Interview with Author Kate Hofman:
Hi Kate. Thank you for doing this interview. I know we have been friends for ages, but I would still like to welcome you to the Romance at Heart Interview and Author Grilling session. *bg* Our Readers are interested to find out as much about your new adventures as they possibly can, so lets get started...
- Please tell us about your latest book.
As you know, my book Navajo Dreams that RAH published on Valentine’s Day, 2007, was my first-ever published book. Since then, I have published over 40 titles between RAHP and DCL. My latest with Romance At Heart is called Her Dream Lover and is the story of Angela Thorne, a novelist who has recently been divorced, and is seeking a new life away for the stresses of a demanding and selfishly social climbing mother and a husband who is quite the philanderer. Neither of them care about Angela, her feelings or her well-being, and so the farther away Angela can get, the better off she thinks she will be. Unfortunately, she has forgotten how duplicitous her mother can be, and is forced to seek help when her ex-husband shows up trying to cash in on Angela's newly found yet modest fame as an author.
The most recent release with DCL is called Dark Lover, the tale of Jared Eagle, a playwright, and his finding love in the arms of a writer of erotic romances named Lucinda Kirkpatrick. The path to love is rarely smooth, but Jared and Lucinda have a rather rocky road to travel. If they can make it, lasting love can be the reward. Lucinda has issues, and she and Jared can deal with them together, but they will have a lot of work to do in solving their problems. Of course with thier friends in Ocean Breeze to run interference, just might have a chance
In June of 2010, I have Golden Heart coming out with DCL Publishing. It is a romance about friends who become lovers, and the trials they face when the hero, Jamie Christopher is tapped to do some modeling for a friend of his mother's, Martino Ortona. Martino is the owner of a very successful advertising firm, and finding that his friend and florist Jean Christopher has a son who does landscaping and gardening, is anxious to get his gardens in order. His new home in Ocean Breeze has formal gardens, and they are definitely not to his or his wife's taste, and they want them changed. Once seeing Jean's son, however, he is certain he's found his face for the new ad campaign he is starting. What price will Jamie have to pay to become the Face of Tropical Passions?
- What can we expect from you in the future?
More of the same. I really enjoy being with The Dark Castle Lords, and Romance At Heart Publications.
- How do we find out about you and your books?
Rose Brungard very kindly made some space for me on her site Romance ‘n Roses. You can find me there, Kate's World, and also at KateHofman.com, my very own website.
- How may readers contact you?
KateHofman@rahpubs.com will find me.
- How many readers/fans contact you?
My first book will be published tomorrow, so I haven’t any fans yet…I am hoping surely that will change.
- Do your fans' comments and letters influence you in any way?
Clearly, I haven’t heard from fans yet, but I don’t think I could let their comments influence me. Suppose several readers say, I think you should let the heroine refuse the hero’s attentions more angrily…. They do not know her character, how she reacts in character. So if I let myself be swayed by readers’ opinions, the book would read false. I could never let that happen.
- Do you have a favorite comment or question from a reader?
Not Yet!
- Why did you decide to write romance novels?
I think it is the other way around; I didn’t decide to write romance, Romance chose me to write stories in the romance tradition.
- How much of your personality and life experiences are in your writing?
Of my personality (except for my very first book, WILL & KIKI, which was partly autobiographical) not all that much. Of course I believe strongly that you must write what you know, so my life experiences will figure in my books. For instance, I owned and operated an art gallery for 12 years; in several books, where the hero or a friend of his is a painter, the art gallery of Tom Fredericks features prominently.
- When did you first think about writing and what prompted you to submit your first ms?
I have been a friend of Nina Bruhns for quite a while. We had been emailing one evening, and she said, You’re a born storyteller, you should write. ??? But I felt a strange exhilaration at the thought. So the next day, I sat down in front of my computer, a blank sheet in front of me, and I slowly typed WILL AND KIKI.
That was at 5 o’clock in the evening. At 2, the next morning, I had 15 pp of close-typed manuscript! No one more surprised than I.
- Generally, how long does it take you to write a book?
My first, WILL & KIKI, 242 pp, took me an astonishing 3 weeks. More normally, my books take between six weeks and two months to write. My 24th book, GABRIEL & TASHA, about Gabriel, a painter, who falls in love with Tasha, the aunt of his own daughter by Tasha’s late sister… convoluted enough for you…? That took almost 4 months, I can’t say why.
