Today we’d like to introduce you to Aaron Hollingsworth.
Hi Aaron, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for sharing your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers.
I am originally from Jefferson County, Missouri. I relocated to the Kansas City area when I came of age with three goals: to become a comic book writer, to start an alternative rock band, and to meet the right person to share a life with. In my early twenties, I wrote roughly three hundred pages of script for a twelve-issue story run for a comic book series. Creating a comic book is a collaborative effort, and I lacked the right creators and resources to get going. At the advice of a friend who was an English teacher, I decided to turn my comic script into my first fantasy novel, FOUR WINDS-ONE STORM: THE BONE BRICK CITY. With music, it was a similar situation. I wrote several songs, played guitar and harmonica, and sang. There were a few attempts at forming a band but finding compatible bandmates proved tricky, and I performed solo more often than not. Music led me to meet my wonderful wife, Stephanie, a singer and visual artist. She did the cover illustrations for several fantasy books I’ve self-published since 2012. As for forming a band, I eventually did. MOSS HOLLOW is a one-person band project where I play all the instruments. It is a mixture of folk, rock, and early 90s alternative. The first record, ECHO’S BONES, is currently on YouTube for all to check out. Mostly, my songs come from reality, and my stories come from my imagination. But they both are reflections of the other.
Would it have been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The main challenge I faced was being a very slow learner. My ADHD manifested as a severe lack of comprehension whenever processing new information. My skills developed very slowly, nearly to the point where everything seemed hopeless. However, I have never lost the joy of creating something, be it a song or story. The small accomplishments of completing my projects allowed me to grow and improve.
I appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
As a fantasy author, I have written and self-published twelve books. I like to blend philosophy with magic to instill a sense of wonder. I write weird tales of poetic justice and ironic revenge. My characters are always larger than life, be they stilted or otherworldly. Oh, and there’s plenty of humor, sword fights, and skullduggery, too. As a songwriter, I have zero ambition to make it big. There is no longer a music industry. But since we live in a privileged age of advanced recording technology and the Internet, it is an excellent opportunity for making music for anyone to access the world. Music guides me more than I guide it. Who knows where it might lead?
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
I own over 100 harmonicas, each one tuned for a different purpose.
Contact Info:
- Facebook: Aaron Hollingsworth – Writer
- Youtube: YouTube.com/@MossHollowMissouri
