Episode 25

Redemption, Kink & Knowing Your Worth: Tanvier Peart on Madison’s Full Circle in Tender Offer

If you enjoyed "Ella Gets the D," "Miles Apart," or "The Seven Month Itch," by Tanvier Peart. In this episode, we sit down with Tanvier Peart, indie romance author and creator of Tender Offer, to explore Madison’s unforgettable redemption arc. Once considered the villain in The Seven-Month Itch, Madison’s full-circle journey reveals the messy, layered beauty of second chances, knowing your worth, and letting love heal.

We talk about:

✨ Writing spicy, kinky romance that centers Black women’s joy and agency

✨ Why Preston is the ultimate “cinnamon roll hero with alpha tendencies”

✨ The power of rest, resistance, and self-love in Peart’s stories

✨ How her policy background sneaks into her novels (climate change billionaires? Check.)

If you love emotionally charged storytelling, “if he wanted to, he would” energy, and Black women embracing their soft life, this episode will have you swooning and reflecting in equal measure.

🎧 Hit play and join us as we unpack love, liberation, and the unapologetic layers of Tanvier Peart’s world.

"Tender Offer" releases on July 29th, so preorder on Burn Bright Books or The Frenchy Press now!

Find this and other recommendations at The CultureLit online BookShop and support independent bookstores at Visit my bookshop!

Culture Lit is a community celebrating black women and black love, and a reminder that black women deserve joy, love success, second chances, and all the beautiful magic the world has to offer.

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Transcript
Octavia Marie:

Welcome back to the Cultural Lit Podcast.

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I'm your host, Octavia Marie,

and today I'm excited to be

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in conversation with future

bestselling romance author Tom Vier.

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Tom Vier Per Kraft's Indie

romance books full of humor.

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Too many shenanigans and as

she puts it, them good tingles.

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What makes Tom B's story so fascinating

me is really her dual life by day.

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She works in public policy and advocacy

in New York State, and by night she

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writes these very spicy romance novels.

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She describes herself as a good

girl with kinks and calls herself

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an extroverted introvert, which I,

I don't know about that, but, her

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romance writing has helped her flip

the switch on her, reserved nature.

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Tom Vier has a new book coming out

next month, July 29th, called Tinder

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Offer, which is a second chance romance

that brings us back to ravenous and

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gives us Madison's side of the story.

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And for those of you who read the seven

month Itch, you'll remember Madison

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wasn't exactly likable, But Tom Vier

promises this book brings her full circle.

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Welcome to the show, Tom Vier.

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Tanvier Peart: Thank you for having me.

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Octavia Marie: as we talked about

the upcoming novel is Tender Offer.

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This is Madison story.

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I first, was introduced

her in the seventh month.

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It, this was the first book she

was introduced in, I think, and

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we, we weren't exactly feeling

her in the second month itch.

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Tanvier Peart: very fair to say.

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Octavia Marie: made you, was it always

your in intention to write her story

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or what made you want to kind of

tell her story and how do you redeem

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a character like Madison that we

were not feeling in seventh months?

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Tanvier Peart: Well, good

questions and thanks for having me.

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Happy to be here.

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So I knew that I wanted to

write Madison's story as I was

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writing the seven month Itch.

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I actually wrote the seven

Month Itch back in:

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So it's been some years now.

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And Madison's story, I saw glimpses

of it when I was writing the seven

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Month Itch, but I knew that folks

loved Emma and Miles, so I had to

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get that one out into the world.

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I knew it was gonna be a stretch

because of how I wrote Madison.

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She is, is I, I don't know, I

guess we could call her a villain.

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but hurt people, hurt people, and

I am a strong believer of that.

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And I also feel that not

everything is what it seems.

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And so.

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Yeah, the Tinder offer will, will

give you a glimpse into Madison.

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The, the first few chapters

overlap with the seven month itch.

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There's a part of the seven month itch

where both Preston and Madison come

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into play.

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And, I mean, you don't need to

read the seven month itch per

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se to read Tinder offer, but it

might be a good starting point.

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, but yeah, Madison has layers.

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We only saw her from Justice's

Vantage point, and so I would be

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very curious to see what folks

think when they read Tender Offer.

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And thus far we've had some early

readers and the arcs went out already.

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And some folks who are in the I Hate

Madison Club are converting, which I think

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speaks to the layers of her character.

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And that our concept of second

chances doesn't have to be

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exclusively tied to romance.

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It could be a second chance to do better.

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Octavia Marie: Yeah.

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When I read the seven month

itch, I don't know if I

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necessarily saw her as a villain.

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I saw her as.

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Not so much as broken.

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Maybe hurt, like I felt like

there was a story there.

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I felt myself like, Ooh, Madison

girl, what are you doing?

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oh no girl, no, don't go out like that.

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It was more like that.

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Like, no, what is her story?

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And I kind of got that same vibe, I

didn't even get the feeling that she

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was intentionally trying to set out to

take someone's husband or hurt someone.

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I just, found her as maybe like

this kind of like bird with a

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broken wing, looking for something

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that's kind of the vibe I got from her.

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So I didn't dislike, I

just was like, oh girl, no.

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Tanvier Peart: go sit on somebody's couch

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Octavia Marie: Go see that lady.

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and you mentioned in the book

description, or I, I think in the,

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in, in some of the previews or maybe

in your shenanigans, you are, matter

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of fact, you are a hoot online.

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Tanvier Peart: Don't tell my mama please.

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She got the internet,

but it ain't that good.

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Octavia Marie: You are a who.

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And I, found you online and I hadn't

read your books before, and I think

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it was someone had posted, they were

looking for black romance labels

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with female characters over 40.

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And you jumped in and was like, Hey, Ella

gets the D and i, the the, I was like,

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Ooh, Ella gets the, what is that about?

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So that's how I got that.

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So I, I initially read that book and

then I was like, oh, she's a hoot.

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Let me go back.

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And so then I went back

and started and went to.

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The seven month it and then miles apart.

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your story writing is top tier.

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Top tier, but in the book you

describe Madison at, or you

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describe her as having graveyard of

disappointment when it comes to dating.

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Can you tell us a little bit,

without giving too much away about

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her journey and what makes this

second chance romance so compelling?

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Tanvier Peart: Yeah, so I think when

you are describing her I don't think

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she's a villain, but some people think

she's that in the B word plus some.

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It's just what's informing her

decisions with how she's showing up.

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And so with Tender offer, without

giving, um, too much away present

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day, Madison is over dating.

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The, the pool smells like piss.

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She wants nothing of it because every

guy that she encounters just is not

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worth her time and might be trying

to steal some time on her couch and

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possibly the change that's in there.

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And so she just kind of wipes her hands.

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Where there is seven month inch overlap.

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And what I don't think is a secret

is that Terrance from the seven month

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itch and Madison were together before

Terrance and Justice, who are the main

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characters in the seven month itch.

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In Tinder offer we have flashbacks.

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So we're able to go 15 years

before present day to see how,

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you know, cause and effect.

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And so Madison was with Terrance, it

wasn't anything serious for a couple

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months and dumps him to go to Paris

and that's where she meets Preston.

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And so there's some

love that happens there.

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There's some hurt.

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Which we'll see that flashback,

um, later on in Tinder offer that

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sort of, it's what caused it.

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It's one of the catalysts

that guards her heart.

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And so fast forward, homegirl has had

15 years of awful dating situation.

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She hasn't found anybody who is worth

her time, her energy, or her shadow.

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And so because of that,

she gets really pissed off.

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And one of the things with Madison is

that she feels that in order to be worthy

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of love based on the 15 years of bad

dating, you have to have this image.

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You have to be the Disney

princess or the good girl.

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Um, you can't be rough around the

edges or basically be outside of a box.

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And so because of that, that hardens

her, where she shows up in unhealthy

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ways where she might need to get smacks.

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Yeah.

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All of that informs her dating.

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So homegirl, when we meet her in

Tinder offer out the gate, she is

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over men and she just so happens to

run into Preston, who is her ex from

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15 years ago, who shows up at her door.

