Editor: Why did you choose to write under the pen name Tess M. Calloway?
TMC:I wanted a clear distinction between my professional writing in cosmetic science and my fiction. Otherwise, people might believe that what I wrote is truly factual. The pen name gives Zoe’s world its own identity.
Editor: Zoe Blaise is such a compelling heroine. What inspired you to create her, and how has she grown throughout the trilogy?
TMC:I wanted a character who could confidently step into high-stakes situations while remaining deeply human. Zoe started as someone curious and slightly underestimated, but throughout the trilogy, she has matured into a strong, resourceful woman capable of standing up to global conspiracies. Her development reflects how we all learn to trust our instincts, even when the odds seem impossible.
Editor: Your novels intertwine crime, mystery, and the cosmetics industry in very unusual ways. Why did you choose that intersection?
TMC:Cosmetics may appear superficial at first glance, but it’s a multi-billion-pound industry where science, marketing, and psychology converge. I realised it was an ideal platform for exploring deception, manipulation, and ambition. Beneath the glamour, there’s intrigue—a compelling element that makes for great thrillers while also illuminating hidden truths.
Editor: The Count, Max, and Pebble are such memorable supporting characters. How important is friendship and loyalty to the Zoe Blaise series?
TMC:Incredibly significant. Zoe might be the focal point, but she never acts alone. The Count offers wisdom, Max provides a mix of loyalty and danger, and Pebble brings warmth and humanity. Their relationships demonstrate that trust and loyalty are the foundation of survival when confronting global conspiracies. They are as much a family as they are a team.
Editor: You tackle real science—formulations, ingredients, regulation—yet keep the thrillers page-turning. How do you balance accuracy with suspense?
TMC:It’s about weaving just enough truth so that readers believe the fiction. I utilise my extensive background in cosmetic science to ensure the details are authentic, but the focus always remains on the story. The ‘what if…?’ The science heightens the tension—it makes the conspiracies feel plausible and the villains all the more frightening, even though it’s fiction.
Editor: Why do you think Zoe Blaise stands apart from other contemporary crime protagonists?
TMC:She doesn’t have a police or spy background, which gives her a fresh outlook. Zoe relies on intelligence, observation, and courage rather than brute force. Readers relate to her because she’s clever and determined, but she also has flaws, doubts, and vulnerabilities. She exemplifies resilience in a world that’s constantly trying to knock her down. Readers see themselves in her, and that makes her victories meaningful.
Editor: The Pink Bobbit has a darker, more personal edge, particularly with Annabel’s tragic fate. What made you decide to include this storyline?
TMC:Annabel’s story allowed me to highlight how personal the dangers from the Cartel could become. She wasn’t simply another victim—she was connected to Zoe’s world as a friend and colleague, which made her loss hit closer to home. Her death marks a turning point, raising the stakes and showing readers that no one in Zoe’s circle is truly safe.
Editor: The Pink Bobbit is chilling yet symbolic. How did you come up with the idea of the“Pink Bobbit,” and what does it represent?
TMC: I wanted something that embodied both vanity and violence. The idea of a “Pink Bobbit” combined cosmetic glamour with something grotesque and unsettling. It symbolises how beauty, when twisted, can become deadly. On a larger scale, it hints at how the cosmetic industry’s obsession with perfection could mask corruption, exploitation, and crime. Set against the backdrop of a fictional collapsed beauty industry, it becomes a perfect ‘what if…?’
Editor: If Zoe Blaise were sitting here with us, what would she say about you as her creator?
TMC:She’d probably say I don’t give her enough holidays. But she’d thank me for making her strong when the world she inhabits turns dark.