Beyond the Pages: An Inside Look at the Mind and Motivation of D.M. Simmons
- BirdieMama
- Jul 2
- 7 min read
Author, D.M. Simmons, promises a nod to America's favorite past-time, all the nostalgia, and a little bit of romantic danger in the upcoming re-release of her book Never Tear Us Apart.
Who is D.M. Simmons?
D.M. Simmons is an accomplished and award winning author who has a, "healthy obsession for love and is a big believer that every heart deserves a happily ever after, whether you like your romance light or laced with a little darkness, from small towns to shadowy realms, sports heroes to fantasy worlds" she has you covered. Her literary accolades are complimented by her expansive and deep passion for storytelling in the realms of romance and fantasy. Her writing philosophy embraces the idea that love can manifest in countless forms and settings. Whether you prefer your romance to be light and airy, filled with laughter and joy, or if you are drawn to tales that explore the more complex and darker aspects of love, D.M. Simmons has crafted narratives that explore a multitude of tastes. In her compilation of writings, readers can find everything from sports characters who exude strength and vulnerability to fantastical worlds where magic and romance intertwine effortlessly. D.M. Simmons invites her readers to "flirt, fall, feel", a mantra that perfectly expresses the emotional journey that she aims to take her readers on. This call to action begs for avid romance readers who seek not just a story, but also crave an experience that allows them to examine the trials and triumphs of love.
Not only does D.M. Simmons excel in authoring books, but for more than two decades, she has also written a vast array of other works, including but not limited to, publications for executives, parenting websites, fiction anthologies, Young Adult, and New Adult fiction. When she is not immersed in the world of writing, D.M. Simmons, cherishes her time spent with her family, which includes her husband, children, and beloved cats. Family life appears to provide her not only joy but also some creative inspiration. In her free time, she enjoys curating playlists that set the perfect mood or she's binge-watching some of her favorite shows, which I can only imagine fuel her imagination and storytelling abilities as well. Along with these activitives, she can additionally be found finding solace in the quiet moments of life, relishing in rainy days, and indulging in the unique comforts of a perfectly made latte. Through all these experiences, D.M. Simmons continues to craft captivating stories that resonate with readers, reminding us all of the power of love and the importance of finding our own happily ever after.
The Interview
Chapter Chirp: Tell me a little bit about yourself and how you decided to become an author?
D.M. Simmons: I have always wanted to write. I had a book in my hand as early as I can remember. My first book was one of the Little Gold Books. Think it was Cinderella. Then in elementary school I read Westing Game by Ellen Raskin and I was hooked. That book taught me at an early age that a good plot is the best kind of ride.
It wasn’t until I was a pre-teen and discovered Sweet Valley High and Judy Blume
books that romance came into my world, but then I was hooked. I devoured everything
that I could. I began writing poetry more seriously and wrote short stories in school. In
college I took as many creative writing classes as I could, and majored in Literature.
Chapter Chirp: How long did it take you to write your latest title and what was your inspiration for this book?
D.M. Simmons: My most recent release is going to be a re-release of book one in my baseball romance series, Never Tear Us Apart. This book was easy for me to write. After going deep in the trenches in why choose and spicy fantasy the year prior to writing it, I wanted something that was fun, had a sense of nostalgia that I have been feeling lately as I approach turning 50, and had sports involved. I am a Gen X girl. I was born in the 70s, raised in the 80s, and lived in the 90s. I cannot hear music from those decades, without it throwing me back. I was also a huge fan of baseball growing up. I played hardball as a kid and later softball competitively through to college. My heroes were always baseball players. Add in a dash of some of my favorite 80s movies like Valley Girl and Lost Boys and boom…you have Never Tear Us Apart! A romance set in a creepy boardwalk town in the south in the early 90s!
Chapter Chirp: What is your favorite part of this book (i.e: character(s), theme, title, cover art, etc.) and why?
