Welcome, friend! Today I am chatting with author Anna Gomez about her book, My Goodbye Girl. This is a contemporary romance fiction about star-crossed travelers. Let’s chat with Anna and learn more about the book.
Get to know the author: Anna Gomez
Welcome Anna! Tell me and my readers a bit about yourself!
Hi there! Thank you so much for having me. I’m Anna Gomez, a romance and women’s literature author who also writes under the pen name, Christine Brae. I live in Chicago, am a mother of three and a full-time career woman.
What inspired you to write this book?
I used to travel to one place in Europe to meet some friends twice a year for many years. As time went by, I found myself changing and evolving despite going to the same place each and every time. I also learned so much about love and friendship through my experiences with other cultures and personalities.
I thought it would be nice to write about that experience. Maybe put a little bit of myself in the character of an author who travels around doing book signings and the guy who falls head over heels in love with her. While meeting each other in really cool places and getting to know each other, they realize how different their priorities are.
A romance author and a scientist? A comedy of errors, an opposites-attract type of love story.
And why not write a love letter to the book community as well by telling readers about the reality we face as authors?
How long did it take you to write this book, from the first idea to the last edit?
The average time it takes me to write a book is about one year – from the first idea to the last edit. I can normally finish a story in six months. And then the rest is a back and forth between my publisher and my editor. That can take a long, long time, and involves an initial clash of ideas and an eventual compromise aimed at making my story the best it can be. I have a full-time job that is quite demanding, and so I can really only write on weekends and during time off on vacation.
What makes your story unique?
My Goodbye Girl is a trip around the world through the eyes of two people who meet in different places and fall in love. Its characters are unique – a scientist who is pragmatic and careful and a head in the clouds romance author who doesn’t deal in relationships. The scenery alone, is vivid and picturesque. The story is both hopeful and tragic, and there are so many romantic, swoony moments. I’ve also been told that my words are quite poetic – that makes me so happy.
Who would enjoy reading your book?
Any lover of contemporary romance who appreciates the unpredictability of life as well as women’s literature readers who enjoy stories about a woman’s growth and evolution will enjoy Tessa’s journey.
What’s something you hope readers would take away from it?
When I first started writing this book, I wanted to write about a romantic romp around the world. And then there were things that happened around me that year, making me realize just how brief and precious life is. I want the readers to live their lives to the fullest. To close their eyes and jump in, to revel in spontaneity and to never regret anything they’ve done for love.
Do you have a favourite quote or scene in the book that you find yourself going back to?
I do and I will put it in the excerpt. I love this quote:
“Of all the places you’ve taken me to around the world, the only place I want to be is with you. This is the best place,” he cries. “Here. With you.”
What is something you have learned on your author journey so far?
This year marks the 10th anniversary of my writing journey. If there is anything I’ve learned it is that you must write for the right reasons. It’s elating to have your words taken to heart by readers, to have the ability to change someone else’s life, to let them know that they are not alone. That their feelings are universal and that love comes to you in many different ways. I’ve learned to focus on that – publishing books is just the icing on the cake. Writing and sharing my words is what matters to me.
What’s the best piece of advice you have received related to writing?
My mom used to always say, “there will always be someone prettier than you, but you will always also be prettier than someone.” I apply that to my writing career! Breaking out is like climbing a waterfall. So I work on building my brand, not as an author, but as a diverse female executive with a platform I can use to help others.
If you could give a shout out to someone(s) who has helped in your writer journey, please feel free to mention them below!
So many people! But I’d like to give a shoutout to my manager, Italia Gandolfo, who has stuck with me through the years and who actually believes in me! My publisher, Vesuvian Media, has been so patient when it comes to my deadlines, knowing I have a limited amount of time to devote to writing books. And last but not the least, the women in my book group, The Brae’s Butterflies, who inspire me to be my best every single day.