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She wants nothing to do with

them and she is on her ass.

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Octavia Marie: Yeah.

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And I like that though

because, he's very intentional.

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Once he gets this second opportunity,

like I, I refute, he's not letting go.

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He's like a pit bull, a kinky pit

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Tanvier Peart: A kinky pit.

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Octavia Marie: But, that brings

me, you, you and Tinder also

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mix, like in Miles apart.

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We got some like the outrageous

between Emma and my, and it's so

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funny because I think Emma is my

favorite female character so far.

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And Preston is my favorite male character.

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I thought Mild now.

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Miles was hilarious.

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And I feel like Miles and

Preston have some similar traits.

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But Miles is just over the top and Preston

is just kind of like really smooth with

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his, but still has that same kind of edge.

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Miles just he is, not as refined.

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Tanvier Peart: Yeah.

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Yeah.

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Miles is, I, I describe him all the time

as a cinnamon roll with 50 cent audacity.

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Miles don't have time to be polished.

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He will literally shut

the lights off if need be.

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'cause he has like hacking tendencies.

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And you know, Preston is refined

because he grew up in boarding school.

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He comes from a billionaire family

and he is the CEO of a, a very

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prestigious brand of hotels and resorts.

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So at the core of him, he's

polished underneath the tie.

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He's nasty and

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Octavia Marie: Very

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Tanvier Peart: Yeah.

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Yeah.

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But he is very tenacious.

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He has to be with work and it's how

he also shows up with, with love.

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Octavia Marie: tend to

offer mixes , some humor,

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kink,

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some emotional chaos.

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How did you balance all that spicy humor?

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And so, because there was one

scene, I thought, oh no, she not

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in the, in the office on the deck.

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Oh.

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Tanvier Peart: Yeah.

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well, one, I don't, I don't outline

any of my books, so what you see

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is when I sit down, I also write

by hand with composition notebooks.

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So that

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specific scene just, I don't know where

it came from, but it's, it's there.

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But with the balance, I

knew that, in miles apart.

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The singles retreat, which overlaps with

a seven month itch there in the, in the

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underbelly of the hotel, was a pop-up play

space called Ravenous, where you can let

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your inner desires and your kinks out.

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You had to wear a mask and a cloak,

and you only see it in miles apart.

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So we got a taste.

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Now, since Preston owns the

hotels, there's an implication

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that he is sort of the architect

and the godfather of ravenous.

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So I knew that the spice level was

gonna be different in this book to,

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to answer to that identity of Preston.

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But I also wanted the book to be.

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Emotional just because Madison was

masking, even though it was spilling

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out in real time, a lot of hurt.

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We saw it in the seven month it, we saw

a glimpse of her character arc in Miles

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apart where she was, you know, being

forthcoming with her apologies and how

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she showed up and how awful that was.

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And so she deals with that emotional

part on almost like her own journey

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through Tender Offer and letting go of

the things that no longer serve her.

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And then I wanted to play around

with flashbacks, which is something

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I haven't done before in this book,

with the second chance, so that you

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can get the emotional investment of

them being together 15 years ago and

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how it blew up in their face, which

informs how they're showing up today.

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But Preston had to work for

it and a lot of the intimacy

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didn't come from a lot of Sex.

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'cause they had to find their

way back to each other and

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almost like reground themselves.

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And that took a lot of time.

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'cause Madison wasn't, wasn't interested.

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So it was a mix.

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But when we had fun, we had

fun and I wanted to make sure

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to sprinkle certain parts.

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it revs up definitely

like throughout the book.

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And then we land in in an emotional space.

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Uh, in the end that kind of

brings it full circle back to

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their beginning 15 years ago.

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Octavia Marie: Right.

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And as you say, you've kind of

introduced this ravenous universe

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in the two books with a taste of

exhibitionism, some pop-up play parties.

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How did you research, or was it fun to

write those scenes and did it push you

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kind of out of your, a comfort zone?

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Because you, you're saying, you say you're

an extroverted introvert Now, I, I, I

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say that about myself, but I don't see.

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You'll be going there.

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and how did you research some, because

some, it, it sounded just believable

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enough like, oh, I could see some

of this happening or going down,

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especially with people in their level.

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but make it so that it's, I hate to put

this in these kind of terms because, you

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know, with everything that's going on

with, I don't even wanna mention his name,

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but how do you, balance those things in

these scenes with almost a little bit

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of, the popup in the play parties, a

kind of little bit of, oh, are we talking

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about that or are people doing this?

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And then, you know, did it

push you outta your comfort

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Tanvier Peart: Yes, yes and yes.

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So I, I, I will forever clean.

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I am an extroverted introvert

when I love being around people,

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but I also stay in my house.

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So if I don't need to go

outside, I'm not outside.

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And I also get very awkward

in real life being online.

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I'm like, oh, there's, there's a shield.

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, so I could be goofy because I don't

have to see anybody, um, until I have

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to see people and it's like, oh hell.

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Um, but yeah, so ravenous is

definitely taboo, um, especially

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in this climate and in this country

because other countries are more

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accepting and, and sexually liberated.

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For me, I, I am more like justice color

code, the underwear, and just vanilla with

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sprinkles and some caramel on occasion.

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And so for me it was exciting to

sort of explore that because that's

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very counter to how I show up.

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And I tried to portray an

accurate depiction by, um.

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I guess checking in with folks who

are a part of the culture, but then

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also acting like if I was gonna,

you know, become a member to a place

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like Raven, this, you know, what,

what do the consent forms look like?

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where, where would I start?

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And so I actually did look at real

places, in states where, certain

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things are, are legal and also

out the country, specifically in

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London, since this takes place there.

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And just sort of looked at what was

available and the culture and the consent

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and, and just sort of like the, the safe

space that they create to be liberated.

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So that was cool.

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And then also because it's not me, I

could write other characters doing things

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that like I might be curious about.

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So that was fun too.

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Octavia Marie: now you described

Preston as sin, a kinky cinnamon roll.

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How do you balance that?

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You know, sweetness.

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'cause I didn't, I don't know if I

necessarily saw Preston as a cinnamon

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roll in the traditional sense.

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I think he was just a little

bit more undercover maybe, but

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not necessarily a cinnamon roll.

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But how do you balance that

kind of sweetness, alpha, beta

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thing with the kink exploration?

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Because it, it, it, it takes skill.

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And I think you mastered it with

Preston because I, I didn't get

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cinnamon roll like from him.

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I kind of got a little

alpha thing going with

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Tanvier Peart: But I think both

don't have to be mutually exclusive.

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Like, uh, for me, you know, cinnamon

roll is just an umbrella where a golden

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retriever, I think that's what folks

are, are calling like the happy go

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lucky and like super energetic people.

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Like, to me that's a

version of a cinnamon roll.

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And one of the things that I love about

cinnamon rolls is that at their core,

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into their partner or partners, if it

is a multiple player situation, is that

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that's who gets the sweet and gushy.

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So you can have in different cinnamon

rolls, you can have grumpy cinnamon

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rolls, you can have the overly excited

cinnamon rolls, with miles apart, you

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know, he had the 50 cent audacity, but

he was 10 toes down for Emma making

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sure that she was eating and was wearing

the proper footwear when she was on

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her heels all the time with Preston.

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He, so.

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Not hard shell, but he has to be very

indifferent with his business life.

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Also, there's a dynamic with his father

where he can't show too much emotion,

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but with Madison, like he wasn't afraid

to beg, ain't too proud to beg when

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he showed up to her door the first

time, calling her by her nickname

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Puff for her love of Puff pastries,

like saying like, please talk to me.

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Um, and how he bent backwards

to try and, get to her.

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So whether it's driving three hours

each way to the airport just so

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that, you know, she can ignore him in

the car, but uh, he could be in her

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presence if it's, you know, cooking

for her a homemade meal in an apron

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that his grandmother is Nona gave him.

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There's little touch points that he

does that's specifically for her, where

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like she pulls out his soft spot because

she's a safe place for him and he's trying

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to recreate being a safe place for her.

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So I think even though he.