D.M. Simmons: I love these characters! I knew guys and girls like Cruz and Ellery growing up. Eyes on the big prize, be it sports or big careers, while also going through change, expressing it with changes in clothes and music. Cruz is head over heels for his stepsister, which I love because it’s a little dangerous (but not all that taboo since their parents married
when they were in high school). He’s broody and delicious and so different from any guy
Ellery has ever met, which of course, means she falls for him. And Ellery is the quintessential good girl, that is tired of being what everybody expects her to be. She’s feisty and headstrong and loyal.
Also, I was a total summer baby, so I love the setting for this story. I lived for the summers. I was always in our pool and went to the Santa Cruz beach boardwalk, more times than I can count. My lazy days of summer were filled with my Walkman, MTV, friends, and sleepovers. I truly love and miss those days. And I hope that spirit comes through.
Chapter Chirp: What was the most surprising thing that you learned while writing your most recent book and did you face any challenges while writing this title?
D.M. Simmons: What surprised me was how easy is it to write when the characters and story speak to you. With my previous series I wrote four books in a year. While writing that book, I had this fear if I didn’t write, I would forget them and their story, or important elements. In a series I am obsessed with consistency and keeping that together across changing POVs across four books was hard. But with Never Tear Us Apart, I gave myself grace and space. On the days I didn’t feel like writing, I didn’t. I work full time outside of
writing, so my headspace has to be clear when I write. I can’t just write and then pivot to
work. This book and these characters were always with me. And the time period was
one I love and remember so vividly, so it felt almost easy to write. So when I could write,
I did. And when I didn’t, I took notes and jotted down things I wanted to layer in and the
character and story were always waiting for me patiently to be able to listen and channel
their words.
Chapter Chirp: What do you love about writing fantasy and romance and what are some of your favorite books from these genres and why?
D.M. Simmons: I like stories that take me away and make me dream about magic and love. Stories that make me wonder about the possibility of worlds that exist alongside our own. My fallen angel world started my author journey and I will continue evolving that world at some point because I love creating worlds and expanding those already created. I don’t like it when fantasy is too heady or the magic systems are too complex. I love The Fallen series by Lauren Kate because, angels. And I recently got into Fourth Wing (I KNOW!) I also really love Gena Showalter’s White Rabbit Chronicles. Of course there are the staples, like Game of Thrones. Leigh Bardugo’s Shadow & Bone is genius, and there are so many on my TBR and read list I cannot even remember them all.
Chapter Chirp: What's next for you, can you share a sneak peek or drop some teasers about your next book?
D.M. Simmons: I am heads down on two projects right now. One is a small town, second chance, football/baker, enemies to lovers romance that has been a catharsis for me in this very tough year. I also am working on a Nutcracker inspired winter retelling, that is age gap,
grumpy sunshine, lush and magical. It feels like fantasy because of the world I am building, but at the same time, feels contemporary. It’s fun. And I am of course working on the re-release for my baseball series, which is getting published through Love N Press Books and book three in that series comes out next year, so it’s busy! Good, but busy!
Final Thoughts
Simply put, D.M. Simmons as an author, is the real deal. She has a formidable collection of published works among having other full-time obligations in several other areas of her life. D.M. currently has twelve books available for purchase on Amazon that boast four-stars or better respectively, while her Goodreads author page additionally boasts a collective average rating of 4.34 stars out of 5 over a combined 1,608 ratings, and 755 reviews. Obviously, D.M. Simmons works passionately on her writings and strives to genuinely provide stories that readers will most definitely devour and fall in love with. It's clear from the lovely interview that she provided, and interacting mutually with D.M. Simmons online that she is deep-down a romantic at heart, a dedicated wife and mother, and also an awe-inspiring author with years worth of works and a devoted reader following. I would now like to take this time and give a heartfelt thank you to D.M. Simmons for taking time out of her busy life to sit down and thoughtfully respond to my questions. Please join me in showing this author love and support by checking out her website, following her on socials, and by purchasing her works, all applicable links are provided below.
Author Website: https://www.dmsimmons.com
Amazon: D.M. Simmon's books for purchase
Goodreads: Author's page
Facebook Reader's Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/swooonroom/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authordmsimmons
D.M.'s works are available for purchase on the following platforms:
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