Hannah Alexander Interview

Q: Let me start with asking you to tell us a little bit about yourself. 

A. I began writing romantic suspense thirty years ago, at a time when I was being tempted to do something I knew not to do. When I chose to focus on my first novel, everything changed for me. The temptation went away and I discovered for myself the truth from the Bible about resisting the devil and he will flee.

Q: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

A. I don’t remember ever making a decision to write, I’ve just always written. I made up stories before I knew how to write—much to the chagrin of my parents, since my storytelling skills sometimes turned into elaborate schemes to stay out of trouble. This continued into my teen years as a wild child. As an adult I wrote articles for Christian periodicals before switching to novels, and I wrote novel-length manuscripts for fourteen years before my first publication. Those fourteen years were frustrating, but now I’m glad I had time to hone my craft.

Q: Could you give us the highlights of your professional writing career including how you got your first writing break?  

A. Thanks to a meddling pastor who liked to play matchmaker, I got my first writing break when I was set up on a surprise blind date with Mel. After some awful experiences with men, Mel turned out to be a different type of hero, and he read all the manuscripts I’d written. Over the months, as we dated, I found out what a real storybook hero was like, and I rewrote my novels to reflect that. We were married before my first novel sold, and he was so much a part of my writing by then that I chose to use a pen name to reflect the impact he had on my work. Since then I’ve been published by Bethany House, Barbour, Steeple Hill, Love Inspired Suspense, Love Inspired Historical and Summerside. I recently released my first novel with Jerry Jenkins Select, my first venture out of the world of romantic suspense and into the world of women’s fiction, romance and medical drama. The title of that novel is Hallowed Halls.

Q: Would you tell us about your current book release Collateral Damage?  

A:  This novel is the third in a series set in a tiny, fictitious village based on a privately owned historical park of the same name. When Sarah Russell’s sixteen-year-old daughter, Emma, drives across the state of Missouri to investigate the death of her grandparents, Sarah must follow to keep her out of trouble, and to keep Emma and her real father from discovering her true heritage—neither Emma nor her father knows she’s Sarah’s daughter. Once in Jolly Mill, Sarah finds herself partnered with Nick Tyler, Emma’s father, to rescue their daughter from the person who killed Sarah’s parents, and Nick’s mother. Have you got that? It’s a lot easier to figure out if you read the long version.

Q: Where did you get your inspiration for Collateral Damage?

A:  Jolly Mill has been a favorite place for teens from my hometown since I started high school. The old iron bridge on the cover of the book is the one where upperclassmen stopped their cars to toss freshmen into Capps Creek below. I believe that initiation ritual ended during my freshman year when one of my classmates was wounded from the fall. After deciding on the setting I got to know my characters, and I based the killer’s motivation on a dioxin spill that happened in our region in the 1980s. Jolly Mill is a fascinating area rich with history, and all I have to do is drive to it and sit there a while, and my imagination goes to work.

Q: What is the main thing you hope readers remember from this story?

A:  Sometimes we’re bound to live by the choices of others. Don’t judge us too harshly. Sarah Russell and Nick Tyler became victims when an angry youth decided to spike the soda with ecstasy at a party when they were sixteen. Emma is the result of that night, and Sarah’s parents took her away and adopted Emma when she was born so Sarah could go to college and live a “normal” life. Sarah fears the recriminations when the truth comes out.

Q: What is your favorite scene/chapter from the book?

A:  My favorite scene is when Sarah tells Nick that they’re Emma’s parents. She’s terrified he’ll reject her and send her back home across the state, or agree to “pay her off” or “do the right thing.” I enjoyed writing this scene

Q: What inspires you to write?  

A.   Typically, my inspiration comes from the worst experiences in my life. For instance, one of my secondary characters in Collateral Damage, John Fred Russell, Sarah’s cousin, is based on my cousin who passed away a few years ago. He was younger than me, and that shouldn’t have happened, so I’m making him a hero in an upcoming novella. His wonderful spirit can live on. Another story, my novel, Hideaway, was based on the death of a nephew who had a hard life because of dyslexia. No one knew how to help him. So I wrote a story in which a doctor who struggled with dyslexia as a child teaches a teenager from a boys ranch how to overcome his dyslexia.

Q: How has being a published novelist differed from your expectations of the profession?  

A: It’s better than I ever dreamed it would be. I love doing what I do, and I’m so glad I followed my dream from childhood. It’s why I always tell people to follow their calling from God, no matter how difficult.

Q: What advice or tips do you have for writers who are just getting started?

A:  Don’t give up, don’t get discouraged. If you’re a writer, then write, but don’t get in a hurry to be published. Now that indie publishing is so widespread, everyone is tempted to write something and then immediately publish it for the world to see. I’m so glad I had to wait and hone my craft, because if I’d rushed to publish my own work first I would have not taken the time to polish and grow and deepen as a writer, and I would have lost my readers before I had time to develop as a novelist. Writing in its highest form is an art. Wait until you can share your art with readers, not just your craft.

Q: Would you share with us what you are working on now?  

A. Last week I was asked to write a novella for Love Inspired Suspense about New Year’s 2015. My cousin, John, will be the main hero.

Q: When you’re not writing what do you like to do?  

A. I like to read and watch television, but I seldom have time. I’m the co-director of our fledgling medical clinic in our hometown. My husband has switched from emergency medicine to family medicine, and we’re slowly learning about running our own business. I’ll have a lot of new stories to tell by the time we’re up and running smoothly.

Q: Where can readers find you on the internet? 

A. www.hannahalexander.com as well as www.Christiansread.com

Q: Anything else you’d like to tell or share with us?  

A. Check out the amazing novels by my hostess, Susan, who is a sister in crime.