Alumni Profiles
Holby returns to dream of writing
Summer on the Appalachian Trail
Holby returns to dream of writing
By Cara Warfield
What began as a teenage hobby nearly 30 years ago has come to enrich Cindy Holby’s personal life, strengthen her relationship with God, and completely transform her professional endeavors. But it wasn’t until after the birth of her second son that Holby returned to her passion for writing — a passion that inspired a novel series and has developed into a successful career.
Holby graduated from AU in 1979 with a bachelor’s degree in marketing and the aspiration to be a store manager. She reached her career goal within two years but found she wasn’t suited for the position and finally quit. She has since married, moved to North Carolina, had two sons, and worked part time at an art gallery using her marketing skills and creativity wherever needed. But at age 44, she says, “I was miserable at work and my health was suffering. One morning I just decided I had enough and walked out the door. As soon as I hit the sidewalk I felt as if a major load had been lifted from my shoulders. On the way home I was considering the financial impact of what had just happened. My salary was $600 a month. When I got home that day there was a $600 tax rebate check in my mailbox.”
Holby quit her job in the summer of 2001 to write full time. Finding that her ideas flowed faster than she could write them, Holby embarked on a career that has flourished to the extent that she is now generating a 90,000-word book every six months. Chase The Wind, her first book, was rapidly picked up by Dorchester Publishing and released in September 2002. Wind of the Wolf came out in June 2003, and Cross Winds is scheduled for release this year.
These novels mark the first of eight in the Wind series, which Holby describes as a family saga based on the dramatic journey of the Duncan family.
“I wanted to inspire people to feel the things I felt,” she says. “I don’t write a happily-ever-after story. I write a perseverance-over-all-odds story.”
Holby draws on a number of sources in creating intriguing characters and a meaningful plot, including movies, television, historical research, personal experience, and a “rather vivid imagination.” What’s more, nearly every character Holby creates stems from someone she knows, including herself, her husband, her two sons, and even her sons’ friends.
Previous to her sudden success and scores of enthusiastic reviews, Holby was doubtful of her writing ability. “As a matter of fact, I didn’t think I was qualified to write a book,” she recalled. “The first paper I wrote for freshmen English, I got a D. My professor said not to waste her time. That dashed all my writing dreams then and there.”
However, once determined to explore her God-given talents, Holby has developed her writing into an artwork one critic described as a “larger than life vision.” And her vision may be larger than she anticipated as Hallmark shows interest in turning her Duncan family saga into a mini-series.
As her imagination continues to soar, along with her popularity, Holby dedicates her success to God. She now signs her books along with a reference to I Chronicles 4:9-10. “I use the passage as a realization for my character Chase in Wind of the Wolf,” she explained. “It has become a way for me to share my faith and give God the glory because my quick road to publication was nothing short of miraculous.”
Summer on the Appalachian Trail
By Stefanie Kinstle
After graduating from Anderson University last May, Heather Jo Anderson decided to put her worries about finding a job aside and take “a really long walk.” She headed off on a lone adventure along the Appalachian Trail. Besides allowing some time for herself, she met new people and witnessed God’s beauty every day.
The Bible major started the trail in Georgia and hiked 2,173 miles from Georgia through north central Maine. The four-month trip took her through 14 states.
“One particular day, I traveled a total of 50 miles through the whole state of Connecticut, which really made me feel like I could do anything,” says Anderson.
With shelters along the way and people always helping by either inviting hikers in for a rest, providing a cooked meal, filling coolers along the paths with water, or simply offering showers and beds, Anderson discovered “a close-knit hiking community” along the trail.
Throughout her trip, Anderson also recalls being close to many bears, moose, and other wild animals. Anderson says it was exciting to see the different animals in their habitats and felt threatened only once while in Maine. She was getting a good night’s rest when a moose came up to her in the middle of the night. Anderson left as soon as she could to get out of the creature’s way since it was his home and not hers.
Anderson definitely found more blessings during her experience than frightful moments. “By going backpacking, I have so much self confidence. If I put my mind to anything, I can do it,” she explains. “I saw so many generous and caring people and experienced God through everything.”
