Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a writer, music composer, and vocal artist with a passion for the fantastical realms of sound, silence, and language. I have a bachelor’s degree in Music and a master of arts in Indo-Tibetan Buddhism. I love exploring the nature of magic in everyday life. Like many of my characters I spends a lot of time in the shadowlands knitting together stories from the potent imagery of my own dreamworlds.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Wilding Souls is my debut high fantasy novel. It was inspired by many years of working with different aspects of my own psyche and a poignant series of dreams which brought the whole story to life.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Yes! I write much like I do most things: through free improvisation. I sit and let myself free-flow with words as I watch a scene unfold within my mind. If I lose the thread of the story I will pause until a character beckons to me once again. I leave my editing towards the end of the creative journey so I don’t get too in my head about the details.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
The Merro Tree by Katie Waitman. It’s a fantastic experience of what I call “circular writing.”
What are you working on now?
A second novel set in the same universe as Wilding Souls which continues aspects of the story with a different cast of characters and perhaps a few surprise returns.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m learning as I go! The personal touch is always my preference.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write your heart.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Never underestimate the revolutionary power of giving yourself permission to feel, think, act, and express exactly as you already do.
What are you reading now?
Nothing at the moment! Sadly, I find I cannot read much when I am in the midst of writing.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I would love to collaborate with other artists on shared creative visions as well as publish my second book (hopefully by next year).
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
The Merro Tree, The Madness Season, Tantric Quest: An Encounter With Absolute Love, and Body and Voice (A Somatic Re-Education).
Author Websites and Profiles
Ana Cristina Caelen Website
Ana Cristina Caelen Amazon Profile
Ana Cristina Caelen’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile