Award-winning author Roxane Gay has shared the unlikely Australian connection behind her upcoming romance novel collaboration with actor Channing Tatum, revealing that the project may never have happened without a journalist's question asked years earlier in Australia.
Speaking during her visit to Sydney for Vivid Sydney, Gay told ABC News Breakfast that the literary partnership originated after an Australian journalist asked Tatum whether he had heard of her bestselling essay collection, Bad Feminist.
At the time, Gay had publicly acknowledged having a celebrity crush on the Magic Mike star, something referenced by the journalist during the interview.
"It actually started here in Australia, because an Australian journalist asked Channing Tatum if he had read Bad Feminist," Gay said.
Tatum reportedly admitted he was unfamiliar with Gay's work but promised to look into it. According to Gay, a series of fortunate events followed.
"A few sort of lucky events happened and then his team approached mine to see if I wanted to work on this book with him," she explained.
The pair subsequently began brainstorming ideas together and eventually developed the concept for a romance novel that has already generated significant interest among readers.
Gay, best known for works including Bad Feminist and Hunger, said the collaboration may appear unexpected to some observers given her reputation as a prominent voice on feminism, race, politics and popular culture.
However, she noted that longtime readers of her work would likely understand her appreciation for romance fiction.
The novel centres on two people who make a pact that if they both remain single by the age of 40, they will marry. What begins as a practical arrangement gradually evolves into a genuine love story.
Gay has previously described the book as:
"A voluntary arranged marriage."
She has also joked that the story features "lots and lots of sex in a bakery," hinting that readers can expect a playful and steamy tone.
For Tatum, the project represents another expansion of his creative career beyond acting and producing. The Hollywood star has previously ventured into publishing through his children's book series inspired by his daughter.
Gay has spoken positively about working alongside Tatum, praising his professionalism and willingness to approach the collaboration as an equal partnership.
The story behind the book's creation highlights the unpredictable nature of the entertainment industry, where a single interview question can ultimately lead to an international creative partnership.
As anticipation builds ahead of the novel's release, Australian readers may take particular interest in knowing that the project traces its origins back to a conversation sparked by one of their own journalists.
For Gay, what began as an unexpected question during an Australian interview has evolved into one of the most talked-about literary collaborations in recent memory — proving that sometimes the most unusual creative journeys start with simple curiosity.