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Has a little bit of alpha tendencies

or he is not strong handed, but he,

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um, you know, demands certain things.

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At the core, he is sweet and gushy

for her, so his cinnamon roll looks

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a little bit different, but it's

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Octavia Marie: Yeah.

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Yeah, because I was like,

Hmm, I don't get Santa member,

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because I'm like, hi Preston.

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And when you describe, like,

I had been trying to picture

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him when you first introduced

Preston in, the seven month itch.

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I have been trying to, picture him.

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And then in this book you give, Madison

explaining what, who he looks like

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or what he looks like to her friend.

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And I was like, oh yeah, okay.

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I get it.

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Tanvier Peart: yeah, yeah, because, 'cause

Preston, he, he's, he's got melanin in it.

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He's melanated, his mama was,

black Sicilian, his grandmama looks

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like Earth Kit and she's black.

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Sicilian, his daddy is an asshole and

he also happens to be white English,

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but he is like a melanated, he picks

up more of his Italian features.

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So he's like a, a melanated

Mariano, uh, Deval.

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I'm

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Octavia Marie: Mm-hmm.

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And when you said him, I was

like, okay, I get it now.

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Tanvier Peart: Yeah.

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But just with a little bit more texture in

the hair and more melanin in the skin, but

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Octavia Marie: I immediately got it.

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I was like, okay, I get it.

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Tanvier Peart: Yeah.

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Yes.

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Octavia Marie: know what?

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Hell yeah.

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Tanvier Peart: Hell yeah.

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it.

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Octavia Marie: Y yeah.

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And I was like, okay.

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And that kind of brings me around.

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You were telling me how intentional

he was with pursuing Madison.

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And it kind of, you, one of the things you

list as a trope is, and I say this all the

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time to women, if he wanted to, he would.

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And it's such a powerful concept,

especially for women who've

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experienced disappointment in dating.

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And I, I kind of like, you know,

um, I talked a little bit, uh, with

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Danielle Allen recently about this,

but the whole struggle, love thing.

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And I'm like, no, it's not

supposed to be like that.

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It's, that's not what it looks like now.

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There's a difference between having

some, you know, differences of opinion

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and having to integrate lives and

just, you know, emotions and whatever.

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But struggle, love is, no, that's not it.

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And, how do you think

Preston embodies this?

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Because I get it.

352

:

And, and, you know, and that's

the one thing I live by.

353

:

I'm like, okay, you, because

your actions say it all for me.

354

:

And I'm like, okay, well then

if you wanted to, you would.

355

:

And so when those things are happen,

they did checked off and it's

356

:

kind of like, okay, strike one.

357

:

You know?

358

:

Oh, okay.

359

:

Strike

360

:

two.

361

:

Oh, okay, well, we are here.

362

:

You know, and, um, and understanding

what those boundaries and what that

363

:

really means, and that you, you don't

have to struggle for somebody's love.

364

:

It doesn't, that's not what it looks like.

365

:

Mm-hmm.

366

:

Mm-hmm.

367

:

Tanvier Peart: order to be worthy

of being treated a certain way.

368

:

And so that's all be bs.

369

:

And at the end of the day, like, and

this goes back to Eleg, the D, which

370

:

was in the dedication, which is to,

for us to know our worth and add tax.

371

:

Like it's okay for our standards to not be

in the basement in order for us to think

372

:

that we can qualify for somebody's love.

373

:

And so with Preston, I wanted to embody

and in the book that like you are

374

:

somebody's choice and not their option.

375

:

And.

376

:

It's almost like a, A Sierra and a

Russell Wilson or even Tiana and a Mufasa.

377

:

Like when you, when

378

:

you are loved.

379

:

Octavia Marie: really called him that man

380

:

Tanvier Peart: Yeah, yeah.

381

:

Like what is his name?

382

:

Aaron something.

383

:

Octavia Marie: Aaron Pierre.

384

:

But we like he, he's Forever.

385

:

Tanvier Peart: Forever.

386

:

Mufasa

387

:

But like when you are loved, right?

388

:

It could be healing, but also

you need to heal yourself to

389

:

determine what are my boundaries?

390

:

What am I gonna say Yes

391

:

or say no to Yeah.

392

:

And so I really wanted Preston, he

doesn't complete Madison, but Preston

393

:

is running for his life , to show

that he can be worthy of loving her.

394

:

Right.

395

:

The second time around.

396

:

And so, you know, the actions

speak louder than words.

397

:

And even though he knew she wasn't

receiving or in a place to receive

398

:

in the beginning where he wanted to

go, it was the continuation of the

399

:

actions and the dedication to her.

400

:

And I don't even wanna say patience,

but just like the understanding of where

401

:

they were and that I, I love you enough

to, to continue to show, like I'll fly

402

:

out to you even if you don't talk to me.

403

:

But at the end of the day, if, if

a love interest, however that will

404

:

be for somebody if they wanted to.

405

:

Like they would, and you have to decide

like if that's good enough or if it's not.

406

:

Octavia Marie: Right, and I think

part of the problem is sometimes women

407

:

don't even know what they want and

you know what those boundaries are.

408

:

And so when they get

into these relationships,

409

:

they

410

:

can't answer those questions.

411

:

So the communication, there's a

lack of communication because if

412

:

you can't properly communicate

what it is you want and look for

413

:

and need, how does your partner

414

:

Tanvier Peart: Yeah.

415

:

I can only speak for myself and my

journey, but, but I know, I know for

416

:

me, I felt like I had to fit into a

box in order to attract what I wanted.

417

:

And sometimes I question like, if

I was attracting what I considered

418

:

the wrong thing, like was it me?

419

:

And you know.

420

:

I did some self work, and a lot of

times it just isn't you, it's just

421

:

what's in the atmosphere and like,

oh, you know, I'm, I'm gonna come to

422

:

you and will you deal with this bs?

423

:

but just being really

intentional with yourself,

424

:

was good.

425

:

And then I also took a break too.

426

:

Like I told God the next

person, and this was years ago.

427

:

The next person that I, I

would like is my husband.

428

:

So I'm just gonna pray.

429

:

I didn't have Sierra's prayer,

but the next person that I met

430

:

happened to become my husband.

431

:

And it'll be 18 years of

togetherness, 13 years,

432

:

Octavia Marie: Amazing.

433

:

Yeah.

434

:

That's

435

:

Tanvier Peart: our

little black love story.

436

:

But yeah, like knowing you're worth

adding tax and that you are the choice and

437

:

you don't have to be somebody's option.

438

:

And I think society puts the, the pressure

on, on women specifically where we're

439

:

always told there's more women than men.

440

:

And that obviously, like if you're

in a cis hetero, relationship.

441

:

But that doesn't mean that we have to

be in the harem unless you want to.

442

:

Like you could

443

:

Octavia Marie: And or that we have

to compromise and settle and accept

444

:

things that we normally wouldn't

accept because you know, society is

445

:

telling us this and you have to be

this, and you have to do this, and

446

:

you have to wanna do these things.

447

:

And I was like, okay.

448

:

Those are things like, you know, there

was recently something of Keith Sweat.

449

:

you know, ignorant anyway,

but he says something about.

450

:

Quote unquote modern women and quote

unquote, modern dating and how women these

451

:

days don't know how to cook and iron.

452

:

And I'm like, you looking for your

453

:

mama?

454

:

Tanvier Peart: Yeah.

455

:

Octavia Marie: Yeah.

456

:

Like, do you not know

how to iron your clothes?

457

:

You know?

458

:

And those are the things

that they're expecting.

459

:

Like, yeah, you need to go find

her then and stop trying to fit all

460

:

these people into this square peg

of what you want in these women.

461

:

Okay, well then go find that

462

:

woman.

463

:

ahead.

464

:

Tanvier Peart: was gonna say, you know,

one of the things, the, the big ugly

465

:

that's hiding in plain sight that's not

being spoken about is the patriarchy.

466

:

Like

467

:

Octavia Marie: Yes.

468

:

Tanvier Peart: we are not pick me people.

