I'm thrilled to introduce Callie Woodridge, a Canadian author whose passion for storytelling shines through her captivating fantasy series. Callie, a lover of nature and coffee, draws inspiration from various sources—including books, movies, and conversations with friends—to create immersive worlds that readers can lose themselves in. Her work includes the Foothills Fae Academy series, which blends coming-of-age themes with elements of magic and adventure, as well as the Zartoto series, known for its originality and unique magical systems.
In our interview, Callie opens up about her lifelong love of storytelling, her experiences as a writer, and the lessons she’s learned along the way. Get ready to dive into the mind of an author who weaves magic into every page!
A book that pleasantly surprised you? I wasn’t sure at first if I would like Summer Sisters by Judy Blume, but it's one of my favorites now. I read it every summer.
Coffee, tea, or cacao? Coffee
Favorite hangover recovery recipe? Anything fried.
When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer? Even before I could write. I've been telling stories since I was about 3 or 4. I'd draw them out, tell them, or have people write them for me.
Where do you get your information or ideas for your books? Usually from movies, other books, or shows but sometimes when I'm having a conversation with someone, they might say something that creates that creative spark in me. It's not written yet, but I have an idea for a story through the POV of Santa's elves based on something a coworker once joked about. I plan to write it once I get my Foothills series and another series out of my system.
When did you write your first book and how old were you? My first official book was when I was seven. When I was nine I wrote a series about a girl and her dolphin. My first chapter books started when I was ten.
What do you like to do when you’re not writing? Hiking or going for walks around my town. Either that, I'm binging on Netflix or reading.
Is there a trope you find yourself going back to in multiple works? Or one you avoid? I love friends to lovers or enemies to lovers. I also tend to write the ‘my life sucks, but now I'm whisked to a new world and my life is better’ type of magic stories. I was always a fan if rags to riches books as a kid. But they don't even have to end as rich, just happier. I'm also a sucker for coming of age where you see characters grow up from kids to adults. I loves shows or books like that, so I tend to write them.
What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books? I myself have a lot to learn when it comes to writing books. I'd say I've been telling stories since I was 3, and penned my first book at 7… so over 30 years ago. I've always been a bookworm before I could read, yet, I feel like a newbie writer because my first two series have so many mistakes. Reading my Zartoto series, especially Abduction, no one would guess that I've been writing for over 30 years. But at the same time, I stopped sharing my stories with people after I could write them myself. So I probably picked up a lot of bad habits.
How many books have you written? Which is your favorite? It's hard to say how many… it's all I did as a kid if I wasn't reading or playing, but one that will never see the light of day called: New Beginning. It's one I stuck with from a teen until my late 20s. It's close to 500000 words. However, I have taken ideas from that book and put it my published series. Foothills took a lot from it. The epilogue in the last book of Foothills was taken from it. I just had to tweak it because New Beginning wasn't magical and Foothills is.
Do you have any suggestions to help someone become a better writer? If so, what are they? I'd say try to get as much constructive criticism as you can before publishing. I think if I'd found more people to read Abduction, the first book in the Zartoto series, it would be better. I love my Zartoto series but I think I'm the only one. It's my baby because it's my first published book, but when I never got feedback returned I gave up, but I think I should have kept trying to find people to read it and give feedback on how to make it better to keep readers. So I'd say get as much feedback and advice as much as you can. Also, NEVER READ YOUR REVIEWS! Especially negative ones. I've learned that fast. Reviews are for readers, not authors. If you fo read them, prepare for your feelings to be hurt and I hope you have thicker skin than me. You might think you're getting feedback from them, but you get mixed feedback and it won't help you. I tried that with Abduction and some of the changes I made in it, people are now complaining about. You cannot please every reader. It's impossible.
Do you hear from your readers much? What kinds of things do they say? No, but I hope someday I'll have fans reach out and contact me. I think I'm still too unknown and make too many beginner mistakes to have a fan base like that.
Do you like to create books for adults? Yes, most of my books are geared toward adults, though people don't realize that with Foothills because the characters start so young, but I see it like Summer Sisters by Judy Blume, except in a series instead of a standalone book. They start young, but the older the characters get the more explicit it gets.
Did you ever consider writing under a pseudonym? I am writing under one. I don’t want people who know me to read my books.
Do you try more to be original or to deliver to readers what they want? I try to do a combination. The Zartoto series is extremely original. People cast spells with body language, for example. Most of the critiques and compliments I've gotten is that it's very original compared to most books. It could be why it's not as popular since many people like familiar books. Foothills fits in the latter category and it's my popular series.
If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be? Start getting criticism on your stories earlier so you don't run into any problems later.
How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have? Probably over 40 counting from when I wax young kid to now.
What do you have coming next? A spin off to my Foothills series.
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