Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve been writing for other people for my whole career – first in the financial industry and now as a ghostwriter and blogger. This is my first time writing for myself.
I was born in Los Angeles to an unwed 17-year-old mother in 1963. She put me up for adoption immediately. I grew up with my adoptive family in the San Gabriel Valley and later in Orange County (Southern California) during high school. My adoptive family was a typical middle-class family. My father was a mechanical engineer and my mother was an R.N.
My maternal grandfather, Konrad Frederick Koosmann, was a Bishop in the American Lutheran Church. He was also a pedophile who preyed on little girls in his family.
I want potential readers to know that this book is not about the sexual abuse. There are no graphic details. Rather, the majority of the book is set in 2001 – 2002 in my adulthood. My story describes my efforts to speak the truth, although one specific person tried very hard to stop me. That person was NOT my maternal grandfather.
There’s a lot of adventure in the book as well: a trip to Nepal, mountain climbing, camping, trekking, kayaking and more. It has a very happy ending.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Family Legends, Family Lies.
There are three main sources of inspiration for writing this book: 1) The #metoo movement spurred me to really commit to writing down my hard-won insights to share with others, 2) The sexual abuse scandal that continues to rock the Roman Catholic Church because many people still don’t believe a priest or pastor would sexually abuse a child, and 3) Marilyn Van Derbur, who as Miss America in 1958. In 2003, she wrote her book called Miss America by Day in which she described her efforts at recovery from incest at the hands of her father. He had been a very prominent and wealthy man in his community. My book differs from hers in one key way. She describes the unconditional love of friends and family who stood by her in difficult times. My book describes a relationship that should be supported by unconditional love but instead is a stunning example of misplaced loyalties.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I always need a cup of coffee when I sit down to write. Plus, my desk faces a window that looks out on a large hill. I always have that open, so I can watch the wildlife go by: coyotes, bobcats, hawks, etc.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
My favorite American author is Norman Maclean. I also like Shel Silverstein and Dr. Seuss. JRR Tolkien is on the list. I am a big fan of Kirby Olson’s poetry. While I don’t know them all by name, I like the screenwriters from Star Trek the Original and Star Trek TNG.
My all-time favorite author is a bit conventional: William Wordsworth. He beautifully and succinctly describes his intimate relationship with nature, which is something I hope that my book does as well. Nature plays a big role in Family Legends, Family Lies.
What are you working on now?
I’m working on a children’s book about the origin of Christmas.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Since this is a first for me, I am navigating uncharted waters.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Make the subject something you have a passion for.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
There’s a lot of mountain climbing in my book and “mountaineering rules.” My favorite is “check your gear; double check your gear; triple check your gear.”
What are you reading now?
Mostly the news about coronavirus!
What’s next for you as a writer?
I’ll be working on my children’s book. At the same time, I will be working on my website, wendyhoke.com. I hope to make that a great resource for anyone who has faced abuse. The site has a ways to go especially since I insist on doing it myself.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
The collected works of William Wordsworth, Shakespeare, and the Bible.
Author Websites and Profiles
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