In Episode 87, Tia Williams (author of Seven Days in June) shares how she wrote such a meaty romance novel and what it's like to be an author with chronic pain.

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Highlights

• Tia's inspiration for Seven Days in June.
• Whether Shane was inspired by anyone in her real life.
• How Tia went about writing a love story with such meat.
• Tia's affection for supporting characters (and her favorite supporting character from Seven Days in June).
• Tia's thoughts on an empowering kind of love (vs. the kind that makes you lose yourself).
• The problematic romance novels of the 1980's.
• Tia's experience pitching The Perfect Find and how it influenced her decision to include publishing industry commentary in Seven Days in June.
• What it's like to be an author (and have a full-time day job) while suffering from chronic migraines.
• Tia's experience talking about books while on dates.
• Sarah's weirdly good luck with books by attorneys turned authors.

Tia's Book Recommendations [26:44]

Two OLD Books She Loves

• I Don't Want to Die Poor by Michael Arceneaux | Buy from Amazon | Buy from Bookshop.org [27:52]
• Florida by Lauren Groff | Buy from Amazon | Buy from Bookshop.org [29:17]

Two NEW Books She Loves

• The Beauty of Living Twice by Sharon Stone | Buy from Amazon | Buy from Bookshop.org [31:24]
• Brat: An 80's Storyby Andrew McCarthy | Buy from Amazon | Buy from Bookshop.org [33:01]

Two Authors She DIDN'T LOVE

• Charles Bukowski | Bret Easton Ellis [35:16]

One NEW RELEASE She's Excited About

• Black Girls Must Die Exhausted by Jayne Allen (September 28, 2021) | Buy from Amazon | Buy from Bookshop.org [37:40]

Last 5 Star Book(s) Tia Read [40:32]

• Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie | Buy from Amazon | Buy from Bookshop.org [40:38]

Other Books Mentioned

• The Accidental Diva by Tia Williams [1:25]
• It Chicks by Tia Williams [1:28]
• Sixteen Candles by Tia Williams [1:28]
• The Perfect Find by Tia Williams [1:32]
• Seven Days in June by Tia Williams [1:57]
• Carry On by Rainbow Rowell [26:46]
• Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell [26:46]
• Fates & Furies by Lauren Groff [29:30]
• Matrix by Lauren Groff (out September 7, 2021) [31:11]
• American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis [36:54]
• Less Than Zero by Bret Easton Ellis [36:18]
• Miracle Creek by Angie Kim (My Review) [38:56]
• The Bad Muslim Discount by Syed Masood [39:09]
• We Should All Be Feminsts by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie [41:02]

About Tia

Website | Instagram

Tia began her career as a beauty editor at YM, Elle, Lucky, Glamour, and Essence. In 2004, her debut novel, The Accidental Diva hit shelves – and she went on to publish the It Chicks series and co-write Iman's The Beauty of Color. Tia's award-winning novel, The Perfect Find, is being adapted for a film starring Gabrielle Union for Netflix. Her latest novel, Seven Days in June (Grand Central Publishing), debuts in June 2021.

Currently an Editorial Director at Estee Lauder Companies, Tia lives in Brooklyn with her daughter and her husband.