Tessa Hatfield, a Longmont resident for the past two years, found herself in a rural Georgia courtroom five years ago. Sitting beside her friend who was nervously waiting for her name to be called so she could file a restraining order, Hatfield found herself listening to the pleas of the cases before her friend’s.
Hatfield said the experience was awakening as she heard people of all kinds describe their situation to a judge. But none were more gripping than the story of two men.
As these two men described the details of their relationship, Hatfield said she experienced a range of emotions from amusement to tears. These men were brave for being able to tell their stories in a setting that was not accepting of a relationship between two men.
The moment that inspired Hatfield was when the plaintiff told the judge how the defendant was showing up at his house at 2 a.m., calling him at all hours and not going away when asked. Hatfield said the judge turned to the defendant to ask if the allegations were true to which the man replied, “I am fighting for the man I love.”
Hatfield was so moved by these men’s story that it inspired her to begin writing her first novel, “Say It Again.”
“Say It Again” is a story of young dancer Daniel who lives in St. Louis, Missouri. He meets a man he believes to be an attorney but who turns out to be a high-end escort. The two explore their relationship as they face life’s little challenges.
Hatfield describes the story as an intense, angsty, contemporary romance story that will make the reader chuckle with its romantic comedy feel.
Hatfield has a second stand-alone novel in submissions, meaning it has been sent to a literary agent. And she is working on a third novel.
As an LGBTQ ally, Hatfield feels it is time for more queer stories to appear on shelves. As a writer, she is most comfortable expressing her writing through a man’s point of view, she said.
Learning to write a novel was a challenge for Hatfield. She said she dove into the craft and immersed herself in learning how to write a book. Throughout the process, she learned that what she thought she knew about writing a book was only a fraction of what there is to know.
On Sunday, Hatfield is hosting a book launch party for “Say It Again.” Although she is labeling it as a launch party, she hopes to provide a comfortable space for writers to gather to discuss the process and to find strength and wisdom amongst each other.
The event will take place from 6-8 p.m. at Kuper Wine Bar, 600 Longs Peak Ave. Unit H. Tickets for the event are $35 which provides patrons with wine and a signed copy of the book. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Rocky Mountain Equality.
