Author Chat with Alyssa Roat & Hope Bolinger on Their New Release, Picture Imperfect
Have you ever met someone who has accomplished so much in such a short time? That description comes to mind with Alyssa Roat and Hope Bolinger. This dynamic duo has co-authored several books and written individually as well. Although I haven’t had the privilege of meeting them in person, I’ve been following their writing journey for a few years. It’s my absolute delight to introduce Alyssa and Hope today as they talk about their new contemporary romance, Picture Imperfect.
Welcome to the blog! What is one random fact about yourselves that not many people know?
Hope: I once swam with sharks in Ecuador. They’re quite docile around there. It’s the sea lions you have to look out for…
Alyssa: When I was thirteen, I competed in a statewide grammar tournament. I thought I was cool at the time.
If I’m counting correctly, Picture Imperfect will be the third novel you’ve co-authored. How did you two meet and begin your journey as co-authors?
Hope: So we actually met in college. We attended the same publishing program at Taylor University. Our coauthor journey started in a quirky way. We wrote a silly piece for one of our journalism classes to show the teacher we really could write the Worst Article Ever. He read it and said we needed a break from school. From that one experiment, we decided we enjoyed writing together.
What are some benefits and challenges of co-authoring? What do you think makes two authors a good fit to write together?
Alyssa: One of the best parts about co-authoring is that you’re never alone. Rejection, celebration, all of it, someone is in it with you. It’s also a delight to work with someone and bounce ideas off each other. Hope always amazes me and makes me laugh. I think the most important things in finding a co-author are having fun writing together and having similar approaches to writing books.
What inspired you to write this story, or how did this story concept originate?
Hope: So the concept actually originated from a Love Inspired contest. They were looking for new authors. Alyssa and I really wanted to shed light on what it’s like being in your early twenties and trying to break into publishing (since … well, we are in our early twenties trying to break into publishing). We’ve had our fair share of battling perfectionism and procrastination, so we wanted to breathe that into the characters.
Real life (and love) aren’t picture perfect, despite what we may see on social media. Why do you think this theme is so timely and relevant for readers?
Alyssa: I think I speak for both of us when I say that Hope and I are perfectionists. We both way overworked ourselves in college, and we know what it’s like trying to break into the arts in any industry while struggling to give yourself grace and facing harsh realities. In a social media driven world where we often only see successes and the lives of others through a filter, I think it’s important to remember that things can be good, even if they aren’t “quite right.”
The back cover copy suggests your characters must learn to complement each other (and hopefully not kill each other in the process). God has given us strengths and weaknesses as opportunities to be stronger together and to keep us humble. How have you found this reality to be true in your life, whether relationally or professionally?
Hope: Honestly, yes. Alyssa is going to laugh, but I think Alyssa has prepared me for my future marriage with whomever my husband will be. I have blindspots that Alyssa is able to spot, and vice versa. I think in the Christian world that’s incredibly important. That we use our gifts to better each other.
We’re approaching the holiday season, famous (or infamous) for picture-perfect Christmas cards and family pictures. What message from this story might help readers whose Christmases aren’t the perfect picture they had imagined?
Alyssa: Whether Thanksgiving or Christmas, I feel like family gatherings often spark uncomfortable questions, like, “So what do you do?” and “Is there a young man in your life?” I think it’s important to remember that no matter where you are in life, the important thing is to follow God’s leading. If we remain faithful to Him, even if it doesn’t seem like we’re successful, or if our life looks so very imperfect, we are exactly where we should be, and God is good in every circumstance.
How can readers stay in touch with you?
Hope’s links:
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/hopebolinger
- Twitter: twitter.com/HopeBolinger
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/hopebolinger
- Amazon: www.amazon.com/Hope-Bolinger/e/B00V0VWFKQ
- Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/hopebolinger
- Website/Newsletter: www.hopebolinger.com
- BookBub: www.bookbub.com/authors/hope-bolinger
Alyssa’s links:
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/alyssawrote
- Twitter: twitter.com/alyssawrote
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/alyssawrote
- Amazon: www.amazon.com/Alyssa-Roat/e/B08G3P1494
- Website: alyssawrote.com
- Newsletter: alyssawrote.com/newsletter
- BookBub: www.bookbub.com/authors/alyssa-roat
Can you hint about what next projects you have in the works, either individually or as co-authors?
Alyssa: Picture Imperfect is the first in a series we have planned centering on twenty-somethings finding love and purpose in the arts. Book two, Finding Harmony, will be releasing next year. And in March, the second book in my Wraithwood Trilogy will be releasing, with even more Arthurian legend, ancient prophecies, and action than the first!
Hope: Oh boy … in addition to the romance series titles Alyssa mentioned above, we do have a Greek mythology themed chat fiction coming out with L2L2 in 2023. If you love all things Percy Jackson, you won’t want to miss this 😉 Individually, I actually have a Stranger Things-esque middle grade releasing in February. If parents are looking for clean reads for their tween, this is the one to check out. It involves supernatural cephalopods, creamed corn, and Ugly Christmas Tree contests.
About the Authors
Alyssa Roat has worked in a wide variety of roles within the publishing industry as an agent, editor, writer, and marketer. She is also the author of the YA contemporary fantasy series, The Wraithwood Trilogy. Her name is a pun, which means you can learn more about her at @alyssawrote.
Hope Bolinger is the author of 14 books, including the award winning Blaze trilogy. She’s a theater nerd and spends too much time hiking and petting her fat cat, Twix. She can be found online @hopebolinger. She and Alyssa co-authored the YA superhero chat fiction romance Dear Hero and the sequel, Dear Henchman.
About Picture Imperfect
Can a struggling career woman and a procrastinating artist save a beloved nonprofit?
Aspiring novelist Caroline Penn expected a promotion, not a picture book assignment. But when her employer, the non-profit Helping Hope, runs into financial trouble, this book might be the solution. With the company struggling to stay afloat, she and the illustrator will need to collaborate on a strict deadline—no problem for a workaholic like Caroline, right?
Andy Jackson, a “starving” artist, pays the bills by taking on graphic design gigs, but his perfectionism gets in the way. If only he could focus on a project for once, perhaps he could achieve his dream to make art for children for a living.
When the two are thrust together to create a book, Caroline can’t seem to write for children, and Andy can’t meet a deadline to save his life. As time ticks down to release day, the two must face their pasts and insecurities. If they can avoid strangling one another for long enough, they may just bring to the table what the other is missing.
