Exclusive Interview
Tia Williams Dishes on ‘The Missed Connection’ & Talks ‘Seven Days in June’ Adaptation
What To Know
- Tia Williams released her new romance novel, The Missed Connection, on June 9.
- She spoke with Swooon about the inspiration for her latest book and why she loves high stakes in her romances.
- Williams also shared an update on the Seven Days in June adaptation.
What could be on Tia Williams’ mind 20 years into her career? The answer: an escape, and readers are sure to disappear into her new romance novel, aptly titled The Missed Connection, which was released on June 9. In it, Sasha, once a victim of stalking, is on the up and up and potentially opening herself up to love. When she encounters a beautiful stranger on a plane, but fails to get his number before they go their separate ways, she determines that she must go in search of what could be Mr. Right.
Who else to call besides Wes, the detective who was on her case, to help her chase down her dream guy? Together on their quest, the two might find what they’re looking for, just hiding in a different place. Swooon spoke with Tia Williams about her own serendipitous connections, crafting a novel that dives into the messiness of pursuing connection, and her role in the Seven Days in June adaptation.
Swooon: You made your debut more than two decades ago. How do you think your relationship to the genre has evolved?
Tia Williams: When I first started writing fiction in the early 2000s, I was working out my personal relationships on the page. Rewriting them so that they worked out, giving myself happy endings. Today, the writing isn’t as personal! I only take small nuggets from real life. But back then, as a twentysomething dating in the city, I had loads of material to work with!
Swooon: The man Sasha is looking for she connected with at the airport and lost contact. Have you ever had a similar serendipitous missed moment?
Williams: I’ve lived in New York City subway culture for 30 years, so definitely yes. Over the years, I’ve had many wordless relationships with people on the F, Q, and A trains (the best-looking trains, I must say). These relationships last for the length of the train ride, and they’re totally imaginary, but a few really stuck with me! I never had the nerve to post a “missed connection” ad in the Times or Craigslist, though. Not ballsy enough.
Swooon: Where did the character of Sasha come from?
Williams: I’ve always been obsessed with movies, Hollywood history, and the acting world. And I think casting directors are fascinating. You really need to understand human psychology to instinctively understand who’s perfect for a role. I’ve always wondered what it’s like to have that skill, to bucket people into “types.” How does that person move through the world? I started with that question, and Sasha was born! Sidenote: She’s Afro-Latina because my half-Dominican daughter demanded representation!
Swooon: Sasha is an active heroine, very much in pursuit of what she wants. What’s most enjoyable about crafting a character who is such a go-getter when it comes to love? And do you believe there’s something readers can learn from that mindset?
Williams: Sasha ultimately finds the one. But her choice surprises her. It’s definitely not who she expected, which happens so often in life. I think readers might see themselves reflected in her adventures. Once you get out of your own way, all the good stuff unfolds.
Swooon: Without giving too many spoilers, this book definitely gets messy. What interests you about exploring complicated dynamics in romantic relationships?
Williams: In a contemporary romance, the stakes must be high, high, high. It makes the payoff so much more delicious when the characters finally get together. I don’t know what this says about me, but I love throwing insurmountable obstacles at my protagonists. I need them to walk through fire for each other. Honestly, I think I read Wuthering Heights at too formative an age.
Swooon: Books can sometimes act as a way to capture a snapshot of what an author is thinking about in the larger sense of the world. What does this book say about where you are right now as a writer?
Williams: I’m yearning for escapism! Colorful, funny, sexy, glossy, hopelessly romantic escapism. Outside, our world feels like an episode from a lesser season of American Horror Story. All I want is to get lost in a fun, frothy tale. I was channeling this energy while I was writing The Missed Connection.
Swooon: Seven Days in June is officially getting an adaptation! How involved will you be with the project?
Williams: I’m an executive producer, which means I’ll have a voice in major decisions—like talent, wardrobe, the script, etc. It’ll be a dream come true, seeing this book come to life.
Swooon: What are you most excited to see on screen?
Williams: I think I’m most interested in seeing Shane and Eva’s backstory portrayed on screen. The teenage flashbacks inform so much of who these characters are in the present. They’re little peeks into what really makes them tick. The casting has to be perfection!
