Patty K. Rivera: Hi, listeners. I'm Audible Editor Patty K. Rivera, and today I'm thrilled to be here with New York Times bestselling author Callie Hart. Her work has captivated readers around the world with its blend of intensity, romance, and immersive world-building. Today, we're here to talk about the very anticipated second book in the Fae & Alchemy series, Brimstone. Congratulations on such an amazing release week, and welcome, Callie.
Callie Hart: Thank you so much. I'm very excited to be here. Very excited to chat all things Brimstone with you.
PR: Oh, I can barely stay in my seat from how excited I am, Callie. I just want to start off by saying that. Now, you've mentioned being inspired by Tolkien. Which aspects of his work did you want to expand upon when writing the Fae & Alchemy series?
CH: I don't think there is any expanding upon Tolkien. I think he was very comprehensive in literally every aspect of his storytelling. So, it really is one of those you-can't-improve-perfection moments, and I'm certainly not trying to improve anything he did. I'm borrowing small pieces of this really masterful, immersive, beautiful world that he created and the language that he created, which is just absolutely mind-blowing to me that he fully created a functional, linguistically correct language for his book. It's crazy that he did that. I'm just a humble author borrowing a piece here and there from a master. So, I love the language that he created, and a lot of the phonetics that I've used in my own Old Fae language is heavily borrowed from Lord of the Rings.
The worlds that he's created with the different fantastical elements in Middle-earth, and the different races and species is just beautiful. It's like the most perfectly conducted orchestra of literature, in my opinion. I got to borrow little bits of lore here and there, and I got to pepper in little pieces, little homages to him along the way. Like, Bill was a pony in Lord of the Rings, but he's a horse in Quicksilver. There's quite a few little tips of the cap to Tolkien and this incredible thing that he created. So, yeah, not expanding upon; borrowing, I should say.
PR: Borrowing and creating your own just outstanding universe that I personally will say I've gotten lost in. I will say that the world expands massively in this book...
*WARNING: Spoilers ahead!*
...gods, bloodlines, corrupted magic, and the Blood Court, and then finally dragons enter the chat. Which reveal came to you first as a writer and which one arrived last?
CH: It's all one piece to me. When I started thinking about this story it was 2017, and I really imagined the whole IP, the whole story, from like book 1 through the end of book 3. So, the pieces that we're revealing now in book 2 are things that have blended so much with Quicksilver and with book 3. I nearly said the name of book 3. I keep nearly doing that online, and I would be in a lot of trouble if I did that.
So, yeah, it unfolded all very naturally, and the fact that we do have now these other fantastical, magical elements that are coming into the story later on, it found its genesis a long time ago. So, it's really fun for me now to be able to get to share those pieces with people, because they've been burning in the back of my head for so long, and they have been a part of the story as a whole since the beginning. So now, introducing readers to those pieces is really, really fun. The dragons part obviously is a small piece at the end, but it is fundamental to the story, and isn't it an interesting addition, since they haven't played a huge part in books 1 and for most of book 2? This is obviously a huge spoiler. So, it's interesting seeing what people are going to make of it going into book 3, because it's not your normal dragon story. They play a different role, for sure.
PR: Stop. Oh, now I just want to go off script and ask all about the dragons, but I won't because that's what book 3 will be for. I do have a question, though, and I can imagine that it is on all of our minds. After everything that they've survived—and I'm talking about Saeris seeing Kingfisher here—are marriage and formal vows something that you imagine in their future?
CH: I couldn't possibly say. That would be a huge spoiler for book 3. I'm not going to do those. I'm determined to keep my mouth shut and not accidentally ruin my own third book. So, who knows? I'm going to have some fun with it. I obviously know exactly how the book ends. I'm halfway through writing it right now. I'm going to be very tight-lipped about what happens in book 3. I have to be.
PR: Okay, listeners. I tried. I tried [laughing]. Saeris steps into her power so explosively in Brimstone. She's constantly balancing survival, responsibility, and identity. How do you balance writing a romance that's tender but still tangled in prophecy and consequences?
