Ryder O’Malley and the Bears of Firefly Valley
Romance novelist and bear Ryder O’Malley is sharing his sweet and sexy vision of bears in a small-town setting with his newest release One Reason to Stay. Funny, charming, geek affirming and body positive, his stories hit at the heart of what we as bears need to see of ourselves in media.
It was a pleasure getting to know a bit about what makes this talented writer tick so sit back and enjoy getting to know Ryder, his characters and the universe he’s created for us. And by all means make sure to check out his official website and treat yourself to some bear-centric literature.
John Hernandez (JH): Hi Ryder! The first book of your Bears of Firefly Valley series was just recently released. Tell us a bit about One Reason to Stay.
Ryder O’Malley (RO): Burly bears & small-town shenanigans. Firefly Valley is an homage to the small town in northern Maine where I grew up. Our protagonist, Jason, is your everyday geeky bear running a comic show. He grew up in Firefly, and for the first time in his life, he’s thinking about leaving. To help bring the big city to his town, he’s hosting the town’s first annual comic con. The town not only supports his efforts, but they’re excited to get involved… with varying degrees of success.
Amidst this chaos, in walks Simon, a single dad who has just moved from the big city to Firefly, to spend more time with his eight-year-old son. When he goes to the comic shop hoping to find material that will help spark a love of reading in his son, he meets Jason. Sparks fly. Clothes come off. It’s a passionate first encounter… but is it the last?
The Bears of Firefly Valley is very much a “Hallmark” romance. There’s very little angst, and it’s that loving, funny, endearing book that gives the reader warm fuzzy feelings. Of course, it wouldn’t be a small-town romance without a town filled with nosey characters who are as invested in Jason’s relationship as him.
The book focuses on the idea of found family, community, and what can happen when a person lets themselves be vulnerable. Oh, and true to every novel I write, there are plenty of moments where burly men get naked and get down to business.
JH: Umm—just how we like it!! (Laughs) Your previous novels all center around gay superhero romance – the heroes, villains and grunts of the Vanguard universe. What made you shift focus to write about everyday bears?
RO: There are a lot of reasons related to marketing and readership, but honestly? I wrote One Reason to Stay because I was depressed. At the end of COVID, I moved to Charlotte, NC and while I love the city, it’s been difficult to acclimate. Meeting people as an introvert is a challenge. Being self-employed, I don’t interact with co-workers like I used to. We rely heavily on virtual relationships or meeting people through apps like Scruff and Growlr. It wore on me. I thought, “I can either push this feeling into a book, which isn’t the type of romance I write, or I can use my stories to combat it.”
The idea for One Reason to Stay is wish fulfillment on multiple levels. I grew up in the tiny town of Brownville Junction, Maine (population 1,200.) When I lived there, I couldn’t wait to leave, but now as an adult, I see the charm. Neighbors talked to one another. We’d have our Black Fly Festival and Farmers Market. There is something magical about being in a community where you know everybody. Of course, now that I’m removed, I can also poke fun at the small-town shenanigans and everybody knowing your business. But as a young gay man, it wasn’t where I needed to be.
In the story, Jason is conflicted about staying or moving to the city. I am Jason. I moved to the city. It gave me a chance to ask, “What if?” What would it have taken for me to stay? I filled this book with unbridled love and support. The town stands behind Jason and even though there are no personal boundaries, they want the best for him. This book is close to my heart because not only does it share personal experiences, it pulled me out of a rut. When life gets complicated, sometimes we just need a big, burly hug. One Reason to Stay is that hug.
JH: Art is my therapy. Makes complete sense. Tell us a bit about the Vanguard books- a lot of bears love comics and superheroes. And judging from the cover art there are a lot of furry, musclebound studs in these novels.
