About Hymns of Blue Hollow
Steeped in the haunting beauty of 1940s Appalachia, Hymns of Blue Hollow is a tale of survival, sacrifice, and the quiet rebellion of the heart. At its core is Esther Primm, a young woman born into the hard traditions of moonshining, tethered to a life that was never hers to choose. Raised beneath the iron will of her grandmother, Pearl Primm, Esther has learned that love is a currency rarely spent, and survival is earned through calloused hands and silent endurance. But beneath the weight of expectation and secrecy, a fire flickers—a longing for something more, something beyond the mist-cloaked ridges of the Blue Hollow Hills. When fate leads Esther into the path of Ian Huggler, a German immigrant with a past he cannot outrun, their worlds collide in a way neither of them can afford. Ian, a man who knows loss intimately, sees something in Esther—a defiance she doesn’t even recognize in herself. Their connection, unspoken yet undeniable, threatens to unravel everything Esther has been taught: that love is a weakness, that freedom is an illusion, and that the world beyond the mountains is not meant for a girl like her.
But Hymns of Blue Hollow is not just a love story—it is a hymn to those left behind, to the forgotten, the forsaken, and the ones who carve out their place in the world with blood, sweat, and quiet defiance. It is the story of generational wounds, of power and its abuses, of the weight of family legacies that refuse to loosen their grip. It is about the lines drawn between rich and poor, Black and White, sinner and saint—lines that Esther and Ian, in their own ways, dare to cross.
Threaded with prose that hums like an old hymn—both mournful and full of aching hope—the novel captures the landscape of the rural South with a painter’s hand and a poet’s heart. The scent of woodsmoke clings to its pages, the river whispers in the background, and the ghost of old secrets drifts between the lines, waiting to be unearthed. Every chapter pulses with the rawness of a world where kindness is a currency in short supply, but resilience is woven into the very earth.
From Blue Hollow to Bestseller: A Q&A with Author Kemma MarShall
In a captivating interview, we sit down with [Author’s Name], the indie author behind the beloved and expansive book series set in the 1940s Appalachian hills of Tennessee. Having recently achieved a remarkable milestone of over 6 million pages read on Kindle Unlimited, this author shares insights into crafting complex characters like the powerful Esther, building a deeply authentic world in the Blue Hollows, and keeping readers hooked on a long-running series.ur Attractive Heading
On the character Esther’s emotional journey
Esther is a resilient and complex character who grows significantly throughout the series. What inspired you to create such a powerful female protagonist in a historical setting, and how has her journey evolved beyond your initial vision?
I don’t know if I can say that Esther is a powerful protagonist in the literal sense, but perhaps more so in her emotional resolve. Her will, her tenacity to continue on when faced with insurmountable odds. Initially, as I developed her—before her voice truly came to light—I saw her more as a girl who’d just missed the opportunities to advance both socially and intellectually.
But as we aged together, she became so much more. The questions of how such a life would shape a person drew me into her emotional state, the way she believed, the way she saw herself. There was a fragileness about her, about how she didn’t believe she deserved the things others had. This was ingrained in her, beat into her from a young age. And to just sugarcoat it, have her quickly switch to a confident woman who could yield what she wanted, didn’t feel authentic. Her voice had to slowly grow. She had to hear herself. See herself. Then, she could start that path.
On the world of Blue Hollow
The Appalachian setting of 1940s Tennessee is a character in itself. What was your research process like for authentically portraying the culture, language, and challenges of that time and place, especially the moonshining and the war’s impact?
The hills of the Blue Hollows are definitely their own character and speak with a loud voice. Living in North Carolina, I am blessed to be nestled up to the woods, surrounded by big trees, and without a doubt they serve as inspiration for the story. I wish I could say what really drew me to this place, this story, but it felt like destiny. Maybe it is the magic of the Smokey Mountains, a bewitching spell that called to me, mixing with stories of my ancestors. There is something in knowing your kin before you walked those hills, breathed the air. And though I didn’t grow up there, I felt drawn back to it, as though a prodigal daughter returning, perhaps first in my soul.
I felt Esther there. Saw her face walking along the moss-covered ground.
While my story isn’t the same, I grew up poor and felt the desperation of poverty. I could easily understand to which lengths one would go to put food in their mouth with the resources at hand. As far as the people, the culture—there is most certainly a rebellious streak in those who ventured into brewing white likker. A will to survive, even if others said it wasn’t the way. And though there is a charm to it, it also carries a dark side, the ugly underbelly of what breaking the law meant. The risks, the dangers, and constantly living on the edge. I have often compared it to the iconic mafia of the big cities, but with a banjo playing in the background—a.k.a. hillbilly mafia.
Set in the 1940s, in the midst of WW2, my story speaks of the home front, of how everyday folks from Tennessee would have been affected. With no bombs going off around them, the impact was more financial, affecting already limited resources. People in that era, on the heels of The Great Depression, had learned to be resilient—growing their own food, trading, getting by.
When speaking of their voices, this was something I worked hard to honor. In the 1940s, the vernacular was much different than modern day, and added to it was the sweet cadence of a Southern drawl. That alone is almost its own character as well. The colloquial terms, double negatives, and plain speech have an impact and contrast nicely with the more refined tone that characters such as Ian Huggler carry. They juxtapose in a pretty symphony of lyrical wit and banter.