469

:

It, you should also be thankful to find

a good partner in us, not just the other

470

:

way around of us finding a good man.

471

:

And so I, my female main characters

all go through different things, but at

472

:

the core of themselves is, is strength.

473

:

And like they're not

gonna run after a man.

474

:

And I think that also in this day

and age with patriarchy on the, the

475

:

upteenth audacity, it would behoove

men to remember that like, we don't

476

:

have to tap dance for your love.

477

:

Also love should be a partnership.

478

:

So if you're approaching it from a

certain mentality, you should go sit

479

:

on that lady's couch because that's

not healthy or healing or a safe

480

:

space for anybody to be in love with.

481

:

Octavia Marie: Exactly.

482

:

That kind of brings me to

kind of your, your day job.

483

:

Because in your day job, it

involves very serious policy work.

484

:

you know, I you've worked in on criminal

justice reform, housing advocacy,

485

:

Racial

486

:

justice campaigns, and

487

:

I see that some of that makes its

way into your books, which also leads

488

:

to, you know, realistic portrayals of

life and things that are happening.

489

:

How do you switch between that heavy

work and then writing, you know, the

490

:

romance and, and that, but, you know,

again, some of that seeps except, I

491

:

saw it in, Ella against the d I've

seen it in, you know, in this book

492

:

with Preston, even as a billionaire,

the issues that he's, campaigning and,

493

:

Advocating for, how do you kind of switch

between and how much of your day makes

494

:

it into your books and you know, how

do you balance those, those things out?

495

:

Tanvier Peart: yeah.

496

:

Well, the same as with the plot.

497

:

I, I don't outline, so there has

never been a book where it's like,

498

:

I wanna talk about this politically

focused topic and like embedded.

499

:

Into, my books with Ella,

she was in, childcare.

500

:

And so the lack of appropriations

for a, a childcare related

501

:

issue in DC was a real thing.

502

:

And so if I have the platform, then

I wanna amplify things that need

503

:

to be amplified with miles apart.

504

:

We, we touched on dark money politics and

like a lack of, digital safety when it

505

:

comes to data security, a tender offer.

506

:

I didn't know I was gonna go into

climate, but that was on my heart.

507

:

And also I wanted to tackle the notion

of ethical billionaires or like how,

508

:

even in the romance genre, we really

love billionaires, but they're super

509

:

problematic because there is no

equitable world with them in real life.

510

:

And so what does that, how do you

contend with that in, in a book?

511

:

And so those are some of the ideas

that we're, we're stirring in.

512

:

My head as I was writing the story.

513

:

And what's interesting is, is that, on

the climate side, I, I won't give anything

514

:

away, but some of the things that were

mentioned in the epilogue with Madison's

515

:

niece, ju is actually playing out.

516

:

It's based on real life.

517

:

It's happening right now.

518

:

And I think, Kennedy Ryan talks about

this with, social commentary and embedding

519

:

things.

520

:

I think it's, , for myself, I only speak

for myself important that if I have a

521

:

platform that's gonna reach people in

different demographics and regions, that

522

:

while they're enjoying the romance and

the smut and the shenanigans and the

523

:

humor, you know, we can also put in some

real world things that hopefully make you

524

:

think a little bit after, after reading.

525

:

So.

526

:

Octavia Marie: Right.

527

:

Tanvier Peart: I enjoy doing that.

528

:

And then outside of that, with my nine

to five, which is in policy advocacy,

529

:

and I am, I'm a co-executive director

of a nonprofit that focuses on this.

530

:

Writing for me is sort of

like my place to just breathe.

531

:

And that's one of the things that

I love specifically about Black

532

:

Romance, um, romance in general.

533

:

You get happily ever after, but I

could literally wrap myself in black

534

:

love with the stories that I read

and also the things that I write.

535

:

So it's healing for me

dealing with stuff day to day.

536

:

Um, and I hope that folks who pick up

the nuggets of some of the policy things

537

:

will chew on them beyond the book.

538

:

Octavia Marie: in your policy

work, I'm going back to this,

539

:

does it also like, 'cause your

next book, I can't wait for it.

540

:

I'm really, interested in how you do that

one because it's out of the ordinary,

541

:

especially for a black woman to be writing

about a rugby romance, and you know, I

542

:

interestingly got into, rugby overseas,

and then of course my favorite team became

543

:

the All Blacks and the South African team.

544

:

And so now, 'cause I'm like, oh,

I don't know, I don't think women

545

:

know about these rugby teams.

546

:

Do they know about that over here?

547

:

So does any of your policy work and the

kinds, does that influence the kinds of

548

:

love stories you write or who you write

them for, or who you write them about?

549

:

Kind of going back into your real life,

bleeding into your romance stories, d

550

:

does some of that come up when you're

in your policy where you're like, Hmm,

551

:

I bet he would make a good character for

552

:

Tanvier Peart: you know, that governor,

553

:

Octavia Marie: that governor.

554

:

Tanvier Peart: interesting enough?

555

:

No.

556

:

Um, the only, the only time that

I thought about it is I would love

557

:

to eventually do a politically

scandal type of, like suspense.

558

:

I don't know if it will be romantic.

559

:

Yeah.

560

:

Like I'll probably step

outside the romance genre.

561

:

And this is maybe some

years for like a suspense.

562

:

Series.

563

:

Uh,

564

:

Octavia Marie: romantic suspense.

565

:

Tanvier Peart: I do plan to do one.

566

:

Uh, the seeds, the seeds were in miles

apart, but like a full on suspense that

567

:

is about the policy realm and all of that.

568

:

Maybe one day.

569

:

But yeah, with the policy, like I,

I don't know what I'm gonna infuse

570

:

until the story starts crafting

itself with, with One Night Stand

571

:

the first of the rugby rom-com books.

572

:

I think we're leaning

towards food, food policy.

573

:

I live in the Buffalo area

and we have food deserts,

574

:

and so that's something that's sort

of just like organically coming up.

575

:

It's not something I planned, but yeah.

576

:

We'll, we'll see.

577

:

It, it just, it, it pops up.

578

:

And I'm very excited for the

rugby because I feel like it's

579

:

been the, the US just doesn't.

580

:

We need to do better

with supporting rugby.

581

:

I am a rugby wife.

582

:

My husband has played for, yeah,

my husband started playing when

583

:

he first, he's from Panama.

584

:

And when he came to this country I think

for college or:

585

:

that's when he started playing rugby.

586

:

And then throughout our, I was gonna say

our career, throughout our marriage and

587

:

even before we got married, I was on

the pitch on the sidelines watching him.

588

:

So it's been a part of our culture.

589

:

Uh, he still plays now, I think

we're, we're winding it down, but

590

:

like his local team that he played

for actually won a championship

591

:

Octavia Marie: Wow.

592

:

Okay.

593

:

Tanvier Peart: it's it's been a

part of us and so I've been excited

594

:

to write it from like that vantage

point of being amerit to a rug.

595

:

Octavia Marie: Well, I was gonna ask, what

inspired you to write a rugby romance?

596

:

Tanvier Peart: he did.

597

:

Octavia Marie: So what

can we expect from that?

598

:

Uh, how do you know how

many you're gonna write yet?

599

:

Or,

600

:

Tanvier Peart: expect?

601

:

Octavia Marie: I, I know you

have the, are you finished

602

:

writing the first one or are you

603

:

Tanvier Peart: no, I'm, I'm I'm on

chapter 10 and I, I have finish to

604

:

give it, to give it to the pipeline.

605

:

The pipeline it goes through.

606

:

Um, I'll, I'll be done

writing it by, uh, mid August.

607

:

For it to come out, uh, December 18th.

608

:

So thus far since I don't, I don't plot

it surprisingly, is a, is a friends to

609

:

lovers story, which I did not expect.

610

:

I don't have anything

against friends to lovers.

611

:

It's just not my go-to trope to

read because I'm like, how are y'all

612

:

good friends for so many years?

613

:

And don't nobody say nothing, but

then you're gonna date other people.

614

:

I don't like that.

