Now it’s time to learn more about the authors we read. . .

What drew you to the genre you write?
I’ve always loved mysteries. I read Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys growing up, moving on to Agatha Christie and Sherlock Holmes as I got older, then to Dorothy Sayers, Ann Cleeves, Anthony Horowitz, Richard Osman and all the rest of the beloved mystery authors of today. So when I started putting pen to paper, I simply followed my heart.

How did you come up with your pseudonym?
A pen name is such serious business. I mean naming myself all over again? I had enough problems coming up with names for my characters. Why bother fooling around with the name my parents gave me? I tried so many outlandish names, but none felt like they fit. Then I realized I didn’t need to go too far for a pen name. I could simply use my childhood name, GG. That felt right. And then my brain went one better—it whispered that I could use my mother’s maiden name ‘Calpo.’ After all, my father had his name all over my law license and my CPA license already. And that’s how GG Calpo came to be.

Tell us how you got into writing?
I used to make up stories in my head when I was younger, usually when I was doing nothing except look at the sky, waiting to get called in for dinner. When I retired, with nothing to do again, I remembered my stories and thought, why not?

What jobs have you held before, during and/or after you became a writer?
I’m retired from law and accounting and had quite a few jobs climbing up the corporate ladder. It was fun. But not as much fun as being a writer, which I started after retiring.

How many books do you have published?
My debut novel, HOOK, LINE AND MURDER (Book 1 of The Sweet TOOTH Murder Mystery Series) is coming out on February 9, 2026.

Where do you write?
Anywhere I can. It’s very annoying, though, when scenes pop up in my mind in the middle of the night and I have to get out of bed and tiptoe out of the bedroom to write.

What’s your favorite genre to read?
Cozy mysteries, of course!

What is something people would be surprised to know about you?
My husband loves to camp, and I love my husband. Soooo, I go camping. Actually, more like glamping.

Who is an author you admire?
Terry Pratchett. His humor is so dry and witty. I have all his books, in paperback and e-book format.

Have you any advice for aspiring or beginning writers?
Just write. Don’t worry about choosing the right word or stringing them in the best sentence possible. Get the story down on paper. Then revise. That’s where the magic happens.

What is next for you?
I’m hard at work on Book 2 of The Sweet TOOTH Murder Mystery Series, which should be out by the end of 2026. I’ve also started writing short stories about a retired Filipino-American detective, Luzviminda Abad—four-feet eleven and walks with a cane. She’s a badass detective who refuses to let her sixty-plus years get in her way. Readers can download a free copy of The Mozzarella Mystery by joining my mailing list at www.ggcalpo.com.

Where can we find you?
Visit me at www.ggcalpo.com

Now to have some fun . . .

Breakfast, lunch, or dinner
Breakfast! Got to have my latte.

Fruits or vegetables
Fruits. I’m not keen on greens.

Sweet or salty snacks
Sweet! But only a teaspoon or two… my husband eats the rest.

Ice cream or cake
Ice cream…on top of an apple pie?

Cooking or baking
Cooking. I can’t get dough to rise to save my life.

Dining in or dining out
Dining in. Less fuss and the alcohol is free.

City life or country living
Country living. I must have trees, flowers, hedges and open spaces around me.

Beach or mountain
This is tough. Childhood vacations were always at the beach—my parents loved the water. But mountains with verdant landscapes calm me down. Can’t I have both?

Winter, Spring, Summer, or Fall
Spring. It speaks of new life, new beginnings, new everything.

Extrovert or introvert
Introvert. I love a night out with friends, but I recharge when I’m alone.

And even more fun . . .

What is your favorite movie?
Harry Potter, all seven of them.

You are stranded on a deserted island. What are your three must-haves?
A knife, a water purifier (I was amazed when I found out you can buy a gizmo that would make any water drinkable) and a tarp for shelter.

My bio:
GG Calpo is a retired lawyer and accountant who traded contracts and numbers for the far more enjoyable chaos of fictional crime. Now she writes cozy whodunits featuring warm-hearted golden-aged sleuths who’ve seen it all, heard it all and will investigate a murder with zero hesitation. She loves stories where the stakes are personal, family and friendships are paramount, with characters who refuse to follow the outline and endings that pull the rug out. When not plotting twisty crimes—on paper only, of course—she spends her time reading, crocheting blankets and sweaters for her five grandchildren, watching mystery TV shows and taking long walks in her neighborhood. She lives in Central New Jersey with her husband and two corgis, Whiskey and Nugget. Visit her at www.ggcalpo.com.