Excerpt from a conversation with the author of the CALLASSA books,
David Mario Callan

'Every Moment of Every Day is Fabulous'
From the novel: Big Eyes and Bluebell Woods.
A Story of Idolatry.

Let's TALK

Yes, it was my intention to feed the flames of passion with powerful and volatile emotive thoughts. The main thrust has always been to reveal the intoxicating and hypnotic allure of passion. It's not surprising therefore that the CALLASSA books are about women who often share the overriding characteristic of being beautiful. But does it stop there? Of course not because beauty is also power over others. Do men control women? What do you think? So let's be ALLURING and INSATIABLE and see where it takes us. Also, this is important, we, I mean CALLASSA, can be an empowering 'place' where people can stay as long as they wish.

Our title 'Callassa'. Well, I was seeking a word which could exemplify what is no less than a meteor shower of the unprecedented. A word which could represent the bringer of what is to be opposing to current expectations and ways of thinking. A word which, though embodying the notion of being beyond scope, could be seen to own qualities of nobility, could reside at the extremes of sensuality and dare I say it, of rage. All these qualities are essential elements of literature. How does that sound? Inflated you say? Ha!

I wanted the books to appeal to a broad range of readers. I think that all people regardless of their age, where they are from, what their interests are, their gender, or whatever is the case for them or might be, will become enthralled. Callassa Media Company wish to embrace EVERYONE with its subject. I was given this directive at the outset by my mentor, Stephen Lewis.

Like I said, you have to appear interesting. I mean, in ways that are shattering for people. So therefore you have to be careful what you say beforehand and not risk putting anyone off. I mean I could do just this by mentioning the extremely controversial themes underlying each of the books. I would prefer only to describe the themes at this point as being mega 'in your face'. I wanted the books to appeal to everyone, yes everyone, so I wrote stories which glide upon what are fascinating and also disturbing 'scenarios'. 'Does the Callassa Company make into fact, what is merely invention?' Hmmm...I think most would hope that the latter was the case. Well, besides being an interesting consideration you can also go further and examine what conditions need to be met before conjecture becomes something else. Like I said, talking of such might put people off. Some might not give a damn and justifiably be more inclined toward the romantic and the 'exploratory' adventures which are also played out in our books. This is how it should be, and perhaps I should put my cards on the table and enable people to make up their minds without prejudging what their reactions might be. I know that people enjoy having something very substantial to chew on. The more substantial the better and Callassa is certainly this because we use stories so to offer fascination and they are stories which are profoundly unlike any others. This, I do assure you.

My favorite book, you ask? I shall say that I tried to cover new ground and create a very different feel within each.

I wrote 'Big Eyes and Bluebell Woods', in the first person. It was, with the assistance of Stephen Lewis, my first long book. This was an experiment for me and to date, by far the most difficult book, for many reasons, though it is not easy to be concise as to why. All I shall say is that I wanted to exploit the 'I,' in its, (my) ability to tap the deepest and most profound emotions that people can feel. There are many complex and introspective threads, all of which are extremely controversial, confronting to the established order, even taboo, which had to be interwoven and pulled together and when the writer is seen to appear as one of the characters (whether it is the case or nay)...well...the potential for all kinds of accusations had to be borne in mind. I was provoked to write a book with an operatic female at its core. A book so very different than all of the 'others' on the market and at the most profoundest of extremes. At the very outset its blooming was planted in the subject of the painting La Madonna Sistina, by Raffaello, and I took it from there (re: the incestual element). It has attracted many a red-faced, bawling, expletive-blustering and unforgiving response, which is expected!. So has The Story of Mary England. Not for the same reason. Mad Jack Bailey, there's a book, it kind of remains and corrupts the mind. You even find yourself talking like the guy. See, I don't know nuttin...

How did I get the other contributors to agree to the use of this 'on-line' medium? Well, I didn't entirely, because they cling to that of the traditional. You've got to remember that it's not that long ago when there was no cell phones, computers, cds, or anything. I was writing letters to folk by hand and posting them in the mail. I must say, that when the full force of Callassa is felt it will be so by virtue of the technological, multi-dimensional dream we're all having. We are by necessity as the fantastic city of Las Vegas, constantly evolving. But saying that, I wanted the books on the website to appear precisely as do books. I wanted to preserve the sense of perusing, which books make. I was thinking of a first edition DH. Lawrence which I own and how its magic is unconnected with modern images, graphics and such. That magic lives in the text. They are Lawrence's thoughts and everything lives in the enormity which they do make. That's just one way of looking at it. There are others and they all reside here. Ha! Certain of what we have said, I mean in writing has never been forgotten by who read them.

I am also better suited to this medium because I like to change things every so often. What did someone say I was doing? No expletives yet!

This medium also creates a link between myself and readers and we (myself and others) can get together and discuss the subject of the books. We can do all manner of things. It's fun.

We are also having the books translated into French, German, Spanish, Russian, Chinese and a few other languages which I can't recall, though I have been told.

