Beth Hoffman’s first novel, Saving CeeCee Honeycutt, was a New York Times Bestseller both in hardcover and paperback. I am positive her 2nd one, Looking for Me, will make that list too. The American Booksellers Association has named it to The June 2013 Indie Next List.
I am thrilled to post a little Q & A session with this wonderful author.
1.) After the success of Saving CeeCee Honeycutt, how did you come up with the idea for Looking for Me?
When I finished touring with CeeCee, I had no idea what I would write. The characters had become so real to me that I felt guilty abandoning them to craft a different story. I especially had a hard time not continuing on with Oletta. For several months I shut down all thoughts about writing.
One day I sat at my desk and began going through stacks of old photographs. The more I sorted, the more I thought about my family and my childhood on the farm—how simple and uncomplicated life was, how much I missed the big old barn and the woodlands that backed up to the fields. I stared out the window and spent a good deal of time reliving those days, and while I was caught up in the nostalgia, something flashed in my periphery. I turned to see a red-tailed hawk land on a tree branch. I watched the morning light glaze across his pale chest, and how, just before he settled, he spread his rusty-red tail feathers to reveal the full spectrum of his regalia. I got a bit teary at the beauty of him, and then …WHAM! I had the beginning of my story.
2.) You always write so beautifully about your novels’ settings, making the reader feel like they’re being transported to another place. With Looking for Me, did you decide on the location of the novel—Charleston—first, or did that come later? Did you spend a lot of time there?
I write about places I love, places to which I feel a deep connection. I wanted would write about a farm family, and when the character of Teddi took form and she fell in love with the process of antique restoration, I knew Charleston was where she would ultimately end up. I’ve spent a great deal of time in Charleston and feel incredibly comfortable there. In many ways it’s like a second home to me. Plus, with Charleston’s history of antiques shops and gorgeous architecture, it was the ideal juxtaposition to Teddi’s life on the farm.
3.) You write very personally about the novel’s other main setting, the Overman farm in Kentucky. Being a Kentuckian yourself, do you have a strong connection to Red River Gorge?
The Overman farm comes from my roots and my heart. Nothing makes me happier or causes a flood of memories like setting my feet on farmland. I chose the location of Red River Gorge as the backdrop to the farm for many reasons—its mystery and power are palpable, and it’s so stunning that no matter how many times I’m there, I’m always awestruck. Known for its incredible rock formations, dense forests, waterfalls and wildlife, Red River Gorge was the perfect place for the character of Josh to be swept into the romance of the wild. Paleo-Indians thrived there, and it holds a treasure trove of petroglyphs. Every time I ride the gondola up to Natural Bridge and stand on that massive, nine hundred ton sandstone bridge, I feel connected to something far beyond my comprehension. Over 70 million years of changing weather has sculpted Red River Gorge into a place as magical as it is eerie.
4.) Looking for Me touches on the power of objects—through them we remember our past and face our future—what are some objects that have held meaning for you in your own life? Do you think it’s important to hold onto the things of our past?
By nature I’m a neat-nut and about as opposite to a hoarder as anyone could be, so I’m not inclined to keep things unless they truly have strong meaning to me. I do think it’s wise to keep things that hold memories like family heirlooms, books, photographs and letters, but there’s a fine line between keeping what is precious or sentimental, and overloading my basement and attic with stuff.
5.) The characters in Looking for Me seem as real as neighbors that live next door—what do you draw on when writing characters? How much do you borrow from real life? Do you model your characters on people you know?
The characters in my novels arrive in my imagination fully realized. Not only do I see them and hear them, but I also get a strong sense of their spirit. While a few characters might have small similarities to people I’ve known, the majority of them have come to me as the story unfolds. More often than not, I meet them just as my readers meet them. It’s a fascinating process.
6.) Birds and feathers play an important role in this story—where did your interest in birds come from, and what do they symbolize in your work?
Nature, animals and birds have enthralled me for all my life. My parents and grandparents had a deep respect for nature and all her creatures, and from a very early age I was taught to be gentle and kind. One of my first memories is of standing in the vegetable garden with my grandma and having her show me how to gently lift a toad and move him out of the way of the strawberry wagon. By the time I was five, I could name nearly every bird that visited our farm, not only by sight, but also by their songs. I viewed birds as beautiful messengers, and as a teen, I loved reading Native American folklore, which is rich with stories about birds and their spirits.
7.) This is your second novel—what advice do you have for writers and novelists just starting out? How did you find your own voice as a novelist?
