Like your romance sweet? Spicy? Funny? When it comes to books by bestselling author Tessa Bailey, there's no need to choose! Each of her books takes on romance from a different angle, often throwing in unexpected twists and hilarious circumstances, and always leaving you wanting more. From sports rom coms to beach reads, and even adding in a thriller edge like in My Killer Vacation , Tessa Bailey's name has become synonymous with contemporary romance. So imagine how excited we were when she agreed to pop on over to our very own LitJoy Lounge for a quick Q&A, allowing our readers to get to know the woman behind the romance a bit more!
We have absolutely loved working with Tessa to bring stunning LitJoy Exclusive Editions of her Big Shots series to LitJoy! Fangirl Down and The Au Pair Affair are sports romances with humor, heat, and a lot of heart. Read to the end to learn more about these amazing books by Tessa Bailey!
Q&A with Author Tessa Bailey
Have you gone on any literary-inspired vacations or pilgrimages?
YES. For the release of Hook Line and Sinker, I went to Westport, Washington, where the series is set. It’s a small fishing town and a long drive from Seattle Airport, but worth every second of the drive. When I got to the signing, the books hadn’t arrived, so my hosts drove to every Barnes & Noble in a hundred-mile radius and purchased every copy they had of Hook Line and Sinker, so I would be able to sign books for readers. It was an unforgettable experience.
If you didn’t write, what would you do for work?
If I wasn’t an author, I would be a diabetic educator. My daughter is a Type 1 diabetic and I remember those weeks/months following her diagnosis when we were treading water, trying to learn how to take care of her. I would love to help prepare parents for those challenges.
How do you celebrate when you finish your book?
Usually, with a shower. A shower after finishing a project is unmatched. The water feels better, the soap smells sweeter, the tension drains from my shoulders and goes right down the drain. Then, usually, I have a couple martinis and try not to think about the revisions I will eventually have to do.
If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?
I would tell myself that every once in a while, you will release a book that doesn’t hit the way you wanted it to. People aren’t loving it the way you expected/hoped. But that doesn’t mean they’re counting you out forever, your career isn’t over, and most importantly, you haven’t written your best book yet.
A Peek into the LitJoy Exclusive Editions of Tessa Bailey's Big Shots series...
The Au Pair Affair
A sports rom-com about a burly, surly, single dad who falls head-over-hockey-stick for his quirky live-in nanny...
Tessa Bailey is back in a big way with the second book in her Big Shots series: The Au Pair Affair, a steamy sports rom-com. Join professional hockey player and recently single dad Burgess and his new live-in nanny Tallulah as they navigate their sizzling chemistry, all while raising a preteen who just wants her parents back together. Prepare for the heat in Tessa's newest page turner!
LitJoy Customizations:
- SIGNATURE: signed by the author, Tessa Bailey
- AUTHOR LETTER: exclusive author letter from Tessa Bailey
- CASE WRAP: with design by LitJoy's in-house design team
- PAGE EDGES: digitally designed page edges
- ENDPAPER ART: character and setting art by @arz28
*Our LitJoy Exclusive Edition of The Au Pair Affair is still available for preorder in our LitJoy shop! Snag your copy before it's long gone...
Fangirl Down
A rom-com about a bad boy professional athlete who falls for his biggest fan...
Tessa kicked off her Big Shots series with this steamy sports romance where Wells Whitaker, a former golf prodigy, partners with his loyal fan, Josephine Doyle, in a fiery, heartfelt journey of love and self-discovery. As they join forces to reignite Wells's career, sparks fly, igniting an unexpected romance that blurs the lines between boss and fangirl. Will their passion lead to triumph or downfall? You're about to find out in LitJoy's Fangirl Down Special Edition.
LitJoy Customizations:
- SIGNATURE: signed by the author, Tessa Bailey
- AUTHOR LETTER: exclusive author letter from Tessa Bailey
- CASE WRAP: with design by LitJoy's in-house design team
- PAGE EDGES: digitally designed page edges
- ENDPAPER ART: character and setting art by @arz28
*The LitJoy Exclusive Edition of Fangirl Down was originally part of our To Bee Read Book Box Subscription, and has sold out! Want access to special editions like this one in our entirely customizable quarterly subscription box? Check out more on our TBR page!
Big news! The Tessa Bailey's Big Shots series will return with Dream Girl Drama in 2025!
About the Author
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 her website for a complete list of books.
A huge thank you to Tessa Bailey for connecting with our readers here on the LitJoy Lounge! It's always amazing when authors let us inside their minds a bit, to see the person behind the books we love! Want more of Tessa Bailey? We're excited to announce that she'll be a guest on our LitJoy Podcast this fall—be sure to tune in to hear more about the third entry in Tessa's Big Shots series, her process, books she recommends, and more!
Have questions for Tessa? Drop them in the comments below, and maybe yours will be chosen to ask during the upcoming podcast!
And be sure to pop into the LitJoy Lounge regularly for Author Connections, Q&As, fun articles, and more!
