Q&A with Author Tina Gallagher
Tina Gallagher is a superstar lifesaver, and when she stepped in very last minute at Charm City Romanticon to sign for an author who had to cancel (for very good reasons I’ll get into another time), I wanted to throw my arms around her and hug the frack out of her. I adore Tina! She has spoiled me many times with beautiful signed paperbacks, and every time I see her, she makes me feel instantly at ease.
And one of the wonderful things about her stepping up and driving in to sign at CCR, was seeing her sign next to one of her besties. So what did I do to make sure Tina’s Spotlight shone as brightly as she is? I asked her author bestie for an intro for Tina.
And Cece Mecca stepped up beautifully! So, in Cece’s words, her intro to Tina and Tina’s Spotlight Q&A:
I am a rare breed of extroverted author, the kind that loves being out and about, meeting people, talking to crowds. CCR is the highlight of my year. So having an author bestie who lives locally, one I can meet up with for lunch and travel to author events around the world alongside is a dream come true. For me, that friend is Tina Gallagher who I met after being invited to a local writer's retreat.
Fresh off meeting Sam Heughan (no kidding) I entered the writer's cabin, regaled them with my story of how good Sam looked (and smelled, etc.) there was one person I connected with the most.
During the next few years, Tina and I grew closer, especially as we both left our day jobs to write full time. She is thoughtful, funny, smart, a great writer, and-- best of all-- the most easy-going and perfect travel buddy one could ask for. She even gave the ultimate sacrifice last summer for my new romantasy series by relinquishing a full day in York, England to pub crawl the city helping me find a "portal" to an immortal world. It was hard work, visiting all those English pubs, let me tell you. But Tina did it without complaint and even found me the perfect portal pub.
This summer I look forward to another England trip with my author buddy as we bounce new story ideas off each other and, I for one, can not wait!
Brayzen Bookwyrm: How did you get started writing?
Tina G: Back in middle school, my best friend and I used to write stories for our favorite soap opera couple. Technically, we were writing fan fiction before it was a thing. :)
Once the soap opera lost its appeal, I kept writing short stories just for myself. Years later, that same friend mentioned she joined Romance Writers of America. At that point, I was married with two small children and wasn’t writing. But she sparked the flame back to life and I started working on my first book. It was a slow process and I didn’t manage to join RWA until a couple years later. But once I did, it was a game changer. I met other authors and really improved my craft and also learned the business of writing.
Where do you recommend a new reader start in your backlist?
Even though my series include interconnected standalones, I always recommend starting at book #1. So for the Carolina Waves series, that would be On the Mend, a second chance, single dad, baseball romance. And for the Peaches & Pole series, Thick Girls Pole, a friends-to-lovers, curvy heroine, nerdy hero, pole dance romance.
Do you have a favorite/most memorable scene/ part in a novel you've written?
I loved the bonus scene for On the Mend. It takes place at Dan and Sabrina’s wedding, and it was such a fun scene to write. Dan is a confident, major league baseball player who was an emotional mess prior to the ceremony. And it only got worse at the ceremony when Sabrina does something special for his daughter.
Is there a part of your career as an author you thought was going to be difficult but has wound up being really wonderful?
As bizarre as it sounds, one of the things I dreaded at the start of my career was sending out a newsletter. Aside from the fact I had no idea how to set up a welcome sequence and such, I didn’t think I had anything to share that my readers would be interested in reading about. But after procrasting for what seemed like forever, I made it a goal to send one newsletter out a month. I was surprised when people not only opened and read it, they emailed me with comments. It’s many years later and thanks to my author friends, I’ve streamlined my content, decided to send it twice a month…and my readers seem to love it.
Are there specific themes, tropes, or subgenres you’re more drawn to as an author, reader, or audiobook listener?
I love a second chance romance. There’s something about righting old wrongs that gets me every time.
What is your favorite part about being an author?
I love the flexibility. I can write in my pajamas, in a coffee shop, on a plane, or in the middle of the night. It’s a career that fits my life instead of the other way around.
What do you like to read/listen to? Any favorite authors you want to send a shout-out to?
I mostly read what I write, steamy contemporary romance. My reading time is limited these days, so I try to give priority to my friends’ books. Cissy Mecca, Maria Luis, and Avery Maxwell are three that come to mind.
Is there someone(s) who’s been influential in your life as it relates to your career?
Without a doubt, Cecelia Mecca. When we first met, I was a trad author and she was just starting out in indie publishing. When I decided to give indie publishing a try, she was always there to answer all my questions and bounce ideas off. And many years later, she’s one of my best friends and a great travel companion…and is still there to bounce ideas off. I’m also in two masterminds that meet a couple times a month that have been so supportive.
How have your life experiences influenced your career as an author?
Definitely. I played baseball and softball growing up, and I love the sport, so it’s not surprising my first series is baseball romance. The characters in my second series are connected through a pole dance fitness studio. I do pole dance and the studio I attend is such a welcoming, inclusive space, I wanted to write about it.
This or That: 7 random questions that may or may not be book related:
Kindle or Paperback: That’s a hard one. I prefer a paperback, but love the convenience of a Kindle.
Beach or Mountain Vacation: Beach
Dogs or Cats: Dogs
Ice Cream or Cake: Cake
Action Flick or Rom-Com: Rom-Com
Tea or Coffee: Neither…McDonald’s diet Coke is my caffeine of choice :)
Road Trip or Air Travel: Road Trip
Connect with Tina Gallagher
You can find more information about Tina, her books, and how to connect with her on social media here:
