"Ep 5: Callie Hart Insights & Clues for Brimstone & Beyond"
Podcast: Dear Fantasy Reader
Hosts: Kinsey & Carly
Air Date: October 21, 2025
Episode Overview
In this energizing episode, Kinsey and Carly break down all the latest insights and teasers from Callie Hart regarding her Fae & Alchemy series—particularly the highly anticipated Brimstone. Drawing from in-person interviews (San Francisco & San Diego), Instagram Lives, and bonus Q&A moments, the hosts share author revelations, hints about upcoming installments, the evolution of the story, and exciting news about the movie adaptation. Expect detailed discussion on writing process, characters, worldbuilding, antiheroes, bonus chapters, and more, all delivered in the hosts' signature fangirl tone.
Content Warning: Contains major spoilers for Quicksilver and mature content.
Skip the opening minutes for main content—summary is ad-free and excludes non-content segments.
Key Highlights & Insights
1. Brimstone Fast Facts & Series Scope
- Length: Brimstone clocks in at ~220,000 words—longer than Quicksilver (207,000 words). (03:43)
- Writing Speed:
- Brimstone: Written in about three months, mostly while touring.
- Quicksilver: Completed in just six weeks of focused writing.
- “She’s like, I literally wrote ‘the end’ and then had to run out the door for a tour stop.” – Carly (04:03)
- Series Plan:
- Contracted for three books; Callie wants five (potential for a Carrion novel/novella).
- Hosts urge listeners to pre-order and request at libraries:
“Requesting extra holds at your libraries… also indicators of how popular a series is.” – Carly (05:26)
- Hosts urge listeners to pre-order and request at libraries:
- Contracted for three books; Callie wants five (potential for a Carrion novel/novella).
2. Brimstone Structure & POVs
- Main POVs:
- Dual: Seras and Kingfisher. Nearly half the book is from Kingfisher’s perspective. (06:09)
- “You really get a front row seat into his psyche… and there’s a softening too, which was really fun to write.” – Paraphrased from Callie Hart (07:19)
- Carrion: Receives bonus POV chapters in certain editions; possible third POV in Book 3.
- Dual: Seras and Kingfisher. Nearly half the book is from Kingfisher’s perspective. (06:09)
- Book 3 ETA: Aiming for a 2026 release despite heavy touring.
- “I am writing it… the goal is for ‘26 release. You know, we do not want to keep you guys waiting.” – Callie Hart via hosts (08:01)
- Graphic Audio: None for now due to movie rights legalese; possible after movie adaptation.
- “It did sound like maybe there was some hope… but I was really sad.” – Carly (08:45–09:00)
3. Spice Level & Genre Expectations
- Spice Level:
- Brimstone is “cranked up a little”—Callie rates it a 3.5/5, just above Quicksilver. (10:01)
- “I was like, I think we need a Romantasy specific chili pepper scale…” – Carly (10:27)
- Brimstone is “cranked up a little”—Callie rates it a 3.5/5, just above Quicksilver. (10:01)
- Comparison: Spicy for Romantic Fantasy standards, though lower on the all-romance spectrum.
4. Callie Hart’s Writing Process & Origins
- Background: Prolific writer, with 42 books pre-Quicksilver, mostly paranormal romance. (11:42)
- Quicksilver’s Early Struggles:
- Initially failed to break into Amazon Top 100; almost shelved the series.
- “This is my soul book, and I was desperate for it to do well... and it… kind of disappeared into the ether.” – Callie Hart, via hosts (12:49)
- Turnaround: Contacted 30 Booktokers; explosion after 15 featured it.
- “Within days, it blew up on TikTok and just kept getting bigger.” – Carly (12:58)
- Initially failed to break into Amazon Top 100; almost shelved the series.
- Reader Connection: Callie emphasized deep gratitude to her reader community—reciprocity of appreciation is a major theme. (14:19)
- Genesis: Idea for Quicksilver came in 2017, but she didn’t write it until 2023.
- “There were so many roadblocks… but I was just like, screw it. I need to write the story.” – Callie Hart, via Kinsey (14:37–14:41)
- Drafting Style:
- Fully plotted, almost zero editing—didn’t delete a word after finishing first draft!
