By: Elowen Gray
“I was no longer anyone’s puppet—and I was determined never to be so again.” With this powerful declaration, Alexandra Hullquist, writing as Alix Wiebe, offers not just a memoir but a deeply personal story in her book Finding Katie: Lost and Found in Plain Sight. “It’s a story of losing and finding yourself again, of seeking a deeper connection with God, navigating emotional struggles, and holding on to hope. For anyone who has ever felt broken, overlooked, or invisible, this book provides more than just an outlet for emotions—it presents an opportunity for comfort and healing.”
Hullquist didn’t always plan on becoming an author. “I really wanted to write a book in my twenties,” she shares in an emotional interview. “But I couldn’t get into it. I didn’t have the ending to offer.” For her, stories needed hope—an arc that pointed toward some form of redemption. It wasn’t until years later, after surviving emotional wounds, a challenging marriage, and a long period of personal searching, that she felt ready to write. “Now,” she says, “I had something real. Something others might be able to relate to and find solace in.” That something became Katie. Finding Katie is part memoir, part spiritual reflection, and part survival story. It traces the titular character—modeled after Hullquist herself—through a childhood of innocence, a young adulthood filled with confusion, and an eventual struggle with self-doubt, emotional trauma, and spiritual unrest. “The writing changed me,” she reflects. “As I put the words on paper, it was as if peace entered my mind. I began to understand my thoughts instead of just feeling them.”
Katie’s journey begins in an idyllic Christian home, but the appearance of perfection hides hidden cracks. Childhood trauma, emotional isolation, and an overactive conscience set the stage for her internal conflicts. Hullquist doesn’t shy away from the difficult moments. “Some of it was hard to write,” she admits. “Going back to those emotions, those memories—it was like reliving them.” But honesty is the strength behind this book. “The Bible doesn’t sugarcoat people’s lives,” Hullquist writes in her preface. “It tells them as they are. I believe telling my story this way allows God’s grace to shine through more clearly.” And indeed, the light of grace appears throughout each chapter. A significant turning point in Katie’s journey—and in Hullquist’s own life—came when she was cast out of her first marital home. “That was it,” she says. “That’s when I began rediscovering who I truly was. No longer someone’s puppet. I had a choice again. I could be real.” The courage to stand on her own was born from heartache, but it lit the path toward healing.
Another key aspect of the memoir is Katie’s evolving relationship with God. Faith isn’t depicted as a simple solution but as a raw, sometimes painful, yet enduring companion. “I’ve always believed God exists and that He cares,” Hullquist says. “Even when I was angry at Him, I still talked to Him. Sometimes shouted.” It’s this candidness about faith—that it can be uncertain, questioned, and still essential—that gives the book its spiritual authenticity. Readers will find a recurring theme of feeling lost—and the slow, often difficult journey of being found. Hullquist explains, “I didn’t just want to say, ‘I was lost and then I was found.’ I wanted to show what it looked like. What caused the lostness. How it felt. And then, how I fought my way back—not alone, but with God’s help.”
One especially poignant moment recounted in the book—and echoed in the interview—is when her son once asked, “Mom, why are you Dad’s puppet?” It pierced through the fog of manipulation she had been living under. That question didn’t just reveal the truth—it laid the foundation for her liberation. Finding Katie also speaks directly to women, especially those who may feel confined in their own homes, churches, or relationships. “I wrote this book for other women who are caught in plain sight,” Hullquist shares. “To show them that you’re never too far gone. That it’s okay to ask for help. It’s okay to feel. It’s okay to say ‘I’m not okay.’” But the memoir doesn’t only resonate with women. Anyone who has struggled with mental health, spiritual doubt, or the pressure to meet seemingly impossible expectations will find their own reflections in Katie. “Sometimes people don’t realize they’re lost until they’re far down the road,” Hullquist says. “It’s like you wake up one day and think, ‘How did I get here?’ That’s what this story is about—finding your way back.”
The narrative is deeply shaped by faith, yet it never imposes. It invites. “This isn’t a self-help book,” Hullquist insists. “It’s just my story. A story of how God didn’t give up on me—and won’t give up on you either.” Indeed, one of the most touching outcomes of the book is its quiet encouragement to reconnect with faith, even when it feels fractured. “Knowing God was there,” she says, “even when I didn’t feel Him—that kept me going. Just the thought that someone bigger than my problem existed gave me a sliver of perspective.” That sliver of perspective became a lifeline. That lifeline became a book.
Disclaimer: The content provided is based on personal experiences and does not constitute professional advice or guidance. The book Finding Katie: Lost and Found in Plain Sight is a memoir and should be understood as such, offering personal reflections and experiences, rather than universal solutions. Readers are encouraged to seek professional support for any emotional, mental health, or spiritual concerns they may face.
