Patti Callahan Henry is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of sixteen novels and podcast host. She is the recipient of The Christy Award 2019 Winner “Book of the Year”; The Harper Lee Distinguished Writer of the Year for 2020 and the Alabama Library Association Book of the Year for 2019. She is the co-host and co-creator of the popular weekly online Friends and Fiction live web show and podcast. Patti is also a contributor to the monthly life lesson essay column for Parade Magazine. A full-time author and mother of three, she now resides in both Mountain Brook, Alabama, and Bluffton, South Carolina with her husband.
Want to keep up on all things Patti, check out her website: https://www.patticallahanhenry.com/ or follow her on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.
What does your writing space look like?
I have a space in my home, a small room off the side of the house. For the past twenty years or so, no matter where we live, I have been intentional about having a “space of my own” no matter how small or large. It’s almost like a whisper to my muse “This is ours and this is important.” It is covered in books and my bulletin board is filled with my favorite things: photos, poems, cards, quotes, tickets, and even coasters from hotels or bars I want to remember. I have feathers and crystals and seashells on my shelves. And on my desktop and counters I have articles, research and notes to remind me of things I am sure to forget.
If you could spend a day with another popular author (living or dead), who would you choose and why?
Joy Davidman, C. S. Lewis’ wife — for all the obvious reasons, including spending the past five years both reading and writing about her.
How do you celebrate when you finish your book?
I tell the very few who care and start another. I feel that giddy sense of accomplishment, and yet know that there is more ahead. Stories never end.
Is there something you do/have while writing that helps your process? (Music, snacks, etc.)
Quiet. Sometimes I have music, but it never has words. No snacks but always a cup of tea or coffee or bubbly water. I usually burn a candle, but I’m not too precious about my rituals.
What book are you currently reading?
When The Stars Go Dark by Paula McLain