615

:

In this story, if you read elegance, the

d then this is Antonio, the best friend

616

:

of Preston, which you saw the setup

617

:

Octavia Marie: Yeah, I was just gonna ask,

are we gonna see, like, have we seen these

618

:

characters in any of the other books yet?

619

:

Tanvier Peart: You saw both of 'em

because in the scene in Ella where after

620

:

a rugby game, they, they go out and.

621

:

Morgan Julian's sister

is like, let's go out.

622

:

Well, when they're together, when Julian's

together with Antonio, Antonio's eyes is

623

:

on a woman who's there and he says Miriam,

and like, oh, she, she doesn't want me.

624

:

And Antonio's kind of like a player.

625

:

He gets around.

626

:

And so those are the two

main characters in this book.

627

:

So the first three chapters are actually

on the same timeline as Ella gets

628

:

the d where it picks up New Year's

Eve on the same timeline as Ella.

629

:

And so, Miriam used to babysit Antonio

630

:

'cause they, they have a,

631

:

they have a five,

632

:

Octavia Marie: a little

age difference gap too.

633

:

Tanvier Peart: little, like a five

year, like he used to get into

634

:

stuff when he was in middle school.

635

:

So his parents would call Miriam over.

636

:

And so he's always crushed on her like.

637

:

His crush was Tatiana Ali.

638

:

That's what she looks like, but

they never were in the same circles

639

:

'cause of their age difference.

640

:

And when they were like, Miriam doesn't

come outside, she's, she's a book nerd.

641

:

She's also into science,

an engineer, all of that.

642

:

And so, you will see, uh, when I

stand gone wrong, she goes out New

643

:

Year's Eve determined, to have one.

644

:

And she runs into him at a

bar and he's like, let's go.

645

:

They have some chicken, there's

some rotisserie chicken involved,

646

:

and then there is a coming together

that ends up with one of them in

647

:

the hospital with a broken nose.

648

:

So nothing ever happens.

649

:

But because of that,

they've become friends.

650

:

Octavia Marie: write some

of the craziest scenes

651

:

Tanvier Peart: Yeah.

652

:

Octavia Marie: in these books

that have me, like I literally

653

:

in tender Offer, I laughed so hard.

654

:

That, that mortifying family scene.

655

:

Tanvier Peart: Yes.

656

:

With

657

:

Octavia Marie: And, where I

guess Madison meets, Preston's

658

:

family, or

659

:

is

660

:

it, the

661

:

opposite

662

:

is, is Preston meets

663

:

Madison's family and her grandma,

664

:

Tanvier Peart: No, her mama.

665

:

Octavia Marie: her mama,

and, I mean, let's say in a

666

:

compromising position, there's

667

:

cake,

668

:

there's icing, hand prints,

Preston says something like, he's

669

:

mortified and he holds her tighter.

670

:

Like they're not naked

and covered in cake.

671

:

Like how do you come up with

these chaotic situations?

672

:

Tanvier Peart: it just,

it pops up when I write.

673

:

I don't, I didn't,

674

:

Octavia Marie: Like what is,

675

:

Tanvier Peart: going on in your head.

676

:

I probably wanted a piece of cake

at the time that I was writing, and

677

:

then also because it was a birthday

and we, we saw them bring the cake

678

:

into her room and nobody ate it.

679

:

So I'm like, we, we

have to use it somehow.

680

:

Um, the rotisserie chicken in one

night stand, the rugby romance.

681

:

Like I was actually eating some

chicken when I wrote that, and I'm

682

:

like, well, they should probably

get some protein before they try

683

:

and do what they're gonna do.

684

:

So why not some wings

and a rotisserie chicken?

685

:

Octavia Marie: because your, your,

your, your comedy in the mix of

686

:

the steamy scenes are top tier.

687

:

I literally had, I had tears like,

and I could picture it and poor

688

:

my mom, you know, I could imagine,

you know, mom looking at, you

689

:

know, she's this Creole mother.

690

:

And then, you know, the whole

sticky situations before that

691

:

didn't involve someone's mother like

692

:

you are, like, I'm, and I,

I, I found myself like, where

693

:

does she get these things?

694

:

And it's like, these,

these can't be all made up.

695

:

I'm like, are these like real

life making their way into some,

696

:

like, is this someone's story

is one of her friend's stories?

697

:

Like, 'cause it was like these, but I

could all, I could see them happening.

698

:

So it makes it, like, that's what

makes, to me, your stories feel like,

699

:

like these are, they feel real and

authentic 'cause you are like, and,

700

:

and especially even with Preston

because you know it's a billionaire.

701

:

And of course when you're writing

the billionaire trope, you still

702

:

wrote him in a way that feels real.

703

:

So how do you do that?

704

:

And then count a bound, how

do you develop his character?

705

:

But as a billionaire, but write it in a

way that's not like a character drawer.

706

:

Tanvier Peart: Yeah.

707

:

Well, thank you.

708

:

I think what really informed Preston

was his mother's side of the family.

709

:

'cause his grandmother don't play and we

never, we never meet her in this book.

710

:

You might see her in a different book.

711

:

Octavia Marie: Oh,

712

:

Tanvier Peart: I'm saving

713

:

Octavia Marie: I would love

to have seen some of her, his

714

:

grandmother.

715

:

'cause she seems like a hoot too.

716

:

Tanvier Peart: Yeah, she's coming

'cause I'm saving, I, I set up the

717

:

mafia romcom, which will be a standalone

that I'm gonna release next year.

718

:

And there's, there's some

relations, Preston might be related

719

:

to that, that main character.

720

:

But, um, Preston's grandmother

and how he grew up.

721

:

also him seeing his father and his

dynamic bet, the dynamic between

722

:

his father and his grandfather.

723

:

Like they hated each other.

724

:

They, I don't wanna say they were

Polaris 'cause they were both assholes,

725

:

but they really despised each other.

726

:

And so Preston didn't

want to emulate that.

727

:

And he also had the

love of his grandmother.

728

:

'cause this isn't a spoiler in the

book, but like, Preston's mother

729

:

passed away giving birth to him.

730

:

It's one of the, the

trigger content warnings.

731

:

And so we kind of touch on the

black, the mortality rate when it

732

:

comes to black women and childbirth.

733

:

And so those things really inform how

he moves differently, among the ultra

734

:

wealthy that normally don't give a damn.

735

:

And like he, he picks up in

environmentalism because his

736

:

mother, that was one of her

passions before she passed away.

737

:

And so a lot of that and the grounding

of his grandmother, um, which is

738

:

more of like the backstory is how he

shows up so he knows how to operate.

739

:

Also, like Preston went to

school, boarding school for

740

:

middle school and high school and

even college here in the States.

741

:

So he distanced himself from ultra

wealthy people where yeah, he

742

:

was still around boarding school

kids, but he was also around like.

743

:

Everyday pockets of society.

744

:

And so I think the culmination of

that helped him to not become an

745

:

asshole, but he can still be one

746

:

when he needs to.

747

:

He's just grounded in a way that's

different than the people he's around.

748

:

Octavia Marie: How does policy advocacy,

how do you, how did you get into romance

749

:

writing coming from that background?

750

:

Is it, you know, something

you always wanted to do?

751

:

Like how, how does that happen?

752

:

Tanvier Peart: therapy is the

short, it's, I'm not even lying.

753

:

I never saw myself as a writer.

754

:

I never read romance outside of like

maybe waiting to exhale in another

755

:

Terry McMillan book, that my mama had.

756

:

But like I was, yeah, I was

removed, but it was the:

757

:

uprisings where I'm an empath.

758

:

Um, and so things were hitting.

759

:

Hard in feeling like I'm outside and

I'm trying to do my part, but I know

760

:

it's not enough because you can't, one

person can't change a system and needs

761

:

all of us, the collective and community.

762

:

And I went to a black woman therapist

and one of the first things she said

763

:

to me is, you need to heal yourself.

764

:

And so what do I do that's outside of

feeding the policy side because I felt

765

:

like I wasn't deserving to sort of

take rest, but rest is a form of joy

766

:

and it's also a form of resistance.

