PHOTO: Daryl Banner, bestselling author and composer, brings heartfelt stories and musical flair to the world of gay romance fiction.
Exploring Love, Identity, and Self-Acceptance Through Character-Driven Stories and Humour
Daryl Banner discusses his bestselling Spruce Texas series, the emotional depth behind his characters, the balance of humour and heartbreak, and why writing romance is both a passion and a purpose.
Daryl Banner brings a bold blend of heartfelt emotion, wit, and musicality to the pages of his beloved romance novels. A USA Today Bestselling author with a background in theatre and psychology, he infuses his stories with both narrative depth and dramatic flair. His Spruce Texas Romance series—beginning with Football Sundae—has blossomed into a fan-favourite collection exploring love, identity, and self-acceptance in a small-town setting. With dynamic characters who tug at readers’ hearts and dialogue as rhythmic as a melody, Banner captures the complexity of human connection with both humour and vulnerability. Whether writing opposites-attract love stories or crafting sweeping, time-spanning sagas like When I See You Again, he invites readers to witness characters breaking free of their emotional armour to discover something real. In this exclusive interview, Banner reflects on his creative journey, the psychology behind his characters, and why writing romance has become more than a calling—it’s a mission.
Daryl Banner masterfully blends wit, warmth, and vulnerability, crafting emotionally rich romances that resonate deeply with readers around the world.
What first inspired you to write the Spruce Texas Romance series, and did you always envision it becoming a long-running series?
I wanted to reinvent my own experiences growing up gay in Texas, which is how I came about writing Football Sundae, the first book in the Spruce Texas series. It was intended as just a stand-alone romance, but after receiving so much love from readers, I realized there were many more stories to tell in Spruce. I just released the 9th book “Hot Mess Express” with a 10th in development and am still having so much fun writing them, which I suppose is a good sign!
“Bridger just can’t hold back from criticizing Anthony’s recklessness, and Anthony can’t help but ‘poke the bear’ of Bridger’s stoicism.” – Daryl Banner
“Hot Mess Express” features a strong contrast between Bridger and Anthony—how did you balance the tension and humour in their relationship?
Honestly? I didn’t. I let them go way off balance whenever it pleased them. Bridger is uptight and controlling, recently discharged from the Army. Anthony is wild and unapologetic. At moments it felt like the scenes were writing themselves. Bridger just can’t hold back from criticizing Anthony’s recklessness, and Anthony can’t help but “poke the bear” of Bridger’s stoicism. I loved letting these guys “take the lead” in directing the plot, more or less, having faith they’ll find their own balance once they open up to each other. And boy, do they ever.
How do you go about developing such dynamic chemistry between your characters, particularly in opposites-attract scenarios?
One of the most profound things I learned pursuing my degree in psychology was the myth of “opposites attract”, which still to this day affects my writing. We build walls and defenses through our lives to protect ourselves from being hurt, and underneath, there’s a vulnerable part that never changes, like our inner child. That’s where alleged opposites find their common ground. I have so much fun playing with the idea of what people seem like versus who they really are inside. It’s like a smirking promise of what’s to come when these “seeming opposites” collide.
Your books often explore themes of identity and self-acceptance. How important is it for you to represent these journeys in small-town settings?
Readers regularly comment wishing Spruce, Texas actually existed, because they love “living there” in the pages and feel the town and my characters give them hope. I was brought to tears from an email I got recently where a gay man said that through my books, he “experienced the love life he always wanted” and felt he’d missed out on. It makes me feel like my being an author is less of a career and more of a mission.
Do you have a favourite character from the Spruce Texas or Texas Beach Town series, and if so, what makes them special to you?
I’m so afraid to pick a favorite and have all the rest glare at me. But I choose Noah from “Mr. Picture Perfect”. He lives inside his head, which is me in a nutshell. Many readers reacted positively to Noah, noting he seems neurodivergent and seeing themselves in how he navigates the world. The love interest Cole is a “perfect” (pun intended) complement to Noah.
How do your skills as a composer influence your storytelling? Do you find similarities between writing music and writing fiction?
When I compose, I always keep a story in my head. I’ve been composing since I was a kid and was mostly inspired by video game music growing up, which might explain why I’ve always experienced music as a story. I never skip tracks when I listen to an album because I feel like it’s the same as skipping chapters in a book.
What’s your process like when starting a new book—do you plot thoroughly or let the characters lead the way?
Usually, my books start with a single idea: a character, situation, or concept. Then I think about it—a lot. It’s important for the story to develop organically and not be contrived, which is something my time as a theatre/playwrighting major in college taught me. Outlining can be useful if your story has many moving parts (like my dystopian and fantasy series). But I still need to leave space for the characters to “play”. My favorite thing is surprising myself: “Oh, they want to do this now? Okay, let’s see what happens.” Isn’t that how life is sometimes?
“When I See You Again”, an Amazon Celebrity Pick of 2021, touches on family dynamics and personal responsibility. How do you weave deeper emotional themes into a romantic plot?
“When I See You Again” is one of my favorite stories I’ve written, and that’s due to its deeper themes and unique storytelling structure, with every chapter taking place 5 years later. I sat on the idea for many years, unsure how to tell the story of Caleb and Beau, and scrapped my first chapter probably four times before finally finding the “voice” of the book. I set out to showcase how love can grow in unlikely places over the course of an entire lifetime as well as how that love can change—from curiosities felt as children, to the turmoil of teenage crushes, to jugging the burdens of young adult life and beyond. The story continues beyond the happily-ever-after. My challenge as an author was writing complex, sometimes painful scenes while also preserving the humor, heart, and excitement of falling in love. Stories can amuse and arouse you with the same amount of intensity as they can devastate.
What advice would you give to aspiring authors hoping to build engaging, heartfelt romance series that resonate with readers?
As cliché as it sounds: stay true to yourself. From my own experience, I can say you won’t remember the release of any specific book. You won’t remember that one awful thing that one person said. Or the crick in your neck from hunching over the keyboard for hours. What you’ll remember is the indescribable glory of writing that unexpected dramatic scene. You’ll remember the passion in your heart when a new brilliant idea occurred to you mid-chapter. You’ll remember when you were brave enough to “go there” and choose the risky option for your story, challenging yourself. You’ll remember the pain of realizing a character must die despite your efforts to save them. It’s the “moments” that will mean the most to you as an artist. Stay true to yourself and to the stories you wish to tell, no matter how strange they seem or how far they stray from what others are reading right now. If you can forgive me for being an overdramatic poetic mess: That unwritten story living in your heart right now is your prisoner, and you are (literally) the only person on the entire planet who can free it. The key is to make solid choices, risk making mistakes along the way, and just write. It is absolutely your responsibility to free that story. You’re the hero of your inspiration. Rescue it, care for it, and set it aflight.
EDITOR’S CHOICE
A fiery, heartfelt romance with unforgettable characters, sizzling chemistry, and laugh-out-loud moments—Hot Mess Express is irresistibly entertaining.