Regarding research—ah, that is one of my favorite things to do. I love to dive down a rabbit hole, tucking into small nooks and reading random facts or stories. My daughter once told me that I was a fact hoarder, which I delight in. For example, Jasper, while it is a real place, I didn’t know much of its history. When I needed to have my characters go to the courthouse, I found myself wondering what the actual building there looked like, when it had been created, and what stones were used to construct it. It all fascinates me.
On writing a long-running series
The series is already extensive, with more books planned. How do you keep the slow-burn romance and suspense fresh and engaging for readers across multiple installments without sacrificing the initial appeal?
Honestly, it isn’t that hard. There is so much story to be told when your character starts at the ground floor. Life in those times was wound tighter than today; people lived much closer to the edge of despair.
As far as suspense: I live for a good plot twist, but love to drop little seeds along the way, wondering if they will grow in the reader’s mind. With the initial arc of book one being more condensed, the following books build, developing multiple plot lines and expanding. I work to weave them together, not rushing to the end, but giving the reader a sense of satisfaction while keeping them hungry all the same. Life isn’t wrapped up in a big pretty bow; it ebbs and flows. I don’t want relationships that look Cinderella-like in fashion. But real ones, messy and complicated. True people behave in ways that sometimes irk us, make us angry, and make us want to scream at them for being reckless. My characters are just that—real, flawed, and conditioned by their upbringing. This makes for a dynamic contrast.
As someone who’s been married for over twenty-seven years, I can tell you, it doesn’t ever get boring. Well, at least for us. I think that when a couple has a good amount of polarity, there is always tension, which can burn as passion or anger.
I can’t wait for the rest of the story to unfold for the readers—for my tribe. I’m just as excited to write them as I am to have the story unfold for them. To carry you with me on this journey has been such an honor and joy.
On the “open-door” romance
The explicit nature of the romance is a clear distinction of your work. What was the thinking behind that stylistic choice for a historical setting, and how has the reader reception influenced your continued approach to the relationship between Esther and Ian?
Are we talking about sex? Hehe, well that is one of my favorite subjects. To be honest, not much is off limits to me. All joking aside, intimacy plays such a large part in the way characters relate to each other that to lock readers outside the door feels like part of the story would be missing. I approach my writing much like I approach my art (my path before writing took over). My desire is to examine it, find the beauty in it and highlight it, thus share it. This has been my approach to how Ian and Esther physically relate. Just like a beautiful nude form carved in marble, sex can be seen—can be written.
I strive for it not to come across as gratuitous but intimate, tender, loving. For someone like Esther, it has been both a weapon and a healing balm. Ian isn’t just her protector but her lover, literally loving on her. Embracing her body—the one she had felt was broken. This strange connection between two people is something I didn’t want to shy away from, despite growing up in a strong religious environment that frowned upon such talk. I didn’t want my own learned shame to stop me from being able to just talk about it, explore it, let the characters bond.
So much in our world is unauthentic, glassed over, and I felt inclined to write about that—the awkwardness, the lost dialog when communication is a struggle.
On the Kindle Unlimited milestone
With over 6 million pages read in a year, you’ve achieved a remarkable milestone as an indie author. What strategies do you believe were most effective in building such a massive and dedicated readership through Kindle Unlimited?
Love what you are writing. Period. Love the words, the characters, and readers will feel it. They will feel the energy you put out on the page. Be honest, tell the gritty truth even when it feels like too much. Readers are smart, they can see it. And market, market, market. Not the fun part. Sharing one’s work comes with risks, and rejection is one of them. Don’t write for everyone; write for yourself. Work to find the unique in everything—what makes it stand out. I think the readers who align with you will find your words to their liking. And those who don’t, don’t take it personally. Thank them and move on. All I can say is, I honestly love those who get me, get the story. I feel like they are kindred souls across the digital and printed world.
On transitioning to a professional author
What have been the biggest learning curves and unexpected challenges you’ve faced in turning your passion for writing into a successful career, and what advice would you offer to other indie authors aspiring to a similar level of success?
For me, learning how to finesse my dialog tags and, well, to dial down my use of adjectives. Everything doesn’t need an extensive description, and if the natural conclusion is that the dialog belongs to that character, then you don’t always have to use tags. Tempering that without creating ambiguity is crucial.
The next obstacle, especially in the beginning, was learning to typeset my book in a professional manner. Setting up Word to do just that. Educate yourself, read, watch videos online, etc. If you don’t know how to do something, someone somewhere does. Be passionate about your work, but also be willing to be brutal when you’re editing. There have been entire paragraphs I have omitted because they just don’t belong, despite loving the way they sound. The rule: if you can take it out and the story still makes sense, you might ought to do it.
On the speculation of a screen adaptation
Given the series’s popularity, there’s been speculation about a TV series. How do you feel about the possibility of Hymns of Blue Hollow being adapted for the screen, and would you want to be involved in that process?
In 2009, I originally wrote the story as a screenplay. So, it has the natural flow and arc development that would work well on television. I do think, because of the complexity of the story, much would be lost if it was just a few mere hours long. Thus, a television series would be more desired. It has the hallmarks of a rich, saga-like drama. The characters are complex, with deep storylines to pull from for actors. As a graphic artist, photographer, and writer, I can’t find myself not wanting to be involved in the process. Visually it could have such an epic statement—the rich green colors of the Appalachian hills versus the weathered tones of the 1940s. Aw, I get lost in it. The music would have to play a big part, as the sounds are so iconic. So yes, I would want to play a part. I believe I have a strong, solid artistic vision that could really benefit such a project. No, I don’t want to wear all the hats, but there is a benefit in including a writer, if they desire, in such development.
