Hello Reader! Today we have the pleasure of speaking to Hope Bolinger, author of Blaze!
Publisher: Illuminate YA
Publication Date: June 3, 2019
Danny was told sophomore year was supposed to be stressful . . . but he didn’t expect his school to burn down on the first day.
To add to his sophomore woes, he—and his three best friends—receive an email in their inboxes from the principal of their rival, King’s Academy, offering full-rides to attend the prestigious boarding school. Danny says no. His overbearing mother says yes. So off he goes.
From day one at King’s, Danny encounters horrible hazing initiations, girls who like to pick other people’s scabs, and cafeteria food that could turn the strongest stomachs sour. As he attempts to survive, he will have to face his fears or fall prey to the King’s Academy lions.
EXTRAS
Welcome to Cover2CoverBlog! Thank you for joining the us!
Could you first tell us a little more about yourself and your background?
Absolutely! I’m a literary agent and soon-to-be-published YA novelist. I’ve worked with publishing houses, literary agencies, magazines, newspapers, and just recently graduated from Taylor University with a professional writing degree. I’ve had 300 of my works featured in various publications. I’m obsessed with cats, chocolate, and a little bit too much of a pyromaniac.
Why did you decide to start writing and what was your inspiration for Blaze?
I started writing because my friend in high school wrote novels, I told her she was crazy, and then I started my first one the very next week.
Speaking of high school, that served a good portion of the inspiration for Blaze. The book follows Danny as he transfers to his rival school after his previous school mysteriously burns down. Turns out the arsonist attends the new school, and they don’t seem content with burning down just one thing.
First: I grew up in a high school where our rival was literally caddy corner across the street. I always wondered what would happen if our school burned down. Would we end up attending the rival? Would the students make our lives a living hell because we came from their rival school? I decided to play with that.
Second: There’s an ancient block of text from Babylon known as the Book of Daniel that features four teens standing up to the emperor of the world’s largest kingdom at the time. Gen Z, a generation standing up to our leaders, really inspired me and these characters. I wanted to see what that looked like now, standing up to a king.
Third: I love fire, and fire made its way into the book. Plain and simple.
Your book is in the Young Adult genre, do you read in this genre often? If so, what are some of your favorites (books, movies etc.)?
Yes, I love this genre. I personally think authors who read and write in this genre get to have the most fun. In the YA genre, some of my favorite titles I’ve read are Harry Potter (of course), Percy Jackson, Scythe, and The Book Thief (if that counts, it’s a bit more coming of age). Books always trump the movies. Every. Time.
Was there anything really challenging about the writing of this story? Any obstacles you might have run into?
Can’t have a book without obstacles.
I ran into quite a few- Crippling depression. It’s chronic, but it didn’t help that right around the time I wrote this, my parents decided to divorce- Pitching it at writer’s conferences. Having worked on faculty, I know the reasonings behind this, but sometimes editors and agents can say nasty things that make you want to quit writing for a good week. This book was a harder sell, and they made sure I knew it. But I appreciated the opportunity to share my work and hear their feedback. It helped shape the book. - The publishing process itself. Although I made it past pub board, the managing editor kept sending it back for edits. I completely understand! We all want the book in the best shape possible. But I did grow disheartened by the penultimate edit.
What is your favorite part about the writing process? Do you have a special writing spot?
Favorite part? Just about everything. When your brain electrifies when you finally figured out the missing piece in a character’s backstory or solved a tricky plot point. When you write a mic drop line or go way beyond your 3,000-word count goal for the day. I’ve fallen in love with just about everything in the writing process.
Special writing spot? Anywhere people can’t bug me. I love my family and friends, but in college (which I just graduated) you happen to be cloistered in a wing with 36 girls at Taylor—with no A/C in the summer #buildingcharacter. And let’s just say of those 36, a good majority were extroverts who didn’t understand why I liked to stare at a screen for five hours at a time.
Is there anything about you that would surprise your readers – hobbies, likes, dislikes etc?
Ah, I should have this part down since the first question they always ask you at college is, “Name, major, and fun fact?” Let me see if these fun facts spark a surprise:- I’ve swum with sharks. And no, not in a cage. Literally swimming side by side.- I once accidentally walked on a nude beach without knowing it.- I may or may not have been in Nicaragua illegally for five minutes (you can’t prove anything).- I once played an extra in a feature film movie in a scene set in Amsterdam. We filmed in Kentucky.- I’ve participated in more than 60 theatrical productions. 30+ sports teams, and 30+ musical ensembles, including one that sang at a Michael W. Smith concert.- I’ve edited the work of famous authors such as Steven James, Michelle Medlock Adams, and Jerry B. Jenkins. - I’m 22 years old.
If you could spend time with any author, who would it be and why?
Such a tricky question.
If this includes dead or alive: C.S. Lewis. He and I have similar writing habits (bleed on paper and send it out immediately). Plus, I’d love to pick his brains about how he managed success in vastly different genres.
If this just includes alive: J.K. Rowling. Because, who wouldn’t?
What are you reading right now? Do you have any book recommendations for the middle grade /young adult reader? Or any books that you think would be useful for young writers?
Unfortunately, nothing noteworthy. I’ve read a lot of nonfiction lately, but it’s not grabbing me at the moment. However, on my TBR for YA, I would suggest Children of Blood and Bone. As for MG, just recently finished Nevermoor and loved every minute of it. It’s not quite Harry Potter, but by far one of the best middle grades I’ve read in a while.
About the Author
Hope Bolinger is a literary agent at C.Y.L.E. and a recent graduate of Taylor University's professional writing program. More than 300 of her works have been featured in various publications ranging from Writer's Digest to Keys for Kids. She has worked for various publishing companies, magazines, newspapers, and literary agencies and has edited the work of authors such as Jerry B. Jenkins and Michelle Medlock Adams. Her column "Hope's Hacks," tips and tricks to avoid writer's block, reaches 2,700+ readers weekly and is featured monthly on Cyle Young's blog, which receives 63,000+ monthly hits. She is excited for her modern-day Daniel "Blaze" to come out with IlluminateYA (an imprint of Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas). She enjoys all things theater, cats, and fire.
Find the Author
Facebook: @therosewoman
Twitter: @hopebolinger
Instagram: @hopebolinger
Website: hopebolinger.com