CH: Yeah, it's very difficult to start with writing a sequel, especially in a trilogy. It's very difficult to maintain flow and momentum and interest. You are already kind of starting off on the back foot when you step foot into a second book, and there is a lot going on in this book, for sure. Saeris is in the eye of the storm, essentially. All of these things are unfolding around her, and she does have so many complicated new relationships to navigate. She's navigating this new romantic relationship, as well, with this person who she's so deeply connected with. She suddenly got her brother involved—again, spoiler. Sorry, guys—trying to keep him alive despite how much she might actually want to kill him herself, which is totally justified in my mind because he's such an idiot sometimes—all of the time, actually.
"I'm just a humble author borrowing a piece here and there from a master."
He was her first responsibility, but now that she has so many more burdens and duty heaped on her shoulders that she has to navigate and figure out, whilst also trying not to lose her mind, get killed by a feeder, get killed by her own subjects, whom she does not want to have any position of power over, and also navigating the fact that she has this access to this huge well of power—magic that she had only glimpsed before. She'd only experienced the smallest 1 percent of that energy and power. Now she's like, “Holy hell, what am I doing? Why am I here? Why are all these people looking to me for salvation or answers or, like, leadership, guidance?”
There's a lot on her shoulders, and all she's trying to do is figure out her own stuff and not die within the next 30 minutes. That's all she can hope to accomplish. I mean, it was really fun to write this story where she's trying to balance all of those things and negotiate all of these tricky complex political situations, and learn about this world that she finds herself in, because she has literally no idea what she's doing, what's going on, what things she could accidentally say that could cause a huge political snafu. It was a little fun for me to write, but I feel bad for her. There's a lot going on in this book for her.
PR: There is. What has been the hardest part of her evolution to write for you? Because she's been through so many changes. You go from being older big sister protecting your younger brother to now you have this whole realm you have to watch out for. I'm sure that there are some growing pains there.
CH: It was a bit of a challenge, but not too crazy. My goal for her when I was writing this story was the fact that I wanted to make sure that, throughout all of this, despite the fact that there is such a huge evolution for her character, but also a physical transformation as well—she's not human anymore. She is this brand-new, entirely new creature, a stranger in her own skin. I wanted, even though she has experienced this fundamental transformation, that she still be the same person at her core, and her values and her drives are still the same. Everything that made Saeris who she was at the beginning of this book remains true in the middle or at the end of book 2. I was very strict with how I wanted her portrayed on the page and who she was, and it was very important to me that that didn't change, no matter what.
That's kind of tricky when you're dealing with all of these huge pressures that are suddenly heaped on a huge physical transformation. She's now a partner in this relationship that is written in the stars, literally. That was potentially the hardest part of writing her, and just maintaining the fact that she's still a strong, independent, fierce, loyal, sassy, take-no-BS kind of character. I like to hope that I accomplish that, but I suppose the proof is in the pudding. People will have to tell me.
PR: Okay, so on behalf of the people, yes. You did it.
CH: Thank you.
PR: Of course. She's on a journey and so is our delightful, our broody, our handsome Kingfisher, who has one of the most emotionally grounded arcs in the series, from protector to equal to something almost divine. What guided your approach to deepening his role in Brimstone, because he's on several adventures?
CH: Kingfisher, I mean, again, I knew his arc and his story from the get-go. I knew exactly how his path throughout this journey was going to evolve. I know what's going to happen with him in book 3. So, the fact that I'm getting to share these pieces now and reveal things as they come in the book is really, really fun, because it's been unfolding and burning in the back of my head for such a long time that it brings me so much joy to finally peel back the layers and show people more of him than you see in book 1.
It was very hard for me in book 1, actually. That's been the hardest challenge for me in writing this series is Kingfisher, because normally when I write a book, I write in dual POV, and I did not write dual POV for book 1 because he had so many secrets. There were so many things that I had to kind of subvert and hide from the reader that if I had given access to his thoughts, that the house of cards would've come down. So, the fact that I finally get to give these little snippets and pull back the curtain a little bit and give people access to who he is, what's going on in his mind, is such a relief for me because I am finally getting to show people who he is and how important he is and the role that he might play in the future. There's a lot to come.
