Author Spotlight: Caitlyn Callery

Caitlyn Callery lives in Sussex, England, close to her three children and six grandchildren. Before becoming a full time writer, Caitlyn worked in a variety of industries, including banking, hospitality, and the motor repair industry. She also worked for several years for a charity, World In Need International. With World In Need, she helped build a school in northern Kenya, and twice drove through France and Spain to Morocco to deliver vanloads of wheelchairs to disabled people there.

When not writing, her interests include reading, crochet, visiting historic places and stately homes, walking by the sea, and spending time with her family.

Her first novel, “Viscount in Hiding” was shortlisted for the Jackie Collins Romantic Thriller of the Year Award in 2024, and won a Heart Award, given by the Oklahoma Romance Writers Guild. Another novel, “The Earl Pretender,” was shortlisted for the Romantic Novelists Association’s Romantic Historical Novel of the Year Award in 2025.

She writes books set in England, both in the Regency period, and in the 1920s. Her eighth book with The Wild Rose Press, “Lightning Strikes Again” is due out soon. It is her second book set in 1926, and deals with the UK General Strike, as well as the lingering aftermath of the Great War.

I began writing as a child, and was often scolded for writing when I should have been doing schoolwork. My first published works were stage plays. I went on to write 31 works for the stage before I turned to my first love, novels, which I write as Caitlyn Callery. I live in Sussex, England, close to London, Brighton and Tunbridge Wells. When writing about the 1920s, I am also blessed to have the stories of my grandmother, who was a young woman at the time. I spent many hours listening to her reminiscences, and I draw on them daily.

Acting the Nabob is my 6^th Regency Romance. Although it can be read as a stand-alone, it is a sequel to my first book, “Viscount in Hiding” which was shortlisted for the Jackie Collins Romantic Thriller of the Year Award 2024, and which won a Heart Award, given by the Oklahoma Romance Writers Guild. Another book, “The Earl Pretender” was shortlisted for the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s Historical Romantic Novel of the Year Award 2025.

A Deal with her Father is the first in a series set in England in 1926. The second book of the series will be released by The Wild Rose Press soon. I was drawn to this period because, like the Regency, it was a time of great change, socially and politically. It was also a time of contradictions: there was the General Strike, and parliamentary votes on women’s suffrage, yet many were resistant to the coming new world. There was light, energy and hope, but there was also the shadow of the Great War and the first stirrings of unrest which would lead to the Second World War. As a writer, I am also attracted to England in this period between the wars, because so few books have been set there. There are myriad books set in both wars, but the period in between has been, largely, ignored.

I grew up as the oldest of three children. As a child, I never slept. Nowadays, they would call me hyperactive, though then I was just a pain in the neck. To keep me occupied and give my poor mother a break, my dad taught me to read at three years old, and to write when I was four. Once I could write, there was no stopping me. I was constantly writing poems, song lyrics, stories, you name it. At age thirteen, I edited my village’s parish magazine, and I dreamed of writing books. In fact, I spent so much time writing, that I got into trouble for not doing my schoolwork, and was forbidden to write my stories until all assignments were finished.

My father was very much an inspiration to me. He was not only a wonderful raconteur with an amazingly rich voice, he was also a voracious reader. I desperately wanted to write books he would enjoy. He loved the works of Georgette Heyer and Norah Lofts. I read them too, and a love of historical fiction was born. He read my early works, but never sugar-coated his critiques. One of my most treasured memories is of him shortly before he died. After several years when I hadn’t shown him any of my writings, he read one of my stories, then told me it was really rather good, and he would like to see more. I felt like I had won the Pulitzer Prize.

I enjoy writing historical fiction, especially in periods such as the Regency, and the 1920s. Both were times of great change. The Regency is a bridge between the old world of the Tudors, the Stuarts, and the early Georgians, and the upcoming times of the Victorian and Edwardian periods, into the 20th century. It is a time of vibrant color and joy, and yet, also a time of terrible poverty, harsh injustice, and Waterloo, a battle so savage its memory kept Europe at peace for almost a hundred years.