- Do you have a set schedule for writing or do you just go with the flow?
In the morning, I look at my emails and answer them, bleeping away the many BULK offerings of Viagra and Cialis – can’t these people read? My email address contains the name of a WOMAN! When I’ve done my emails and had some coffee, I come to the best part of the day – reading what I wrote the day before. If I’m satisfied, fine. If not, I re-read to find what’s wrong and I fix that before going on with writing.
- What is your writing routine once you start a book?
I just write until I can mentally write THE END.
I am a widow, so I don’t have to think about meals for my husband and family. I usually forget to eat when I’m really into the story, or when the characters take over and seem to write their own stuff. A very strange experience, the first time it happened.
I get few interruptions. A few phone calls, once a week a visit from my son and his wife, My grandson in Toronto visits whenever he ca. My granddaughter lives near London and so we don’t see each other as often as we’d like.
- What do you do to relax and recharge your batteries?
For relaxation, I read other people’s books. And I’m friends with writers who like me to nitpick for them (line-edit is the official term, but I prefer nitpicking). My batteries rarely need recharging, except if I’ve been ill. And reading does it for me, every time.
- What truly motivates you in general? In your writing?
I write as I must. That sounds trite, but if you’re not true to yourself, the writing will show that, I’m convinced of it. In general, I try to live my life without hurting others.
- Where do your ideas come from?
Many come from things I’ve experienced in my own life; I use locations that interested me, I invented a ficttious seaside place on Florida’s Atlantic coast, sort of between Ormond Beach and St.Augustine; in affluent little Ocean Breeze, I’ve created a small world for my heroes and heroines, and their friends. For this reason it is not unusual to see the H/h of a previous novel put in cameo appearances in another book.
- Do you feel humour is important in women's fiction and why?
I feel strongly that a sense of humour is indispensable. But I would caution any writer against writing ‘humorously’ unless that is intrinsic to their own way of thinking, speaking. Forced humour is appalling. Writing with a sense of humour does not mean that there are constant, allegedly humorous occurrences, or that the H/h try to be ‘funny’ – ah no. It is rather the way they accept or deal with what happens to them that shows their sense of humour, rather than tells about it.
- What are your thoughts on love scenes in romance novels, do you find them difficult to write?
Oh no, they are easy to write and great fun. The important thing is that the explicit love scene evolves naturally from your story. Indulging the couple in gratuitous sex for its own sake is not a good idea, trust me! Sometimes, instead of describing yet another scene of unbridled sex, it might be more subtle to let him say, “Come here…” And put four * * * * to show that some time elapsed before you start on your next segment.
- What kind of research do you do?
I believe in writing what you know, and I have a fairly wide experience of Europe, travels in the US and Canada. For instance, I love Sedona, and several of my books have it as the home of the hero, or a place H/h visit. If for some reason it needed to be Santa Fé, for instance, then I’d get the Triple A book out, read up on it, get a map from their visitors’ center, some leaflets about hotels. And I’d try to place myself into the city, before I wrote a single word about it.
- Would you like to write a different genre than you do now, or sub-genre?
No, I would not. If I preferred a different genre, I’d be writing that.
”To Thine own self be true…” Shakespeare had it right.
- What does your husband think of your writing?
As I mentioned somewhere else, I’m a widow. My family think it’s wonderful that I am now a published writer.
- Do you ever ask them for advice?
My daughter-in-law obligingly reads my books a chapter at a time. She asks questions when something isn’t clear to her, and she’s often right; it was clear in my head, but I hadn’t yet told the readers.
- Please tell us about yourself (family, hobbies, education, etc.)
I’m a widow, living by myself in a condo, my family come to visit or invite me over. I came here 11 years ago, when my husband died in Victoria, B.C. I did not feel right living on my own some five thousand miles from my only family. So I came here. I don’t find it easy to make friends, and hate drop-in acquaintances. I have better things to do with my time than listen to gossip! But I prize my solitude. Some people will see it as loneliness, but it most certainly is not.
- Fill in the blank favorites -
Dessert – any berries
City – Sedona, AZ.
Season: In Europe, it was Spring. Here, it is the Fall.
