Chasing dreams
Courtesy photos Morgan J. McCallum began writing his first novel when he was 12 or 13 years old.
Morgan J. McCallum makes his own costumes, like this one, which he wore for a book signing for his zombie novel.
(Courtesy Photo) The first two novels in the Weather Casters’ Saga.
(Courtesy Photo) Morgan J. McCallum enjoys artwork. This is an ink painting of Graf von Krolock (from a German musical).
BONNERS FERRY — Local author Morgan J. McCallum started writing his first novel when he was 12 or 13 years old. By the time he was 17, he had completed “A Hole in the Ice,” the first in a trilogy called The Weather Casters’ Saga.
In 2014, at age 19, McCallum held his first published book.
“The reality of it, because that was my dream … to be a published author — to actually hold that dream in your hands, as a physical object — there is nothing quite like it,” said McCallum.
McCallum has always lived in a world of creativity, drawing, painting and writing, all from a young age. He was homeschooled and knew that he wanted to be a published author someday. He set his sights on that goal, not letting age deter him, and never wavered. Now, at 22, his fourth book is gracing the shelves.
McCallum’s books are geared toward young adults, but that does not mean the writing style is any simpler. To the contrary, he weaves his tales with a melodic rhythm, laced with in-depth research, taking the reader on trips through a blend of history and fantasy.
“Violas and a harpsichord took the burden of sound and wove a melody of elegance,” McCallum writes in his first novel- a perfect example of his ability to paint a mood with words.
Although McCallum has never traveled to Europe, the backdrop to the first novel, the attention he paid to every detail firmly sets the reader in 19th century Europe, with the main character, 16-year-old Parsifal Keazund, about to embark on an adventure that pushes outside the realms of reality, slipping slowly and believably into a fantastical world.
“I did quite a bit of research,” explained McCallum with a laugh. “I am obsessed with Europe. I got books from the different countries I was interested in. I kind of made their course go specifically through countries I was interested in.”
Like other great authors who have come to fame over the years, McCallum’s books are enjoyable to readers of all ages who enjoy immersing themselves in a reality that is tinged with fantasy and mythology.
McCallum worked hard to obtain his goals. With a push from his sister, he took an aptitude test which qualified him for an intensive correspondence course with the Institute of Children’s Literature, founded in 1969 and located in Connecticut.
“I took three writing courses with them,” said McCallum. “The first one was about writing stories and getting started. Their courses are a lot about marketing and the publishing world as well as actual writing. Their second course was where you write a whole book for the course, and you have an instructor who gives you feedback.”
He took that opportunity the rewrite his first novel, at age 17.
“When I finished the book, I sent it out to six different publishers over the course of a year or two and I got accepted in May of 2014 by Little Bird Publishing House, a small indie publisher in Britain,” said McCallum.
“We work in collaboration with talented and ambitious authors, enabling them to bring alive their dreams of publishing a quality book ready for a challenging and demanding market,” states the Little Bird Publishing House website.
McCallum credits them for their support and making his books beautiful, with cover design and layout. They are a small community of authors that help each other. Since publishing through them, McCallum has became a Kindle Book Review Finalist with his novel, “A Hole in The Ice.”
After completing the first two books in his Weather Casters’ Saga series, McCallum took a hiatus, completing and publishing “Ambulatory Cadavers: A Regency Zombie Novel.”
“It took me two years to get to the next one because I took a detour with the zombie book,” he admits. “That was quite surprising to me, the way the book turned out. It was the most organic process of them all.”
Once back on track, the third book in the trilogy, “A Hole in The Air,” was completed and released in February 2018.
McCallum has had support, both from fans and from the inspiration he draws from other authors.
“Biggest fan, supporter; well, there’s my brother who also likes to write and we brainstorm plots together,” said McCallum. “I have a writer friend I met on Instagram and we share our writing and encourage each other. There’s also a local fan who made some wonderful fan art of some of my characters. I can’t just pick one.”
“For my comedy style, I love Lemony Snicket and I think my sense of humor was greatly influenced by his,” he explained. “Phillip Pullman’s ‘Golden Compass’ was actually the first seed that started my first book. I had a different time period envisioned when I read it and was disappointed when he mentioned a truck, so I was like, well, I’ll write something set in the time period I want. And add mermaids …”
When not writing, McCallum enjoys artwork and creating elaborate costumes by hand.
“I make costumes for my book signings, mostly. I have always loved costumes. My mom wasn’t much of a sewer so she wouldn’t make them for me, and I couldn’t find any that I like at the stores, so I had to start making them myself,” said McCallum. “For a long time, I actually sewed everything by hand.”
He also spends time at book signings, in book stores and at comic conventions. He is currently working on his fifth book, a space opera. His books are available through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iTunes, local stores, and more, with more venues coming.
Not unlike his character in the trilogy, McCallum has embarked on an amazing adventure, and he is following his passion to magical places, where dreams come true — a dream of a young boy who wanted to be an author.