Interview with Tessa Bailey
#1 New York Times bestselling author Tessa Bailey can solve all problems except for her own, so she focuses those efforts on stubborn, fictional blue-collar men and loyal, lovable heroines. She lives on Long Island avoiding the sun and social interactions, then wonders why no one has called. Dubbed the “Michelangelo of dirty talk,” by Entertainment Weekly, Tessa writes with spice, spirit, swoon, and a guaranteed happily ever after. Catch her on TikTok at @authortessabailey or check out tessabailey.com for a complete list of books.
The Gloss Book Club: What can you tell our members about your novel Unfortunately Yours?
Tessa Bailey: We have a Navy SEAL turned winemaker who is wildly attracted to a local vineyard heiress, but unfortunately, they are more likely to fight than kiss. At first. When they realize a quickie marriage could benefit them both professionally, they tie the knot to hilarious results, including a prank war and a lot of steam.
TGBC: Where did the inspiration for Unfortunately Yours come from and how did the first book, Secretly Yours, influence this story?
TB: My last series took place in a misty fishing village, and I thought, I would love to head toward the sunshine for a while. When I landed on Napa, the romance just came flooding in. It’s a warm, tipsy hug of a town and the perfect setting for falling in love. I also ADORE a fish out of water story, hence my hulking former Navy SEAL taking up residence among the vines.
TGBC: What does your writing process look like? Do you map each story out from start to finish or do you begin with an idea and see where it takes you?
TB: I always attempt to map out my stories from start to finish, but my characters inevitably take over. Even if I know them inside and out before I start writing, they always surprise me, so I create the tent poles of my plot and let the characters move toward them organically.
TGBC: What did you edit out of this book?
TB: I don’t believe I edited anything out of this book, merely embellished or tweaked. But there is a scene where August gets a chance to put his heroic skills on display by rescuing somebody from a flood and we weren’t sure it fit into a romantic comedy, but I really wanted to keep it because, dammit, heroics are sexy.
TGBC: What appeals to you most about writing romance novels?
TB: They are hopeful, mainly. But they also inspire empathy. By virtue of walking around in someone else’s shoes for thirty chapters, especially seeing them through the vulnerable experience of loving another human, we learn to recognize pain and insecurities in others more easily. I love that. Romance brings people together.
TGBC: How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have?
TB: I wrote two books before my first official one, Protecting What’s His, was published. Those will never see the light of day. One was about a mob boss and the other was about a hockey player. I have also written one sci-fi m/m romance that I will probably never release, because I’m simply not cut out for sci-fi.
TGBC: Will there be further books in the series, A Vine Mess? And if so, how many books do you hope to write?
TB: No, I am going to leave this series as a duology, mainly because I am dying to write some sports romance and am very easily distracted!
TGBC: Any advice you can share with the aspiring writers within our community?
TB: I always give out two pieces of advice. One: You aren’t writing a book for your mother (or best friend or husband or uncle). Stop worrying about what they’re going to think and write the story you need to tell. Two: When you ask for feedback on a manuscript, ask the person to tell you what it GOOD about it. Not what is bad. Go from there.