Let's not become boring here. Remember we have to be unique not only with what we're saying but with our choice of description. How much is around that reflects the same old thing? CALLASSA owes it to her audience, which is growing, not to be ordinary. The fullness of the CALLASSA material bursts through and sometimes only seeps gently through but always the sheer force becomes evident. So...To make the days colorful, vivacious and different for this. How about that? Hey and if anyone wants to write then this is my advice: It's a good idea to write something then leave what you've written for about six months, so to approach it again with a fresh mind. You might end up throwing it away. Remember too, the most gifted of all were critiqued and often disparaged, so prepare yourself and do not be destroyed when it happens. And I can tell you something, if you become bored with the days, then writing is a gift because you can have affairs with who you like and more. You can light up the hours with... nevermind. Am I not supposed to say that? OK. Give yourself....years, so to become that person who you envisaged becoming at the outset. When you get there, take a look back and see just how much you have changed, how you have changed everything around you. Remember, it is only the most important voices whom make anything of value and you are destined to become one of these. Hey and find a woman to emulate. I did and this was always the underlying thrust of it all. A woman. A beautiful woman. Who? Can't say..

Can I just say that as in drama, the every day person you think you are, I mean who you've come to assume you are, might be very different than the performer, the creator in you. I didn't understand that either!

Myself, I need to be immersed in passion seeping 'stuff', as you can see. You know. Am I 'different', you ask? Of course, I am. Do I care? Of course I don't. I am as the woman... never mind. Ha!

I am already yearning for the Winter beach and the wild horses and I haven't left yet. (He's going to San Francisco, USA and wants to stay here. The horses are in Scotland). *( He is now in the USA).

Yes, I have a personal trainer. We writers are athletes too. I have to abide by the wishes of those in our company who rise at five and spend most of the day in the physical arena. (With the exception of Stephen Lewis, of course and no disrespect intended). We have just been to Brecon, in North Wales, well you are not interested in this....(He refers to laser tag). What else do we do, you ask? I can't say.

I shall be in The United States for a long while soon, because I have much to do around my writing, commercial agendas, curiosities to satisfy, etc., and 'Callassa' will accompany me, if you know what I mean. You don't know what I mean but don't worry. Before then I am going to spend time on the Isle of Skye. (Off the Scottish mainland). We'll be in California and Nevada. 'I left my heart in San Francisco'. I did because it's a fabulously inspiring city and so is Las Vegas

I have to complete 'Talsaw,' and work on three other long books and I shall through linking with the others whom are currently in the USA.

I enjoy enormous fulfillment, priviledge and have great fun. Let me also say there is an element of risk involved here because you never know what type of response you are going invite from people. I'm not exaggerating. Someone who read, 'A Short Period in the Life of Benjamin Trilling,' wrote to me and claimed that her life had been devastated by 'supernatural occurences' which her mere reading of the book brought upon her. Conversely, another reader said that it was about time that someone said 'these things'. Another reader wrote and asked me whether the characters in Bluebell Woods were still there and whether it was possible to visit and learn more about them? Learn more, meaning, to share the circumstance which is the cause and the sustaining of their intimacy. You have to remember what the Talsaw and the Zalia characters represent. Likewise, the character whom is of extremely malevolent inclination, I mean Theodous Gilbert, in the Victorian novel, Father's Icon. I got to really like Jack Bailey (Mad Jack). Don't get me wrong though, I really do appreciate feedback and discussion and I know to what degree our material is different and controversial.

What or whom do I dislike? That's a pragmatic question. The surface, the shallow and the intolerant which abound and sadly are very often peddled as meaningful contribution. Hey, let's alienate people later. Like I said, all will be revealed through Callassa's writing and in very obvious ways. There is much that is wrong, just as there always has been. I can't ignore what infuriates me, so it finds itself voiced in a serious way in my writing.

What or whom do I admire? I shall say broadly those, who with altruism, encourage freedom in life, therein of thought, of expression and of will. I must say that I admire they to who I dedicate my all, whom are our 'company.' Obviously there are others....

A word or two to sum up our genre? Well, I thought of the following; Of forever. Encompassing the ancient, the unbelievable, the feared, the desired, the never known. I am thinking of how I could incorporate into this, the sensual depth, the limitless passion and most of all, the adoring of that which I...............

May I just add something to the last point. It really is our intention to invite readers (and others) who are interested in what we are about, to contact us. This is not usually possible and most books are sold for a payment and that's that. We are more than this transacting. In fact I will be so bold as to say that we want readers to walk through the vistas of thought which we offer and at the same time do so feeling that they are not mere consumers, but confident partners in something very real. Note that I said 'real'.....Now I've said it!

No, it's not my intention to take the credit for what others have contributed. They are all mentioned. We thought it prudent to state that I wrote them, though with assistance of others in varying degrees, (with certain people, much).

I shall just state that this gathering, upon this medium, is a small offering and in very partial fulfillment of the bestowment upon me, the enormity of which I could never even begin to repay.

Interviews are kind of teeming with the expected, are they not? Perhaps, it's not what you say but what you don't that matters? I do say them, but not here.

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