We chat with author Lillie Vale about her latest release Wrapped with a Beau, which is a charming holiday-set romantic comedy and follows a film liaison who gets the opportunity to secure a sequel to a beloved Christmas movie, which was filmed in her hometown, but the only obstacle in the way is a stubborn, yet gorgeous man who just inherited the house she’s trying to film in.
Hi, Lillie! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Hi Nerd Daily readers! I’m Lillie Vale, author of adult rom-coms The Shaadi Set-Up, The Decoy Girlfriend, and the forthcoming Wrapped with a Beau. I also write young adult romance, but no matter what, across all ages I write, you can expect escapism, spunky girls, swoony guys, wonder, and charming settings you’ll love getting wandering around in.
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
Probably when I was two and I confidently read picture books to anyone who would listen! I couldn’t read yet, but I was able to memorize most of the book from storytime, and what I didn’t remember, I made up using the pictures as a guide. I impressed a lot of people who thought I could read for real until my mom caught on to my con! Soon after, even though I could barely write, I began “publishing” my own construction-paper books.
Quick lightning round! Tell us the first book you ever remember reading, the one that made you want to become an author, and one that you can’t stop thinking about!
The first book I remember reading: I think it was The Poky Little Puppy from Little Golden Books. The cover brings back so many memories!
The book that made me want to be an author: Oh, this is so hard to be definitive about! I do remember that the illustrated hardcover American Girl keepsake editions were the most beautiful books I had ever seen: gold edges, ribbon bookmark, glossy pages, frosted dust jacket. I was lucky enough to have a few to call my own, and I returned to Samantha and Kit’s story collections over and over again. The historic periods invited me in and the quaint slice-of-life pace had me deeply invested in the hopes and dreams of these characters. It was a treat to hold something that special, to savor each page and turn it with care. They were so enchanting and I still aspire to that level of luxe for my books one day!
The book I can’t stop thinking about: I’m currently reading Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Cañas. A superb blend of genres with gorgeous prose in a chilling atmosphere.
Your latest novel, Wrapped with a Beau, is out September 26th! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Grumpy-sunshine opposites-attract small-town Christmas romance (HA, thank you hyphenated words!)
What can readers expect?
Wrapped with a Beau starts off with go-getter Elisha Rowe, who has returned to her hometown to be closer to family after spending a few years as a successful film liaison. She sees the potential for magic in everything, and she’s hoping to use her skillset to coax more productions to film in Piney Peaks, which was once the stage for a beloved holiday movie many years ago. Even though there are naysayers who don’t think she put the small town back on the map, she’s undeterred and continues doing her job with conviction. She gets the break she’s looking for when the sequel is greenlit, but only on the condition that she can secure permission to film at a historic home that was central to the original film. But the unexpected death of the owner means she now has to get the new heir’s permission.
Ves Hollins doesn’t want to get tied down, romantically or otherwise. And he certainly doesn’t want to get involved with a movie production. He just wants to see what he’s dealing with, sell the house, and head back to New York before the holidays. He thinks of himself as being unsentimental, when in actuality he cares—and cares a lot—about everything. He enjoyed one unforgettable, magical Christmas in Piney Peaks as a child, and has then spent the next twenty-three lonely years trying to forget how much it meant to him.
Readers can expect a heroine with conviction and a hero who learns to let love in. A town you’ll want to book a flight to ASAP, populated with adorable friends, family, and felines. The most heartwarming happily-ever-after I’ve ever written.
And above all, I hope readers take away that everything is possible with grace and gumption, and that family is whoever you decide it is.
Where did the inspiration for Wrapped with a Beau come from?
The short answer would be my love of Christmas shops devoted to the “most wonderful time of year” all year! I keep a list of cool settings I’d love to bring to life, and honestly, there’s few things more magical than a store where you feel like you’re walking into an experience. Would a character who had grown up in such a place still love it as an adult? I knew from the first moment I met Elisha that she would be 100% wholehearted and unapologetic about anything and anyone she chose to love.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
Sooooo many. I believe in showcasing friendships that are as important as the romantic relationship, and Solana and Arun, Elisha and Ves’s respective best friends, stole every scene they were in. Vivacious and dramatic, they were the perfect foils to driven Elisha and guarded Ves, but they balanced their fun side with fierce love and loyalty. Throughout the book, they encourage Elisha and Ves to step outside their comfort zones.
In one of my favorite scenes, Hallmark-fan Arun exclaims, ““Meet‐cutes are everywhere you look. Save a local business, protect a landmark, fall in love with a wholesome small‐town girl. Maybe she’s the hot lumberjane daughter of a tree farmer! Kiss under a blanket fort! Break your rule about holiday romance! Do everything different. The opportunities are endless.”
Naturally, Ves recoils at the very thought.
Later, when Ves’s heart has started to melt, our dogged Arun can’t resist asking, ““Plot twist! Did you, the most city person to ever city, decide to settle down and get closer to your homespun roots, falling for the girl next door, saving a local business, ideally one owned by her mom and pop, and then, cherry on top, save some kittens from a tree?”
We all recognize those tropes, right? Ves’s dry reply always makes me grin. “Arun, small tourist towns are not my roots. And I keep telling you, there’s no falling happening. Her parents’ business is probably the most profitable one in this whole town. Have you been watching Hallmark again?”
Ah, he knows his BFF so well. I’m a huge sucker for book-bestie banter!
This is your fifth published novel! What are some of the key lessons you have learned when it comes to writing and the publishing world?
Nothing is ever wasted. Shelved manuscripts and discarded ideas can be revived. A character or a subplot can be transplanted. Sometimes the old stuff just needs to bide its time. Sometimes the new stuff just isn’t ready yet. And yes, maybe some things do just need to be trashed! But discovering what doesn’t work helps you figure out what does. Don’t hold on too tight to early concepts of what you think a story should be. The magic happens in development, in revision. The thing about ideas is they’re dime a dozen. There will always be more to write.
What’s next for you?
More books! My next YA novel is with my editor, and while it’s too early to share details, I’m very excited about my future Adult work.
Lastly, do you have any book recommendations for our readers?
A ton! This is the perfect time of year for spine-tingling reads, of both the romantic and the spooky variety! I gobbled up The Family Game by Catherine Steadman, The New Couple in 5B by Lisa Unger, Meet Me at the Lake by Carley Fortune, The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna, and after I finish Vampires of El Norte I’m excited to start This Spells Disaster by Tori Anne Martin, The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne Young, and What the River Knows by Isabel Ibañez.
You can find Lillie on Instagram. Twitter, and at her website.
