I open my laptop and make a mood board of photographs of the place I’m writing about. It’s all part of the world building for me, setting the stage for the book so I can dive in immediately. It also helps me switch off the excess noise in my brain, allowing me to focus on the storytelling. I’m not a plotter, but always have an idea of the beginning, middle and ending of the book when I start, but I enjoy letting the characters lead me where they want. Sometimes I have to temper their wanderlust by plotting with bullet points a few chapters ahead, otherwise they’d meander around Greece forever.

One of the main themes of Under the Lemon Tree is finding joy in life again after grief - how did you tackle the theme of grief, and why do you feel it's so important to depict the possibility of finding happiness after hard times?
We all need hope, it’s what gets us through the day and out of bed in the mornings. I know from my personal experience of grief that when you are in the thick of it, you can’t imagine ever feeling joy again or how you could function properly again. Grief and bereavement are sadly something we can all relate to in one form or another and being authentic is so important for me as a writer. It’s not only writing about what you know, but what you feel. The issues I feature in my novels I research if it’s not my own experience. Some of the topics, especially grief, have resonated with readers, and I am so grateful to those who send me messages about their very precious memories of someone they’ve lost or another issue that they relate to featured in a storyline. It’s a reminder of the power and responsibility an author has with each word they set to the page.

What writers and artists have inspired you? 
There are so many writers who inspire me, especially Margaret Atwood and Joanne Harris, but reaching back to the first time I read Jane Austen, I felt changed forever. Plus, I’m named after the novel Emma, so I feel great affection for her work. Others I admire hugely have become dear friends, even before I started my author journey like Santa Montefiore and Adriana Trigiani - they have both been such generous cheerleaders of my books and I am grateful beyond measure for their wisdom and support.

What do you have planned for the future?
More corners of Greece to explore between the pages and sweeping love stories set in stunning places! I’m also planning to spend more time in Greece, so it’s less of a long-distance love affair. I’m currently writing my fifth novel and there’s already another story nudging forwards for book six, but it will have to wait!

Under the Lemon Tree by Emma Cowell is published by Avon Books on 8 May.