In case you missed the email: Meet JL Calder the mind behind Dwyer Street Press

Meet the Author: J.L. Calder

Hi everybody!

So much about writing this newsletter was uncomfortable.

First, because I’m very much a “pay no attention to the (wo)man behind the curtain” person.

It isn’t a matter of shyness or confidence—it’s very much a belief that I’m not the product.

But people—I’m told—like to see the faces behind the stories, the person behind the characters, and feel a connection to the mind creating the worlds they’re disappearing into, so with that in mind…

Hello.

Show of hands: how many of you thought J.L. Calder was a man? Yeah, I get that a lot. There’s a meme going around that says, “The most powerful man in any room is always the Only Daughter,” and I think there’s some truth to that. As one, I got to watch action movies, play baseball and hit the shooting range with dad, while shopping, hand-raising wildlife and doing spa days with mom. It made me the type of person that can make friends with birds and then drag a guy out of his car for stealing a parking spot. What can I say?

And that’s why the decision to show myself was a difficult one. I never wanted any of my careers (author or otherwise) to be a gender conversation, and I believe firmly that if you craft stories with human emotion and tell them in powerful ways, the author/character identity perspective shouldn’t be obvious (um, or matter), and I hope that resonates in the work.  I also know that judgment comes harder for women when they play in male spaces, which I have lived with my whole life and wasn’t ready to sign up for when it came to launching my writing passion.

But what the heck, here we are,  another year older (47 today!)

If you’re still reading, here are a few fun facts about me now that we broke the seal:

• Married

• Mom to a rescue greyhound

• Los Angeles native and resident

• Go-to movies: Die Hard (3, if I have to pick), Lethal Weapon (4, if I have to pick), Apollo 13

• Go-to TV shows: LOST, The Americans, Grimm

• Go-to music: Pink Floyd, 3rd Eye Blind, and a schizophrenic blend of 90s Rap and Country

• Current read: Lethal Horizon by Jason Kasper (also, sort of obsessed with chewing through his entire backlist) 

• Hates to leave the house, loves to leave the country.

Ok, so, that wasn’t so bad. And provided everyone hasn’t unsubscribed, maybe I’ll poke my actual head up more often. 

If I've piqued your interest and you want to know more, shoot me an email or follow the Dwyer Street social accounts!