My Goodbye Girl
Women’s Literature, Contemporary Romance, Asian American Literature, Published 2023
“One universe, nine planets, 204 countries, 809 islands and 7 seas, and I had the privilege of meeting you.” ~Unknown
When Tessa Talman first meets Simon Fremont, not only is she attracted to him, she’s intrigued by how different their lives are. He’s a dedicated scientist, practical, pragmatic, and grounded. She’s a head-in-the-clouds romance author. As their relationship grows, they meet in places around the world, while continuing to live in different countries.
Though their feelings for each other deepen, their priorities remain the same. Simon is in a hurry to be financially sound and settle down, but Tessa is enjoying her freedom and newfound success. Neither is willing to give in, but as each goodbye gets harder, Tessa begins to wonder whether fame is the path to happiness, or if she has everything she needs in Simon.
Just as Tessa finds the courage to go after her own happily ever after, the unthinkable happens, separating them in ways she never imagined.
To move forward, she must let go of the past and determine once and for all if love is truly more powerful than the pain of goodbye.
Book Excerpt from
My Goodbye Girl
She stood on her toes and kissed him one more time. “Okay, the sooner I get my ass in the water, the sooner we can be back on dry land.”
She turned and walked toward the end of the boat. “Tell me your one truth later!”
Tessa gave Arturo a thumbs up and plunged feet first into the ocean. She heard the engine rev up and, slowly, the slack of the rope holding her down began to pull her across the surface until her feet no longer touched the water and the sound of the wind lapped against her ears. She pulled the cord and felt a slight whiplash backward. And then there she was, soaring above the boat, Simon standing by its edge, smiling, taking pictures. She drifted up into the sky, waving in an effort to touch the clouds.
The loss of gravity, like the loss of control, was liberating. There was nothing she could do to change direction—she was at the mercy of the heavens.
The sound of the boat began to fade, and an overwhelming sense of peace washed over her. She imagined her mom and dad reaching down to touch her. She wished she could stay there forever, soaring alongside her parents, soaring above the man who was changing her life.
And then she remembered.
Her one last surprise. How could she almost forget?
She pulled at a tiny red string that opened a secret pocket within the harness. In it was a sandwich bag—Arturo’s secret little touch—which she opened and emptied out. Confetti began to litter the sky like rain, falling slowly around her. It disappeared into thin air, pulled down by gravity—touching the tips of the waves, little glitters of light. And then she unfastened another piece of tape and a large banner unfolded by the wind hung from her waist and moved together with the balloon across the sky.
She wanted him to know how special he was to her.
H A P P Y B I R T H D A Y S I M O N !!!!
She looked down to see him laughing, clapping, and shaking his head. Arturo jumped up and down, clearly excited that his plan had worked. She moved her head from side to side, losing herself in the moment, taking in the omnipresent view of the universe.
This is what it looks like from their vantage point, she thought. They are watching.
And then, a voice in her head. Look down. Simon is trying to tell you something.
She focused her gaze back on the boat. He stood looking at her, waiting for her to look back at him.
And then he did it. She didn’t believe it, at first. Had it happened? Had he really done it?
Yes, he had.
“Happy birthday!” She waved her arms frantically, her body tipped forward slightly, her legs still swinging in the air. She stared at him, her anchor, her foothold, the only one who could make her want to come back from the sky. He lifted his index finger in the air, paused as if in thought, and then gently tapped his slightly parted lips.
One. One lip? One teeth? One tooth? Oh my God. One truth! Yes, yes, I understand! She nodded in a frenzy.
And then, slowly, he lifted his right hand and placed it over his heart. His words were unmistakable. He had formed each syllable with his tongue and his lips, making sure she saw his words because he knew she couldn’t hear them.
“I.” He pointed to himself.
“LOVE.” Hand back on his heart with his eyes closed.
“YOU.” Palm up towards the sky, extended toward her.
Interested?
Find this book on Goodreads and Books2Read.
Thank you for hanging out with us today. Connect with Anna on X, Facebook, Goodreads, YouTube, Instagram and her website.
If you are an indie author and would like to do a book excerpt, check out my work with me page for details. Check out other book excerpts here.
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