I’m super excited for today’s 3Q’s Special Guest. Ever since I read his collection, ‘The Sea Was a Fair Master,’ I was blown away with Calvin Demmer’s deft prose and amazing way of crafting a story. Along the way I’ve read a bunch of his stories, multiple collections and even appeared alongside him in a few anthologies!

Please welcome Calvin!

Steve: What does your process look like once you finish your first draft? Do you immediately dive back into it, or do you take some time away?

CD: I tend to go straight back into a first draft. I will already have ideas for changes or have identified parts that require fixes. I want to get started on that. I do take a break later in the process.

Steve: What’s the one thing you’d change now if you’d have known it when you started writing?

CD: I would have liked to have had my current schedule back then, but other than that nothing really comes to mind. It’s different for everyone but starting with short fiction was the right approach for me. I’m also glad that I explored and blended different genres early on.

Steve: Of the books or stories you’ve released, which is your personal favorite and why?

CD: Some stories come together easily, and some are a struggle; some go through numerous drafts, and some go through very few. So, I don’t have a personal favorite. If I am either challenging myself or trying something different—no matter how big or small the approach—I’m usually happy with how things end up.

Steve: Bonus Fun Question – Would you rather be lost at sea or in the mountains?

CD: I don’t think I have a choice. I’ve written so many stories about the wicked ways of sea that I think it’s inevitable I will end up lost at sea. Maybe I should start writing stories about evil mountains to balance things out.

Steve: Ha! Fair enough! Thank you so much for doing this, Calvin!

To find more of his work – check the links!

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Calvin-Demmer/author/B00P96CDYQ

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CalvinDemmer

Website: https://calvindemmer.com/