Author Interview: Nox Calder on Secrets, Stilettos & Stumbles
Nox Calder is the kind of debut author who doesn’t just write stories. She spills secrets, stirs hearts, and makes you laugh through your tears. Her first novel, Secrets, Stilettos & Stumbles, is a whirlwind of wit, vulnerability, and unexpected romance. With a voice that’s both fresh and fiercely relatable, Nox brings a heroine to life who’s as flawed as she is unforgettable.
Why does she matter to our readers? Because Nox writes for the dreamers, the ones who stumble, spill, and still dare to love. Her work fits beautifully into our Dreamwalker’s Collection, where emotional resonance meets bold storytelling.
A Dreamwalker’s Twist
Like the heroines in our Dreamwalker’s Collection, Nox’s protagonist walks a tightrope between fantasy and reality. Her secrets are dreams deferred, her stumbles are steps toward self-discovery. This book pairs perfectly with our “Confessions & Connections” bundle—where every story begins with a secret and ends with a revelation.
THE INTERVIEW
Your protagonist is delightfully flawed. Why was it important for her to be imperfect? Because perfection is boring. I wanted a heroine who overshares, who panics, who wears stilettos to hide her insecurities. Her flaws are her power. They make her relatable, and they make her real.
The opening scene on the plane is unforgettable. Did you ever have a moment like that yourself? Yes—and it was mortifying. I once told a stranger I didn’t know what NATO was, and he turned out to be a defense analyst. That moment stuck with me. I thought: what if that stranger wasn’t just a stranger? What if he held the key to everything I was trying to hide?
How did you develop the dynamic between the heroine and the CEO? I wanted tension that wasn’t just romantic—it had to be psychological. He knows her secrets before she knows his name. That imbalance creates vulnerability, but also intimacy. It’s a slow burn built on trust, not just attraction.
There’s a strong theme of identity in the book. Can you speak to that? Absolutely. The heroine is constantly performing—at work, in her relationship, even with herself. The story is about stripping away those performances and asking: who am I when no one’s watching? That’s where the real romance begins.
What was the hardest scene to write? The confrontation scene where she realizes her boyfriend has been lying to her too. It’s not just about betrayal—it’s about the collapse of a version of herself she thought was safe. Writing that felt like therapy.
What do you hope readers take away from this story? That stumbling isn’t failing. That secrets don’t make you weak—they make you human. And that love isn’t about being understood perfectly—it’s about being accepted anyway.
How does your background in psychology influence your writing? It helps me write characters who aren’t just reacting—they’re processing. I’m fascinated by defense mechanisms, emotional triggers, and the stories we tell ourselves to survive. All of that is baked into the narrative.
What’s next for you as an author? I’m working on a companion novel about the CEO’s past—his own secrets, his own stumbles. It’s darker, more introspective, but still rooted in emotional truth. I want to build a universe where every character gets to be messy and magnificent.
PULL-QUOTES
Early Reader Praise:
“I laughed, I cried, I texted my ex. This book is dangerously good.” —Verified Google Review
“Nox Calder is the voice we didn’t know we needed.” —Beta Reader, Dreamwalker’s Circle
“This book made me feel seen. Like my messiness wasn’t a flaw—it was a feature.” —ARC Reviewer
Nox Calder is an independent author and her books can be found on www.begawanveranda.com