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Resolving Old Trauma
Calliope Wakes follows a young adult woman who is plagued by relentless nightmares and strange uncontrollable events happening around her. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I grew up in the Midwest where I looked like no one else. First-generation immigrant families sometimes don’t assimilate well and I was stuck straddling two very different cultures. You want weird looks? Bring chopsticks for your school lunch. My happy place growing up with the tiny city library and that’s where I started exploring. All the good classics–Lloyd Alexander, Patricia McKillip, Alice Hoffman, Andre Norton, Katharine Kerr, Susan Cooper. If it was available, I read it. I wanted to write a book about an outsider trying to reconcile two completely different worlds. And, of course, I wanted sweeping romance, epic battles, and earth-shattering endings.
Callie struggles with her nightmares and the return of Erik into her life leaving her questioning what is happening and if she is the cause. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
I needed Callie to earn her self-actualization. There’s always someone else telling you who you should be, what you should do, and weighing your worth, screw all of that. It took me a long time to realize I needed to run my own race and I pushed for Callie to start having faith in herself.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
For all young folks moving from high school to college, the mission should be to discover yourself. What do you believe in, what do you want to do with your life, what are your hard limits, or do you even have them? Emerging adulthood is a time like no other because you’re still unformed and that is your first shot at making yourself who you want to be. A key part of that is letting go of the past or resolving old trauma because you don’t want that weighing you down going forward.
Will there be a follow-up novel to this story? If so, what aspects of the story will the next book cover?
I always intended for this to be a one-shot but now I want to write a full trilogy! Let’s see what my lovely publisher at Evernight Teen thinks. Celtic and Norse mythology is vast and wide-ranging but there are some fantastic myths that I want to tie to the young adult experience.
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The gods are alive, and they’re in Michigan.
Something is wrong in Bellhaven, and Callie doesn’t know how to stop the nightmares. She just wants to be safe in her small city by Lake Michigan, but there are strangers in town and evil around the corner. Is she causing the troubles, or is there something more sinister? Erik has come back into her life and seems to know more about her bursts of insanity than her, but she doesn’t know if she can trust him or if he’s trying to distract her.
Then buildings are collapsing, wolves are attacking, people are dying and only Callie can save them. Will this time be different? Will they finally live to see the sun rise on All Hallows’ Eve?
Calliope Wakes
Calliope Wakes by Constance Kersaint introduces us to Callie Redmond, who at first glance seems like any ordinary eighteen-year-old. However, beneath the surface, something is distinctly amiss. Callie is plagued by relentless nightmares with no apparent cause, and her confusion only deepens when Erik, her former best friend from elementary school, suddenly reappears in her life. Erik, who had inexplicably distanced himself from her throughout high school, now wants to rekindle their friendship—and possibly even more. This sudden shift leaves Callie bewildered and questioning his motives. How could someone who once ignored her for years now desire to be close again? And more importantly, why now? As strange and uncontrollable events begin to unfold around Callie, she finds herself questioning everyone and everything in her life. Unexplained fears and an increasing sense of distrust gnaw at her, further complicating her situation. As these disturbing occurrences intensify and Erik’s presence in her life grows stronger, Callie realizes she must uncover the truth behind these events. What secrets about her past will she unearth? Why are these nightmares haunting her? And most crucially, are Callie and her family truly safe?
What captivated me most about this story was its ability to grip me from the very first page and hold my attention until the very end. The characters are so vividly drawn that they feel like real people—friends I wanted to root for and see succeed. I found myself particularly drawn to Callie and Erik’s relationship. Despite Erik’s mysterious behavior, it was clear that his intentions toward Callie were protective rather than harmful. I yearned for Callie to give him a chance, to let go of the past, and see where their relationship could go now that they were adults. Their shared history and deep connection made me hope they would find a way to move forward together. Ms. Kersaint has masterfully crafted a storyline that not only pulls readers in but also keeps them on the edge of their seats with each new twist. The suspense and action are so intense that I often felt my own heart racing, fully immersed in the danger and drama alongside Callie. This novel is so vividly written that I could easily envision it as an action-packed movie, full of tension and excitement. One of the standout aspects of Calliope Wakes is the brilliant fusion of Celtic and Viking cultures. The seamless blending of these two distinct and complex traditions is something I have rarely encountered in literature or film. The author’s creativity shines through in this unique and fascinating combination, adding an extra layer of depth to the story.
Calliope Wakes is a young adult novel that will appeal not only to its target audience but to adult readers as well. If you enjoy stories that combine action, suspense, and paranormal romance, this book is a must-read. Constance Kersaint has delivered a compelling tale that will leave readers eagerly anticipating her next work.
Pages: 258 | ASIN : B0CS5PKNKT
LITERARY TITAN 