Today we’d like to introduce you to Hoda Mallone.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
It’s been a weird, windy road for sure. I grew up in a suburb outside of Long Beach, CA and lived all over LA when I was in my 20s. I LOVE Los Angeles! I have lived everywhere from Miracle Mile, to Beachwood Canyon, to Venice, and the South Bay. An Angeleno through and through.
I always thought I would use my mind or my words to shed light on wrongdoing somehow. Maybe as an agent of some sort or an attorney, hence my undergrad degree in Criminal Justice. But alas, life had other plans for me. As I was finishing college, things shifted drastically and I had to get a “real job” real quick. I had a friend in fashion that knew someone starting a cashmere line and a week later, I was in. That began my 20-year career in fashion. I did everything from production, to product development, to marketing, then design. I even showed my own collection in the last year of Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in Los Angeles. Selina Gomez sat in the front row at that show (my not-so-humble brag). An amazing night. It was one of the highlights of my career, truly.
But the growing dissatisfaction in me was becoming unbearable. And I knew I had a deeper longing for work that meant more to me and could possibly actually do something for others. I have always written since I was very young. I have stacks of cringy notebooks filled with bad prose and worse poetry. But I loved it. The first time I was published, I won the Long Beach Press-Telegram Scary Story Contest when I was sixteen. And though I strayed away from my first love, I found my way back to writing.
After the US Presidential Election of 2016, and after enduring every moment of the Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh hearings in 2018, I knew in my bones that I had to use my voice, and my energy in a different way. Women’s stories were important, and I wanted to help tell some. I pivoted back to writing. But this time, I would do it all the way. Despite the fear, feeling behind, and charting the unknown, I jumped in.
I had an idea for a novel – more like just a story at the time – and wanted some insider knowledge. On the last day of the application process, I applied to work for then-Senator Kamala Harris in her Los Angeles office. And shockingly, I got the job. I was the oldest intern ever at 38. The months I spent learning more about our government and the state of our country were invaluable. And I met some of the most amazing young people working there. Not to be trite, but they gave me hope for the future.
I went back to school to get my MFA from the University of Riverside Palm Desert MFA program. For me, going back to school was a gift. One that keeps on giving. The friendships and community I have gained from my time there are life-giving in the slog that is the publishing world. I am better in every way because of my time in that program.
My writing has since been published in The Los Angeles Times, Electric Literature, Los Angeles Daily News, PREMIUM Magazine, and others. I have finished my first novel, WASP (a psychological thriller with political intrigue), and am currently querying agents. I have written three limited series as well. And now, I am beginning book two.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Many, many, many struggles. I am a divorced mom, so trying to have a successful career is full of challenges, puzzles, and mazes to maneuver. But when you’re doing what you love, you can always find a way. And if not, you take the loss, sit with it, then keep it moving tomorrow.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
In my published work (articles, essays, op-ed, etc.), I like to hit on something that is happening in the culture that I can relate to. Something I can contribute to or have a story about. I try to be relatable but also vulnerable. I mostly write fiction, so writing authentically about myself is a challenge. I’m a private person. But in pushing myself to dig deeper and put it on the page, it has made my work more fulfilling and those pieces are what people resonate most with readers.
My novels and screenplays are usually centered around dark, twisty tales. And almost always centered around women. I love a thriller. I love playing with the grey areas of humanity. I love an unhinged protagonist. I believe fiction should take you places you would never go in life. Give you feelings you don’t recognize. And force you to ask yourself uncomfortable questions. But always while being entertaining!
My proudest moments in my writing career have been:
The two pieces published in The Los Angeles Times
https://www.latimes.com/lifestyle/story/2023-03-03/la-affairs-i-got-divorced-married-men-react
https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2023-10-07/pamela-anderson-makeup-jamie-lee-curtis-natural-beauty
The Pamela Anderson op-ed was one of the most read of the year!
I also had the opportunity to moderate a panel at the Bombay Beach Lit Festival on Female Protagonist with two amazing authors.
And I was fortunate to interview poet and author Maggie Smith for Electric Literature.
https://electricliterature.com/maggie-smith-memoir-you-could-make-this-place-beautiful-interview/
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
Tricky…
Luck always plays a role in life. But, what one person thinks is “lucky” can be vastly different in another’s eyes. Perspective is key. I’ve found that consistency, perseverance, and a little bit of ingenuity are critical to success in my industry.
Contact Info:
- Website: hodamallone.com
- Instagram: @hodamallone
- Linkedin: @hodamallone
- Twitter: @hodamallone
- Other: Threads: @hodamallone
Image Credits
The black and white images of me on the panel in Bombay Beach are credited to: Matthew Ellis @ourslowtravel The Selena photo is from Getty Images. The rest are mine.
