I’m pleased to welcome Hope Bolinger to JakeDoberenz.com. Hope has some really creative projects that I’m sure you’ll enjoy hearing about as well as some great advice for Christian authors.
(Real quick. I do want to tell you that I receive a small compensation if you buy anything through the Amazon links provided. Thanks for supporting me and the author!)
When and how did you get into writing?
So, I’ve always been writing pretty much as soon as I can read, but as for novel writing, that didn’t come till high school. One of my best friends wrote novels, and I guess I decided I wanted to talk with her about something other than the latest Doctor Who episodes, so I started my first novel around sixteen. I haven’t stopped since.
What books have you written?
I have too many to mention! As far as traditionally published books go, just one for the time being: Blaze (IlluminateYA, an imprint of Iron Stream Media). It’s a modern-day retelling of Daniel 1-3, set in a high school. There’s a lot of arson, so that’s fun. It basically follows the story of Danny Belte, when he’s forced to transfer to his rival school when his previous school mysteriously burns down. Turns out the arsonist attends the new school, and he or she doesn’t seem content in burning down just one thing.
What inspired you to write this book?
So the idea for Blaze come to me during an Old Testament Gen. Ed. class at Taylor University. The professor, when talking about Daniel, mentioned he and his friends would’ve been in their teens when the Babylonians captured them. I remember thinking, “Shoot. They were so young. And yet they were able to stand up to even kings.” I wanted to see what that looked like now, in a modern high school. Thus, Blaze began.
How has your faith influenced the stories you tell?
It influences everything. You cannot tell a single story without seeing threads of the Gospel woven throughout.
I got a philosophy minor at Taylor, and what was interesting was that every philosopher who ever lived seemed to point back to the Gospel, even if they hadn’t intended to. Plato’s Allegory of the Cave. . . wowser one of the best Gospel presentations I’ve ever seen. You can’t tell a story without telling His-story. So I just tell the stories inside of me, and I know He’ll shine through.
When did you decide you wanted to publish a book–and how did you go about doing that?
Oh, goodness, long, long story. I’ll try to boil it down to a timeline.
2013: Started writing novels.
2014: Started querying agents as a high schooler.
2015: Self-published my first book and graduated high school, then attended the professional writing program at Taylor University.
2016: Pitched an agent at a conference who rejected me, and then wrote a WWII Veteran’s memoir (The Quiet and the Storm, Taylor University Press)
2017: Got picked up by an agent who works at the same agency of the agent who rejected me. That Summer, I wrote Blaze.
2018: Blaze gets picked up by IlluminateYA after several rounds of pub board and back and forth edits. I write the sequel that summer.
2019: Blaze releases and the sequel (Den) gets a contract.
Literally a week ago: Finished book three to the trilogy (Vision). I essentially divide the book of Daniel into three different books based on the major parts: the fiery furnace, lion’s den, all those crazy visions at the end. So I just wrote the book of crazy visions. . . and went a little crazy by writing it in 24 days. So I’m in recovery now.
What’s one piece of advice you wish every Christian author knew?
Publishing isn’t the end game. Yes, it’s great when editors acknowledge our craft and give us a platform to share our stories, but first and foremost, we are called to write well. Second, we are called to be a light. Would it be great if I get 100 books published in my lifetime? Sure! But what would be even greater is if I received a single letter of someone who said, “Your book challenged me to think about Christianity.” Or “It made me want to know who this Jesus guy is.” That’s what makes all of it worth it.
What’s next for you? Any books in the works?
Oh goodness! Den (The sequel to Blaze) releases July of 2020. It’s being edited right now. Vision, book three of the series is with some betas. Hopefully, I can get it to the publisher by December.
Also, I have three other YA books in the works. These are on query right now with publishers. They include two children’s books, a romance book, and nonfiction. Also, also on query are a couple of plays. Depending on how those fare (as most on query are part of a series) will determine what I write next. But I have plenty of ideas in the reserve.
Links to Follow Hope
Facebook: @therosewoman
Twitter: @hopebolinger
Instagram: @hopebolinger
Website: hopebolinger.com
Thanks, Hope, for hanging out on the blog. We all wish you best wishes in your future endeavors!
Personally, I love the idea of Blaze. I think it’s an amazing idea to take ancient Biblical stories and take them into the modern world. It’s a great way to bring the Bible to life.
