I first met Hannah Alexander a.k.a. Mel and Cheryl Hodde through an online class Cheryl taught through ACFW – better known as American Christian Fiction Writers. But it was a smaller writing group, The Writing Chambers, where I got to know Cheryl and Mel as friends.

Cheryl Hodde, the main writer for this award winning writing duo, has been writing fiction for twenty-two years and has published fourteen Hannah Alexander titles with two more expected out this year. (Three are out of print.) Cheryl wrote alone for thirteen years (as an unpublished author) before she met Mel, her true hero both in her life and in their books. Mel and Cheryl live in the Missouri Ozarks where they like to hike their favorite trails—a great way to exercise and plot out their next book at the same time. Besides the local trails, they’ve been known to brainstorm their books with other authors or travel to exotic locations for the purpose of research. In fact, an upcoming book (due in 2007) will be set partially in the fictitious town of Hideaway, and partially in Kauai, Hawaii, (a beautiful island, I might add) where they recently celebrated their tenth wedding anniversary.

I asked Cheryl to give us some insight into the calling behind her writing ~

Jill: When and how did you know that you wanted to be a writer?

Cheryl: Probably since before I could read or write I made up stories. But when I was in sixth grade, we moved from California to Missouri Ozarks, and that first year our barn burned down. I wrote a story about it, and how the neighbors all came out to help us throw snow on the barn. My teacher said, “Cheryl, you’re going to grow up to be a writer.” I never stopped writing.

Jill: Tell me a bit about what you write now and what you hope to write in the future.

Cheryl: Mel (my husband-collaborator) and I have branded ourselves as romantic mystery-suspense writers with medical characters. I love what we’re doing now, and the publisher we’re with. We’re with Steeple Hill. Someday, it might be nice to write a MIRA, which is the mainstream line with Harlequin. I would love to be able to share the solidity of our faith with more unbelievers than we do now.

Jill: If and when did you realize your writing was a calling?

Cheryl: I was 29—21 years ago—and attending my first writing conference. I took a hike in the woods by the conference center, and received that “call.” You know when you receive that inner call to Christ? This was as powerful to me. I was working on my first novel at the time, and I dedicated my writing to the glory of God. I never want to write anything that doesn’t glorify Him.

Jill: What means did God use to confirm in your heart that this is exactly what He has prepared for you to do for Him?

Cheryl: He gave me mentors and encouragers and wonderful friends who believed in me.

Jill: When and how did you come to realize that writing meant more to you than a means to meet physical monetary needs or fulfill your dreams?

Cheryl: I never saw writing as a means to make money, because I’d been warned early on not to expect it. It’s a good thing, too, because we’ve only just begun earning enough to live without starving—and even now, if I weren’t married to Mel, I would have to hold down an outside job. This writing life is a labor of love.

Jill: How would you say that God has used writing to change you – to strengthen your faith and to make you more like Christ?

Cheryl: How about writing for fourteen years without seeing a book published? He gave me perseverance, which has helped me in so many different ways. When I did finally see publication, I was ready and mature enough to handle it without struggling too much with pride. I think that was a great mercy for me.

I’ve read a number of Hannah Alexander’s books and have particularly enjoyed the Hideaway Series. Safe Haven, one of my favorites, mixes the stories of teenage fugitive Fawn Morrison, Doctor Karah Lee Fletcher, and Ranger Taylor Jackson. Fawn comes to Hideaway seeking refuge and safety where she meets Karah Lee who reaches out to help her. But Karah Lee is also dealing with her own feelings of self doubt and helping Fawn ends up putting her life in jeopardy. Ranger Taylor vows to keep his distance from the strong-willed Karah Lee, but as the story unfolds, and Taylor watches the way she cares for her patients, his feelings change. Can it lead to something deeper?

Safe Haven is the second book in the Hideaway series. Last Resort is the third. The first book Hideaway won the prestigious Christy Award in the Romance Category. The first two books kept me reading, not only because they were filled with intrigue, but because they hold delightful romance. (And I love a good romance!) I look forward to reading book three as well.

And just this past week, they received the good news that Last Resort, published as a women’s fiction title with Steeple Hill last year–was voted as a novel of the year in the Christian genre with Library Journal. A big honor indeed!

You can find most of the books by Hannah Alexander at Amazon or CBD (Christian Book Distributors)

For a complete list of Hannah Alexander’s books you can visit their website here.

Coming in April 2006 from Hannah Alexander is:
Fair Warning, Steeple Hill Women’s Fiction. And in July 2006: Under Suspicion, Steeple Hill, Love Inspired Suspense.

If you haven’t read any of Hannah Alexander’s books yet, don’t wait! These medical mysteries with splashes of romances are well done fiction. So check them out and

pick one up!

Then sit back for a captivating read!