Today we’d like to introduce you to Hollis Jo McCollum
Hi Hollis Jo, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Oh goodness! Where to begin? I’ll try to keep it brief. Like most writers, I started as an avid reader. I have a love affair with books, especially fantasy books. It’s the longest relationship of my life! In middle school, I started writing short stories. When I was in 8th grade, one of my stories won a county wide contest! In high school, another one of my stories won a school wide contest. I thought maybe I could be a writer back then, but of course, life took over for a while. I still wrote for pleasure, but mostly kept it to myself.
One day in 2008, after watching the film ‘Becoming Jane’ about the life of Jane Austen, I had a moment of inspirational clarity. I picked up one of my journals, sat myself down in my living room and started writing what would become To Save a World that very afternoon.
After publishing To Save a World in 2017, my real education as an author began. As any experienced author knows, there are a lot of pitfalls and fumbles out there, but you will find those people who will support you and help educate you. They are wonderful and valuable – keep those treasured friends close when you find them. Once I got to publishing my third novel in 2023, The Queen Witch, I had finally hit my stride with my literary support system, a fantastic publisher (and dear friend), and my own personal method for getting novels written while still working full time and having a social life.
Now, I still have loads to learn, but I also have enough knowledge to share with others. I talk about my writing journey on my podcast, I Do What I Want!, teach workshops, occasionally mentor young writers, do lots of events, and drink ridiculous amounts of coffee and tea. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
I live by this little motto: “Do your best and leave the rest. It will all come right some day or night.”
I first heard that on a British animated Black Beauty film from the 1970s when I was around 5 years old, but I have found that it has continuously applied to every facet of my life thus far.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Has it been a smooth road for anyone? Haha! Though, I will say that I don’t believe I’ve had it terribly rough either. Let’s call it reasonably bumpy. When I published To Save a World the first time, I admit that I did so with a ‘hybrid publisher.’ For those that don’t know, these publishers will legitimately publish your book, but you pay them to do it. It’s not the best route and it is not in any way recommended.
I avoided most of the pitfalls in working with them because I had already gotten the copyright through the Library of Congress, insisted on purchasing my own ISBN, and did my own cover design. So, they couldn’t charge me half as much as they charge other new authors. Honestly, I kind of knew it was not the best idea, but I just felt like I needed someone to hold my hand through the publishing process. I didn’t have my literary support system yet and was a lost lamb in the literary woods at that point. I did learn a lot from that experience. Now, I know better.
Cover design was another bump for me. I have always loved to draw and paint, and while I know I’m not the most amazing artist, I also know I’m talented. Totally understand what lane I belong in, which I think is very important for any artist to be self aware of. That being said, I had to learn that book cover design was about WAY more than just a nice piece of eye-catching art. It has so much to do with what is going on in the genre for your market while staying true to the theme of the book, while being original and enticing enough for a potential reader to pick up. To Save a World went through two different cover designs before I landed on what I have now, but I couldn’t be happier with the covers for all three of my Raashan Trilogy books. What genuinely helped me to get there was hiring two different marketing consultants back in January 2024. I worked with both of them for a couple of weeks and gained an immeasurably valuable amount of information from both of them regarding cover design and marketing. Their help made all the difference.
That brings me to my most painful bump: marketing. Honestly, I thought I had an advantage when I was first published in 2017, because at that time I was a Project Manager for a design, marketing, and branding agency. However, when I worked for the agency, all of our clients had huge marketing budgets, an already established presence in the market and none of them had anything to do with the literary world! So, what I knew about marketing wasn’t as helpful as I’d pretended to myself it was. I had to find the humility to understand that I didn’t know book marketing and properly educate myself.
I’m still getting a lot of things sorted with my marketing, but I have come a very long way with the help of the marketing consultants and being a member of The Maximize Crew, a female entrepreneurs group. I’ve got my foundation blocks in now and am seeing things growing steadily the past few months.
There will always be bumps in the road, but things have smoothed over considerably with the support of my community.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Where to begin? I love all things creative! I draw, paint, dance, write (obviously), cosplay, sculpt, and am constantly bringing home cool sticks or pretty rocks just because. I also adore doing the cover designs and page layouts for all of my books. I really do. When I first decided to design my own covers, I’ll be honest – it was mostly a responsible financial decision. I knew enough about graphic design to do it myself, and am a decent artist. However, as I delved more deeply into the creation of my book covers, I found myself enjoying it more and more! Pulling out a visual representation of the story is a delightful challenge that I have come to relish. Doing my own page layouts is also a labor of love. If you have read my books, you know I have a lot of graphics in them and full maps of the world. As a reader, I also enjoyed reading books with more visual stimulation to go with the story, and know that I am very far from alone in that preference.
Creating my own cover designs and page layouts is genuinely a joy. I also turn into a possessive little book goblin when I tell people that my books are entirely my creation. Hehehe.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
So many ways! To support me, please purchase and read my books. However, after reading them (or anyone’s books, frankly), please, please, please take a moment to write a review. Reviews are HUGE, especially for indie authors. So huge. It’s also free and takes very little time.
Another super fun, free way to support authors is to post/share/comment/tag/follow us and our books on social media. Please. It helps more than you know.
Tell your friends/family/co-workers/former roommates about my books! It’s another freebie, plus you have a conversation topic to fill awkward silences at family gatherings. Win-Win.
To get in touch with me you can DM me on instagram via @hollisjomccollum, and/or subscribe to and email me via my website hollisjomccollumauthor.com. I usually check my accounts daily and love to chat. Stop by and say hello! I’ll be glad you did.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.hollisjomccollumauthor.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hollisjomccollum/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hollisjomccollumauthor/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hollis-mccollum/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/hollchan1
- Other: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Hollis-Jo-McCollum/author/B0843JDJYR?ref=ap_rdr&store_ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true
Image Credits
All photos of me are selfies.
All cover designs, and book quotes are designed by me.