PR: Oh, yeah. And the Kingfisher POV, that really did a lot to help set up him revealing secrets and just us getting to know him a little bit more. So, thank you for that. I can definitely tell that there is more to Kingfisher, because right before the book ends there's another secret that's coming. Again, his evolution has been so interesting to watch. But what really, for me, just brings it over the top is the performance. Anthony Palmini and Stella Bloom have taken us on a journey—doesn't feel like the right words to say here, but it really just added this layer of an adventure to the Fae & Alchemy series. Which part of Brimstone or the whole series did their performance bring to life in a way that you were not expecting?
CH: When I was listening to the audio before it became published—obviously, we have a listen through, and I love the whole production, of course. Anthony and Stella are consummate professionals, and they're excellent voice actors. I really like to emphasize that because, as you say, sometimes an audiobook perhaps might feel like someone's reading a story, which is still wonderful, but it really felt immersive with these two, and they really felt like they were acting these roles. It really takes you into the story and takes you out of reality, which is so cool. It's like a superpower to me. I'm swept away by them when they read these things. I'm so grateful to them for adding their layer of talent to this story as well.
"I'm a greedy writer. I like to explore and try different formats of storytelling."
I was listening to the spicy scenes. There's a number of them in this book, and unfortunately they did too good a job. It just cracked me up, because I get so embarrassed when I listen to my own stuff, and they're so good at what they do. I really felt like I was in the room with them, and I shouldn't be. Anthony's delivery of some of Kingfisher's lines are just, he's spectacular at really embodying the arrogance and the power and the confidence that Kingfisher has when he's in those kinds of moments. Boy oh boy, they both did such a fantastic job. But it's also, conversely, the really emotional scenes where they really shine too. The level of emotion and vulnerability and just the softer power of those scenes is really beautiful in the audiobook. So, I love the thing from start to finish, but those moments really shine for me.
PR: I'm so glad you touched on the emotional beats, and I'm not going to spoil anything for anyone, but there is a moment where someone passes on, and can I tell you, I don't often cry, but the way that the performance was done, I'm sitting there like, "No." Just immediate tears. Just the performance, those emotional moments that you were talking about really do shine through in those scenes and in the scenes where Saeris and Kingfisher are in their own little dream. It makes it feel just extra dreamy, and the spice is spicy. Okay, so let's talk about the ending. The ending sets up new political fault lines, new enemies, and new powers awakening. What can we expect as this world shifts into its next phase?
CH: Yes, everyone asks me, before Brimstone came out, what to expect. And I said, "It was total chaos." But then we get to book 3 and I'm going to have to reuse that line, I'm afraid. There's some really epic moments in this book that I am so, so excited to—I haven't even gotten to writing a couple of those scenes yet, and they have been emblazoned and burning in my brain for many years, and I'm very, very excited. They're epic, powerful, fist-pumping moments, you know? They're just so exciting, for me at least. I genuinely hope that's the emotion that they draw out in the reader too. It's just epic. That's what I'm going for. Whether I can execute it the way that it shows up in my mind is another thing. But I'm going to work real hard on it to make sure that I do my best. I'm very excited. It's a huge climactic finale to the trilogy.
PR: You're threatening me with a good time, Callie. You really are. You're threatening me with a good time, and I love it. As soon as that pre-order goes up, I'm ordering my third book, because I am waiting. Now, is there anything you can tell us about the adaptation?
CH: I really wish I had more exciting news for people when they ask me this question. I'm sad that I don't. But we're still at the very early stages. We haven't got a cast yet. We're nowhere near that point at this stage. We're working on the script. There's a phenomenal writer attached and a phenomenal production team. I'm just looking forward to it. That's all I can say. I love seeing people's speculation online. I love seeing people's fan castings. I feel bad because when people ask me what my fan casting would be, I can't tell them because they're genuinely the people that I really hope we get to have meetings with and try and get on board. I know some authors, it doesn't factor into their vision for their story, but for me, it absolutely does and it's very precious to me. My entire goal and reason for living is to make sure that this adaptation is faithful to the book and it meets readers’ expectations. I will give it my all to make sure that happens. So, that's all I can tell you. I feel bad.
PR: Do not feel bad. This is good news. It's good news. It's happening. We're putting it out there in the world that it's happening. So, hopefully we'll be watching the adaptation soon. But in the meantime, what's next?
