What:
I write weird, whimsical things for all ages and across all sorts of categories. From picture books to romcoms to TV adaptations, I’ve done it all! That said, most of my work has some things in common: it’s usually comedic, with a touch of the fantastical, and there’s almost always a funny woman lead (if not two!)
My latest book is The Unfinished Business, a humorous middle grade novel about a girl who inherits a business called The Unfinished Business, and who is then tasked with finishing the unfinished business of The Unfinished Business’ late, ghostly owner…all while handling some ghosts of her own.
In July, the second in my Heather Spellman cosy romantasy series – Cruel Summerween – releases, and September will mark the launch of 10 Things I Hate About Zombies, the third in my Hazel Graves romcom series.
Why:
Writing helps me make sense of the world (and myself, I think!) It’s something I’ve always done, and I’m not myself when I’m not writing! There’s so much joy in creating something new, and I love the process of building worlds, characters, and stories, not to mention getting to play around with language. What a gift!
How:
I am fueled by deadlines! I’m a very diligent writer – I’m at my desk early every morning, and I just type away until a project is done. I typically start with a title or a theme, then the ending I’m trying to work towards. From there, I start fleshing out story, subplots, and characters – usually drawn from things I’ve read about, places I’ve visited, or people I’ve encountered. There’s something magical in how quickly a story changes from feeling like you’re feeling around in the dark to wide-open paddock where you can see it all! If ever I’m stuck, I take my dog for a walk, and the solution somehow presents itself. It’s almost always somewhere in what I’ve written, but getting away from the laptop for a bit gives me the distance I need to figure it out. (My dog loves this bit of the process.)
Bio:
Stephanie Campisi is an Australian author based in SoCal. She writes humorous, whimsical things for readers of all ages, with notable works including The Unfinished Business, Luis and Tabitha, and the forthcoming Broomsticklers middle grade series. She writes strange romcoms under the pen name Hazel Graves, cozy romantasy as Heather Spellman, and writes the Sparkle Pigs chapter book series as Kit Holliday. When not writing, she’s usually reading with her son or taking her Jack Russell terrier for a walk!
“An utterly delightful ghost story filled with quirky, lovable characters; luscious language; and the powerful themes of friendship, loss, and letting go. Bursting with heart, humor, and drool-worthy patisseries, The Unfinished Business is perfect for kids who love a good ghost story, but don’t want to be scared.” —Christine Virnig, author of A Bite Above the Rest and Phantom Academy
Links:
Website
Bluesky
Instagram
She/her. Check out my books at stephaniecampisi.com!
Thanks for visiting Linda K. Sienkiewicz’s blog!
Her upcoming novel, Love and Other Incurable Ailments, is about Serenity, an anxious overthinker whose fixation on a stranger pulls her straight into chaos, heartbreak, and the inconvenient unraveling of her carefully constructed life.
Preorder here: Bookshop | Amazon | Regal House Publishing | Barnes and Noble
