We had the good fortune of connecting with Tiye Love and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tiye, why did you pursue a creative career?
As a clinical psychologist, having an empathetic ear can lead to personal distress. One way I discovered to cope with my own challenges and to replenish my own cup after giving so much of myself through work, was to escape through writing and I stumbled upon romance after being surprised by a cute, unexpected Valentine’s Day text six years ago and wrote for free and had a small base of readers who encouraged me to publish. I published my first novel in March of 2019 and have been hooked every since.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am an author and under my romance books, I write with a penname Tiye Love. My romance stories are not just steamy and sexy but also empowering in that there is a lesson of self-growth and self-worth in every story. I use psychological principles in each of my stories with the expectation that you will be a little different after reading about my relatable characters.

One of the main lessons I’ve learned is to create from the heart and not based on the reader’s expectations because I will never be able to satisfy every person. I’ve taken the stance that as long as I believe I’ve done my best, then I’m satisfied with the outcome.

The biggest challenge is the transition to an author from a psychologist. It has been difficult at times to live up to the demands of both careers while being a single mother to a teenager.

What I do want the world to know about Tiye Love is that I write with the upliftment of people in mind in the context of intimate love and families. That even if my characters have flaws and make mistakes, by the end a lesson is learned.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I am probably more of a foodie than I will ever admit.

Breakfast: Breakfast Club, First Watch, Lucille’s
Lunch/Dinner: Lucille’s, Verna Mae’s, The Station, Turkey Leg Hut, Landry’s

Hangout: Top Golf, Phil and Derek’s, Hamburger Mary, Movie theaters, Concerts, Memorial Park, The Heights

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I definitely believe in the adage that it takes a village. First and foremost my two sisters, my daughter, my niece, and my parents are my biggest supporters. Without them, there would be no Tiye Love. My close friends (you know who you are), who have been with me and encouraged me through this journey.

Website: www.tiyelovebooks.com

Instagram: tiye28always

Facebook: Tiye Love

Image Credits
Juanita Thompson Joshua Tibbs Matilda Martel

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