Q&A with Exhibiting Author Cheryl Holdefer

Cheryl Holdefer’s latest novel, “The Second Key,” is about single mom Rachel Matthews who rebuilds her life after losing her husband in a tragic accident. Rachel rekindles a relationship from her past, and just as all the pieces of her life fall into place, she stumbles on a key to a safe deposit box unlocking a shocking secret that redefines her life and burdens her with unexpected choices. A story about love, loss, forgiveness and new beginnings, “The Second Key” reminds us that everyone has hidden truths, and what we do with the discovery of these mysteries defines who we really are and how we will live our lives.

Cheryl lives in Columbia, Md., with her husband and their four grown children on any given day; especially when they know she is baking cookies or Dave is making his famous crab cakes. Or maybe they just come to see the dog.

What one book do you wish you had written?
“Don Quijote de la Mancha.” Cervantes was masterful in hiding his political and religious agenda while eloquently spinning a gripping and entertaining tale about courage and righteousness, illusion and reality, and impossible dreams made possible. We ask ourselves in the end, who was the fool? I’ve read it at least 20 times in Spanish!

Where do you find your ideas?
Everywhere. If you are going to write about life, observe it. Listen. People are quite willing to open up and share. Put yourself in someone else’s shoes and walk through that life.

Do you have a day job?
Yes, for one more year! I started out at a Spanish/French teacher and associate professor for Johns Hopkins University, and I am currently an Assistant Principal at a high school.

What is your writing process?
Ideas come to me at events like baseball games, shopping, driving to and from work, or exercising. When I get an idea, I jot it down on an index card. I’ll start a book with the first page and bullet where I want it to go. Then I let it sit for a day or a week. When it feels right, I sit and type the pages as if I’m reading the book rather than writing it. The words flow, and I don’t look back at the copy until it is done. The ending is often quite different than what I had planned it to be! The next step is the re-write. I read the book again, then let it sit, and then read it again. I probably read it five times before I’m satisfied.

What do you do when you have writer’s block?
I organize. My closet, drawers, kitchen pantry and garage get cleaned out regularly! Organizing space helps me to think methodically. It distracts me as thoughts seep into my head. I write down a few ideas and then get back to organizing. When I’m done, the thoughts pour out onto the paper in floods.

Where did you grow up and how did it influence your writing?
I grew up in Puerto Rico (my step-dad was Puerto Rican) and Denmark (my father was a journalist in Europe). Both countries influenced my life tremendously, and many of those experiences came out in my first novel, “Victoria’s Run.” My Puerto Rican high school buddies with whom I’ve kept in touch have told me I truly captured the essence of the island’s culture and its people, and that makes me feel proud. I also ran in marathons and was a running coach, so that experience translated nicely into Victoria’s character for my first novel!

When did you first start writing?
About 12 years ago while watching my children’s softball and baseball games. I wrote my entire first novel at their games on legal pads. Then I shoved it under the bed for 10 years. Two years ago I read through it and decided to give it a shot. I self-published and then had it reviewed professionally, and I was stunned to see the four-star review! I quickly wrote another novel and it was professionally reviewed for five stars. I’m already working on the next three books, but it is slow-going because I still hold down a 7 to 5 job, but that will change when I retire in one year!

Any advice for others?
Go get some paper. I mean it, now. Write the first sentence that will draw your reader in the moment he/she picks up your book. Turn the page and just write. I don’t care what your gottas are for the day. Do it now.

You can find Cheryl on Facebook.