- “I don’t go back in and… cut things out… I didn’t delete a single word when I finished.” – Callie (15:57)
- Fully plotted, almost zero editing—didn’t delete a word after finishing first draft!
- Biggest Challenge: Impatience to reach certain scenes; “just the fact that I had to sleep.” (15:57–17:02)
5. Brimstone Teasers & Author Humor
- Three-Word Description:
- “Total fucking mayhem.” – Callie Hart (18:17)
- Breakneck speed, wild ride—especially highlighting Kingfisher and Carrion “alone, unsupervised.”
“Let me tell you, it’s a bad idea.” (18:47)
- Breakneck speed, wild ride—especially highlighting Kingfisher and Carrion “alone, unsupervised.”
- “Total fucking mayhem.” – Callie Hart (18:17)
- Predicted Character Separation: Kingfisher & Seras likely separated for part of Brimstone; expect great world-building and humor from unlikely pairings. (07:11, 18:53)
- Quicksilver, Summed Up: “Do me, Daddy.” – Callie Hart (19:17)
6. Antiheroes, Music, & Thematic Elements
- Antiheroes:
- “I just think anti heroes are the most interesting characters in any book… I don’t believe any character is truly good or bad…” – Callie Hart (21:15)
- Kingfisher’s Arc: Readers will see “a softening” and understand his trauma in Book 2.
- Soundtrack for Writing:
- Brimstone songs: “Dumbest Girl Alive” (100 gecs), “Villain” (MISSIO), Corpse’s music (“hot and angry”), “Affair with the Moon” (unlisted artist).
- Quicksilver song: “Start a War” (Valerie Broussard). (22:17–23:15)
- Names Matter:
- “There’s a reason for everything in this book series. Everyone’s name has meaning. Kingfisher’s name is for a reason. Carrion’s name is for a reason…” (23:15)
7. Bonus Chapters & Edition Mysteries
- Bonus Chapters:
- Four currently (three free on Callie’s site; one in Quicksilver’s new edition); Waterstones/Brimstone edition may have a new Carrion POV. (24:22–25:09)
- None were “deleted scenes”—all written after for reader enjoyment.
- “Anything that's being advertised as, quote, a deleted scene is, like, stuff that she had to write because she didn’t delete anything.” – Carly (25:17)
- None were “deleted scenes”—all written after for reader enjoyment.
- Four currently (three free on Callie’s site; one in Quicksilver’s new edition); Waterstones/Brimstone edition may have a new Carrion POV. (24:22–25:09)
8. New Characters & Red Flags
- New Faces:
- New character introduced in Brimstone, not met in Book 1. Hinted to be a “very cool” and “tortured” boy—expect more “red flags.” (26:13–27:01)
- Taladeus will play a big part; fans should revisit “The Maze” bonus chapter.
9. On Writing Sex & Fight Scenes (and Humor)
- No “Sex Editors” (Audience Q&A):
- “It sounds like you’re talking yourself into a new job… The research would be fun.” – Callie (29:08)
- “There’s no more fun scene to write than fighting and fucking. Like, they’re both the same thing… they should serve a purpose. Then it’s just organizing people’s limbs.” (29:10–29:45)
- Fight scenes are her favorite; organizing logistics in sex scenes = comedic hazard.
- “He has three hands now. Oh God. What else has multiplied?” – Callie Hart (29:59)
10. Character Details & Transformations
- Carrion’s Senses:
- Was “glamoured,” thus had human senses; will now appear more Fae and become even hotter in the next book.
- “Carrion’s probably going to look more Fae now.” – Carly (31:02)
- “Carrion is like if Riddick and Cassian had a kid…” – Carly (31:47)
- Was “glamoured,” thus had human senses; will now appear more Fae and become even hotter in the next book.
- **Teased: Kingfisher/Carrion chemistry, yearning, and more spicy/chaotic moments.
11. Movie Adaptation News
- Studio: Netflix
- Author Involvement:
- Callie was courted by multiple producers; chose Netflix for their commitment to her creative control and fan inclusion.
- “They were very intense about me being very collaborative… That was very important to me.” – paraphrased from Callie (32:57)
- She will be executive producer, have a say in casting, and share BTS content with fans.
- Producer has also worked on The Love Hypothesis and Alien: Romulus, hinting at skill with both romance and dark tone. (33:38–34:56)
- Callie was courted by multiple producers; chose Netflix for their commitment to her creative control and fan inclusion.
- Casting Input: Callie wants input; asked fans if they prefer a known or unknown Kingfisher—overwhelmingly, fans want a new face.
- “I’m so surprised. Okay, like, let’s… do it then. New name.” – Callie (36:04)
- Adaptation Tone: Will not be “dumbed down”—expected to retain darkness, violence, and heat.
- “…It’s gritty and dark and there’s violence… I didn’t want it dumbed down or romanticized.” – Callie (34:30)
- Pinterest: Callie keeps active boards for current AND future projects. (36:52)
Notable Quotes & Moments
- “Total fucking mayhem.” – Callie Hart on describing Brimstone (18:17)
- “Do me, Daddy.” – Callie Hart on Quicksilver (19:17)
- “Just the fact that I had to sleep… was very inconvenient.” – Callie Hart on hardest part of writing (15:57)
- “He has three hands now… oh god, what else has multiplied?” – Callie Hart (29:45)
- “I don’t believe that any character is truly good or bad.” – Callie Hart on antiheroes (21:15)
- “It blew up on TikTok and just kept getting bigger.” – Carly on Quicksilver’s discovery (12:58)
- “Anything that’s being advertised as a deleted scene is stuff she had to write because she didn’t delete anything.” – Carly (25:17)
- “Not a single word was removed...” – Callie Hart (15:57)
- “We want those extra books.” – Hosts, urging preorders/libraries (05:25)
- “They want to invite you guys along for the ride as well… being on set, sharing casting news, and just the general logistics of making the story come to life.” – Callie Hart on Netflix adaptation (33:02)
Timestamps for Key Segments
- [02:19–03:52] — Interview Recap & Brimstone Stats
- [05:03–06:55] — Book 3 Plans, Pre-orders, Library Support
- [06:09–07:19] — POV Breakdown, Kingfisher’s Role
- [09:00–10:27] — Audio Production, Spice Talk
- [11:42–14:41] — Callie’s Career, Quicksilver’s Rocky Launch, Booktok’s Role
- [15:57–18:15] — Writing Process, Editing, Plotting
- [18:15–19:43] — Wild Ride: Three-Word Book Summaries, Audience Reactions
- [21:15–22:17] — Antiheroes, Kingfisher’s Depths
- [22:17–23:15] — Book Playlists & Character Theme Songs
- [24:22–25:17] — Bonus Chapters, Waterstones/Brimstone Editions
- [26:13–27:01] — New Characters, Taladeus & Red Flags
- [29:08–29:59] — Sex Editors Q&A, Fight vs. Sex Scene Logistics
- [31:02–31:47] — Carrion’s Glamour, Character Transformations
- [32:57–36:52] — Netflix Movie Deal, Adaptation Philosophy, Casting
- [36:52–end] — Pinterest Boards, Future Projects, Closing
Tone & Style
The Dear Fantasy Reader hosts keep it fresh and fangirlish, balancing deep book nerdery with playful banter and memorable quips. Their conversations are humorous, emphatic, and filled with personal reactions, making it feel like a book club chat with best friends.
Takeaways for Listeners
- Brimstone promises more action, spice, and emotional insight, especially from Kingfisher’s perspective.
- Callie Hart’s writing style is intensely plotted, heartfelt, and intentionally mysterious—no detail is accidental.
- Bonus content (especially Carrion POVs) is strategically written, not leftover scenes.
- The movie adaptation is in carefully collaborative hands, with fidelity to the books’ dark, romantic, and gritty essence a top priority.
- Expect new tortured heartthrobs and dramatic relationship twists.
- Fandom and reader activism (preorders, TikTok/Bookstagram buzz) directly influence series continuation.
Next Episode Tease:
Don’t miss the upcoming Quicksilver bonus chapters & Brimstone predictions deep-dive!
For more resources, past episodes, or to join their online community, visit dearfantasyreader.com