Today we’d like to introduce you to Bailey Inman
Hi Bailey, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
When I was 7 or 8 years old, my mom overheard me talking to myself in my bedroom and bought me a journal. I’ve been a writer ever since. It’s how I process the world, how I understand myself, how I try to connect with others.
I was also a youth group kid. Growing up in church in the late-2000s, there was a trend in evangelical culture to have a cause to fight for. I believed, like so many other kids my age, that I was born to die for something, I just didn’t know what for yet. After my brother showed me a short, yet compelling speech about human trafficking, and the work various ministries were doing to combat it, I knew I’d found my cause.
In 2014, I published my first novel, LEX; I was only 18 years old. As one would probably guess, a novel about such a complex issue written by a very sheltered teenager was improperly researched and grotesquely ignorant. When the handful of people who read it very gently pointed that out, I was so embarrassed. I tried to bury it, tried to laugh it off. It became the story I told at parties, the fun fact about me on syllabus day, the self-deprecating joke I’d use to disarm new friends. What was once my biggest dream became an interesting side quest that didn’t quite pan out. I got my degree in film and pursued a different form of storytelling all together.
But in 2023, the Sound of Freedom movie ramped up the conversation about human trafficking in mainstream media. Seeing the issue for what it was, and hearing that the number had increased from 27 million to 50 million people enslaved today, it broke my heart all over again. I was 16 years old again, crying and praying for God to do something about this gross injustice. I was moved again—moved into action.
I flipped through my old novel, mostly to cringe over it. But for the first time since releasing it in 2014, I remembered the passion I felt writing it. I felt convicted about giving up on this idea too soon. So I re-wrote it to give this story a fair shot.
I published the re-write (LEX IS ON HER WAY) on the original book’s 10 year anniversary. I’ve grown as a storyteller (and in general, as a person) since then, but writing the story again was so exhilarating. In some ways, I felt like a teenager again.
And now, having some film credits under my belt, the natural next step is making LEX IS ON HER WAY into a feature film. So, that is what I’m doing.
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?
Most of the obstacles in my way have been internal. As confident as I try to seem, I am riddled with self-doubt and imposter syndrome. I am terrified that people will make fun of me for trying. Sometimes, ambition feels embarrassing. But I’ve just come to the point where I’ve accepted that there is no other option.
I may not have been born to die for a cause like I thought I was, but I do believe now that I was born to call big shots, fail a lot, and stumble in the right direction.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Something I’ve tried to do with my projects, as of late, is pair them up with opportunities to give back in some way. In honor of January being Human Trafficking Awareness Month, I hosted a book drive for Moriah House (a local women’s shelter). I got connected with the Memphis Girls Book Club and offered a free copy of my book to any girl who donated a book to the shelter. The turnout was amazing. It was such a poignant moment, loading up my car with boxes of donations after the club meeting; I realized that my calling went beyond writing and hoping people read it and felt inspired. I’m convicted to find opportunities to use my work as a catalyst — to rally up good people and work toward something greater together.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
I think the most surprising thing about me is how much thought and energy I’ve put into things.
In conversation, I am a very goofy person. I’m dramatic for no reason, off the wall, entertaining. I try to be fun. I talk about my professional goals with people all the time but present them in a way that feels very spontaneous, almost like my dreams are just bits or anecdotes. It always catches people off guard when I start to show them my thought-through, written-out plans, especially as of late, as I’ve been trying to get this feature film off the ground.
I guess this is a good opportunity to let people know: if I’ve ever goofed off about a nonsensical story idea with you… I was gauging your reaction to help me refine it. Thank you for the notes!
Pricing:
- LEX IS ON HER WAY (Paperback): $10.99
- LEX IS ON HER WAY (E-book): $2.99
Contact Info:
- Website: https://baileyinman.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/baileyoutlady
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@baileyinman
Image Credits
Catherine Inman, Jordan Dudek
