Introducing Joules Young and the Launch of Hocksbox

 

Introducing Joules Young and the Launch of Hocksbox

 A Letter from Sophia Salazar, Editor-in-Chief of Hollyhock Books

 

To our readers, collaborators, and everyone who believes in the power of stories:

 I'm Sophia Salazar, Editor-in-Chief at Hollyhock Books, and I'm absolutely delighted to be writing this letter today. For those who've been following our journey, you know that Hollyhock has always been about more than just publishing books—we're about building worlds, nurturing voices, and creating communities around the stories we love.

 Though we only established Hollyhock Books in 2024, we've spent that time thoughtfully building a foundation for exactly this kind of announcement. Today, I'm thrilled to introduce something that embodies everything we're trying to create.

 

Introducing Hocksbox.

 And just as importantly, let me introduce you to the remarkable writer behind it: Joules Young.

 Who Is Joules Young?

Some writers you discover through query letters. Some through agents. Some through referrals from authors you already publish. And some—the best ones, if I'm being honest—find you in ways you never expect.

 That's how Joules Young came to Hollyhock Books.

 I first encountered Joules's work through a short piece she'd posted online—a strange, wonderful story called "The Girl Who Became Untethered." It told the tale of a girl who, after a great storm, simply snapped and drifted away from her world, sailing through painted skies and over cities and valleys, untethered from everything she knew. I read it once, then immediately read it again. Then I found myself thinking about it days later, which is always the sign of something real.

 I reached out. We talked. And over the course of many conversations, I came to understand that Joules wasn't just a promising writer—she was something rarer: a true original.

 Her writing exists in that beautiful space where whimsy and wisdom meet. The stories she crafts feel timeless, yet utterly fresh. They have the quality of fairy tales—the kind that feel like they've always existed, waiting for the right person to come along and write them down—but they're threaded through with observations that could only come from a contemporary voice paying close attention to the world.

 There's a warmth to her work, a genuine affection for her characters that never tips into sentimentality. There's humor, too—the kind that sneaks up on you and makes you laugh aloud on a crowded train. And beneath it all, there's a current of something deeper: questions about how we find our way, how we stay connected to the people we love, how we keep believing in magic when the world keeps telling us to grow up.

 Joules's stories resist easy categorization. They're for readers of all ages, though they never talk down to anyone. They're full of invention and delight, but they earn their emotions honestly. They're the kind of stories that make you want to immediately share them with someone else, just so you have someone to talk about them with.

 That's the voice we've welcomed into Hollyhock Books. And I couldn't be more excited for you to meet her.

 

What Is Hocksbox?

Let me tell you about the name, because it matters.

 A hocksbox, in the world Joules is building, is a place where stories are kept safe. A chest passed down through generations. A drawer in a kitchen table, filled with letters and photographs and things too precious to throw away but too private to display. A box you open when you need to remember who you are and where you came from.

 That's what this new venture will be—a collection of audio and written stories, released over time, designed to be savored and shared.

 Through Hocksbox, Joules will be creating:

 Original short fiction — tales that range from the whimsical to the profound, from seasonal stories to quiet character studies that linger long after you've finished reading.

 Serialized narratives — longer works that unfold over weeks or months, perfect for readers who want to return to the same world again and again.

 Seasonal offerings — stories tied to the turning of the year, released when they'll resonate most deeply.

 And eventually, full-length collections published in partnership with Hollyhock Books, bringing Joules's vision to readers who love discovering new voices.

 

The Vision Behind the Partnership

When Hollyhock Books opened our doors in 2024, we knew exactly what we were looking for.

 We weren't interested in chasing trends or publishing books that felt like they'd been assembled by committee. We wanted voices that felt genuine. Stories that hadn't been told a hundred times before. Writing that took risks and trusted its readers to come along for the ride.

 Joules Young represents everything we were hoping to find.

 Her writing has that rare quality of feeling both completely fresh and strangely familiar—like stumbling upon a place you've never visited but somehow recognize. Her sentences have a rhythm to them that makes reading aloud a pleasure. Her characters feel like people you might actually know, even when they're living through situations you'd never encounter in a thousand years.

 

Our role at Hollyhock is simple: to provide the support, the platform, and the infrastructure that allows Joules to do what she does best. We're handling the editorial oversight, the production coordination, and the distribution. We're connecting Joules with our network of readers. We're making sure that when Hocksbox opens its doors, there's an audience waiting on the other side.