767

:

And I had to learn that.

768

:

And so I said, okay.

769

:

I was also like finishing up, I

was wrapping up graduate school

770

:

too, which was focused on policy.

771

:

And I said, okay, well I'll read for fun.

772

:

And she said, okay, well put the

Malcolm X autobiography down.

773

:

Like don't pick up anything heavy.

774

:

And I'm like, well, what's the one

thing I could read that isn't heavy?

775

:

Well, romance sounds good.

776

:

So, um, it was 2020, like December

when I started reading romance.

777

:

And then I had a month off

in January before my final.

778

:

Semester of grad school was, and

that's when I wrote the seven month

779

:

itch, a very rough, ugly draft.

780

:

And I watched a lot of movies, which

is where you'll see like random pop

781

:

culture movies and, and series embedded.

782

:

And, and so ideas came and, and

that's how I got into romance.

783

:

I was reading, I think in a

month's time I probably read like

784

:

20 different romance books and I

haven't stopped reading since then.

785

:

Um, and I've just been writing

random stuff that pops up in my head

786

:

Octavia Marie: that's amazing.

787

:

Tanvier Peart: but therapy

is the, the short answer.

788

:

Octavia Marie: And, and so you've

pretty much been like a self-taught,

789

:

you know, studying the genre.

790

:

And, who are some of the authors

you admire and what were some, were

791

:

some of your greatest, I guess,

lessons learned in writing Romance?

792

:

Tanvier Peart: Lord, we'd be here all

793

:

Octavia Marie: I didn't know.

794

:

Tanvier Peart: so, so some of my faves

like Kennedy Ryan obviously is, is like,

795

:

have to, I would also say Jaque Jay

796

:

Octavia Marie: my God.

797

:

I just, I am on.

798

:

The deepest into her back catalog.

799

:

Tanvier Peart: the guts.

800

:

Yes.

801

:

Octavia Marie: And it, and it started,

it started I think maybe at the top of

802

:

the year with, I saw someone talking

about the 10,000 hours with a menace or

803

:

a rich menace or something like that.

804

:

And I read that book, so I

was like, oh, let me go back.

805

:

And I was like, oh, wait a minute.

806

:

She has.

807

:

And so then I was like, well, let me,

I started with who she, the books that

808

:

she said connected with this book.

809

:

And so I went back to like Capone and

I've just been like deep in my Jaque

810

:

era for like, since the top of the year.

811

:

Like, and I'm like, I'm still going.

812

:

And now she has me, like, if she

doesn't put this em three out.

813

:

Tanvier Peart: Yeah.

814

:

And I want goon, like I want, I

want, I want Goon Squad merch,

815

:

and I know, um, Don is coming out.

816

:

But yeah, like love letters to

Staten Island books one through five.

817

:

Like I'm deep, I'm deep in the guts.

818

:

Octavia Marie: Me too.

819

:

Tanvier Peart: back in like 2019,

820

:

Octavia Marie: I'm like, so far, like

I'm in like, the way she writes, it's

821

:

not like, I have to try to interview

her like I have to like, she sex on

822

:

my list because I had been so amazed.

823

:

And you can see like, you know how she's,

you know how she's come along in, in the

824

:

craft, but like it's so much to go back.

825

:

And I'm like, I can't

stop reading her books.

826

:

And then I was like, okay, I

have to put her to the side.

827

:

'cause I had plus size player on all these

things and your book that's coming in.

828

:

I was like, oh my God, it's so much.

829

:

Okay, I have to put her down for a minute.

830

:

Tanvier Peart: Well, thank you

for making some time for me.

831

:

But yeah, like Brownsville bullet, like I

could talk about J'S books and I actually

832

:

met her at Black Romance Book Fest 'cause

she had, she had mine and like, it took,

833

:

it took everything in me not to tackle

her like a second string linebacker.

834

:

'cause I, I adore her.

835

:

Um, also, uh, Shavonne Latrice.

836

:

Um, I'm probably gonna butcher this

name, but like, lady Nisha, like,

837

:

she writes humor in a way that

I'm just like, I just wanna quit.

838

:

Octavia Marie: Don't quit.

839

:

Don't

840

:

Tanvier Peart: no, no.

841

:

Um, oh my gosh.

842

:

Like, uh, J Dominique L Case

and, uh, uh, JL Segers is

843

:

another one.

844

:

Like, like there's certain authors

that I'm like, I, I adore all of

845

:

'em, but like, certain ones have

specialties with different things, like

846

:

the world building or even like the

dialogue or just how things plot out.

847

:

Ae Valdez is another one, fellow

Baltimore, uh, girly Natasha Bishop.

848

:

And

849

:

Octavia Marie: Yes.

850

:

Oh, yeah.

851

:

She,

852

:

Tanvier Peart: into.

853

:

Octavia Marie: yeah.

854

:

Tanvier Peart: black indie authors

or black romance authors who have

855

:

helped to shape how I show up,

856

:

Octavia Marie: Yeah.

857

:

And, and you, you have chose,

you chose the indie route,

858

:

Tanvier Peart: Yes.

859

:

Octavia Marie: you know, how

has that experience been?

860

:

I mean, I, I, I'm assuming there's

some freedom and flexibility in that,

861

:

but there's also the other side of it.

862

:

How has that it experience been for

you, especially with marketing and

863

:

building a readership and you're,

you're basically all the things

864

:

Tanvier Peart: Yeah.

865

:

Octavia Marie: full-time

866

:

day

867

:

Tanvier Peart: top.

868

:

Yeah.

869

:

Yeah.

870

:

But that's actually not very unique.

871

:

There's so many authors, even

traditionally published authors

872

:

who, who still work, um, full time.

873

:

I'm, I'm still learning as I go,

I'm a very throw it to the wall

874

:

and see what sticks type of person.

875

:

Um, I do love the creativity

and the flexibility to be

876

:

the, the final decision maker.

877

:

I also love the, the equity component

where I'm not fighting for percentages

878

:

because yes, I have to shell out, but I

also like get to keep, but the marketing

879

:

part, Lord, if I ain't have to do that.

880

:

Or show my face or do a stupid TikTok

or whatever, like I wouldn't, but

881

:

it's, it's been a good journey.

882

:

But I'm still, I'm still finding

my footing because I still

883

:

have the new car smell on me.

884

:

'cause my, my debut

only came out last year

885

:

Octavia Marie: And that's,

that's, I can't believe that.

886

:

'cause I'm like, you've written

all, you know, the, the ones you've,

887

:

the elegance of Dee the, so those

are all very solid, very well, like

888

:

I enjoyed every last one of them.

889

:

And I

890

:

Tanvier Peart: you.

891

:

Octavia Marie: known that the

first book was written last year.

892

:

Tanvier Peart: yeah, the first, the

en month it, I wrote January,:

893

:

and I sat on it and my husband was

like, okay, well you done wrote this.

894

:

So what are we doing?

895

:

Um, Ella I started writing in 2023, I got

a bill signed into law in New York State.

896

:

Then that's when I wrapped it up,

like into:

897

:

I wrote, last year and Tinder offer,

I started writing, fall of last year

898

:

and wrapped it up early this year.

899

:

So I'm gonna try and average, I was

able to sit on books, which made it look

900

:

like I did more than I did in the year.

901

:

But I think moving forward, I will

probably aim to release two books a year.

902

:

Octavia Marie: Okay.

903

:

Okay.

904

:

Tanvier Peart: that's all I got.

905

:

Octavia Marie: And what I like

also how you write, you write

906

:

your work often considers black

women in various stages of life.

907

:

how important is that

representation to you?

908

:

Because, I think it's important, you

know, as we, you know, we age, you know,

909

:

things are happening in women's lives

and, you know, black women are single

910

:

longer, and so life doesn't stop at 30.

911

:

Tanvier Peart: Yeah.

912

:

Yeah.

913

:

Octavia Marie: Um, so I, I love

seeing like older, some of the older

914

:

characters in your books, the 40 and Up.

915

:

But they're all, they all seem to

be in different stages of life.

