Inspirational Memoir
Publisher: Inspire-Books
Release Date: October 1, 2019
Hopey chronicles the story of a courageous girl in a '70s Southern Indiana commune, complete with flowers for dinner, a ball of acid in the freezer, and orgies on the living room floor. The chaos of her formative years, which are littered with violent episodes, periods of hunger and assaults, leads Hope to set off on her own at the age of fifteen.
Written as intense past moments, reflective chapters, and flash-forwards, these three voices come together to transcend time and connect the past and the present. Honest and raw, with no request for empathy or complaint, the book is a celebration of the human spirit and an exhilarating read. Hopey is a reminder that we can love, we can believe, and we, too, can be successful beyond all expectations—if we only dare to hope.
Interview
Is there anything you find particularly challenging in
your writing?
Changing tense. When
I free flow write, I switch between tenses, making editing a challenge.
How many books have you written and which is your
favorite?
One! I have three more in draft. My single book that is written is currently
my favorite, but I am also completely sick of it at this point too! My fiction
spy novel I am drafting is the one that pulls me and I enjoy writing the most
right now.
If You had the chance to cast your main character from
Hollywood today, who
could you pick and why? Scarlett Johansson. She is a
red-head and a bit curvy. She also had a
similar childhood.
When did you begin writing?
The first 70% of the book poured out of me in 2015. I
attended a writers conference on a whim and had no idea what I was doing. Two out of three agents I pitched to wanted
to see the work, and it was not in a condition to be shared. I secured an
editing partner in 2017 and we completed the work to a strong enough place that
it could be shared with beta-readers. We
made revisions and sent to another set of beta-readers. I spent 2018 networking and figuring out my
publishing approach. I was committed to
a 2019 launch. I found a publishing and marketing partner and we are launching
in 2019!
How long did it take to complete your first book?
Four years from first word to launch. Untold number of hours writing and
re-writing. Untold number of hours
prepping for publication and launch.
Did you have an author who inspired you to become a
writer?
Not specifically, but I am a rabid reader and after I wrote
the book I read Stephen King’s How to Write and is has been massively impactful
to how I write today.
What is your favorite part of the writing process?
My favorite and least favorite part is the first draft. They seem to come out quickly. I cannot type
fast enough. However, when I go back and read what I wrote it needs so much
clean up, I wish my first drafts were better composed. Also when I get in the moment, fully in the
moment in my minds eye and translating that to the paper, so that the reader
can enjoy, or experience, the same moment.
Describe your latest book in 4 words.
Inspirational. Harrowing. Unconditional love.
Can you share a little bit about your current work or
what is in the future for
your writing?
Launching Hopey, from commune to corner office this year.
8/22 print pre-sales begin! Next will be a sequel to this debut work about the
next set of decades in my life. The
first chapter of the next book can be found as a teaser in the print book. The first book ends when I take my entrance
exams into college. All advanced readers and beta-readers demand to know what
happens next and my publisher requested a first chapter of a second book!
About the Author
Hope Mueller is an author, inspirational speaker, executive, and active non-for-profit volunteer. A results-driven leader and change agent, Hope is passionate about career development and community service, among others. Her early years were marked by the experiences on a hippie commune. Hope’s unique childhood shaped her approach and interaction with the world, with a gift of creating order out of chaos and turning vision into reality. She lives with her husband in northern Illinois and actively parents her four daughters through the phases of their lives.
Contact Links
Facebook: Hope Mueller Author
Twitter: @hpmueller242
Purchase Links
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2 Comments
thanks for hosting #rabtbooktours
ReplyDeleteAwesome interview - thanks for posting!!
ReplyDelete