Type of hero: Remember, I write of Mediterranean men – Tall, Dark and Handsome. I like almost-black eyes for a man. All the same, my present book has a hero who is honey-blond, with gentian blue eyes. I needed that description so that someone could remark to the hero that his just-found-again girlfriend has a baby with his eyes…! A change from the theme where the woman tries to prevent the man from finding out she has borne him a child. I never can see that as realistic. Anyway, I engineered an accidental discovery.
- What are some of your favorite things to do?
I read a lot, in winter, when it is too cold and windy to go for a walk, I drive to the biggest supermarket and stroll around, picking up exotic fruits, things I’ve never tried before. I love cooking, but in the past year or so I haven’t done much any more.
I love listening to music, by which I mean that I listen. The idea of music as background sound is alien to me. In fact, I write in total silence.
- Do you have a favorite author? Favorite book?
Don’t get me started: Nina Bruhns and her alter ego, Nikita Black, Kathleen Eagle, Jennifer Mueller, Carole Ann Lee, Angela Verdenius, P.D. James, Graham Greene (the English writer, not the actor) Tony Hillerman, Christine Feehan, Patricia Waddell, Rose Paisley.
- Who, if anyone, has influenced your writing?
Nina Bruhns encouraged me to write. But only someone else could say whose writing has influenced mine. I try very hard not to be influenced, because the dividing line between influence and plagiarism is very thin, and I would die rather than plagiarize. Ask Rose Brungard! She probably has a very good idea about my writing.
- Are you a member of any author groups - RWA, critique groups, etc.?
Yes, I’m a member of Jennifer Mueller’s group, and the Awe-thors group of writers who work for Awe-Struck. No others, so far. Bear in mind that being a member of these groups involves receiving and often answering a lot of emails, which takes time away from writing. So I like to keep group involvement to a minimum.
- What do you think of critique groups in general?
Of course, I can only speak for myself. For me, the idea of sending my latest chapter to 10 members of a critique group is abhorrent. Too many cooks spoiling the broth, comes to mind. What works very well for me is one-on-one critiques. Jennifer Mueller, Carole Ann Lee, Rose Brungard have been very kind and generous of their time to do this form of critique partnership.
- Where do you see yourself in five years?
Doing precisely what I do now – perhaps a little better, because we all continue to learn as we go along. But this is what I love to do. I can’t see myself change in five or ten or any amount of years.
- How long have you been writing - have you always wanted to be a writer?
I’ve been writing for about 4½ years, at the instigation, as I said, of Nina Bruhns.. When I was married, our life was too busy, social obligations due to my husband’s position, and of course I had the art gallery. Mind you, one of my enjoyments was writing a biography for an artist, writing a catalogue raisonnée for an exhibition. And my son told me one day that he had kept all my letters, highlighting the portions that had amused or touched him particularly. I was totally astonished.
- How many books have you written, how many have been published?
I’ve been writing in blissful solitude for the above mentioned 4½ years. Jennifer Mueller made me submit my first book, and when it was accepted within a few weeks, I got up the courage to send three books to RAHP, who accepted all three! No one more astonished than I. And a month ago I submitted my only Castle story to the Dark Castle Lords, and they accepted very quickly. That is CASTLE IN SPAIN, and it will be published on March 15, 07.
- After you've written your book and it's been published, do you ever buy it and/or read it?
We receive an edited copy – as does the Editor – of the book. And yes, I have only one published book to go by, so far. But I re-read it and was so glad when I didn’t see any places where I should tweak or reword things a little bit…
- Among your own books, have you a favorite book? Favorite hero or heroine?
Well, the second book I wrote was the story of ADAM & MIMI. I fell in love with Adam and couldn’t stop writing. After about three months I had 841pp and no end in sight. I made myself write an Epilogue and finish the book. And yes, Adam has always remained one of my faves.
The other is Chrysandros, whom you will meet in GREEK FIRE, for RAH, slated for publication in the Fall, I believe. Oh yes, and Tony – Conde Antonio de Ortega de Andrade de Valdés, of CASTLE IN SPAIN, coming out next month.
Heroines? I still like Mimi, but I loved Cordelia, the heroine of THE SPANISH CONQUEST (not a history book) which Awe-Struck will publish in 2008. Oh, and Dinah, the heroine of NAVAJO DREAMS – I think it’s due out late Spring.