I’ve also set books in 1926, another time of great change, and of great contradictions. There was social and cultural change in the UK: the General Strike and votes in parliament on extending women’s suffrage, more freedom and class mobility, yet there was also a resistance, especially by those in power, to the changes. There was light, energy and hope, but also the long shadow cast by the recent Great War, and the stirrings of dark forces that would, ultimately, lead to World War Two.

The 1920s in England also attracts me as a writer, because there are so few books being set in this time and place. There are myriad books set in the Great War, and in World War Two, and there are some books set in America between those two wars, but England between the wars has, largely, been ignored.

“Is there a problem here?”

Suddenly, Byron let go of her arm and took several staggering steps back. Reflexively, Alice rubbed her arm, soothing the pain and restarting her circulation. It was a few seconds before she realized she’d been rescued. It was a couple of seconds longer before she figured out her rescuer was Benedict Summersby.

At five foot eleven, Byron was taller than many men. However, he seemed to shrink next to Benedict, who stood a few inches over six feet. Alice looked down, and was stunned to see his boots had no heels: the height was all his own. His lean face was a mask of contempt even his beard couldn’t hide. He bristled as he pushed Byron back a few more paces.

“Now, see here,” Byron blustered.

Benedict’s answer was soft and low. “No. You see here. This is a restricted area. You are not permitted to be here.”

Byron drew himself up. “Do you know who I am?” he demanded, in the most cut-glass accent he could manage.

Alice rolled her eyes. Byron couldn’t claim to be anybody, so the question was ridiculous. But even if it hadn’t been; even if he had been a Royal Duke, she didn’t think it would intimidate Benedict Summersby. Rumor had it that the actor had titled relatives of his own. Although, Alice reminded herself with another eye roll, rumor had it that many things were true when they weren’t.

Titled relatives or no, Benedict was unimpressed with Byron’s grandstanding. “Do I look as if I care who you are?” he asked. “Get out. Before I throw you out.”

Alice didn’t want that to happen. If the leading man ejected somebody from the theater, it would be noted. Mr. Tate would get to know. And once he knew who Byron was, Alice would lose her job. Her position in the troupe wasn’t strong enough for him to be forgiving.

Byron pulled his shirt sleeves down below his coat cuffs and tried, unsuccessfully, to seem nonchalant. “I was just going.” He pointed at Alice. “We’re not finished.” Then he stormed away, toward the stage door.

Alice waited until he was gone, before she said, “Thank you.”

Benedict gave her an empty stare. She could not have read his thoughts on his face if her life had depended on it. Not that she needed to read them, because he voiced them.

“If I were you, I would sever your connection with that…gentleman.” The advice was delivered in a flat tone that conveyed both disgust and disdain. Whether that was for Byron or herself, Alice didn’t know.

“Would that I could,” she answered, under her breath.

Benedict raised a haughty eyebrow. “Up to you, of course. Remind him of the rules. Gentlemen callers are permitted in the Green Room, when the show is finished.” He skirted around her and walked away, leaving Alice wide-eyed with shock.

Gentlemen callers? Who did he think Byron was? She shook her head in disbelief. More to that, who did he think he was?

I have now written eight books for The Wild Rose Press. They are all available at outlets including Amazon, Kobo, Walmart, Target, BooksAMillion, Indie Bound, Barnes and Noble, Google books, and iTunes.

You can find links to all of these as follows:

Viscount in Hiding:Viscount in Hiding – The Wild Rose Press Inc

A Betrothal Agreement:A Betrothal Agreement – The Wild Rose Press Inc

The Smuggler’s Daughter:The Smuggler’s Daughter – The Wild Rose Press Inc

The Earl Pretender:The Earl Pretender – The Wild Rose Press Inc

Seek Her Like Gold:Seek Her Like Gold – The Wild Rose Press Inc

A Deal with her Father:The Earl Pretender – The Wild Rose Press Inc

Acting the Nabob:Acting the Nabob – The Wild Rose Press Inc