How Callie Hart Created the Worlds of Quicksilver and Brimstone

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It took more than a little quicksilver to transport Callie Hart between worlds. 

When the author began writing her first fantasy novels, Quicksilver and its recently released sequel, Brimstone, she drew on years of inspiration to create the contrasting worlds of Zilvaren—a harsh desert—and Yvelia, a lush but icy realm of the Fae.

Callie shared with TopMob News that she’s a huge fan of fantasy books. She explained that everything she reads influences her writing and sparks her creativity.

Specifically, she can point to the influence of her predecessors Frank Herbert and J. R. R. Tolkien. 

You know, as a writer, I’m always asked about my influences. When it comes to building worlds, Frank Herbert’s Dune was huge for me, especially when I was creating the world of Zilvaren. I really wanted to capture that same feeling of emptiness and a slightly spooky atmosphere. I truly believe everything we experience, every book we read, subtly shapes our writing and everything we create.

As someone who’s spent years immersed in the fantasy world, I can definitely see the influence of Tolkien in Callie’s work! She pointed out, and I completely agree, that there are nods—lots of them—to The Lord of the Rings. He really is the originator of modern fantasy, and it’s wonderful to see that legacy honored.

Okay, so the world of Quicksilver & Brimstone is like, totally inspired by a bunch of different places, but honestly? The way Callie wrote it was so different from how she used to talk about her process. She always said she was super disorganized, but this series? It’s clear she really planned everything out, it’s amazing! It’s like, a totally precise and deliberate fantasy world, and I’m obsessed with how much effort she put into it.

She assured me she’d carefully mapped out the entire story. She explained that with such a complex world and multiple ongoing storylines, she wanted to avoid reaching book three and realizing she’d written herself into a dead end with no clear solution.

I carefully planned out the main story points and crucial moments,” she explained. “From the very beginning, certain elements were essential to how the book would conclude. It was the most organized I’d ever been while writing.

Beyond wanting to create a detailed and believable world, the author, age 41, knew about the challenges of writing the second book in a series—particularly when readers have really connected with the characters from the first book. This was especially true for the developing romantic relationship between Saeris and Kingfisher.

Callie explained that sequels are difficult to write. It’s challenging to keep the connection between characters strong and the story moving forward, especially since it falls in the middle of the series. The first book has all the big moments – first kisses, becoming intimate, and saying ‘I love you’ for the first time. But the second book can sometimes feel less exciting, getting stuck in questions like ‘Are we officially a couple now? What’s our relationship even about?’

The new book, Brimstone, starts with Saeris transformed—now part Fae and part vampire—and explores the consequences of her and Kingfisher’s powerful connection to the gods. As a follow-up to Quicksilver, it’s packed with excitement and intrigue.

Plus, the spice of the first book carries into the second—which was all part of Callie’s plan. 

She told TopMob she really wanted to create a strong connection and spark between the characters Kingfisher and Saeris.

Readers first met Kingfisher as a certain type of character in Quicksilver. However, Brimstone began to show things from his perspective, and fans can expect to see even more of that going forward.

She explained that viewers will see a different side of his character. Throughout Quicksilver, he’s closed off and doesn’t show much emotion – he’s rather cold and distant. But in Brimstone, he begins to open up, revealing his emotional side and vulnerability, which she found incredibly rewarding to write.

The novel Brimstone was released on November 18th. If you enjoyed it, keep reading for more recently published books you might like.

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2025-11-18 15:18