We at the Blog of Sid Love are delighted and proud to have joining us today Mary Calmes.

Danielle: Welcome Mary 🙂

Mary Calmes: Thank you for having me.

D: You are with us today because of the release of your new holiday novella “Where You Lead”

How did you get to writing in general and specifically in this genre?

MC: When I first began writing, I knew that I wanted to be in romance (I have to have a HEA, I have enough reality, thanks) and so I tried writing the hero and heroine. But the hero and his best friend were always much more interesting to me. The first gay romance I ever read was A Bit Of Rough by Laura Baumbach and I fell madly in love with the genre and cannot imagine ever writing anything else.

D: Did you always want to write?

MC: Yes. Ever since I was 12 years old it was all I ever wanted to do. I used to write stories at school and read them to my family at night.

D: It seems that in “Where You Lead” we have another law enforcement type in ATF Agent Peter Lomax and he joins Marshal Sam Kage and Detective Duncan Stiel. What is it about that sort of job that interests you and do you have more of lawmen planned?

MC: I think that there is the whole authority figure there that I like to play with. The kind of man who has to be strong out in the world but who at home, with the people who he loves and who love him, shows his softer, vulnerable side. That is certainly true of Duncan and Sam and now Pete. I actually have a novel out in March about a guy whose brother is a DEA agent and I’m working on a novel about two marshals so at least two more books with a little bit of that theme.

D: Talking about writing, was there a reason you chose an established couple to write about in your Christmas short?

MC: I prefer writing about established couples. I always worry that I will mess up the first kiss, first meeting, first everything and so prefer showing what about a relationship works for two people. I also like to see the back and forth that established couples have like the banter, the stressors, and the kindnesses. 

D: Is that true of your release from earlier in the month, “Old Loyalty, New Love”?

MC: Yes. With that book it was very important fo me to show the build from protector to friendship and finally to love.

D: Is “Old loyalty, New Love” the first in a new series?

I never know really. The only series I ever actually planned were my warders. Most everything I write I figure, one is enough but then something happens and I have more to say. I never planned to write a sequel to Change of Heart but then I felt there was more to tell about Jin and Logan. In the OLNL universe, it can go either way. I wrapped up my storyline but I had questions about other characters as I was writing and so left those open. And I loved Linus more than I thought I would. It’s always interesting what characters become important and then you see, when you go back and look, that groundwork had been laid without you really even being aware of it.

D: Are there plans for sequels to “Change of Heart”, “A Matter of Time” and the “Warder” series?

Yes and no. I have 7 things in my queue right now, they are all started and on my desktop. I have a Warder novel which will complete the series, a last Change of Heart novel which will complete that series and I am working on a novel about two marshals who work for Sam. I try and not set books in places I haven’t been because it’s hard for me to include details otherwise. So the marshals live in Chicago and since Sam is there, that only made sense. But as far as any more Sam and Jory books, no, that series is done.

D: A friend of mine shared a comment that I think goes for most of us fans saying “the Mary Calmes series aren’t allowed to stop, ever!” How do you feel about that?

MC: Please thank your friend for me, that’s so nice to hear.  I wish I could write long series but I run out of things for the characters to deal with. Like Sam and Jory, they’re settled, they’re in a good place, I like where that one ended. Jin and Logan, seen through the eyes of a different couple, but you still see them; I think is a good way to end as well which is why I’m doing that.

D: I know this is kind of a mean question and I assume people have asked you before, but do you have a favorite series and a favorite character?

Not a mean question at all, it’s a great question. Jory is my favorite because he was my first and because I LOVE writing him. I can get into Jory’s head faster than any other character, and writing him is like being on a rollercoaster with no brakes. The way he thinks something and says it, no filter, makes me happy. And AMOT is my favorite because Sam and Jory are so different.

D: Recently you called yourself a slow writer. Is that something you would want to change?

Or is it perhaps one of the reasons what makes your stories so you?

I wish I wrote faster but most of that is having a brain like a gnat and so I flit from one project to another. I don’t think how fast or slow you write really impacts the final product, I think it’s simply an individual process.

D: On your Goodreads page you have a few quotes for your books. Just to pick out one:

“I think you’re wrong. I think, in real life, magic happens every day,” he said…”

― Mary Calmes, A Matter of Time, Vol. 2

Is this something you believe in yourself and therefore gave it to your characters to believe in?

Oh yes. I believe in the power of the happily ever after, I’ve seen it firsthand.

D: How do you feel being adored as a writer for your works, your characters and knowing people have you on their must-read list?

MC: I am so grateful every single day. It was my dream, since I was twelve years old, to be a writer and now I am and that is because of all my amazing, wonderful fans. I’m thankful for each and every one.

D: Does it make you feel more pressured when you bring out a new book?

MC: I do that to myself. I worry. I never want one of my books to disappoint and so when I get emails or Facebook messages where people say, oh I loved it, I breathe such a huge sigh of relief. I want to do my best each time.

D: As we are nearing the end I would like to shoot a few shorties your way 🙂

Favorite food?

MC: Cheeseburgers, sadly.

D: Favorite color?

MC: Crimson

D: Favorite author?

MC: There’s too many, there’s no way. I’m a huge fangirl. I schlepped so many books to GRL this past year to have signed.

D: Favorite book?

MC: Again, there’s no way. Too many. My husband just bought me another bookcase. It’s getting crowded.

D: Favorite way to spend a day off?

MC: I don’t have days off.  I don’t think I know any writers who do, not really. If you’re not in front of your laptop, you are thinking about a scene or plotting out a book. A picture, a song, anything can create a plot bunny and you’re whisked far away in your mind.

D: Favorite movie?

JAWS. I know, seems an odd choice. But man vs man, man vs nature, man vs self, it has it all. It’s funny, there’s a bromance, there’s a quest and dragon slaying. Also, classic dialogue. I’m a big fan of good dialogue.

D: Favorite music or song?

Too many. It depends on my mood or what I’m writing. Lately I’ve been back to listening to the Foo Fighters who I adore. Dave Grohl writes amazing lyrics.

D: Favorite clothes?

MC: Jeans and T-shirts (DSP house style, you write it like that T-shirts). I do it automatically now. That’s funny.

D: Favorite season?

Fall. Autumn. Favorite month is October. I have a Pinterest board devoted to it.

D: Is there something you would like to share with your fans reading this interview?

MC: My absolute appreciation of them all. Thank you so much.

D: Thank you for visiting us.

MC: Again, thank you for having me.

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READ DANIELLE’S 5 STAR REVIEW ON: OLD LOYALTY, NEW LOVE

On top of visiting our Blog, Mary Calmes is generously giving away an e copy of her new release “Where You Lead”.

Make sure to leave a comment and your Mail ID that is linked to you Dreamspinner Press bookshelf to enter this giveaway