Interview with Hana, Author of Willow

An emotional story of healing, resilience, friendship, and love, where heartbreak, hope, and a loyal dog redefine connection.
on May 17, 2026

Frontlist: Willow explores love through healing, companionship, and an unexpected four-legged connection. What inspired you to tell a romance story where emotional recovery takes center stage?

Hana: As someone who enjoys the aspect of romance and love a little bit more than an average person, I’ve spent my days watching and reading cheesy romance novels, the classic “confession” scenes, but most stories focused on the bright aspects, forgetting that love was for all the shades under the sky. Fantasizing about a handsome knight in shining armor or a boy who’d be head over heels used to be my main idea of romance. Little did I know, I’d look for a humble connection, a silent shoulder on whom I could lean the most during this current time. This made me think, why not write a character who gives the same support to someone, as imagination knows no bounds?

Frontlist: Hazel and Haru are both carrying emotional wounds. How did you approach building characters whose journeys feel relatable to modern readers navigating heartbreak and loneliness? 

Hana: The characters whom I love- Hazel and Haru, were actually one of the easiest to write. One of the main reasons why romance is a satisfying genre to read is that none of it is inclined to reality. No person is unscarred, unscathed, and left untouched by life. The main goal as an author for me was to give a protagonist who would let a reader know, “Hey! You're not the only one! I’m in this too!” As a person who looks into emotions in the past, it has let me create personalities that feel like a warm hug or a cup of hot chocolate!

Frontlist: Willow, the dog, becomes more than just a pet in the story. What role did you want this character to play in redefining love and connection?

Hana: Willow, to those who have read the work and have looked into the last page, is the female embodiment of my beautiful chaos, Scooby. After severe mental health struggles, the thought of having someone close again made my heart race, not in a good way. Yet, the first time I held him in my arms, this…love took over me and gave me a reason to live. He became my good luck charm. Every day, he would be my reminder to try a little bit more. Willow, in this story, is as the name suggests – strength and resilience. Many assume that when you love or want to live another day for someone, it would be a person, but sometimes, it could also be a little paw.

Frontlist: “The Reader of Tomorrow” often seeks stories that feel emotionally authentic. How did you balance romance with themes of self-discovery and healing?

Hana: Self-discovery and healing were the main parts; romance was a bonus. As a human who has dabbled in what my hand could reach, I am still discovering myself. It took me fifteen years to love my untamable hair and even more to embrace being alone. I love to write and sing, but I also love cooking, baking, and swimming! The list is endless. I wanted healing to be a part of the story to give my inner child a huge hug and tell her, “We made it super duper far! It’s going to be okay.”

Romance was my idea of what we call fairy dust. But more than romance, Haru and Hazel share a valuable friendship and connection. That’s what mattered a lot to me.

Frontlist: Hazel’s life changes after loss and betrayal. How important was it for you to portray resilience and second chances in her journey? 

Hana: The most important. Valuable connections have always been a luxury to the closest ones, and I have always learned a lesson in my life so far. I remember crying all night long over my best friend, when I was the only one who thought of us that way, and would constantly question myself if I had done something wrong. But repeatedly, I would be told only one thing.

Don’t stop travelling just because you took the wrong train.

It just meant one thing: one person or a few people should not define the entire human race. I knew there was a possibility of getting hurt again, but I would be losing out on so much more if I stopped myself right there. And I wanted to share this with everyone who went through similar things.

Frontlist: Haru comes across as caring and emotionally available, yet vulnerable in his own way-what inspired his character, and what does he represent in the story?

Hana: Two different people inspired Haru. My mother and an old friend — K. Haru’s character may seem simple at first glance, yet it’s one of the most complex emotions a person deals with. The heaviness of past mistakes defines the current them, being the shoulder to everyone yet breaking down when alone.

My mother, as long as I can remember, has been one of the strongest people I’ve ever met. She inspired the support and affection that Haru gives Hazel. An old friend, the most childlike person I know, yet carried a heavy burden and had his own share of troubles. Both of them had their vulnerable times, yet they rose to the challenge without fail. Seeing them made me want to build characters who are not labeled as strong or weak, just human.

Frontlist: Romance fiction today is evolving beyond idealized love stories. How does Willow reflect a more emotionally grounded understanding of relationships? 

Hana: Willow is not sunshine and daisies. It’s brutally truthful in a few chapters, as mentioned by readers who even criticized me for including them in the overall story. A few chapters do make you cry after you bond with the characters, but as you take a break, it makes you ponder deeper. Relations don’t die if love is strong enough. Loving someone also means learning how to let go and make peace with it. Romance is a section of love, but facing the deeper part needs a bit of courage.

Frontlist: If readers finish Willow carrying one lasting feeling or message, what would you hope stays with them long after the final page?

Hana: To all the readers who finished Willow, I hope you continue to carry faith in the idea of love and compassion, although all your previous attempts have not been successful. If we don’t love, who will?