Catherine Bakewell is an up-and-coming fantasy author who writes “fairytales for people with big feelings” and lives in the St. Louis area.
Bakewell started writing at 12, beginning with fanfiction and shorter original stories. She was always a big reader and said she faced a lot of adversaries when publishing her works.
Her debut novel is a middle-grade fantasy titled “We Are the Song” about a 12-year-old girl who has devoted her life to the mother goddess. This book blends magic and music as the main character Elisa learns that her healing singing voice can be used for good or evil.
Bakewell just published her second book, “Flowerheart,” in 2023. In her newest story, she introduces another strong female heroine, Clara, who is on a journey to discover how to be powerful even when it makes her dangerous. Clara has been trying to control her magic for years but the council of witches and wizards declares she is a lost cause. They want to bind her magic away, and Clara agrees but in anger, she accidentally poisons her father. Clara makes a deal with her old childhood friend to save her father from the azaleas growing out of his chest. But she has to ask if saving the life of the person she loves most is worth the sacrifice because Xander is asking for something she can never get back.
The author said the story was inspired by Victorian flower language.
“The idea that the flowers one uses in a bouquet can have secret meanings. I took those meanings and made it so that in my world, magicians use these plants as ingredients in potions. The cozy, cottage core atmosphere is also very much inspired by Howl’s Moving Castle,” Bakewell said.
Flowerheart is a story full of beautiful flowers and wild magic, anyone who reads it will grow to believe in Clara as she does.
Bakewell said she separates her writing goals into two categories.
“Goals, what I can control, and dreams, what I’d love to happen but can’t control.”
To that end, her goal is to continue writing and growing as an author. Her dream is to one day be able to publish a book every year, and maybe even make her way onto the New York Bestseller’s list.
She will be at Books on Main in Historic St. Charles on March 23 at 1 p.m. to sign copies of her newest book, “Flowerheart.” She also has another book titled “Where Shadows Bloom” set to be published in 2025.
Keep up with Catherine through her website, https://www.catherinebakewell.com/, or her Instagram, @catbake.
