Tessa

We chat with Tessa Bailey about going viral, feeding the romance beast, and the art of writing a really good sex scene.

I want you to be so attracted to me you can’t control yourself.” All they have to think about is their body in their moment, and what their body wants. As long as there is very clear consent between both those characters, and it’s very clear they’re both enjoying what they’re doing, it’s always so sexy to me when it’s like, “Just objectify me. You know, 10 people are going to love it, and 10 people are going to hate it. It puts them on this journey they can go and really embrace because they know they’re going to get a happily ever after. They wouldn’t mean anything to me without the characters’ journey together leading up to it. It’s a new readership, and the attitude toward romance in general has shifted, and it’s getting more respect. She’s too young to be a romance reader, but she’s unapologetic in what she likes. Every book I’ve released, I always have to remind myself: You always think everyone hates it, and you actually go out and talk to readers and it’s their favourite book. It was what every author hopes for, that you’re going to have the book that goes viral. I do think us calling it a book “inspired by Schitt’s Creek” happened to land in the moment when that show was having a huge surge in popularity. And while the treatment was successful – “she twisted my neck, and 45 fireworks went off in my spine,” Bailey reports – it hasn’t necessarily alleviated her anxiety. “I’ve just got back from an emergency trip to the chiropractor,” she tells The Globe when reached at her home on Long Island, N.Y.