 But the heart of this venture—the stories themselves, the vision that shapes them—that's all Joules.

 

What This Means for Hollyhock Books

For those who've just discovered us, let me share a little about who we are.

 Hollyhock Books was established in 2024 with a simple mission: to publish exceptional writing that might otherwise struggle to find a home. We believe in literary fiction with heart. We believe in stories that cross boundaries and defy easy categorization. We believe in taking chances on voices that have something new to say.

 This partnership with Joules and the launch of Hocksbox represents everything we hoped to do when we started this press.

 We're still the same Hollyhock Books. We're still committed to quality, to voice, to stories that trust their readers. But we're also building something new—a space where a writer like Joules can share work in whatever form it takes, whenever it's ready, with readers who are hungry for exactly that kind of connection.

 Over the coming months, you'll see more from this partnership. You'll find yourself looking forward to the next story, the next glimpse into whatever world Joules is building. You'll start to recognize her voice the way you recognize the voice of an old friend.

 And through it all, we'll be here—editing, supporting, and cheering from the sidelines.

 

A Personal Note

I want to be honest with you about something.

 In my little years as an editor—before Hollyhock was fully established and we were stuck in covid, during the work that led us here—I've read hundreds of manuscripts. I've seen trends come and go, watched genres rise and fall, observed the publishing industry transform in ways none of us could have predicted.

 And through all of that, the thing that still gets me up in the morning—the thing that still makes me believe in this work—is the moment when I encounter a voice I've never heard before.

 That happened with Joules.

 When I first read "The Girl Who Became Untethered," I wasn't thinking like an editor. I wasn't evaluating marketability or audience fit or any of the other calculations that come with this job. I was just a person, alone in my apartment, being transported somewhere else by the power of a story well told. I was drifting alongside that girl, over spaghetti-tangled roads and dancing bears, past church steeples and ghostly forests, feeling her longing and her transformation as if it were my own.

 That's what I want for you. That's what I want for everyone who discovers Hocksbox.

 

Not a product. Not content. Not another thing to consume and forget.

 A story. A voice. A moment of genuine connection.

 If that's what you're looking for—and I suspect it is, if you've read this far—then you've come to the right place.

 

What Comes Next

Here's what you can expect in the coming days and weeks:

 This week, Joules will be posting an introduction of her own—a chance to hear directly from her about what Hocksbox means, what stories are coming, and why she's chosen to partner with Hollyhock Books.

 Over the following weeks, we'll be releasing a series of short pieces designed to introduce you to Joules's range as a writer. Some will be original fiction. Some will be reflections on the creative process. All of them will give you a sense of the world we're building together.

 By the end of this month, we'll have a clear roadmap for the months ahead—including information about the first collection Joules and Hollyhock will be releasing together.

 And throughout it all, we'll be listening to you. Tell us what resonates. Tell us what you want more of. Tell us which stories stay with you after you've finished reading.

 This is a conversation, not a broadcast. We want you to be part of it.

 

An Invitation

So here it is: the official launch of Hocksbox, in partnership with Hollyhock Books.

 If you're reading this, you're among the first to know. You're here at the beginning, before the world finds its way here, before the stories have made their way into the world. That's a special place to be.

 I invite you to:

 Read along as we share Joules' work over the coming weeks.

 Share what moves you with someone who needs to hear it.

 Reach out with your thoughts, your questions, your own stories.

 And most of all, be patient. This is a beginning. The best stories take time to unfold. We're building something here that we hope will last, and that means moving thoughtfully, intentionally, with care for the work and for the community growing around it.

 

In Closing

At Hollyhock Books, we have a saying: every story deserves to find its reader.

 With Joules Young and Hocksbox, we're putting that belief into practice. Every voice deserves to be heard. Every tale deserves a place where it can be kept safe and shared with those who need it.

 Hocksbox is that place.

 Welcome to the beginning.

 With excitement and anticipation,

 Sophia Salazar

Editor-in-Chief, Hollyhock Books

 P.S. — Tomorrow, you'll hear directly from Joules. She'll be sharing her own introduction, her vision for Hocksbox, and a little taste of the stories to come. I hope you'll come back and read.

 

P.P.S. — For those who've been asking about what's next for Hollyhock, this is just the first announcement. There's more to come. But for now, I'm simply happy to be able to share this with you. Joules Young is someone special. I think you're going to agree.