Meet John Michael Hileman-Christian Writer with a Story to Tell

I met John through a conversation on FB and we hit it off not only from a writer's point of view, but from our personal convictions and faith. He's a talented, somewhat complex guy and I've greatly enjoyed the process of getting to know him. I think you will, too!


So, you’ve written two novels that have been published so far. Was the writing process pretty much the same for both books, or did you find it different the second time?
Most of VRIN took place in a Fantasy world of my own creation. It’s pretty easy to write about a world that doesn’t exist. No one can say, “Hey! There aren’t any stairs in front of the Blah Blah Blah museum!” When you’re writing about a man hunting for a dirty bomb in the streets of Boston, you need to have a working knowledge of Boston and the surrounding area. Since part of my childhood was in the suburbs of Boston, I have a good idea of how things work. The internet filled in the blanks.

Tell us about your recent novel, Messages.
The elevator pitch sounds something like this. David Chance can see messages in the sea of words around him, messages that warn him of future events. But can he trust the messages to guide him through a gauntlet of dangers to stop a dirty bomb from detonating in the city of Boston? But the best way to describe the book is to let others says what they thought of it. “Messages, by John Michael Hileman, is a high-energy, fast-paced work of fiction, packed with grit and substance” ~ Literary Classics Book Awards and Reviews. ”From the first page I was swept away. The characters are well developed, the plot is masterfully woven and the subject is entirely fresh.” ~Author Diann Young

So, what drew you to the speculative fiction genre as a writer?
I like being able to create scenes no one has ever created before. Speculative fiction offers a canvas for that kind of out of the box thinking. Plus, alternate realities allow you to examine the principles and precepts of God from another perspective.

What has the publishing process been like for you?
Lots and lots of waiting. Writing a book is merely the beginning of a vast journey. If you set foot on the road, prepare your heart to enjoy the walk, because there aren’t’ many rest stops on the way.

What’s been the most difficult part of the writing/publishing process?
Overcoming doubt. When I started as a writer, I wanted success, and I feared failure. God has shown me that success is not in the quantity of people who love you, but in the quality of people who love you. It is fair to say, my readers have given me more than I could ever give them. I no longer wonder if I was meant to write, because I have a stack of e-mails from dear friends, who remind me how important what I do is.

Just last night I got a letter from a concerned mother who asked whether or not my latest novel would transform the heart of her Atheist son. I shared this insight. A stonecutter was once asked, “which strike of the hammer broke the stone?” The stonecutter replied, “The first. The last. And every one in between.” I don’t know if my book will be the strike that breaks her sons hard heart, but knowing that I am partnering with someone of such great character, gives value to the work I put in to writing it.