For Callie, life is a full mix of family, writing, horses, dogs and the great outdoors. Callie draws much of her inspiration from the world around her: the changing seasons, country walks and the beautifully messy reality of family life. We caught up with her to talk about finding time to write, building an online community and the simple pleasures she’s looking forward to at home.
You’re a mum, a novelist, a content creator and someone whose life revolves around horses and animals. How do you manage all those different parts of your life?
I spend my life chasing my tail but my secret weapon is most definitely my husband. He does the lion’s share of the work and tries to free me up to spend time with the children and to get some writing done.
There’s something very romantic about your real life world, do you think your everyday life has influenced the kind of stories you naturally want to tell?
I was always told, at school and at university, that if you want to write - write about something you really, truly, know. So, I would definitely say that everyday life slips into my writing. I notice the changing of the seasons when I’m walking the dogs. What birds are around, who has flown off to warmer places. The flowers that appear. The difference in the tangled hedgerows - they are always changing. Then they all get written up!
What has surprised you most about the publishing world?
How welcoming it is. How forgiving and supportive my editor and publisher, Harriet, is. She is a big wig at Viking PRH and she is tremendous - in every way.
You’ve built such an enormous community online. Has having that audience changed the way you approach writing, or do you try to keep the two worlds completely separate?
I hope not. I haven’t kept them entirely separate but I certainly don’t factor social media into my writing. My writing definitely infiltrates my online presence though.
And finally, when you aren't writing, riding, parenting or working, what are the little things that make you happiest?
I love reading. I love being outside. I love spending time with Toby. I am so looking forward to making our new house a home. Snuggling up to the fire, dogs at my feet, children and husband around me, maybe a book on my lap. I’m ready to hibernate and can’t wait to give birth to our fourth child (due in three weeks!).
October, 2026
