filled, levied, brimming over with intention

My brain is an explosion of too many ideas and my heart is a raw tender thing.

I write stories about the ways our minds and lives can be messy, sharp, and hard to hold, but even in that pain or heartache, hope exists. We may have mud on our feet, but we have hope in our hands. Hold tight. The heartbeat of my mission in the world is this: the world needs you in it & your dreams are worth fighting for.

Hi, I’m Rocky

A cafecito drinking, taco eating, introverted, neurospicy Latina author, mental health advocate, writing mentor, and speaker.

a raw tender thing.

Rocky

(the official version)

About Rocky Callen 

Rocky Callen is a critically acclaimed author, speaker, and writing consultant. She has hosted writing workshops and retreats from Washington, D.C. to Bali and has spoken on regional, national, and international stages on writing and books, mental health, and art and social impact.

Rocky Callen is a critically acclaimed author, speaker, and writing consultant. She has hosted writing workshops and retreats from Washington, D.C. to Bali and has spoken on regional, national, and international stages on writing and books, mental health, and art and social impact.

She is the author of the YA novel A Breath Too Late (Macmillan), which was named a Kirkus Reviews Best Young Adult Book of the Year and was featured in The Mujerista's 2020 list of the Ten Best Young Adult Books by Latinx Authors. She was a contributing co-editor for the mental health YA anthology Ab(solutely) Normal: Sixteen Stories that Smash Mental Health Stereotypes (Candlewick). 

Her latest YA novel, Crashing Into You, received two starred reviews. She recently sold her first two picture books to Simon & Schuster. She founded HoldOn2Hope, a project that unites creatives in suicide prevention and mental health awareness.

as seen on

art is rebellion

dear reader,

I don’t know what brought you here. Maybe you stumbled in. Maybe you are here by accident. Maybe you loved one of my books. Maybe you want to write your heart out and need someone to make room for the mess and masterpiece. Maybe you are tired of hiding from your dreams and you know that this is a safe space for them. Maybe your brain is making you feel small or not enough and you know that I know what that feels like. Maybe, just maybe you are here for a reason and that reason is this: you need a reminder. You need to be reminded that you are a wondrous thing and you have bold and beautiful things to do with this life. Be brave. Live (and write) on.

rocky

maybe You need to be reminded that you are a wondrous thing

 wondrous thing

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