Meet Kallie

Kallie Meister is a writer, creative producer, and professional over-thinker whose stories explore first love, lifelong friendships, nostalgia, and the complicated ways people carry the past into adulthood.

Inspired by late-'90s teen dramas, small-town Texas culture, and the emotional pull of reunions, When Love Meant Nothing began as a television drama called Thirty Love before evolving into the first novel in the Fitzhollow Trilogy.

When she's not writing, Kallie can usually be found dreaming up new stories, revisiting old ones, or convincing herself that this draft will finally be the last one. (It never is to her.)

She lives in South Florida with her husband—a very patient man who somehow believes in this dream as much as she does—and their two kids, who have no idea how many bedtime stories accidentally became book research. Last but certainly not least, thank you to my brother. What began as a cathartic conversation between siblings somehow turned into a creative partnership that helped shape this story into what it became. You listened to every idea, challenged the ones that needed it, and believed in this project long before I knew what it was. I am endlessly grateful for your time, patience, perspective, and support…even if I tested all four far more than necessary.

A Few Fun Facts:

• Texas never really leaves your bloodstream.

• Hasn't played competitive tennis in over twenty years, but still swears she could return a serve if necessary.

• Her favorite character: (a magician never reveals their tricks, right?)

• Discovered approximately five hundred songs while writing this book, more than the pages she wrote.

• She's basically a resident in Fitzhollow at this point (unofficially).

• Believes every great story needs a lake, a secret, and at least one character making questionable decisions.

• Imagines playing a CD and immediately thinks about 1999 and the Fitzhollow Tennis Team.