Callie Browning
We had the privilege touching base with Bajan writer Callie Browning who is the recipient of the 2019 NIFCA Silver Medal and finalist in the 2019 JAAWP Writer's Prize. In addition to having her debut novel 'The Girl With the Hazel Eyes' being featured by OPRAH MAGAZINE as one of the 16 Caribbean Books by Caribbean Authors to celebrate Caribbean Heritage Month!
Here's what she had to say...
When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?It was a really gradual realization. As a child, I always preferred to put my words in black and white because it was comforting. It wasn't until I was an adult that I realized that writing and creating these fun characters also gave me joy.
What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?Ha ha. I would have to say that I'm a very messy writer. I have great respect for those who plan a whole book and write character outlines. I'm the complete opposite. I don't really have very firm ideas for the characters or the storyline when I start to write. I literally start off with one idea and just write and write until I have a story. I might start with the middle and then go back and forth until I figure out how to patch it together.
Where do you get your inspiration or ideas for your books? Literally, all of my stories have just popped into my head and have been galvanized by some random factoid that I could combine it with. For The Girl with the Hazel Eyes, I had a vision of a crotchety old lady and a young woman having a conversation in a plantation-esque room. When I thought some more about the old lady I realized what an interesting life she would have lived given her age and that formed the foundation of the story.
What do you like to do when you're not writing? I like to read, travel, play games and enjoy art. Whether it's a cultural event or a great movie, I'm a huge fan of various art forms.
What is your favorite genre of music and why?It's really hard to nail down but I'd have to say I'm a fan of alternative/indie rock, pop and reggae. For the first two genres, I've always been impressed with that style of storytelling and how they blend music with lyrics. With reggae, it's amazing to me how broad that category of music can be. Reggae is perhaps the most diverse musical genre there is. The other thing with reggae is it also takes me back to my childhood because it was what I listened to on my way to and from school.
Tell us an interesting fact about yourself - I'm always cooking!
What does your family think of your writing? My immediate family is very supportive and always eager to read what I'm working on.
What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books? I learned that writing books is hard work and unless you love it that you won't stick with it. Especially being an indie author where you also have to be your own publisher, publicist, editor, manager and financier. This is a vocation and only an unwavering passion for writing will help you to stick with it and create good books.
How many books have you written? Which is your favourite and why? The Girl with the Hazel Eyes is my first full-length novel. I'm currently working on my second book which I'm looking to publish by the end of 2020.
Fun Fact!When we had this conversation with Callie she had not released ‘The Vanishing Girls’ yet, I haven’t read it yet..what are you waiting on?
Do you have any suggestions to help aspiring writers? If so, what are they? Many writers tell aspiring writers to read every day. That's great advice, but I think I'd also say that aspiring writers should strive to always be inspired above all else. Try to keep interesting people around you and partake of interesting activities. By having such a broad base to draw from, your stories will be more enriched.
Do you hear from your readers much? What kinds of things do they say? Yes, I do! My readers are so awesome. 90% of my Bookstagram friends started off as readers and now they're like a second family. I have an open-door policy so I always encourage feedback and that has allowed us to broach so many topics and have so many great conversations. I'm always thrilled to hear all of them but I'm most proud when the male readers reach out. They usually tell me how much they love the romance in The Girl with the Hazel Eyes and that's such a huge compliment because so many people believe men don't like to read and they don't like to read romance.
As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up? Something with writing but I never knew exactly what. Luckily, I still don't know what I want to do; the journey of discovering it is so enjoyable that I don't think I ever want to find out.
What's your favorite aspect of Caribbean Literature? I love being able to see myself in characters. I love hearing the accents as I read. I love reading about fruits that I can go down the road and pick or buy from a roadside vendor. Caribbean literature is an immersive experience for me that I seldom get with other books.
How does it feel to be an award winning author? How has this inspired you? It's wonderful to be recognized for work that you've invested so much into. And at the same time, you want to keep growing and keep creating work that reflects that growth. The veneration is wonderful but creating the work that you're proud of is also its own reward.
What do you wish to see for the future of Caribbean Literature? I wish to see greater development and recognition for Caribbean Literature. More movies based on our work. Long lines that snake out of bookstores when Caribbean authors have book signings. I'd love to have more regional buy-in so that we can hold up our own artists and love them the way we love international authors.
