"For better or for worse, she’d never given any hint of discomfort when her dreams had to face reality." - from "Wicherek Way," a short story from the world of the forthcoming novel Kohelette I wouldn't say my fiction is autobiographical, but I do find myself drawing on bits of real-life experience to ground my... Continue Reading →
On Ecclesiastes and Tending the Wind
It’s done. I finished. I wanted more from the book of Ecclesiastes. I wanted the author to address things he didn’t address. And since he didn't, I wrote the novella To Tend the Wind. In the short video below, I say a bit more about the thinking behind my writing process ... https://youtu.be/rWnTM_xeeBg Author Callie J.... Continue Reading →
On Mental Illness, Silence, and Suddenly Color
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTE2llSOjtI There are many reasons we have difficulty talking about mental illness. Those silences have shaped my new novel, Suddenly Color: A Sacred Grounds Novel Book 2.
Mourning, Longing, and Other Sacred Acts
What happens inside as you mourn? Where does mourning take you? I’m guessing a lot of us have much, much more familiarity with mourning since 2020. We’ve lost things. We’ve lost people. As I, myself, have mourned, I’ve felt longing winding itself through that sense of loss. I long for people, I long for ways... Continue Reading →
On Getting Our Energy Back: Reflections for Mental Health Month
“Many of us seem low on energy,” began my church's newsletter article. “The past several years have taken a toll,” the article said. I paused. The stresses and strains of recent years may go without saying, but I feel glad whenever someone does say how strange and exhausting life can still feel. I saw a recent article... Continue Reading →
A Novel for Lent
"We tend to associate this time of year with devotionals or books for study," I wrote recently in Christian Theological Seminary's CTS Connections newsletter. It was a piece reflecting on my recent novel, Kat's Dreams. I continued: "In the case of Kat’s Dreams, though, I chose to set this story during Lent – and I envision... Continue Reading →
