Cindy Callaghan

Cindy Callaghan (born c. 1976) is an American author of children's books who has written several middle-grade novels. Her first book, Just Add Magic, was adapted into an Amazon television series by the same name.

Cindy Callaghan
Bornc. 1976 (age 46–47)
United States
OccupationAuthor
Education
Notable worksJust Add Magic
Website
cindycallaghan.com

Early life

Callaghan grew up in Oakland and Franklin Lakes, New Jersey.[1] While living in Oakland, she attended Heights Elementary School before her family moved to Franklin Lakes. Callaghan transferred to Colonial Road School, and later attended Franklin Avenue Middle School and Indian Hills High School, where she graduated in 1988.[2] After high school, she attended the University of Southern California to study film. She later went to the University of Delaware where she graduated with a bachelor's in English and French in 1992. She went on to earn her Master of Business Administration degree from Delaware in 1996.[3][4]

Career

Callaghan worked in the pharmaceutical industry for nearly 20 years. She lives in Wilmington, Delaware which also serves as the setting of some of her books.[4] She began writing her first book, Just Add Magic, in 2003.[5] The book tells the story of the 12-year-old main character Kelly Quinn and her two friends who find an old book containing magical recipes.[6] In 2010, Just Add Magic was published by Simon & Schuster's Aladdin Mix.[2] Callaghan also wrote a second book Sydney MacKenzie Knocks 'Em Dead, which initially did not get picked up for publication.[3]

In October 2013, Simon & Schuster published another book by Callaghan entitled Lost in London.[2] The book is a mystery about a girl named Jordan who embarks on an adventure in London.[7] In 2014, Callaghan followed that with another book set in Europe; Lucky Me, republished in 2016 as Lost in Ireland, is about a teenage girl who travels to Ireland in the hopes of breaking a string of bad luck caused by a chain letter.[8][9] Callaghan published three more "Lost In" books: Lost in Paris in March 2015, Lost in Rome in August 2015,[3] and Lost in Hollywood in 2016.[10]

In January 2015, Amazon Prime Video released a pilot episode of Just Add Magic to determine if a full series based on the book would be produced.[11][12] As of 2014, Callaghan served as a consultant on the show, writing outlines and giving guidance to the producers.[4] The series was picked up for a full season set to air in 2016.[13] In June 2016, Amazon extended the television series for a second season.[14] The second half of Season 2 of the series was released in January 2018.[15]

In 2017, Callaghan's Sydney MacKenzie Knocks 'Em Dead won the Agatha Award for Best Children's/Young Adult.[16]

In 2018, Cindy's Potion Problems (Just Add Magic) won the Agatha Award for Best Children's/Young Adult Mystery.[17]

In 2020, Callaghan will be releasing a new book titled Saltwater Secrets.[18]

Callaghan lives in Wilmington, Delaware which also serves as the setting of some of her books.[4]

Bibliography

Just Add Magic

Lost In...
  • Lost in London (2013)
  • Lost in Ireland, previously titled Lucky Me (2014)
  • Lost in Paris (2015)
  • Lost in Rome (2015)
  • Lost in Hollywood (2016)

Standalone
  • Sydney MacKenzie Knocks 'Em Dead (2017) – 2017 Agatha Award Winner[16]

References
  1. Yorio, Kara (January 19, 2014). "Writer of Tween Novels Spreads Love of Reading". The Record. Archived from the original on February 2, 2018.
  2. Birchenough, Matthew (January 23, 2014). "Children's author returns home to Oakland". Suburban News. Archived from the original on March 10, 2016. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
  3. Ostroski, Drew (August 11, 2015). "Author Cindy Callaghan Makes Magic". Delaware Today. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
  4. Mammarella, Ken (February 22, 2014). "Crossroads: Amazon options author's novel for a live-action series". Courier-Post. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
  5. Cormier, Ryan (January 21, 2016). "Wilmington woman's story focus of new Amazon show". delawareonline. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
  6. Polace, Sarah (2011). "Just Add Magic (Book)". School Library Journal. Retrieved February 2, 2018 – via Cuyahoga County Public Library.
  7. "Lost in London: Opinion from the Critics". The Horn Book. 2015. Retrieved February 2, 2018 – via Santa Clara County Library.
  8. "Author of 'Lucky Me' to appear at Rehoboth's Cold Stone Creamery Aug. 3". Cape Gazette. July 31, 2014. Retrieved February 2, 2018.
  9. Sites, Sara-Jo Lupo (2014). "Lucky Me (Paperback): Opinion from the Critics". School Library Journal. Retrieved February 2, 2018 – via Boston Public Library.
  10. "Lost in Hollywood / Cindy Callaghan". Trove. National Library of Australia. 2016. Retrieved February 2, 2018.
  11. "Amazon series running now springs from Wilmington author's book". The News Journal. January 22, 2015. Retrieved February 2, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. White, Hilary (February 9, 2015). "The Kids' Book That Amazon Is Turning Into a TV Pilot". Popsugar Moms. Retrieved February 2, 2018.
  13. Fisher, Daniela (February 18, 2015). "Amazon greenlights two more kids series". Kidscreen. Retrieved February 2, 2018.
  14. Hipes, Patrick (June 8, 2016). "Amazon's 'Just Add Magic' Renewed For Season 2". Deadline. Retrieved February 2, 2018.
  15. Swift, Andy (January 4, 2018). "Amazon's Just Add Magic: Season 2B Trailer Threatens to Undo Everything". TVLine. Retrieved February 2, 2018.
  16. "Agatha Awards Named in Honor of Agatha Christie". Malace Domestic. Archived from the original on July 28, 2018. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
  17. "AGATHA AWARDS". malicedomestic.org. Archived from the original on May 6, 2017. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
  18. Callaghan, Cindy (April 28, 2020). Saltwater Secrets. ISBN 9781534417441.
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