RO: I think bears of a certain age will remember the scene in Mallrats when Brodie asks Stan Lee, “The Thing, is his dork made of orange rock like the rest of his body?” Stan Lee laughs it off… but as a young gay man, I had questions! X-Men comics during the 90s under Chris Claremont were melodramatic and akin to Soap Operas, but they never delved too deep into their love lives… and rarely into their sex lives.
I needed to know if they use superpowers in the bedroom… for educational reasons. The characters in my books are not Liefeld’s overly muscular powerhouses. Yes, my covers show off abs, but that’s more of a marketing tool to get the ladies on board. Inside, I love featuring body diversity. Throughout my books, I get to use words like chubby, soft, huskular, chonky, burly, and thick. Of course, because most of my readers are women, I throw in dad bods, squishy, and fluffy. I wanted to feature the bear community. We have cubs, chubs, bears, muscle bears, and a wolf or two. These superheroes are large, in charge, and never ashamed about their girth or sexuality.
At the moment, there are three series in the Vanguard Universe. Each starts out with our heroes sitting at a table, whether it be a coffee shop, court-mandated anger management, or the office breakroom. They’re talking about the same things any group of bears would discuss with their friends. Relationships. Love. Sex. Work. Family. Most likely, bears reading the series will turn to their friends and say, “You’re such a Bernard,” or “You’re as slutty as Alejandro.” The characters are drawn from friends, exes and bears I’ve met over the years. I warn people, careful, I might put you in a book!
JH: My worst nightmare/ secret fantasy! (Laughs) Do you consider yourself a bear and are you active in the community?
RO: I was a cub before I knew about the bear community. When I went to college, I tried fitting in with the club kids. It did little for my self-esteem being the biggest boy in the room. I knew chubby gay men existed, but this was before apps and niche chat room. I met an older bear who assured me I wasn’t alone. He snuck me into the 119 in Boston.
Bears. So. Many. Bears.
Inside there were men of every body type. Chubby men. Skinny men. Muscular men. It’s two decades later and I can still remember how something clicked. Having grown up one of two gays in my town, this was a turning point in my life. I got hit on! Me? I know that sounds egotistical, but it had never happened before. I didn’t know it at the time, but that night changed my life and started me on a path toward self-acceptance.
I’m not heavily involved in the bear community these days. Charlotte has a wonderful group of men who meet for coffee every other week. The Charlotte Bear Dinner Group has been my lifeline here. Much like my books, we talk about whatever is going on in our lives. They’ve been incredibly supportive of my writing and even partook in a promotional campaign showing off the different types of burly men in the bear community.
JH: I love that! What do you have planned next for the Bears of Firefly Valley?
RO: I’ve already started writing More Reason to Stay which will release in early 2025. There will be a third book in late spring. I’ve decided with all the negativity happening in the world, I need to safeguard my “happy.” Being able to jump into this series lets me focus on the best of mankind. I think we need escapism more than ever, and as a creator, I can write those stories.
Of course I plan on infusing more geekery into my books. More Reason to Stay will feature an actor who played a superhero in a blockbuster movie. With his newest movie bombing, he flees to Firefly Valley for some peace and quiet. I’m excited to write from the point of view of an outsider who walks into a small town. Oh, and don’t worry, he’s going to meet a well-endowed handyman willing to show him the ropes. For bears looking to check out my new releases, swing by www.authorryderomalley.com.
JH: Oooh I can’t wait! And anything we have not covered that you would like to mention?
RO: I’m not being dramatic when I say the bear community changed my life for the better. If not for a single bear reaching out and inviting me to a run-of-the-mill bear night at a local bar, I don’t know where I’d be. One night of community, of body positivity, of men being themselves, has shaped my life. I focus on inclusion in my books. If it helps another cub struggling with their identity, then I’ve done my job. I am forever grateful for what the bear community has done for me. Support bears, those in the community, and those yet to join.
JH: That’s beautiful. Thank you for sharing and for joining me. I can’t wait for our readers to take a trip to Firefly Valley! Best of luck with the next installments!
RO: Thank you so much!
