Dragon Soul Press had the opportunity to interview Callie J. Smith, an author featured in DSP’s Forever Yours, Survival, Faerie Contract, and Curses and Crystals.
- Introduce yourself.
I’m a writer of cozy contemporary and fantasy fiction. I also work in the nonprofit sector, enjoy mountain biking and dark roast coffee, and have a feisty Bombay cat who—oddly—likes to watch me write. - What prompted you to begin writing?
I’ve enjoyed stories for as long as I can remember. However, about five years ago, I started a new work schedule that allowed me to set aside more consistent space to write in the mornings, a time of day when my brain works most creatively. That shift has jump-started my writing life, and I’ve learned I’m happier when I have a creative project underway. - Do you have a favorite story or poem you’ve written? What’s it about?
“Cake and Pewter,” a cozy fantasy that appeared in Forever Yours: A Dragon Soul Press Anthology (2026), is one favorite. It follows a not-terribly-young woman who hears rumors of a hidden library of forbidden books, and her search for it teaches her all sorts of things about magical powers, including the ones she didn’t know she had. Her story spurred me to write more short fiction set in the same fantasy world. “The Catering Witch,” my story scheduled to appear in the forthcoming Dragon Soul Press anthology Curses and Crystals, is a sequel to “Cake and Pewter,” though it can also stand alone. - How many projects do you have planned over the next few years? Tell us about one.
Quite a few! I tend to have multiple stories at once in some stage of brainstorming or drafting. I’m putting finishing touches on my first novel-length piece of cozy fantasy fiction that will be out in the spring of 2027. Called Wren, the novel is about a neurodiverse woman trying to forget a painful past while avoiding those who’d continue commandeering her magical powers. In the end, one of Wren’s worst memories presents her with the key to defeating an enemy whose magical maneuverings threaten both Wren and their entire city. - What is your writing process like?
My writing process involves a lot of revision, which is the stage I enjoy most. Earlier in my life, I had trouble finishing stories because I couldn’t find my way through the trickier plot twists. I often gave up. Finally, I started writing a story that I promised myself I would finish no matter how badly written it ended up being. That first draft did end up being rather bad, but that wasn’t the end of the world. It was a starting point for revision, and I enjoyed watching the story get better over time as I worked on it. Giving myself permission to write really bad first drafts ended up drastically improving my process! - Where do you draw inspiration from?
I draw inspiration from experiences that frustrate me. Even if I’m writing a story about an entirely different personality type in an entirely different world, I still let my experiences of frustration (e.g., having my intuition belittled or seeing neighbors mistreated) inform the stories I write. Those experiences give me a level of investment in what’s at stake for the characters, and I feel motivated to finish the story in a way that feels satisfying and reflects my best hopes for how this world (or any world) could work. - What is one goal you have for your writing future?
I’d like to explore new ways of sharing my work. For instance, I plan to further develop my skills as a narrator. I’m just beginning to narrate and produce recordings of my own fiction, but I still have room to improve with things like character voices. Narrating is very different from writing, but for me, it also feels compelling in the way that creative projects can. - What do you hope readers enjoy most from your work?
I hope readers enjoy the sense of surprise and delight as my main characters discover new things about themselves and become a little bolder by the ends of their stories. I know life doesn’t always lead us toward empowering self-discovery … but occasionally it does, and I love focusing on those times. - Where can readers learn more about you?
https://calliejsmith.net
https://www.facebook.com/calliejsmithauthor
https://www.instagram.com/calliejsmith
https://www.youtube.com/@calliejsmith
