C. A. Hollister Interview Published on: 29, Jul 2024
What inspired you to blend the familiar with the fantastical in your storytelling?
I believe there is something familiar in all fantasy and occult stories. Whether it involves vampires, were beasts, witches, dragons, hobbits, or whatever kind of fantastical creature you can conjure up, we see a part of ourselves in one character or another. Granted, a three-hundred-year-old vampire isn’t likely to have soul crushing debt and be required to work sixty hours a week to make ends meet, but the internal struggles, wants, and desires are still the same.
How do you draw from your upbringing in a small North East Texas town to enrich your narratives?For those who haven’t had the pleasure of visiting North East Texas, there are plenty of myths and legends that haunt these piney woods. Not to mention an eclectic variety of people that share their own vibrant and unique cultures and heritage. I’ve been lucky enough to be part of a family and community that offers endless inspiration.
Can you share a specific memory or experience from your childhood that directly influenced one of your stories?It wasn’t until after I finished Destiny Unbound that I based one of the grandfatherly characters on my own grandpa. He was stern, yet kind and loving. And he adored his grandchildren, spoiling them more than was necessary.
Your writing is said to resonate with raw emotion. How do you ensure that your characters' emotions feel authentic and relatable to your readers?I didn’t realize until recently that what I’ve been doing in my writing is deep POV. I’ve always tried to get into my characters heads and feel what they feel. See what they see. What facial expressions do they make? How do they handle stressful situations? Human beings are complicated and not everyone reacts in the same way in the same situations. It’s a delicate balance of the mundane and the fantastical to keep the story engaging.
In your opinion, what role does magic play in storytelling, especially when juxtaposed with mundane settings or everyday life?Our imaginations are, in a way, magical. It is our imaginations where some of the most fantastical stories come from. Yet in those tales of magic and myth, we interweave that which is most familiar to us. To make the story relatable. I tend to lean toward magical realism in my writing to convey what if scenarios.
Family gatherings seem to hold significance in your upbringing. Do you find that familial relationships often serve as a focal point in your narratives?Family is very important to me in both my life and writing. It is the foundation of who we are. And it’s not always a pleasant experience. I think just about everyone has both good and bad family ties. It shapes us into who we are. I want to bring that into my stories to give more depth to my characters and make them more relatable and real.
What themes do you find yourself consistently exploring in your writing, and why do they resonate with you?I would say the most recurring themes in my writing come down to redemption as well as over coming fears. Fear of loss. Fear of love. Fear of death. Fear of living. Oh, and I’m a sucker for a happy for now ending. I want to leave the reader satisfied with the outcome even if the protagonist still faces challenges in the future.
How did you approach world-building in your novel, “Destiny Unbound” to create immersive universes that feel both unique and familiar?Since the story is grounded in the real world, I used elements I know and weaved them into the fantasy aspects of my book. I took some creative avenues for some of the locations, but I wanted the environment to feel as real as possible.
Your bio mentions a "universal longing for connection and love." How do you weave these themes into your narratives, and why are they important to you as a writer?I guess I’m a romantic at heart. I love a good love story. That being said, I also appreciate the struggle people face in their everyday lives. It’s the little things that can make or break a relationship. If a couple has it too easy, the story gets boring, fast. On the flip side, forcing conflict doesn’t always make for a great read either. For me, I like to create characters that are flawed, yet just as deserving of happiness as the next person.
Are there any particular authors or storytellers who have influenced your writing style or thematic choices?Of course. My love for books started as soon as I learned to read. One of the earliest books that had a big impact on my life was the novel ‘Wait Till Helen Comes’ by Mary Downing Hahn. I was about the same age as the protagonist and it was the first time I really related to a character in a book. I soon moved on to more mature writing, such as Stephen King and Dean Koontz. In college, I found the David and Leigh Eddings ‘The Belgariad’and that got me entrenched in the fantasy genre.
What challenges do you face when balancing the fantastical elements of your stories with the emotional depth of your characters?Adding emotional depth to characters is universal. The genre doesn’t matter. From love stories, to war, to alien worlds, you need a reason to root for or against the characters in the story. One of the biggest challenges for me was creating a multi-dimensional antagonist and villain. It’s too easy to skim over their roles in the story. But once I started to really dig into the psyche of my bad guys, it was one of the most fun and rewarding parts of the book.
How do you approach character development to ensure that your readers connect deeply with your protagonists?I am a pantser at heart, so developing characters was always a learn as you go experience for me. Most of the time, my characters tell me who they are as I’m writing. I pull from my own life experiences and the world around me to make my people as relatable and real as my next-door neighbor. Sure, you drop some of the more mundane stuff, but sometimes, it’s the boring, everyday experiences that really bring a character to life.
Your stories often touch on desires and heartaches that echo our own. How do you draw from personal experiences or observations to imbue your narratives with such authenticity?As I said before, I’m a romantic. I’ve loved, been loved, had my heart broken, broken hearts of my own. From family, to lovers, to friends, we all experience a profound emotional state of being at one point in our lives.
How did you first come across the AllAuthor website? What do you like or dislike about the site?Like most things I find, I came across the AllAuthor website though searching the web. I have been a part of the AllAuthor family for nearly a year and so far, have enjoyed the experience. I love the plethora of tools available, such as the magic tool that allows you to create amazing mockups, the tweet scheduler, and the gif maker.