CH: I'm in the throes of book 3, for sure. I'm deep in it, which I'm really enjoying because the beats that I'm now hitting are things that I've been dreaming about, as I say, for a really long time. I've said before, it feels like an exhalation. I've been holding these scenes inside for so long that I finally get to let them out, that it feels like I'm letting go of this breath that I've been holding for years. And that's wonderful.
I've spoken about this before, I would love to write three interconnected standalones for the series with side characters, which I'm very, very excited about. I am viscerally aware that people would love for one of those books to be for Carrion, and I would love that too. I'm keeping the other two under my hat for the time being, but I also have a duology that I'm noodling out as well, which I'm very excited about. More on that to come, I really hope. I'm a greedy writer. I like to explore and try different formats of storytelling. So, I'm going to start writing some scripts. I've written scripts before, and I want to get back into that. I want to explore with different genres as well. Some genre-bending stuff. I think that'd be cool. I'm going to be busy. I have a lot of plans and not enough time currently, so we'll just see if I can petition for an eighth day of the week.
PR: I could use one of those too, but now that you said genre-bending, I'm so curious, what genres? I'm curious to know what genres would you venture into?
CH: I don't suppose it's a spoiler, but I really want to do a really interesting sci-fi fantasy mashup. We'll see how that goes. Something interesting to me, at least. We'll see. We'll see.
PR: I don't know, Callie, I feel like a sci-fi fantasy mashup, I feel like, sign me up. Just sign me up. Is there anything you're currently listening to or reading?
CH: I am on book 2 of Dungeon Crawler Carl, and it's so funny. I struggle to read when I'm on the road, which has meant that this year's been tough for me to get an actual read in, because I've not been home this entire year. So, listening to audiobooks has truly been the only way that I've been consuming books right now. Thank God for audiobooks, honestly, because I would just be so sad right now if I wasn't getting any story time in. That production of Dungeon Crawler Carl is so good and I'm just having a blast. It's such a romp.
What else? I always say that I go back and relisten to Project Hail Mary when I'm on the road, too, because it's my absolute favorite audiobook of all time. I dip back in there because I just love the story, and the performance is excellent. Reading-wise, I've been saying the same thing the whole year, because it's the truth. I'm still reading Joe Abercrombie, and it's nothing to do with Joe's writing, because he's an excellent writer. I'm having the best time. It's just that I'm getting paragraphs snatched here and there and everywhere, and I really struggle to read on the road. So, every available opportunity, I jump back into the story and I'm still very much engaged, which is a testament to Joe's writing, because it would be hard for me otherwise to stick with a story spread out over so many months and so many countries, in between so many events. He's done such a phenomenal job. I'm about to finish book 2 in that series. The first is The Blade Itself and I'm reading Before They Are Hanged. I'm about to finish. Excellent, excellent fantasy.
PR: Oh, now I've got a new recommendation. And then the last question, a fun question. I know Saeris happens to be a reader. She reads a lot during Brimstone and some during Quicksilver. If Saeris and Kingfisher could recommend an Audible listen, what would it be?
CH: Ooh. Damn. I don't know. Gosh, I loved all of the Martha Wells, the Murderbot ones that I listened to. They were phenomenal, and they're like bite-size. They're not super, super, super long. So, they were perfect for if I had like an afternoon, I could listen to one. I think they would like some sci-fi. I think they're like readers after my own heart. Gosh, what else? Honestly, I just listened to your Pride and Prejudice. I don't know that Fisher would enjoy it because he'd be grumpy about it, but I love Harris Dickinson and I thought that that was really excellent. So, I don't know about Saeris, but I loved it.
PR: Fantastic recommendations. And yes, I do agree with you, I don't know that Kingfisher would like it, but we also know that if you hang in there long enough with him, he warms up to you.
CH: He does, under duress.
PR: Under duress, he will warm up to you. Oh, my goodness, Callie, I get to go home and humble-brag throughout the whole holidays that I have spoken to you. So, thank you for that.
CH: Thank you. It was a lot of fun.
PR: It has been truly amazing speaking with you today about Brimstone. Listeners, you can get the Fae & Alchemy series and the rest of Callie's titles on Audible now. Happy listening.
CH: Thank you so much for having me. This was really fun.
Note: Text has been lightly edited for clarity and does not match audio exactly.
