Interview with Tammy L. Bailey

Author of In Mistletoe

Where are you from originally and where do you reside now?

I was born and raised in a very small town called Appomattox, Virginia. It’s a rural historical town where everyone knows everyone. I now reside near Cleveland, Ohio.

If you currently reside somewhere besides where you were born, what’s the story that lead from there to here?

I left Appomattox the day after I graduated high school and moved to Ohio with my dad. After joining the military and spending three years at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii and almost two years at Ft. Benning, Georgia, I returned to Ohio where I joined the Ohio Air National Guard. I soon met my husband who was serving in the Ohio Army Guard. The rest is history.

What made you decide to write and publish your first book?

I’m such a romance junkie. Whatever I read or watch on TV must have a romantic element. Many shows or movies I watch help motivate me to write my own stories. My first full-length book was a historical romance. It may never see the light of day; however. Soon after, I wrote a holiday romance after binge-watching Hallmark Christmas movies. It took about six months and twenty rejections letters before I found In Mistletoe a home.

How would you describe your books to first time readers?

I enjoy putting a lot of dialogue and humor in my books. I love characters who interact with tons of witty banter. Basically, “historical and contemporary fiction with clever, romantic, and unexpected escapes combining delicious tension and laugh out loud humor.”

Who do you feel is most likely to connect with the topics you write about?

Women (and men) who love romance and want to connect with characters who have obstacles to overcome before they can find true love.

What unexpected or surprising thing did you learn during the process of writing and publishing?

I believe the one surprising thing I’ve learned is how important it is to maintain confidence during the process. Writer’s block can be detrimental. Writer’s doubt can be fatal.

If you could, what advice would you give to your past self before embarking on this journey?

Keep your head up and forge ahead. It’s very easy to listen to the naysayers or drown in the bad reviews. There’s a song by Garth Brooks called, “The River.” It’s about never giving up on your dream.

How many people would you ideally like to reach with your books?

Is a million too much? Seriously, I think every writer wants to have over 100,000 followers and a blue checkmark by their name. However, I’m ecstatic if I can reach one reader who tells me they connected so much with my characters, they cried.

What has been the biggest challenge and frustration during the process to date?

Time. I work full time as a nursing secretary in a community college, so I sometimes have to wait until the weekend to write. If my characters can’t wait that long to be heard, I’ve stayed up all night writing and then crawled into work the next day. Sometimes, there just isn’t enough coffee.

What’s your biggest strengths when it comes to book a) writing, b) publishing and c) marketing?

I do enjoy creating marketing pieces for my books. I’ve built book trailers, GIFs, and graphics to put on social media for all my books. As well, I’ve created book covers for two books I self-published. I would like to take more classes to learn how to make books covers for other authors.

What’s your biggest weakness when it comes to book a) writing, b) publishing and c) marketing?

Sales and using social media are two of my biggest weaknesses. I’m on Twitter but I’d rather talk Columbus Blue Jackets Hockey than share book links.

When do you think you will write your next book?

I’m currently about 18K words into writing a contemporary romance about a young woman who finds her life turned upside down during Mercury Retrograde. I’m not sure if I’m going to make this a novella or a full-length novel.

Are you self published or did you use a hybrid publisher, or a traditional publisher?

I’m both self-published and published through two small traditional publishers. My goal is to find a place in the Big 5. Until then, I will probably keep self-publishing.