T L Swan: Don’t Be Afraid to Take Risks

T L Swan is a Wall Street Journal, BookTok, International, and #1 Amazon bestselling author. With millions of books sold, her titles are currently translated into 11 languages and have hit #1 on Amazon in the U.S., U.K., Canada, Australia, and Germany. Tee resides on the South Coast of NSW, Australia with her husband and their three children where she is living her own happy ever after with her first true love. Follow her on Facebook and Instagram.

T L Swan

In this interview, T L discusses the passion she had for writing her new contemporary romance novel, The Bonus, her advice for other writers, and more!

Name: T L Swan
Book title: The Bonus
Publisher: Arndell
Release date: August 13, 2024
Genre/category: Contemporary Romance
Previous titles (if any) by the author: The Stopover, The Takeover, The Casanova, The Do-over, Miles Ever After, Mr. Masters, Mr. Spencer, Mr. Garcia, My Temptation, The Italian, Ferrara, Stanton Adore, Stanton Unconditional, Stanton Completely, Stanton Bliss, Marx Girl, Gym Junkie, Dr. Stanton, Play Along, and Our Way.
Elevator pitch for the book (1-2 sentence pitch): After hiding her love for her billionaire boss, Gabriel Ferrara, for seven years, Grace has had enough. She decides to quit her job and start her life over in a quaint town in Maine. On the night before she leaves she has an unexpected encounter with Gabriel that leads to an unforgettable night that changes everything.

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What prompted you to write this book?

As with most of my books, this started as a dream. The powerful CEO and his forbidden Personal Assistant. The dynamic between them was fire and it stuck with me for weeks until I finally couldn’t resist any longer, and started writing it as a short story for my annual Christmas book. It wasn’t until I was halfway through it that I realised it was actually the story of Gabriel Ferrara, the rival of the Miles brothers in my Miles High Club series.

By the end of that short story, I knew I couldn’t leave it there; there was so much more to tell and I had to give them their own book. Dreams are where I get a lot of my story ideas, and for this book, I was eager to play with power dynamics and have fun bringing this fiery billionaire CEO to his knees.

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

I knew from chapter six that this was going to be the book I launched into traditional publishing with. I loved them so much and I knew that they were the couple who were going to lead me into the next phase of my writing career. My idea to publication process is usually a much shorter turnaround, so working on this book between my other writing deadlines was a completely different process than what I’m used to. However, despite the longer process, I always had a very clear vision for this book and am so happy with how it came together.

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

Yes and no. Having been a primarily e-book-based author in the past, one of the biggest differences I found was the longer timeframe in which it takes for the book to release. Printing and distribution to bookstores takes time and added to that, audio production and German and Spanish translations were in progress. I have to admit that having to wait nearly killed my impatient little heart. However, even though I’m desperate to share this book with readers, it’s well worth the wait for it to be more easily available for paperback readers and is definitely a pinch me moment as an author.

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

Absolutely! I initially thought this book was going to be dark and moody and yet it’s actually turned out to be one of the most heart-warming stories I’ve ever written. One of the biggest surprises in writing this book was how Gabriel’s character developed. Starting off as this alpha, grumpy CEO, he ended up surprising me by transforming into something entirely different. It was such a thrill to see his journey unfold—it added so much depth and emotion to the story. Gabriel’s evolution really brought the whole narrative to life in ways I hadn’t expected when I first started writing.

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

I hope readers will experience the same passion, heartache, and excitement I felt writing The Bonus. It’s honestly one of my all-time favorite books, and I’m thrilled to share it. This story means a lot to me, it blends everything I adore in a romance novel. There’s sizzling chemistry, witty banter, and a truly romantic love story. I can’t wait for everyone to fall in love with these characters just as hard as I did.

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

Trust your gut and your unique voice and storytelling instincts. Write the book you want to read. Writing is deeply personal, and your voice is what sets your stories apart. Embrace your creativity, stay true to your vision, and don’t be afraid to take risks with your storytelling. Every writer has a voice that deserves to be heard, so write with passion and authenticity.

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