September Interview with Author Cheris F. Hodges

Hi All,

This is my second blog interview with romance writer, Cheris Hodges. Her sixth novel, The Business of Love, was just published by Genesis Press. She has some interesting things to say about the publishing business and her work. Check it out!

GB: Hi, Cheris! Thanks so much for visiting my blog and doing an interview. What drew you to the romance genre? Were you a reader of romance novels before you started to write them?

CH: Honestly, I was not a romance reader. My sister was. One day she’d gone to the restroom and left a Rochelle Alers book on the sofa and I picked it up. From there I was hooked. She told me that even though I was trying to be deep with my writing back then, that I was essentially writing romances.

GB: I noticed that you have some experience with self-publishing. What was that like? What are the significant differences between taking the self-publishing route and going with a publisher? Would you consider self-publishing again in the future?

CH: For me self-publishing wasn’t a good thing because I didn’t have the time to devote to publicizing my book and getting it into stores. I admire people who can do that. The biggest difference in self-publishing and having a publisher is the distribution. It’s a lot easier to get a store to order your books if they know that they can return them, something that they really can’t do with self-publishing. I would self-publish another book if I really believed in the story and no one else did.

GB: Including your first self published novel, Searching for Paradise, and your most recent release, The Business of Love, you have six published novels to date. Tell us a little about them. Are any common themes running through the novels?

CH: I think with each novel I’ve grown. Searching was my baby, a coming of age story of two college graduates who thought they were ready for the real world, but weren’t. It’s not a romance, but it has romantic aspects.

Next was Revelations, which I absolutely adore. Malik Greene, a playboy with some abandonment issues, meets Shari Walker, a reporter from Essence, who’s still mourning the loss of her ex fiancé. When some secrets come to light, they realize that they are more alike than they’d thought.

Cautious Heart was a romantic suspense. Caprice Johnson is a savvy detective who is accused of the murder of her ex fiancé, with the help of her partner, Nathan Wallace, she finds the killer and the will to love and trust again.

A Love of Her Own is about a woman who after 29 years finds the courage to follow her dreams and her heart. This book also deals with classism. Dana, the heroine, comes from a family of educators and falls for what her family considers a “simple man” Chris Johnson, a construction worker with a heart of gold. I love Chris.

Second Chances at Love is another favorite of mine. This book is about a single father, Calvin Jackson, who’s blindsided by his wife’s request for a divorce. He’s a police officer and he has to give up his career in vice/narcotics to become a school resource officer. He meets the fiery Paige Davis, who tests his patience and his hormones. To make matters worse, they’re neighbors. As things heat up between them, his ex comes back, looking for a second chance of her own.

Finally, The Business of Love, which is a follow up to Revelations. Jill Atkinson, the CEO of DVA from Revelations, is looking for success in the bedroom to match her success in the boardroom. It hasn’t been easy. The last man she gave her heart to tried to steal her company. So when sexy firefighter Darren Alexander saves her from her burning downtown Atlanta condo, the sparks fly. Afraid that Darren will be like so many other men who have run away from her because of her status and money, Jill lies about her identity. Darren knows Jill is special and nothing like his lying ex-wife, but will he be able to forgive her when the truth comes to light?

GB: Has your writing changed over the years? What kinds of changes have you seen in your work?

CH: I think I’ve become a better storyteller. That comes from talking to readers and listening to what they want to see in books and from reading authors like you and others in the industry to see what stories are being told. My career in journalism also helps me develop story ideas as well.

GB: You come from a journalism background. How has your training and career as a journalist enhanced your fiction writing?

CH: Because I meet so many people, it gives me a chance to see a lot of things that I think would make wonderful stories. Being a journalist also helps me meet deadlines, since I have one everyday. Deadlines don’t intimidate me. Also, being a journalist gives me a wealth of research tools that I can use for my books.

GB: What’s next on the horizon for you? Tell us a little bit about your upcoming projects and give us a sneak peek at some of the things you have in the works.

CH: Just Can’t Get Enough, will be released by Dafina in 2007. It’s the story of Celina Hart, an artist who returns to her small town South Carolina town to take care of her dying father. She reconnects with Darius McRae, her best friend from childhood. But their romance hits a snag when his crazy ex steps into the picture. And Celina has issues with trusting men, being that she watched her father cheat on her mother when she was younger. It’s a really fun story and paint is used in very creative ways as Celina and Darius make love.

GB: What are you reading right now?

CH: Night Heat by Brenda Jackson and Othello by William Shakespeare. (I'm such a nerd)

GB: Do you have any advice for aspiring writers about the publishing business?

CH: Definitely learn as much as you can about contracts and promotions. While you’d love to just write all the time, this is a business and you don’t want to get taken advantage of.

GB: How can readers best contact you?

CH: The best way to contact me: www.cherishodges.com or cheris87@bellsouth.net