How My Passion for Romance Sparked Calli

I read over 125 books a year, rooting for flawed heroes and feisty, take no-crap FMCs. I also spend way too many hours on social media to find my next 5-star read.

But time and time again, I’ve struggled to find books that fit the unique subgenres and tropes I crave. The thrill of discovering a hidden gem has felt harder and harder to come by, especially with so many incredible indie authors buried under the noise of the sheer size of the marketplace.

Many readers, just like me, are hungry for books that speak directly to their tastes. And authors are eager to get their books into the hands of those readers.

I realized I wasn’t alone in this dilemma, and that no one feels it more acutely than authors themselves. I started thinking deeply about how I could help address the problem.

...and the answer was not to build another reader platform.

That’s when the idea for Calli took root.

What if I could scale influencer marketing to publishing, and the romance genre specifically?

There are more than 82 influencer marketing platforms that serve all types of industries (fashion, beauty, pets).

But where is the platform that caters to the unique needs of authors and book influencers?

I decided to create it, and Calli was born (starting all the way back in 2024!).

Enter the only platform on the market that is purpose built for the needs of romance authors and book influencers, with the nitty-grittiest details catalogued so you can find the best collaborations.

By offering tools that simplify collaboration and analytics to track the success of marketing campaigns, Calli empowers authors to reach new readers by leveraging the audiences of influencers, and it empowers book influencers to monetize their platforms.

It’s about creating real partnerships and solidifying influencer marketing as a viable digital marketing tool for authors and as a real path to monetization for book influencers.

Why Me? Why Now?

Calli is not just another business idea, it's an extremely personal, passionate calling. Calli is the culmination of my personal and professional journey.

As a tech executive with a growth-marketing and sales background, I’ve spent years at the intersection of technology, marketing, and problem-solving.

I'm personally the market authors need to reach as a romance fanatic myself. I know what readers want because I’ve been searching for it, and I've been relentlessly studying it for years.

I understand how rapidly the industry is changing, and I've been watching the explosive growth of social media in the book world.

Platforms like BookTok, Bookstagram, BookTube, and even Pinterest are reshaping how readers discover books and how authors build their audiences.

I'm ready to harness this energy and turn it into meaningful connections, without requiring authors to become social media influencers themselves.

Why Your Support Matters

Starting Calli wasn’t just about solving a problem. It was about creating a movement.

A movement to support all authors writing the stories we want to read.

A movement to put structure and guardrails around purposeful relationships with book influencers.

And a movement to ensure readers like me can always find the stories they crave.

But I can’t do this alone.

Calli’s success depends on people like you who believe in this vision.

Help us spread the word about Calli, and let’s usher in the new age of marketing romance books.

I'm ready to make Calli the go-to platform for romance authors, influencers, and the broader publishing industry.

Are you in?

Xoxo,

Katelyn