Julie Tieu: On the Intersection of Love and Chaos

Julie Tieu is a Chinese American writer, born and raised in Southern California. When she is not writing or working as a college counselor, she is reading, on the hunt for delicious eats, or dreaming about her next travel adventure. She lives in the Los Angeles area with her high school crush husband and two energetic daughters. Find her on Twitter and Instagram.

Julie Tieu

In this post, Julie discusses wanting to write about weddings with her new romance novel, Fancy Meeting You Here, what it was like asking her publisher for an extension for the first time, and more!

Name: Julie Tieu
Literary agent: Laura Bradford, Bradford Literary Agency
Book title: Fancy Meeting You Here
Publisher: Avon
Release date: November 7, 2023
Genre/category: Romance
Previous titles: The Donut Trap, Circling Back to You
Elevator pitch for the book: Wedding season collides with a political campaign when florist Elise Ngo pairs up with grumpy groomsman Ben Yu to help their friends get married and Ben’s mom’s re-election in this 27 Dresses-inspired romcom.

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What prompted you to write this book?

I’ve always loved weddings, so it was a topic I’ve been waiting to write about. I’ve been lucky to have been a part of many weddings, some as a florist’s assistant and some as a bridesmaid. There was a year where I was a bridesmaid three times. I wanted to write about the love and chaos that often happens behind the scenes.

How long did it take to go from idea to publication? And did the idea change during the process?

I pitched the idea around September 2021 with a fairly detailed synopsis. I turned in my draft November 2022 and finished copyedits around February 2023. I didn’t veer too much from my original pitch, though I was tempted to when I had self-doubts about it. I’m happy I pushed through and produced the book I had envisioned.

Were there any surprises or learning moments in the publishing process for this title?

My team at Avon was really supportive throughout the process, as they had during my previous books. Fancy was the first time I had to ask for an extension, and I was really appreciative that my team was willing to work with me so that I felt confident with the final result.

Were there any surprises in the writing process for this book?

I think the biggest surprise was that I didn’t have to do any significant rewrites, which I had to do for my previous books. I was so relieved!

What do you hope readers will get out of your book?

This book is a romcom, so I hope readers will fall in love with Elise and Ben as they fall in love. It’s also a book about friendship and I hope readers will have fun and laugh with this tight group of BFFs.

If you could share one piece of advice with other writers, what would it be?

Having writer friends you trust, who want to help you succeed is a lifeline during the highs and lows of your publishing journey. Choose wisely and nurture those relationships. 

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