916

:

Uh, Madison has this very high

profile fashion life going on.

917

:

She's, a boss in her game.

918

:

And I love seeing that, you know, Ella's

at a different place where, you know,

919

:

she's coming out of the, a divorce,

but then she's going back into, you

920

:

know, what she wants to do in her life.

921

:

And so, you know, all these

different things are happening.

922

:

How important is it to you and what

do you want readers to take away when

923

:

they see themselves in your characters?

924

:

Tanvier Peart: yeah.

925

:

I want readers to take away that

there is no such thing as perfection

926

:

and that everybody has layers.

927

:

So, like, justice is probably

one of the closest, one of the

928

:

characters that's most closest to

my anxious side in, in real life.

929

:

And so at work, she's great.

930

:

But she's always like second guessing

herself, um, asking if she's enough

931

:

and she's a flight, not a fight girly.

932

:

And so I wanted to mix it up because

I didn't want my characters to be

933

:

very singular without the layers.

934

:

But then I also didn't want to be writing

the same characters with all the books.

935

:

So they're gonna have different

jobs, different industries.

936

:

Um, they're gonna come from

different walks of life.

937

:

Um, in one night stand the rugby romance

that will come out later this year.

938

:

Miriam, you know, has a PhD in

mechanical engineering, which is

939

:

a nod to my husband twice because

she's Afro Panamanian like he is.

940

:

And she's also an engineer.

941

:

He doesn't have a PhD, but

he's mastered in engineering.

942

:

And I think it's important

just to show the layers.

943

:

And then also that like we don't

all have to have it together

944

:

and not having it all together.

945

:

We'll look differently

on different people.

946

:

And so I like the dynamic of the layers.

947

:

Peeling those back.

948

:

And I like having diversity

949

:

of black women.

950

:

Also across the diaspora too,

like justice is black American.

951

:

Um, Emma is, um, black

biracial, or she, she's black

952

:

presenting identifies as black.

953

:

Um, Madison is Creole.

954

:

And then we have Miriam who's gonna

be, you know, black Panamanian,

955

:

second generation born here.

956

:

And so I love the flavors and

I also love the messiness.

957

:

Yeah.

958

:

Yeah.

959

:

Octavia Marie: Yeah.

960

:

Yeah.

961

:

You love a lot of mess.

962

:

Tanvier Peart: Yes.

963

:

Octavia Marie: Okay.

964

:

I have some quick fun questions for you.

965

:

You write a lot of different tropes.

966

:

You write, you'll have a lot of

tropes in one book, which I, I like

967

:

the different tropes in the book.

968

:

What is your

969

:

Tanvier Peart: favorite?

970

:

Octavia Marie: trope to write?

971

:

Tanvier Peart: Can cinnamon

roll be a favorite trope?

972

:

Um.

973

:

Octavia Marie: absolutely.

974

:

Tanvier Peart: Okay.

975

:

I think the one that I wanna stop

writing after Tinder offer is second

976

:

chance, but I feel like I'm gonna get

bullied into doing a novella for like

977

:

Morgan and, and Joseph from Ella.

978

:

So to be continued.

979

:

But I love, I love cinnamon rolls.

980

:

it's that be a trope.

981

:

Octavia Marie: you write them well.

982

:

Tanvier Peart: Thank you.

983

:

Octavia Marie: your most challenging

scene in Tinder offer to write.

984

:

Tanvier Peart: I'm trying to like, go

through the Rolodex challenging scene.

985

:

I would say this is not gonna be

juicy, but the, the flashback, the

986

:

last flashback of The event where

Madison and Preston separated,

987

:

because when I first wrote it, I was

like, he can't be too mean to her.

988

:

And then my developmental editor was

like, but they broke up because of this.

989

:

So he needs to be, so I didn't

make it irredeemable where like

990

:

they couldn't come back from it.

991

:

But I did have to lean in in

a way that I didn't want to.

992

:

Um, 'cause then I felt bad and I was

993

:

like, I'm self-assertive.

994

:

Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, So that,

that was challenging.

995

:

Octavia Marie: So Madison has had

some of the, the dating experience

996

:

that a lot of us have had these

days, um, in the modern dating scene.

997

:

If Madison can give one piece of

dating advice, what would it be?

998

:

Tanvier Peart: If you see Earl

on the streets who clips his

999

:

toenails and, and moved in with

her after a couple of dates run.

:

00:53:52,675 --> 00:53:56,995

Um, but that, but that it's

okay to take a break 'cause she,

:

00:53:56,995 --> 00:53:58,735

she took herself out the game.

:

00:53:58,795 --> 00:54:02,935

Um, she felt like it was just

repeat, awful, awful, awful.

:

00:54:02,935 --> 00:54:06,145

And so she removed herself and she

didn't date for close to a year.

:

00:54:06,475 --> 00:54:09,895

And so it's, it's okay to take

yourself out the game if you need to.

:

00:54:11,050 --> 00:54:15,130

Octavia Marie: And, and you've had, like

I said, you've, you've wrote some of

:

00:54:15,130 --> 00:54:17,560

the funniest scenes in your, your books.

:

00:54:17,980 --> 00:54:21,340

Do you have a funniest scene you've

written that you think is like one

:

00:54:21,340 --> 00:54:25,334

of your funniest or one of your

favorite funny scenes from your books?

:

00:54:26,264 --> 00:54:29,924

Because how do you even keep a straight

face when you're writing these?

:

00:54:30,194 --> 00:54:33,464

Because do you know you're writing

something that's crazy in the moment?

:

00:54:33,464 --> 00:54:37,574

Or do you go back and read like, okay,

this is, this is chaotic, this is crazy.

:

00:54:39,314 --> 00:54:43,784

Tanvier Peart: I've restrained myself,

so I haven't been fully unhinged with

:

00:54:43,964 --> 00:54:44,234

Octavia Marie: Are you

:

00:54:44,234 --> 00:54:44,714

kidding me?

:

00:54:45,254 --> 00:54:48,224

Tanvier Peart: No, I'm serious

With, with the mafia rom-com.

:

00:54:48,224 --> 00:54:52,034

That will probably be the

one that would be, um, most

:

00:54:52,034 --> 00:54:54,014

unhinged, but, but my favorite.

:

00:54:55,544 --> 00:54:56,054

Yeah.

:

00:54:57,134 --> 00:54:59,684

And then be like, okay, well

put, put that back in the closet.

:

00:54:59,894 --> 00:55:05,774

I think, I think my favorite scene

to date that sticks out, the one

:

00:55:05,774 --> 00:55:09,674

that's most memorable would be

in Ella on the kitchen counter.

:

00:55:10,554 --> 00:55:10,774

Octavia Marie: Oh,

:

00:55:10,784 --> 00:55:14,084

Tanvier Peart: When, when Julian's

there and she doesn't know.

:

00:55:14,384 --> 00:55:19,604

But in Ella, one of my favorite

scenes is when, um, Ella's best

:

00:55:19,604 --> 00:55:21,284

friend who doesn't know that she's.

:

00:55:22,064 --> 00:55:26,594

Hanging out with her brother in

biblical ways when her friend lets

:

00:55:26,594 --> 00:55:30,104

herself into Julian's townhouse

and doesn't expect to see her.

:

00:55:30,104 --> 00:55:32,234

And Ella and Julian in bed together.

:

00:55:32,234 --> 00:55:36,374

And outta reflex Ella gets scared, and

when she gets scared, she throws stuff.

:

00:55:36,674 --> 00:55:41,580

And the first thing that was

around was that, colored dildo,

:

00:55:41,640 --> 00:55:43,620

which smacks Madison in the head.

:

00:55:44,610 --> 00:55:46,920

That that was a fun one to write.

:

00:55:46,920 --> 00:55:48,030

I don't know what made me think

:

00:55:48,375 --> 00:55:48,795

Octavia Marie: I was

:

00:55:48,795 --> 00:55:49,095

like,

:

00:55:50,040 --> 00:55:50,310

Tanvier Peart: she

:

00:55:50,310 --> 00:55:51,420

getting it to the forehead.