Captivating storytelling is a gift—good writing is an art. By understanding how to combine those elements, a writer can save themselves from a whole lot of headaches. There are many books that can help a writer hone their talent, but voice comes from a deep place and cannot be discovered without having an inner ear. I say inner ear because writers must hear their voice come alive and rise from the page, and it must always ring true. Being a good listener helps a writer find his/her voice. By tuning our inner ear to catch voice inflections, mood, and the many subtleties of dialect, our own writing voice is strengthened. I believe the best way for a writer to know if they’ve found their unique voice is for them read aloud something they’ve written. Voice is a complex thing to achieve, but once a writer hears it, they’ll know that they’ve just captured the most illusive butterfly of all.
To find out more about Beth Hoffman visit her web page here.
You can also find her on :
Looking for Me
Contemporary Fiction
A Pamela Dorman Book
Viking (May 28, 2013)
Published by The Penguin Group
Hardcover: 368 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0670025831
E-Book File Size: 661 KB
ASIN: B00AFPVNQ0
Teddi dragged home her first antique before she even reached her teens. With the help of her grandmother she fixed up that chair and her passion for making old things new again was born. With a little help from her father she is able to leave Kentucky after high school and head to South Carolina and eventually becomes the owner of her very own antique store.
She builds a life for herself there but she keeps being drawn back to her home in Kentucky. Her little brother disappeared into thin air several years ago when he was just 17. He was a very special young man with a very special gift. He had such a natural way with animals, especially birds, and a true passion for saving them along with their habitats. If he wouldn’t have disappeared Teddi was sure he would have been a Park Ranger.
When signs emerge that her brother may still be alive she returns home again and tries to come to grips with what she learns about her shattered family. She may even find herself after all these years.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Beth Hoffman is a gifted storyteller. She takes us on Teddi’s life long journey where she yearns to find her brother but in truth is looking for herself.
These characters jump off the page and write into your heart. While Teddi is the main character the supporting characters are rich and superbly written as well. I have to be careful not to give too much away so I will say each and every character is multifaceted and the reader is allowed to peel back the layers as the story evolves. Hoffman moves back and forth between present and past effortlessly.
Teddi’s brother, Josh, collected bird feathers which he studied extensively. Different wings mean different things. Josh would give feathers to Teddi and as she was packing for South Carolina she opened a drawer and found a feather with a note that said:
“From the highest branch he watches and waits.
The horned owl keeps secrets.”
These little bits of wisdom and feather folklore are a thread that continues through the entire story. Some are quite profound and thought provoking. A few really struck me as relevant not only to the story but my own life.
This is a story about family and friendship, love and loss, hope and dreams. It is also about the choices made during our lifetimes and how we deal with life’s up and downs. Not only did Teddi find herself, I also found a bit more about myself in these pages. Be warned you may shed a few tears but you will also be sharing a few smiles as well.
A wonderful heartwarming and inspiring story. Definitely one of the best I have read this year. 10 Starfish!!
Thanks to the people at Penguin
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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
I loved Saving CeeCee Honeycutt and am very much looking forward to this new book. Dee
The form asked me if I left a message for Peter. I checked yes, but I had left a comment for Beth Hoffman! Dee
Thank you for letting me know. I have deleted that question from the form. 🙂
Oh my! What a wonderful review of my novel. I’m delighted that you enjoyed Teddi’s story, and equally delighted that you found a bit of yourself within its pages. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts and kind words. I’m grateful to have earned a ten starfish rating!
I have been looking forward to this too! Beth Hoffman has such a way with creating and writing such great characters. Thanks for the chance to win!
I have not read anything by Beth but this sounds intriguing.
The review was marvelous and I can truly understand the love of the simple life of farming gets into the blood. I had a horse farm for 30 years and I miss it more than I can say.
I’m a big fan of antiquing stories. I love trolling through yard sales when I’m traveling on vacation. I’d love to be able to own this book and start “collecting” the series as it evolves.
Great interview! =)
Ive been hearing wonderful things about this book, and cant wait to read it!!!
Thanks for the chance to win.
Thank you for the wonderful interview and review, Lori ~ I have been reading so many wonderful reviews about this one as well as “Saving CeeCee Honeycutt” and they are both on my TBR List and i cannot wait to read them~ Happy Reading and Writing~ Cheers~ Elizabeth
I really enjoyed Saving Cee Cee Honeycutt last year and have had this on my wish list since I heard it was coming out. Your review makes me want to read it even more!
How did I miss your review and interview with the lovely Beth. I adored Saving CeeCee and can’t wait to read Looking For Me. Beth certainly has a knack for writing characters that take up residence in your heart. Great review 🙂
I’ve had this book on my “to read” Pin list since I first saw it. After reading your post, I want to read it more than ever!