Today we’d like to introduce you to Holly Bills.
Hi Holly, 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?
It all started with the first page of a book. I don’t know precisely which book, but as soon as my baby hands could properly hold a book—my life was forever changed. Libraries and bookstores, those magical places transported me to places unseen and unimagined. It was a portal to the real or imaginary, to the past or the future, to anyplace really. And of course, the Scholastic book fairs and monthly order forms in elementary school always had me in breathless anticipation. (Am I dating myself there? Oh well.)
Around high school, I developed a love of writing. And not just any writing. There was creative writing, poetry, and essays. Writing that would engage audiences in new ways, and make people think and feel differently, all whilst being entertained. It was my outlet and where I could always find peace in the midst of any day’s peaks and valleys.
But adulthood came calling as it inevitably does. Writing was put on the back burner as a career, marriage, and children took center stage. That part is not unique, far too many women find themselves reprioritizing and altogether forgetting parts of themselves.
Twenty years later, after a life in non-profit executive roles, I had the opportunity to refocus myself and start a new venture. I picked up my passion, which by that point was not just on the back burner; it was coated in inches of choking dust. Not really, but you get the point.
I picked up my pen (keyboard) and paper (laptop) and wrote a couple of stories. Quick exercises to see if I still had the talent. I shared those stories with others and received a lot of positive feedback.
And so my blog, Southern Holly, was born. Short stories, reflections, and poetry with an inspirational focus take center stage. All photography is original (taken either by myself or my son) and of places within the Southeast—no stock photos! It was very important to me to have a site that is visually engaging, as it adds so much more context to the stories and articles.
Aside from my blog, I also enter writing competitions, submit articles to magazines and blogs, and am working on my first novel.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No, it hasn’t, but in a way, that’s what makes it beautiful. Smooth straight roads can be picturesque, but it’s the road with bends and curves, twists and turns, that truly takes our breath away.
I entered an industry that was completely new to me and that also differs substantially from pretty much any other industry out there. I quickly had to educate myself on how it functions, get connected to other writer groups and forums, and define my niche and target audience.
The literary world is notorious for rejection. I knew I had to prepare myself for the inevitable rejection but also have faith that validation would come. Truly, validation came much quicker than I expected with the acceptance of my first article for a national, long-established, and well-respected publication.
Vulnerability does not go away. Creatives whether they are writers, artists, or others, all make themselves vulnerable when they release their work for others to see. You have to find a way of being comfortable with opening yourself up and exposure. And yes, as an introvert, I can say it is perhaps even harder.
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?
A lot of my time goes into developing content for Southern Holly, my writer’s blog. But I leverage that with submitting content to other outlets like competitions, magazines, and the like.
Southern Holly brings together relatable and engaging content that has an emphasis on creating imagery and emotion. In short, I want you to feel. The goal is an inspiration in all the different forms it takes.
I want to make you cheer on an artist who can’t deal with condescension, or laugh at the antics of children in church, or yearn for the places that you won’t find on any vacation website. I want you to look at the photography and be taken back to a memory, a person, a place. Be reminded that sometimes you need to look up from the routine, the career, the caregiving–and take it all in. In posts that require no more than 2-5 minutes of reading, I want you to find something that brings meaning to your day.
Through it all, I think what I am most proud of is having the courage to start anew and follow my passion. Quieting self-doubt to forge a new path is daunting but also immensely fulfilling.
What sets me apart? Hmm. There is a plethora of writers specializing in various genres. Many writers author books who offer passing entertainment—ones that don’t have staying power. I aim to write pieces that you will remember, ones that will keep you coming back because of how it makes you feel, and how you slowly but surely have a different or more positive outlook.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
The best thing I can share is “A dream delayed is not a dream denied.”
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.southernholly.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/southernhollyblog/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/southernhollyblog
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/southern-holly/
Image Credits
Holly Bills
Jared Bills