:

00:55:51,465 --> 00:55:53,630

Octavia Marie: like, how

did she come up with this?

:

00:55:54,360 --> 00:55:56,130

Tanvier Peart: It was

just, it was a reflex.

:

00:55:56,910 --> 00:55:57,975

Maybe people cover themselves.

:

00:55:58,110 --> 00:56:00,690

She just, she tosses fo dinglings.

:

00:56:00,780 --> 00:56:01,290

Um.

:

00:56:03,831 --> 00:56:05,001

Octavia Marie: not the fold Digga link.

:

00:56:05,216 --> 00:56:06,321

I'm, I'm out done.

:

00:56:06,891 --> 00:56:08,211

See this and this.

:

00:56:08,211 --> 00:56:13,041

These are the shenanigans that you're

up to when you are online also.

:

00:56:13,671 --> 00:56:17,871

And I'll, I'll get onto threads

and like, did she just freak that?

:

00:56:18,621 --> 00:56:18,951

Ma'am?

:

00:56:18,951 --> 00:56:20,901

Put your, go close out.

:

00:56:20,991 --> 00:56:23,451

Close out and go your phone down.

:

00:56:24,516 --> 00:56:25,086

Tanvier Peart: Yeah.

:

00:56:25,116 --> 00:56:29,046

I'm, I, threads is the one place

and I'm making sure nobody else is.

:

00:56:29,046 --> 00:56:33,936

Home Threads is the one place where,

um, my father doesn't follow me.

:

00:56:33,936 --> 00:56:39,126

'cause my dad reads all my

books and yeah, my family does.

:

00:56:39,206 --> 00:56:39,956

, and I'm like, just

:

00:56:40,061 --> 00:56:40,451

Octavia Marie: What does your

:

00:56:40,466 --> 00:56:41,246

Tanvier Peart: we're not related.

:

00:56:42,146 --> 00:56:44,876

I don't ask him because I don't, I

:

00:56:44,876 --> 00:56:45,236

don't

:

00:56:45,276 --> 00:56:45,396

Octavia Marie: wanna

:

00:56:45,396 --> 00:56:45,596

know.

:

00:56:46,106 --> 00:56:50,276

Tanvier Peart: He will say, um, 'cause

he read Miles Apart and he was like,

:

00:56:50,276 --> 00:56:51,776

so I finished and I'm like, okay.

:

00:56:52,106 --> 00:56:53,186

I didn't ask, how was it?

:

00:56:53,186 --> 00:56:54,776

He was like, it got some shit in it.

:

00:56:55,226 --> 00:56:58,796

'cause my, my dad has

similarities to Miles, so.

:

00:56:59,396 --> 00:57:02,456

Um, but yeah, but like

my dad's not on threads.

:

00:57:02,456 --> 00:57:04,076

My husband's not on threads.

:

00:57:04,076 --> 00:57:07,076

No, none of my family to

my knowledge is on thread.

:

00:57:07,076 --> 00:57:11,186

So I'm like, okay, I could be

a little bit uncensored with my

:

00:57:11,186 --> 00:57:13,616

shenanigans that pops in my mind here.

:

00:57:13,946 --> 00:57:15,656

Um, 'cause nobody's there.

:

00:57:15,986 --> 00:57:16,106

that's,

:

00:57:16,151 --> 00:57:17,771

Octavia Marie: that's, I think we can

:

00:57:17,771 --> 00:57:18,251

leave it there.

:

00:57:18,601 --> 00:57:18,891

Tanvier Peart: Yeah.

:

00:57:19,991 --> 00:57:20,651

Octavia Marie: The fold dingling.

:

00:57:20,711 --> 00:57:21,581

We can leave it there.

:

00:57:23,651 --> 00:57:28,691

Um, before we go, where can

listeners pre-order Tinder

:

00:57:28,691 --> 00:57:31,331

offer and follow your journey?

:

00:57:31,331 --> 00:57:34,691

And you guys have got to

follow her on social media.

:

00:57:34,691 --> 00:57:35,531

If nothing else.

:

00:57:35,531 --> 00:57:39,011

If you're not on threads, you have

to get on threads just to follow

:

00:57:39,011 --> 00:57:45,071

her and get up to the shenanigans

that she is up to on Threads please.

:

00:57:46,826 --> 00:57:48,056

Tanvier Peart: Well thank, thank you.

:

00:57:48,056 --> 00:57:51,716

And also, I apologize in advance

'cause I don't sit around

:

00:57:51,716 --> 00:57:53,066

and just think about things.

:

00:57:53,156 --> 00:57:53,426

I'm.

:

00:57:54,176 --> 00:57:57,716

It is verbal diary, so I need

to like scale it back, but you

:

00:57:57,716 --> 00:57:59,816

can pre-order Tinder offer.

:

00:57:59,816 --> 00:58:01,586

The ebook is 3 99.

:

00:58:01,976 --> 00:58:03,356

It's on Kindle.

:

00:58:03,626 --> 00:58:08,183

Um, the paperbacks are coming and

there's actually an exclusive,

:

00:58:08,219 --> 00:58:12,869

paperback campaign that I'm doing

with a Rochester base romance only

:

00:58:12,869 --> 00:58:14,789

bookstore called Burn Bright Books.

:

00:58:15,119 --> 00:58:19,607

So if you go to Burn Bright Bookstore,

and you can order online and they could

:

00:58:19,607 --> 00:58:23,657

ship it, you can get a signed copy

of the paperback and then there are.

:

00:58:24,287 --> 00:58:25,907

Three stickers.

:

00:58:25,907 --> 00:58:29,447

I'm trying to think if they're, maybe one

or two might not be suitable for work.

:

00:58:29,747 --> 00:58:33,587

And then you'll get like a, a,

a bookmark that comes with it.

:

00:58:33,827 --> 00:58:41,207

And then you can also go to the

frenchy F-R-E-N-C-H-Y press.com

:

00:58:41,537 --> 00:58:42,947

and you could pre-order there.

:

00:58:42,977 --> 00:58:47,357

You'll get an aesthetic postcard,

a bookmark, and definitely not

:

00:58:47,357 --> 00:58:51,467

suitable for work bookish stickers and

assigned paperback that goes there.

:

00:58:51,467 --> 00:58:55,757

And then whatever indie bookstore,

stocks it, you can get it from there.

:

00:58:56,102 --> 00:58:57,122

Octavia Marie: And there you have it.

:

00:58:57,392 --> 00:58:59,912

Thank you Taner for joining me today.

:

00:58:59,912 --> 00:59:04,772

I can't wait for everyone to get

their hands on this book, you guys.

:

00:59:04,772 --> 00:59:08,222

It's sexy, it's funny, it's full of heart.

:

00:59:08,672 --> 00:59:14,262

And if you're into second chances

with a lot of heat and heroines

:

00:59:14,262 --> 00:59:18,462

who don't have it all figured out,

please go and pre-order Tinder offer.

:

00:59:18,492 --> 00:59:22,312

It's out July 29th in

paperback and on Kindle.

:

00:59:22,652 --> 00:59:26,732

And until next time, keep reading and

keep loving like it's a romance novel.

:

00:59:27,242 --> 00:59:32,342

I am going to go order my, so

I can get my N-S-F-W-N-S-N-S.

:

00:59:32,927 --> 00:59:33,647

F work.

:

00:59:34,187 --> 00:59:36,077

W you guys get it?

:

00:59:36,437 --> 00:59:39,782

My pre-order and my signed

copy, but please, go get yours.

:

00:59:40,276 --> 00:59:43,786

Thank you for stopping it in and talking

to me and having this conversation.

:

00:59:43,786 --> 00:59:45,226

I've had so much fun with you.

:

00:59:45,560 --> 00:59:48,354

and we'll see you online.

:

00:59:48,954 --> 00:59:49,644

Tanvier Peart: Thank you.

:

00:59:49,644 --> 00:59:49,764

It

:

00:59:49,764 --> 00:59:50,574

was great talking to you.

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Culture Lit
A Black Romance Books Podcast

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Octavia Dosier