Callie J. Smith

author

Tag: healing

Encountering Strangers and “The Interruption: A Short Story”

Jun 6, 2026

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by

Callie J. Smith

in short fiction

I never know what will come from sitting down with a friend, let alone from encountering a stranger. People invariably surprise me. Any given moment may turn out to be a fight or a dance, an inconvenience or a gift. Some moments may be all of the above, and how I think through that complexity…
On Truth in Fiction and “Wicherek Way: A Short Story”

Feb 7, 2026

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by

Callie J. Smith

in hope and imagination, short fiction

“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…
On Ecclesiastes and Tending the Wind

May 1, 2024

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by

Callie J. Smith

in hope and imagination, spirituality and creativity

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 … For even more context…
On Mental Illness, Silence, and Suddenly Color

Oct 3, 2023

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by

Callie J. Smith

in hope and imagination, spirituality and creativity

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

May 9, 2023

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by

Callie J. Smith

in grief and memory, spirituality and creativity

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…
On Getting Our Energy Back: Reflections for Mental Health Month

May 3, 2023

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by

Callie J. Smith

in grief and memory

“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…

About the author

Callie J. Smith writes about women who, like her, are finding themselves. Her stories and essays explore everyday things like hope, creativity, and grief.