Cindy Callaghan

Cindy Callaghan
Occupation Novelist
Nationality American
Genre Juvenile fiction, Middle Grade fiction
Notable works Just Add Magic, Lost In series
Website
cindycallaghan.com

Cindy Callaghan is a best-selling American author[1][2][3][4] and public speaker.[5] She is best known for writing middle grade fiction, including Just Add Magic and the "Lost In" series.[6] Just Add Magic was selected to be adapted for an Amazon Studios pilot in 2015[3] and later picked up for a full season.[7] Callaghan's books are known as face-paced, funny, and stuffed with quirky characters and lots of delicious desserts.

Early life

Callaghan grew up in New Jersey and attended college at the University of Southern California before earning her BA in English and French, and MBA from the University of Delaware.[8]

Just Add Magic

Just Add Magic is a middle grade novel that is now a live-action series on Amazon Prime.

When Kelly Quinn and her two BFFs discover a dusty old cookbook while cleaning out her attic, the girls decide to try a few of the mysterious recipes inside. But the ancient book bears an eerie warning, and it doesn’t take long for the girls to realize that their dishes are linked to strange occurrences. The Keep ‘Em Quiet Cobbler actually silences Kelly’s pesky little brother and the Hexberry Tart brings an annoying curse to mean girl Charlotte Barney. And there’s the Love Bug Juice, which seems to have quite the effect on those cute Rusamano boys…

Could these recipes really be magical? Who wrote them and where did they come from. And most importantly, what kind of trouble are the girls stirring up for themselves? Things are about to get just a little too hot in Kelly Quinn’s kitchen.[9]

"Lost in" Series

The “Lost In” books are written for middle grade readers. Each book features a different character, but they all have a city/country mouse theme. The countryside is in Wilmington, Delaware or locales nearby. For the city side, Callaghan selects locations that she thinks will make middle-grade girls “spark.” They’re interested in big, glam cities!

Lost in London

Jordan needs excitement, anything but her current ho-hum life. She jets to London hoping to find an adventure; she finds one, and oh-so-much more. Over six short days she and her posh new friends get locked in a massive department store overnight, blackmailed into conducting a cross-city scavenger hunt that takes her to amazing medieval sites, and find themselves in trouble with the London police.[10]

Lost in Paris

Gwen Russell is thrilled to hear she will be heading to Paris with her family. Even though the main reason for the trip is to see her three older brothers play lacrosse, Gwen and her Mom have plans to tour the city when they can.

As soon as they land, Gwen is swept up in the city she has always wanted to see, and even meets a très cute boy named Henri. If that wasn’t enough excitement, Gwen finds out that her all-time favorite band is playing a one-night only concert in Paris—and there are tickets available to the sold-old show for three lucky people. The catch? Fans who want a golden ticket have to work for it via a scavenger hunt around the City of Light.

Through cryptic clues blasted out every day through a special website, Gwen and her new friends find themselves in a race against time—and against other die-hard fans—as they scramble to landmarks throughout Paris. And it turns out the concert tickets might not even be the biggest prize…[11]

Lost in Rome

Lucia “Lucy” Rossi thought she was going to be a camp counselor for the summer, but, thanks to a very fortunate twist, she ends up in Rome, Italy, helping out at her aunt’s restaurant, Amore Pizzeria. Lucy can’t wait to see some ruins, eat all the gelato she can, and maybe say a few buongiornos to some cute Italian boys.

But Lucy arrives to Italian trouble. Her aunt is in danger of losing her business, thanks to a flashy new pizzeria down the road that is all style, but no substance. In order to try and save the shop, Lucy decides to employ a unique version of matchmaking—making matches based on customer’s pizza preferences. Soon, word of the American matchmaker gets out, and it looks like the business might be saved! Or so she thought—until someone decides to try and sabotage the newfound success of Amore pizza. Can Lucy figure out who might be behind everything? Or will her family be saying ciao to Amore Pizzeria for good?[12]

Lost in Ireland (previously titled Lucky Me)

After breaking a chain letter, can superstitious Megan find a way to turn her luck around?

Meghan McGlinchey is the most superstitious girl in her family—and probably in the entire state of Delaware. When she receives a chain letter from a stranger in Ireland, Meghan immediately passes it on, taking only a tiny shortcut in the directions.

