My first introduction to Holly was through her book, Parachute. I was fascinated when I saw it as I remember playing the game in school when I was a kid. The transition time from childhood to adulthood is one of the most confusing times in your life, and Holly did a great job of showcasing that with these characters. And she has a short called Battle Shrimp…how cool is that?
Read on and get to know Holly, her writing process, and her book recommendation!
Q: Who has been your biggest supporter(s) throughout your writing career?
A: My family. Ryan, my husband, is my #1 supporter. He cheers my wins, gets my mind off the losses, ad helps with ideas when I’m stuck in a story. My kids have read first drafts, helped with technical expertise, and repeatedly tell me how proud they are of my successes. My parents are also extremely supportive and, not only buy everything I put out there, but ask me to sign it for them. Not to mention my sister, brothers, aunts, cousins, nieces, nephews, etc. I really do have the best family.
Q: Where do you draw inspiration from in your work?
A: Everywhere. Overheard conversations between strangers, a click-bait ad title, random sayings or interesting facts. Other forms of entertainment like music and movies are also inspiring. I think an author needs to be a quiet observer of the world around them, to keep their own stories fresh and unique.
Q: What does it mean to you to be an author?
A: If I’m hyping someone else up? They’re an author when they write, whether it’s published or not. But I’m much harder on myself; I don’t know when I’ll feel like a real author.
Q: What is your writing process like? Do you listen to certain music, snack, make loads of phone notes when inspiration randomly strikes?
A: My notes app is my best and worst friend. Most of the time it’s helpful, but sometimes when I’m in a hurry or half-asleep, it’s indecipherable when I go back to it later. I don’t have one way of writing. Sometimes it’s by hand in a notebook at a coffee shop or a “write-in” with friends. Sometimes it’s at my computer in my office with the sounds of life around me. If I need to cancel out any distracting noises, I like to listen to dark instrumental music or something applicable to the scene I’m writing like storm tracks, etc.
Q: Is there a genre or subgenre that you want to explore that you haven’t yet? Conversely, are there any that you’ll never write?
A: I’d love to write more earth-based sci-fi horror like King Kong, Jurassic Park, Jaws, The Matric, etc. I’m not sure I’ll ever write historical fiction due to the amount of research it entails.
Q: What has been the hardest part of your career as an author so far?
A: Learning to have thicker skin when it comes to rejection or bad reviews. Art is subjective and how a reader interprets our words usually has nothing to do with us.
Q: What do you consider to be your greatest strength and weakness as an author?
A: I’m pretty good at writing dialogue, and terrible at descriptions. I get the “white room syndrome” where everyone is just standing around a white room talking. I always go back and fill-in the needed bit.
Q: Who is on your radar as someone you’d love to work with?
A: Elin Olausson has such a unique style. It would be incredible to work with and learn from her. Her short stories are both brutal and beautiful.
Q: At some point in our lives, we’ve all heard the negative comments: “You’re not good enough.” “You’ll never make it.” “This is the worst thing I’ve ever seen.” “You don’t belong.” How do you move forward when faced with negativity?
A: I give myself permission to feel all the things, then move on. It’s human to get a little down when we hear that stuff, but we can’t stay there.
Q: What advice would you give to women who are wanting to write, especially if it’s something others might perceive as “outside of the norm”?
A: Write it anyway. Write it because of that. The world needs the abnormal stories. I know I prefer them, myself.
Holly recently read Jurassic Park for the first time, and it was an easy 5 star read for her. The movies are favourites of hers, and the book did not disappoint. But, as Holly said, “Crichton seldom disappoints.”
Take a look at Holly’s website for her catalogue and other important updates, and don’t forget to follow her on X and Instagram!
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