Author Spotlight: Callan J. Mulligan (CHARLOTTE AND THE SKYFALLER)
Callan J. Mulligan was born in 1988 and grew up in Adelaide, South Australia.
Writing poetry and fiction from a young age, his ambition and imagination took him through several creative careers including Marketing, Music, and Film & Television. At the age of 29 he wrote his first published work of fiction, the novella, A Mind of His Own. The debut work received critical acclaim and hit amazon’s Top 25 Psychological Thriller list. He has since appeared in Australia’s premier science fiction magazine, and published his best-selling space opera duology, The World Settlers (Astraeus, and Eternum).You can find Callan on his website (free book with every sign-up to the newsletter on the website) and @callanjmulligan on Instagram and Twitter.
Charlotte & The Skyfaller is my upcoming kid’s portal fantasy, and a change in pace from my usual genre of sci-fi thrillers. Inspired by Disney and fairytale classics, Charlotte & The Skyfaller is about a young boy, his pet hamster, a princess, and a friendly dragon, who come together to save the magical land of Either Iether from a rotten witch. Geared towards 5 – 10 year olds, I wrote it for all ages and have even illustrated the book with 30 original drawings. So, if you like The Hobbit, Peter Pan or Alice in Wonderland, Charlotte will be something you enjoy!
Tell us a little something about your writing process – do you have a certain method? Do you find music helps? Give us a glimpse into your world!
I often write alone, and prefer pen and paper before touching a keyboard. There’s something more organic about the process, and when it comes time to type it up: it’s basically a free second draft.
Speaking of worlds, what inspires your worldbuilding or setting? Can you tell us a bit about it?
My love of all things scifi and fantasy gives me an insatiable urge to build worlds of my own and live inside them for as long as I can. In the case of my space opera, Astraeus, it was a cruise to Fiji that inspired my idea of “titanic in space”. And in the case of Charlotte & The Skyfaller, it was my first trip to Disneyland and the awe that Walt’s legacy inspired in me. I wanted to write my own original fairytale, with all the elements from the classics.
What (or who) are your most significant fantasy/sci-fi influences? Are there any creators whom you dream of working with someday?
I love structural edits, but find grammatical edits and proofing to be very tedious. Lucky for us writers, we have editors and proof readers to do the heavy lifting.
We always appreciate a beautiful book cover! How involved in the process were you? Was there a particular aesthetic you hoped they’d portray?
I have the privilege of a background in design and illustration, so many of my covers I have designed myself. Including this one! But I do commission art for quality sake, depending on the project.
Can you tell us a bit more about your characters? Do you have a favorite type of character you enjoy writing?
I love stereotypes that break the mould and surprise the reader. Complex characters with a specific trial to overcome, are very satisfying to write. I think bad guys are my favourite to write, especially if their story includes redemption.
The world shifts, and you find yourself with an extra day on your hands during which you’re not allowed to write. How do you choose to spend the day?
The Beach, by Alex Garland. Absolute white-knuckle thrill ride. If you like thrillers, you’ll love it. If not, I recommend Magician by Raymond E. Feist. It’s the perfect high-fantasy.
Charlotte & The Skyfaller comes out in November. Until then, I’m keeping my other works in progress under wraps. But I will say this, there are books a plenty!
Are you planning anything fun to celebrate your new release? Do you have any upcoming virtual events our readers may be interested in?
The World Settlers reaches space opera readers across the US, UK, Australia, and South Korea
Hello Callan,
I really enjoyed learning about The World Settlers and the ambitious scope you bring to the story. Setting the book aboard a recommissioned world settling starship, generations after humanity lost its cradle and expanded across the Orion Arm, gives the whole premise a real sense of history and weight before the mystery even begins. Then dropping a murder and a wrongly framed man into that setting, alongside a ship literally falling apart around the passengers, makes for a story that pulls in fans of both hard science fiction and mystery at once.
One detail that stood out was how Lizabeth Denning is thrown into uncovering a conspiracy while racing against the ship’s failing systems, with the emptiness of space itself becoming almost a character. That combination of claustrophobic tension and galaxy spanning stakes is exactly what keeps science fiction readers hooked from the first chapter.
While researching your work, I noticed there is an opportunity to strengthen your online discoverability. The book currently sits at 4.0 stars with 14 reviews. Since science fiction readers often discover new authors through recommendation lists and themed searches, strengthening the visibility of The World Settlers can help it reach more of the readers actively searching for stories like this.
Here is what I can help with.
Amazon reviews and keyword optimization. I will optimize your Amazon listing with targeted keywords so readers searching for space opera, generation ship mysteries, and science fiction with a murder mystery twist can find your book more easily. I will also help strengthen your review presence so new readers feel confident choosing your book over similar titles in the category.
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This book is especially suited for readers who love space opera, fans of generation ship and world building science fiction, mystery readers who enjoy a sci fi setting, and anyone drawn to stories about conspiracies unfolding under pressure. These are highly engaged readers who actively recommend books that expand their sense of scale.
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