But after a disastrous day, made complete by losing the election for class president and embarrassing herself in front of the entire school, Meghan realizes that tiny shortcut was a big mistake. Thankfully, her family was already headed to Ireland on spring break, and Meghan makes it her mission to find the original sender and break her extremely unlucky streak.

With the help of an eccentric cast of characters—and one very cute Irish boy—can Meghan figure out a way to stop her bad luck? Or is she cursed forever?[13]

Lost in Hollywood

Twelve-year-old Ginger Carlson feels like she is the only normal one in her family. Her father is an inventor who sells his gadgets online, Mom is obsessed with classic movies, and her brother Grant thinks he is from outer space. Luckily, Ginger has a totally normal BFF, Payton, and they have big plans for the future—they plan to become doctors and open a practice together in a big city. But first, they’re partnering on the state Science Olympics where they’re sure to take home the gold for their eighth grade class with their model of the brain.

The Olympics training is interrupted when the Carlson family gets an urgent call that their eccentric Aunt Betty, a former actress who lives in Hollywood, is in serious trouble. The bank is going to take her house unless she can give them the money she owes. The Carlsons head to Los Angeles to sort things out for Aunt Betty, along with Payton, who tags along for the West Coast adventure.

In a moment alone with the girls, Aunt Betty tells them what’s really going on. Because she didn’t trust banks, Aunt Betty stashed her money in a secret hiding place. Only problem—it’s so secret, she can’t remember where that hiding place is! That’s what she’s been doing all around town—looking for her fortune. Can Ginger and Payton help find the money in the City of Light—and give Aunt Betty the Hollywood ending that she deserves?[14]

Give One for the Books

Callaghan believes that every child should have access to books. Her Give One for the Books initiative couples author events with a book-donation opportunity. Whether it’s a book club or school, authors and readers work together to spread the joy of reading. As a part of these author events, new books are collected and donated to a local underserved organization.[15]

Works

References

  1. ↑ "Mozart In The Jungle Season 2 and Just Add Magic Are Greenlit « Picrow News". picrow.com. Retrieved 2016-02-23.
  2. ↑ "‘Just Add Magic’ Star Olivia Sanabia Talks New Amazon Series, Cooking And Acting [EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW]". Headlines & Global News. 2016-01-15. Retrieved 2016-02-23.
  3. 1 2 White, Hilary. "The Kids' Book That Amazon Is Turning Into a TV Pilot". POPSUGAR Moms. Retrieved 2016-02-23.
  4. ↑ http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk, webmaster@fantasticfiction.co.uk -. "Cindy Callaghan". www.fantasticfiction.co.uk. Retrieved 2016-02-23.
  5. ↑ Birchenough, Matthew. "Children's author returns home to Oakland". NorthJersey.com. Retrieved 2016-02-23.
  6. ↑ "Cindy Callaghan". Simon & Schuster. Retrieved 2016-02-20.
  7. ↑ Andreeva, Nancy Tartaglione,Nellie. "Amazon Orders 5 Original Series Including 'Man In The High Castle,' 'Mad Dogs'". Deadline. Retrieved 2016-02-23.
  8. ↑ "About Me - Cindy Callaghan". Cindy Callaghan. Retrieved 2016-02-29.
  9. ↑ "Just Add Magic - Cindy Callaghan". Cindy Callaghan. Retrieved 2016-02-29.
  10. ↑ "Lost in London by Cindy Callaghan". Cindy Callaghan. Retrieved 2016-02-29.
  11. ↑ "Lost in Paris - Cindy Callaghan". Cindy Callaghan. Retrieved 2016-02-29.
  12. ↑ "Lost in Rome - Cindy Callaghan". Cindy Callaghan. Retrieved 2016-02-29.
  13. ↑ Callaghan, Cindy (2016-03-01). Lost in Ireland (Reissue ed.). Aladdin. ISBN 9781481462068.
  14. ↑ "Lost in Hollywood - Cindy Callaghan". Cindy Callaghan. Retrieved 2016-02-29.
  15. ↑ "Give One for the Books - Cindy Callaghan". Cindy Callaghan. Retrieved 2016-02-29.


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