It is a truth universally acknowledged, that an aspiring author who interviews her writing heroes, must fangirl over said heroes.
I don’t think I’ll ever get over how amazing it is to discover new authors and stories. Even better when you find out that said authors are incredible people (and you secretly want to be best friends with them).
Enter, Callie Thomas.
I met Callie through a wonderful writer’s group I joined on IG. Since then, I’ve been able to get to know her and her writing style. She’s not only sweet and thoughtful, but also a very dedicated writer. Check out her titles below:
A royal wedding turns to disaster when a sinister curse goes awry in this YA fairy tale inspired by Rapunzel and Alice in Wonderland.
She stole from the king and must suffer the consequences. He’s an honor-bound guard forced to uphold the law. Will their love end in disaster?
To escape death, Marigold pledges an unbreakable vow to the sea, binding herself to ancient magic—and to the handsome merman that saves her life.
Don’t all of them sound amazing? I am starting with A Forest of Stolen Memories, and I can’t wait to finish it and move onto the next book in her Backward Fairytale Series.
I was able to ask Callie my five spotlight questions, and many of her answers reflect very much how I feel about writing. Check them out below:
Why do you write?
I write because it’s like breathing. I have stories living inside of me, dying to get out. Character dialogues and scenes playing on loop, distracting me like pestering toddler until I give in and jot them down. Luckily, I love writing them out. How they start as a single idea and bloom into something magnificent, and into a whole new world that was living in my head. It’s amazing!
What/who inspires you in life (not in your writing, but in general)?
Life all around me. Sometimes I will just see or hear something and my brain jumps into creative mode. I’ll see the story start to weave itself in my thoughts and the real world disappears. Another inspiration is the Bible. I read that a lot, so certain stories will start to trickle into my writing. You may notice some familiar stories in both A Forest of Stolen Memories and A Sea of Golden Chains.
What are some of your favorite things?
Oh, this one is tough. Books and coffee are my automatic answer. I also enjoy scrapbooking, board games, and video games (mostly cozy puzzles or simulations like Stardew Valley). Graphic design is also another hobby that relaxes me when I feel overwhelmed.
What would your perfect day look like and how is it different from your actual everyday?
No deadlines! Most mornings I wake up with a long list of tasks I need to work on. It would be nice to wake up, relax, and spend time with my family without worrying.
As an indie author, I wear many work hats. I find myself on my laptop either writing, editing, graphic designing, marketing, or catching up on messages almost all day long, including on the weekends. So, a break from the screen would be a dream come true!
If you could invite a group of writers (dead or alive) to a tea party, who would it be?
I’d love to sit with Jane Austen, Charlotte Brontë, and Victorial Holt. These three ladies had a big impact on my love of books.
Weren’t those fun to read?
I asked Callie two bonus questions for my VIP Circle subscribers: What is your top advice for young writers and what is your number one marketing tactic? To read those, sign up for my VIP Circle here.
To connect with Callie and get to know her better, find her through the links below:
Website: www.authorcalliethomas.com
Facebook/IG/TikTok: @authorcalliethomas
Amazon page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Callie-Thomas/author/B0B7KJBJ42
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/callie-thomas
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21951220.Callie_Thomas
Now, for this spotlight (and to celebrate Callie’s release of A Sea of Golden Chains), we joined forces to do a really fun giveaway for you. The items include:
- A signed copy of A Forest of Stolen Memories
- Two Callie Special bookmarks
- Two character art cards
- A map from A Forest of Stolen Memories
- Two handmade leather bookmarks inspired by A Sea of Golden Chains
To enter this giveaway (and read Callie‘s bonus questions) click here.
The giveaway will run until December 23rd and a winner will be randomly selected through my VIP Circle by December 26th. Open to U.S. residents only. Good luck!
Did you like this post? Then consider joining my VIP Circle and don’t miss out on all my additional content (monthly messages, inspirational quotes, bookish recommendations, giveaways, and much more!). Click HERE.
And if you want to collaborate with me don’t be shy. I love to work with fellow writers, spotlight authors, and host writing challenges. I’ve also been known to swap short critiques on occasion. Reach to me here.
Melissa Muhlenkamp 