- What book for you has been the easiest to write? The hardest? The most fun?
Strangely enough, the easiest to write was my first, WILL & KIKI, 67,000 wds in 3 weeks? The hardest, GABRIEL & TASHA , 57,000 wds – it took 4 months, which is very long for me. But I had difficulties with secondary characters, partic. Gabriel’s mother, sometimes a character does not ring true, and you’ve got to go back and find where he/she started going off the rails, and fix it.
- Which comes first, the story, the characters or the setting?
For me, the story starts playing in my head – oh, there are always stories there, but you’ve got to find one that stimulates your interest, builds itself up, as it were. Then I start thinking about where to place it; the time of year is important in deciding that, as well. Then the characters – most of the time the hero is easy, TDH. He has to have to-die-for qualities. The heroine is variable, but always very attractive, if not necessarily a stunning beauty.
- What are the elements of a great romance for you?
A man, a woman, circumstances that make them react in certain ways, and a romantic ending.
- What is the hardest part of writing/the easiest for you?
The hard part is probably making sure I’ve given enough information so that the reader can imagine the scene, the people, their attitude toward each other, without semaphoring too much. The easiest are the scenes where they build up to making love, and writing the love scene itself.
- Are you in control of your characters or do they control you?
One likes to think one is in control, but sometimes the characters take over, and start writing their own parts. The first time that happened, I emailed Nina. I think I’d better stop thie writing kick you’ve got me on. The characters got out of hand and started writing their own stuff.
Nina emailed back. That proves you’re a writer. When that happens, that’s the best.
And it was.
- Have you experienced writer's block---> If so, how did you work through it?
Actual total block, not so far. But there are times when I sit there wondering where to take the plot – this way or that. Thea Devine taught me a wonderful way out of this dilemma: Play WHAT IF. She said, the more outrageous the ideas, the better. What if she is in her office, she looks up and sees …… What if he comes home early and finds….
- What is the most rewarding thing about being a writer?
When you mentally write THE END to your story, and another story is already playing in your head, clamouring for your attention. At times, it happened about three or four chapters before the end of one book, and I HAD to quickly write a prologue, a few chapters, to see if this idea for my next book would work. Oh yes, it would, but can you imagine how hard it was going back to those last three chapters?
- If you weren't writing, what would you be doing?
I’d probably be dying of boredom.
- Are there any words of encouragement for unpublished writers?
Don’t forget until Feb 14/07, I was an unpublished writer. Do not let that bother you. You are writing the best you can, that is important. Not whether someone will want to accept your book, not whether your story is a saleable proposition. Listen, you write true to yourself and any story is a saleable proposition because it has that integrity.
Worrying about What Sells at the moment is totally fruitless, and dangerous, because you might start taking shortcuts with your characters to fit them into this fictitious mould of being saleable!
And be sure to write every day. Even if you only write a paragraph. Even if, the next day, you scrap that paragraph. But get into the habit of writing. It’s probably a good idea having a general idea of what you want your characters to do, but detailed synopses do not work for me. Which isnt to say they wouldn’t work for someone else.
Writing is so very individual! Do the very best you can, remember to play WHAT IF when it isn’t flowing too easily, and don’t give being published a single thought. Write, write as well as you can. And one day, you’ll be lucky and have a friend like Jennifer Mueller, who says, Submit! And you’ll get an email back, Please send entire ms.
And then another email: Yes, we’ll accept your book.
And then your troubles begin…! (Just joking).
- What question would you love to answer that I didn't ask?
There are MORE QUESTIONS?????
Thank you again Kate for taking the time with us and answering our questions. I really appreciate this interruption to your busy schedule. Good Luck, and we will be looking forward to the next delightful creation from your talented imagination!
Yours in good reading,
Rose!
Author Links:
Kate's Website DCL Website Romance At Heart Publications Myspace Email Yahoo Group
RaH Links:
Bio Interview Review Review
Information & Purchase Links:
Buy Kate's Books at Amazon
Buy The Spanish Conquest from Awe Struck Publishing
Buy Kate's Books at DCL Publications
Buy Kate's Books at Romance At Heart Publications
Romance at Heart Magazine
1 East Manor Ave. (rear)
Enola, PA 17025
©2004 Romance at Heart Publications