Tammy L. Bailey - Romance and The Power of Love

Posted on 30th of October, 2016 by Naomi Bolton

Tammy L. Bailey managed to write her debut novel while juggling a full time job, husband and children. Although finding time to write is a challenge for her, she certainly doesn't have any shortage of good ideas or determination. As our author of the day she fills us in about the writers who inspire her, how her years in the army influenced her as a person and writer, as well as what we can expect from her next.

Please give our readers a short introduction to Lord Bachelor

Lord Bachelor is my debut novel about a selfish English Lord, Edmund Rushwood, who has until his 26^th birthday to marry a wealthy bride, or he will lose his entire inheritance. However, he meets a poor American woman, Abby, who challenges his every move. When Edmund agrees to go on an American game show to find his new bride, Abby accidentally ends up on the dating game show as one of his potential brides. What follows is a series of events that will challenge their hearts and what they thought they wanted out of life.

What inspired you to use a dating game show to get your two main characters together?

I originally had Edmund going on a show like The Bachelor. However, after pitching the idea to a literary agent, she said no one wanted to read books about reality shows. I took her word for it and changed the premise into a dating game show. I had to go back and re-write several scenes to make it work. I’m not sure if she was right or wrong. Looking back, I would have asked for a second opinion.

How have your years in the Army shaped you as a person and a writer?

The Army taught me how to fire an M203 Grenade Launcher and repel off a seventy-foot tower. It also taught me to keep fighting, even when I felt like giving up and going home. I think without the Army, I would have given up writing with my first rejection letter and harsh review. Everyone says an author must develop a tough skin to survive. I believe it helps to have a brave, never-give-up attitude, along with a bit of humility.

Lord Bachelor was your debut novel. What was the experience like and what surprised you most from the feedback you received?

It was a dream come true. I’ve been writing for about thirteen years, so seeing it on Amazon was a wonderful, surreal experience.

Of course, I was very nervous to send Lord Bachelor out into the world. What if someone read the book and didn’t like it? I’ve come to realize NOT EVERYONE is going to like my writing or even the stories I write.

Overall, however, I have received terrific feedback and reviews. Lord Bachelor came in second place in the Heart of Excellence, Reader’s Choice Award. The book also received a Crowned Heart Review (4.5 stars) from InD’tale Magazine.

What is the hardest thing about being a writer?

Time! I work full time as a Senior Secretary at a Community College. My work day starts at 5:30 in the morning, and I don’t get home until after 5:30 at night. My husband is a police sergeant, and he works nights. When I get home, it’s dinner, laundry, dishes, and helping the kids with Math homework. So, finding the time to write is my biggest challenge.

Which writers inspire you?

I LOVE Regency romance and historical romance. They are my first love. So, I absolutely love Jane Austen, Charlotte Bronte, and Elizabeth Gaskell. I also started out reading Johanne Lindsey and Lisa Kleypas.

Which actor and actress would you imagine in the roles of Edmund and Abby, should this ever get a movie adaptation?

The actor I imaged was Tom Mison. He portrayed Mr. Bingley in the movie, Lost in Austen. He was fantastic, and I knew I needed to write a character for him. As for Abby, I pictured Hayden Panettiere.

What are you working on right now?

I have a holiday romance coming out on December 2, 2016. It’s called IN MISTLETOE.

Grace Evans is a young woman steady picking up the pieces of everyone else’s life. So, when her younger sister decides to turn into a runaway bride just four weeks before the wedding, Grace, drops everything to chase after her and bring her back home. Only, when the trail leads Grace to Mistletoe, Washington, she finds herself at the mercy of the town’s most handsome and emotionally unavailable bachelor.

Ex-Army officer, Ayden McCabe, has three creeds in life: never make the first move, never fall in love, and never take anyone to Mistletoe’s Christmas Eve Eve Dance. Wanting nothing more than to keep his matchmaking sister from meddling in his personal life, he agrees to help Grace if she agrees to play his girlfriend. Too brunette and meek for his taste, Ayden believes Grace can’t tempt him enough to break any of his creeds. He could not be more wrong.