All About Pines..

Pines Callahan was born during the witching hour to a woman who collected blood for a living. Her father is a veterinarian and perpetual boyscout, so Pines had a childhood full of tadpoles, baby bunnies raised on the back patio, and tips on how to survive when lost in the woods. She became a voracious reader at a young age and was notorious at her local library. Growing up in a medically complicated family, Pines was exposed to more of the healthcare system than most children, and it colored how she views the medically vulnerable. She spent much of her time as a teen volunteering at a hospital, culminating in becoming a certified Therapeutic Clown (yes, like Patch Adams). 

Pines earned a degree in history from the University of South Florida, hoping to become a highschool history teacher. She minored in sociology and anthropology, finding both essential to a holistic historical perspective. College was also where Pines discovered she has ADHD. Accepting this diagnosis fundamentally improved her life, and she encourages anyone who suspects they are neurodiverse to seek confirmation if they are able. 

Wising up about the state of history education in Florida after graduation, she pivoted back towards healthcare and went into nursing. She spent years working in nursing homes, especially locked dementia units and rehab facilities. Pines truly and deeply loved being a geriatric psych nurse, but senior healthcare in Florida is even more depressing than secondary history. She pivoted again, following her passion for nature and working at a native plant nursery. The low stress environment, along with constant encouragement from her family, gave her the mental space needed to finally pursue her “wildest” dream—writing.

Now, Pines continues to grow towards the most authentic version of themselves, using horror and fantasy as vehicles for social commentary and self discovery. Pines draws an immense amount of joy from her family: a perpetually grounded husband who makes her laugh (and who grudgingly accepts their two dogs, cat, turtle, and reef tank) and a clever, wonderfully quirky 3rd grader. They live on a quiet street, filled with children who invade Pines’ garden to eat her mulberries and feed the yard tortoises.