We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Hollis Mccollum. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with HOLLIS below.

Alright, HOLLIS thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

Hello! I guess most writers would say that their mission is to share their story with the world, right? Sure, I definitely want to do that, but it’s not just the story itself, but also a new perspective. Something I absolutely love about writing fantasy is that you can easily express your feelings as a writer about social issues and relationships of all sorts under the guise of it just being fantasy story. The characters and world don’t even exist in our reality, so how could we writers possibly be referencing realities? That’s the beauty of it. Through all of our whimsical, magical fictions, we endeavor to convey some of our deepest truths with the world. When you tell the truth in such an emotional way, you can authentically connect with people all over the world, who you’ve never even met. By sharing our story, we are creating a whole community of people who can bond over the same truth. There’s a lot of beauty in that, I think.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I write epic dark fantasy with inspired romantic subplots and I love it!

I am a fantasy author, designer, podcaster, and all around silly person. I write two different dark fantasy book series: The Raashan Series and the Lost Beacon Chronicles. Romantic subplots are a staple in my writing, especially in my Raashan Series.

I have a degree in history, with specializations in the ancient Etruscans and medieval Britain. History and mythology are continuous inspirations for my writing, so you’ll even get some fun history to rattle off at parties when you read my books. ​

The Raashan Series is an epic dark fantasy series with romantic subplots that begins with the world of Raashan in a state of post apocalyptic chaos in To Save a World. To Save a World is based on a role playing campaign my best friend and I played back in 2007 that I adapted into a book. Most of the adventures and characters in the Raashan Series are based on my old role playing characters and adventures. I’ve been role playing since I was 11 y/o with no intention of ever stopping. My inspirations are boundless! With the flagship Raashan Trilogy of this series complete, I am already working on the next trilogy in the Raashan Series. I know what you’re wondering, and yes, each book in the upcoming Raashan Histories trilogy is based on a different role playing campaign I have played with my best friend. My inner child cannot wait to share these stories with you! The first book in the Raashan Histories trilogy, The Key, is coming in 2026.

Spare the Swallow, Book 0, is the origin story of the Lost Beacon Chronicles, which is a historical dark fantasy series that follows the unwilling immortal, Lucretia, as she wanders the earth in search of her purpose and goes through her own internal journey through the stages of grief. Book 1: Ignited is Lucretia’s emotional journey from the stage of depression into anger. Why is she grieving so heavily? Read Spare the Swallow and you’ll understand. Trust me. She’s completely justified. You’d need a couple thousand years to process the trauma too. The next book in the Lost Beacon Chronicles, Book 2: Rampage, is coming in 2029.

My podcast, I Do What I Want!, is basically just me talking through my personal writing journey, occasionally chatting with friends about books, sharing short stories, and my life as an author in general. It’s funny. You should listen. Please listen. I try hard and I could really use the support. I do one episode a month and you can find it on Spotify, Spreaker and my YouTube channel @hollisjomccollumauthor. I try to keep the episodes around 30 minutes each, though sometimes I get to prattling on (especially when I have a guest).

By the way, I design my own book covers and page layouts and do all my own stunts. I genuinely enjoy creating the visuals for my books, even drawing the maps. Especially the maps. I have always been a prolific artist who loves to convey my ideas visually and with the written word. I have also prepared an interpretive dance in most cases.

I’m also a happily married childless cat lady who loves pole, cosplay, being extremely sarcastic, and goofing around with loved ones. I am always up to go on an adventure, whether it’s across the globe or the local hiking trail. After all, what is an adventure but an inconvenience rightly considered.

What else should we know about how you took your side hustle and scaled it up into what it is today?

Like many writers, I think, when I wrote my first book, I wasn’t really thinking about publishing it. I just wanted to get it out of my brain and do it for my own creative indulgence. As a kid, I always loved reading and writing stories. I even won a few creative writing contests, but like many creatives, it was sort of ingrained in me that I needed a “real job” in order to be successful in life. After finishing a particularly exciting role playing campaign with my best friend, I found myself continuously thinking about the characters months after it was over. One day, I got a beautiful leather-bound journal, sat down and just started writing. That story became my first published novel, To Save a World. When I finished it, I shared it with family and friends, only half thinking I might try to publish it. When they all unanimously told me that I NEEDED to publish this book, or else, I had a sort of personal epiphany. Why should I be stuck in an office job that I was good at, but not at all passionate about? Why couldn’t I follow my dreams and be a fantasy author? Seriously, why not?

At the time, I was a successful PM at a marketing and branding agency, and I was very good at my job, but it was still just that to me: a job. Not a passion. Not a career. I realized that a job is just a job, but a career is a successfully followed passion. I knew that day that I needed to find a way to turn my writing into a career, so I could quit the day job. I set out to do that and began researching and planning my transition.

I’m still working on making enough from my career as a writer to pay my mortgage, so the day job is still happening, but with every day put into my passion, I feel myself making solid progress toward living that dream to the fullest. I first published To Save a World in 2017, and have since written and published four other novels, including the complete first trilogy in the Raashan Series. My books have earned Bookfest awards, I have been and am scheduled to be a guest and panelist at several national fantasy conventions and literary events as well. I am steadily making my transition to being a career author, and it feels perfect.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

Honestly, showing up in person at events and book signings has been my very best strategy for growing my readership. I definitely find some people via social media and other avenues, but when I can look someone in the eyes, shake their hand, give them a hug, share a laugh and just chat with them, that’s when people really respond to me. It makes sense. As an author, you’re bleeding your heart out on paper. Your authentic self is what is in your books, so being able to meet people in real life is the most genuine way to connect. If you like me, you will love my books.

I’ll be at CONjuration November 15-17, 2024 at the Sonesta Gwinnett Place Atlanta 1775 Pleasant Hill Rd, Duluth, GA 30096 as a guest, panelist and vendor. I’m in a whopping 11 panels over the weekend! Including a panel/workshop I am hosting on fantasy world building happening at 12:00p on Saturday, November 16th. You’ll have the opportunity to draw your own map and take notes on how you want to mold your very own world!

I’ll also be at the ACYS and CCS Cosplay Yard Sale on Sunday December 8, 2024 at Charlie’s Collectible Show 6009 Memorial Dr Unit 14, Stone Mountain, GA 30083 selling my old cosplays I don’t wear anymore and of course, selling my books!

If you can’t make it out to see me in 2024, I am already getting on the guest lists for JordanCon 2025, Multiverse 2025, and many other events and conventions! Check out my website and/or Instagram to see if I’m coming to an event near you. I’d love to meet you!

hollisjomccollumauthor.com
@hollisjomccollum

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.hollisjomccollumauthor.com/
• Instagram: @hollisjomccollum
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hollisjomccollumauthor/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hollis-mccollum/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/hollchan1 OR @hollisjomccollumauthor
• Other: Amazon:
  

  Spotify:
  https://open.spotify.com/show/3xf0IELJkQBQf5V1VoRLSg?si=34a16b9805624c12&nd=1&dlsi=fa8bc4ee91954574

Image Credits

Cover design for Spare the Swallow is by Dio Jensen. (the only one that’s not mine)

I did all other cover designs, as well as my logo design and photos are selfies.