Meet Danielle Bullen | Author, Writer & Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Danielle Bullen and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Danielle, is your business focused on helping the community? If so, how?
I hope that they will encourage others to keep going when the road gets dark, and to not give up.

My first book, Frost Light, was about beauty in the darkness of winter. It’s in a high-fantasy world, but the book itself reads like historical fiction. That book I wrote, because my sister struggles with seasonal depression, and I wanted a book that pointed, with each word, back to the fact that darkness does not last, but also the beauty that God has written through all those gray days. That book, was an attempt at that.

My second novel, (which comes out later this year Lord willing) is adult fantasy, set in the same world, but is about a young woman, who has been living alone, who is caught up in a political and religious war that has been tearing her country apart for years. It hits on loyalty, home how we pursue what is good and worthwhile.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I had not realized before starting into this, how much the process of writing and publishing is not a one man show. The amount of people in a kitchen to get a book out and ready, is quite frankly, astonishing. With my first novel, Frost Light, I remember thinking over and over that in a small way, it takes a village. There will be many hands and many feet, and those people that you see credited at the back of the book in acknowledgements? They really did have a huge impact on that story that you see in front of you.

I started writing, because I wanted my siblings and children to have books that told stories that would reflect the world we live in in such a way, as to point them back to Christ. I’ve known many authors over the years that have done that, but I think that in a culture that is pushing the agenda of consuming stories that talk about corruption with no hope at the end, we need more stories that have it–in film, in songs and of course, in books.

As C.S Lewis says, “Since it is so likely that children will meet cruel enemies, let them at least have heard of brave knights and heroic courage. Otherwise you are making their destiny not brighter but darker.” We need more stories about the good triumphing. We need more stories about people actively pursuing what is right. They shouldn’t get it right 100% of the time–and yes, they should fail and fall on their faces–but that should only remind us that we can get up and try again. We can try again tomorrow.

My biggest goal, for my work in the long run, is that I want to glorify my God. In that, I pray that others are encouraged, and that one day, these books are passed down to encourage the next generation. But whether they do or not, I do not intend to write stories with the hope that they pass the test of time. It is my goal, that I write stories that enrich the time you have here, whether that’s pointing back to the beauty even in the darkest of seasons, to standing steadfast on what you believe or to being diligent in every little thing you do in life. I hope these books encourage.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I live near Abingdon VA. That is my favorite place to take friends when they come to town, and many of my people can tell you that I have sat them down and made them try The Girl and the Raven coffee shop’s ‘sorghum cookies,’ which are a favorite of mine.

I’d probably start out by taking them there, for coffee and a cookie, then drive them up to the mountains, because I may be biased, but we have some beautiful landscapes here. If we aren’t hiking, I’d drive them up Whitetop mountain, but if we were, I might take them up to the Hidden Valley Lake trail, or to the Creeper trail, just for a walk. For lunch, I’d drag them over to Greekos, because their wraps are some of the best, plus their fries and pitas always hit home.

I’d show them our family farm, and introduce them to my people if they haven’t met them yet, and we might go see a show at the Barter Theatre, depending on what is showing. If Aunt Willies Wildflowers had a farm tour that week, I’d probably try to get them out there for it, because Linda and Roy are amazing, and their tours are always a joy.

The Abingdon Farmers Market on Saturdays is a great place to pick up fresh food and flowers and what have you, including some of the best scones out there from Mehls Bakery on the corner. If we had a Saturday free, I’d probably take them there, because it’s a good one.

We have a local film company in the area, owned by David Alford, so if they were interested in film, I might try to introduce them, because David and Joseph Stam, who often works with him on films, are both joys and knowledgable in their fields. I’ve known them for years, and hearing them talk about their work and passion for what they do it a joy.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Solus Christus. It has all been, through and by the grace of Christ. I may not be very far into my story yet, but through it all, He has been faithful, and the praise for every step goes to Him.

Along the way though, He has worked in and through so many people, and I would offer a big shout out to my family, to Cathryn McIntyre, who introduced me to writing, and to David and Stephanie Alford, for all that they do. There are many others, but I would not be here, without all of these.

Website: https://danielle-bullen-auth.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danielle.bullen.author

Image Credits
Danielle Bullen
Jeshua Stam
Victoria Lynn
Phoebe Bullen