PHOTO: T Gephart in her Melbourne home, where humour, heart, and a touch of madness shape her unforgettable romantic comedies.
Romantic Comedy With A Twist Of Fate
T Gephart explores the humour, emotion, and spontaneity behind her romantic comedies, revealing how personal experiences, strong characters, and a touch of fate drive her bestselling stories.
T Gephart writes with the pulse of someone who has truly lived. Her stories are laced with chaos and heart, mischief and meaning—all filtered through a voice that is unmistakably her own: brash, big-hearted, and gloriously unfiltered. From whirlwind love stories to offbeat comedies, and even a foray into the depths of emotional suspense, her work mirrors a life led by instinct and intuition rather than meticulous design.
What makes Gephart’s writing so compelling is her ability to balance the highs of humour with the lows of hardship. Her characters, often sassy and irreverent, are rooted in lived experiences and emotional truth. Whether set in New York, Melbourne, or the inner landscapes of personal transformation, her books feel intimately familiar while still surprising in their twists and turns.
In The Fall, she steps away from the light, embracing a darker palette born of personal loss and introspection. The result is as cathartic as it is unexpected—a reminder that even the most effervescent spirits have shadows worth exploring. And yet, no matter the setting or tone, Gephart’s stories consistently circle back to resilience, connection, and the glorious mess of being human.
To read her work is to be invited into a world where fate and free will dance together, where love is both unpredictable and inevitable, and where laughter is never far from the tears.
What inspired you to delve into romantic comedy, and how do you keep your stories feeling fresh and relatable?
I write what I like to read, and romantic comedy is one of my favorite genres. It really is that simple, if I’m not interested, how can I expect my audience to be. And while the stories are works of fiction, I like to try and keep the element of realism, like it COULD happen. I feel like the combination of fast paced story-telling, humour, and quirky yet realistic characters keep driving the story and the audience engaged. I like to pepper some craziness in there too to keep everyone on their toes because life has a way of throwing curve balls.
Your characters often have strong, sassy personalities—how much of yourself do you see in them?
I see myself in a LOT of my characters, as I rely heavily on personal experiences and adventures to fuel my stories. I am hugely independent, travelled extensively, and have a gusto for life. I like to put that into my characters, especially my female main characters. Tia in #1 Crush is almost entirely based on myself. Of course I can’t tell you which parts based on legal advice 😉
Many of your books involve unexpected twists of fate—do you believe in fate, or are you more of a “fly by the seat of your pants” realist like some of your heroines?
I am a huge believer in fate. I believe that the universe has plans for us and that energy can drive you a certain way. Having said that, I do believe we have control of that fate and the ability to change our journey. I think that it’s a handshake that happens; there is a grander plan but you absolutely have control over that plan. Flying by the seat of my pants is how I spend most of my days though especially when I’m writing and maybe it’s because I ultimately believe it will all be ok? Who knows? I am not the best person to ask since I married my husband in a convenience store in Louisiana, USA 10 days after I met him so maybe I’m a bit of both. Yes, we’re still married, deliriously happy, and neither one of us ended up being a serial killer. #Winning
From bar jobs to Europe and rock stars to tattooists, your settings and characters are wonderfully diverse—how do you decide on the backdrop and themes for each story?
I usually come up with the characters and the scenario for the story first, and then come up with the backdrop. I write cities I know fairly well because as good as Google Maps is, you can usually tell when the author hasn’t actually walked the streets. So many of my stories are set in NYC because it’s one of my favourite cities. I’ve been lucky enough to have visited seven times so have a good feel for the vibe and the layout. I like my writing to be organic, so I try and get to know my characters and then what they do, who they are and where they live evolves as I get to know them better. Sometimes, I’ll change places or occupations or even themes as I get deeper into the story as their “personality” reveals itself. I want them to be authentic even if they are fictional, and if something doesn’t feel right, then I want to change it before it hits the final draft.
“The Fall” carries a darker, grittier tone than your other works—what was it like writing that compared to your more comedic novels?
The Fall came at a time in my life where I was mentally and emotionally struggling. My grandfather had passed away, my dad was terminally ill, and it felt like I was submerged in depression and grief and couldn’t write funny. It’s hard to write romance with light-hearted banter and happy-ever-afters when you aren’t feeling it. I couldn’t force it, I respect my readers too much to give them a half-hearted effort. Even if they didn’t know, I’d know, and I just wouldn’t do that. So I took a breath. I had recently visited Chicago and fell in love with the city, and it felt like the perfect setting for a thriller suspense. I wanted to explore some darker themes, to push myself as an author and a person. I’m immensely proud of that book, while my readership didn’t love it—understandable since it was a huge departure from my regular style—that book saved me in a lot of ways. It was also the only independently published book in Apple Books top books of the year in the Thriller/Suspense category. It was incredibly freeing, to be able to write something completely different and not be restricted by my past style. I still love that book, it marks a very important–albeit difficult–part of my life.
Which of your characters would you most want to spend a day with, and what would you do together?
I love Quinn from Send Me Crazy, she is both free and independent but loyal and kind. She genuinely cares for her friends and family but knows how to have a good time. She is also hysterical, so quick witted and just joyful. I would love to follow her on one of her shoots, watch her work and give her clients the most amazing photos and then go hangout and eat New York Pizza and ice cream. Then beauty pampering and PJs while we gossip. Sounds perfect to me.
How do you balance humour and emotion in your storytelling, especially when dealing with heavier themes like heartbreak, redemption, or personal growth?
In life, there is a mix of happiness, tragedy, joy and sadness and I try to reflect that in my writing. It’s about the light and shade, the darkest times will make the lighter times, brighter. I know that sounds like a fortune cookie but it really is true. I want the reader to close the cover of one of my books feeling good about themselves and the story, but I didn’t want to write fairy tales either. It’s important to be honest through my writing and add some themes that are a little difficult but make sure the overwhelming tone is of happiness and “goodness.” I want the reader to laugh more than they cry and I try not to torture them with unneccasary sadness, and make them feel safe knowing that the happy ever after will come. Except for The Fall, but that’s another story.
What’s the best piece of advice you’d give to other authors trying to find their voice in romantic fiction?
Just start. There will never be a perfect time or a perfect place, and all first drafts aren’t great. You can’t be afraid to put it on the page, once it’s there, even if it’s just the “bones” you can edit and polish and make it into something amazing. You can’t edit a blank page, and a year from now, you will either have done it or not, the year will still have passed. Don’t worry about what people will think, just be authentic and you will find your readership. There is someone out there who is going to love your writing and it will resonate with them, and that’s the truly satisfying feeling. Don’t force styles or themes based on market trends if it’s not something you’re comfortable with. Trust me, the reader will always know. Respect them, respect yourself and you will find your voice not only in romance but all things.
