Zara Hoffman's Blog: Zara Hoffman's Goodreads Author Blog, page 43

December 22, 2013

Holiday Blog Party

Picture My fellow teen author, Emily Rachelle, is hosting a blog party through December 12-January 15. A bunch of our author friends are contributing, and I agreed to do an interview. She posted it on her blog, but I'm also going to have it below.

THE INTERVIEW

Tell us a little about yourself first.

My name is Zara Hoffman. I’m sixteen going on seventeen, a junior in high school, and self-published by debut novel on November 13, 2013. It’s a fantasy romance novel, and the first in  The Belgrave Legacy Trilogy .

Who or what has had the most influence on you as a writer?

My grandma and mom, both of whom strongly encouraged my love of reading and writing. And authors who inspired me are Philip Pullman, JK Rowling, and James Patterson.

What do you do when you're not writing?

Lots of homework, singing, and playing with my puppy.

What is your writing process? Do you write regularly at certain times or just when inspiration hits?

I get an inspirational dream, then write it down, then I go back and do a loose outline for the book. I try and write at least 100-300 words a day. When it's a good day, I can do around 1k-2k.

What inspired your book?  How did it all start?

It actually started out as two different books. One a realistic fiction romance, and a spy novel where the main character has to betray her best friend. Both morphed together, and a lot of things changed to create The Belgrave Daughter.

What was your favorite book or author as a teen? What's your favorite now?

The Giver  by Lois Lowry. Now it’s either  Fire  by Kristin Cashore or Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas. It’s hard for me to choose just one.

Can you tell us about the publishing process? Was there anything in particular that surprised you or that was easier (or harder) than you expected?

Editing was harder than I anticipated. By a lot. Every time I went through the book (8 drafts), I found more mistakes. It got tedious, but I always improved the story, so it was worth it. Working on the cover was surprisingly less stressful than I thought it would be, especially since I was collaborating with an artist. He was very receptive to my feedback and timely in sending in his drafts. So that was a relief.

Are you planning any other books?

Yes, I am. Two more in The Belgrave Legacy trilogy, and a fairytale retelling series of four standalone novels called Fearful Fairytales.

How does your real life interact/play a role in/interfere with your writing life?

Well, homework takes up most of my time, so does family events. Usually I find time to write despite both of those, but Junior Year is constantly leaving me short on time.

If you couldn’t be an author, what would your ideal career be?

I think I’d be a teacher. I love working with kids and have enjoyed tutoring little kids.
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Published on December 22, 2013 15:56

December 17, 2013

Something New: OneWord365

I would like to give a BIG shoutout and thanks to my fellow author friend, Emily Rachelle, who posted about OneWord365, an amazing initiative that inspires people all over the world, 365 days a year.

When I heard about this, I was so intrigued. I read OneWord365's post about choosing a word, but was still baffled by what word I could possibly want. Now, I have my word (but it's a secret that won't be revealed until New Year's Day).

Starting today, I will be brainstorming creative ways to show and embody my word for the upcoming year. Stay tuned for more information on that!
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Published on December 17, 2013 10:22

December 16, 2013

Fire and Ice by L.L. Hunter

Picture Title: Fire and Ice (The Legend of the Archangel, #1)
Genre: NA Paranormal Romance/ Urban Fantasy
Publisher: Collective Presse/ Writer’s Bloq Inc

Archangels are extinct and the world is now inhabited by a half-human/half-angel race called Nephilim. But it’s been told that one Archangel remains – a child born of fire only known as The Legend.

21-year-old Nephilim Scarlett Porter is about to start her Angel training at the infamous Blackbell Academy, so she doesn’t have time to worry about dreams of mysterious dark angels. The last thing she expected was her dream angel to be Dyston Blackbell or that finding her was part of his mission – a mission Dyston is prepared to fail to keep Scarlett and the secret of who she is safe.

But, danger is closer to Dyston and Scarlett than they realize.

War is brewing, led by a group of Nephilim called The Lucifites, and they need The Legend to carry out their plans. With the help of their friends, the two must find the leader of the Lucifites and stop his plans for destruction. But will Dyston and Scarlett’s love survive what’s coming? How far will Scarlett go to save those she cares about the most? 

Goodreads | Kindle 


ABOUT THE AUTHOR
L.L. Hunter is an Australian author who began writing when she was fifteen or sixteen, originally song lyrics, but then moved onto fanfiction when she was nineteen, having published over 20 stories online- One of which was nominated for an award. She has also written, directed and starred in two original plays entitled, “No Frills Airlines: Flight 123,” and the sequel, “No frills Airlines: Come Fly with Us.” The latter of which was a musical.

She has studied everything from veterinary nursing, forensic science and dramatic arts but has always known her true calling to be writing.

Her hobbies include writing her books, reading, singing, acting, directing, watching movies, 50’s fashion and playing with her animals. When she is not writing she can be found reading somewhere comfortable with one or both of her ‘furbabies’.

You can connect with L.L Hunter on Twitter, Facebook, her blog, or her website.
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Published on December 16, 2013 08:25

December 11, 2013

Health Update

As some of you know, I fractured a bone in my foot yesterday, the eve of my being a published author for a whole MONTH! See the tweet below announcing the unfortunate event, and attempting to use pity to get more purchases (it worked for at least one person, because I checked).

On the eve of my 1-month anniversary of being a published author, I have had my first fracture EVER. Buy my book? http://t.co/1NctaB9Dlc

— Zara Hoffman (@AuthZH) December 10, 2013
The GOOD news is that while the whole crutches, and now BOOT (new addition as of today), is a pain in—well, everywhere (bad foot, good leg, and arms)—to deal with on a constant basis, I can use this experience  in one of my upcoming books (won't tell which one, because it would be too big a spoiler).

AND, in that one  month of being published, I've made 30 sales on my debut novel and $74.27 in royalties. Want to make me happy? Buy a copy now. Already have one? Why not get a copy for a friend? Belgrave Daughter book trailer Add on Goodreads Buy on Amazon Buy on Barnes&Noble Buy on iBookstore Buy on Kobo
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Published on December 11, 2013 13:46

November 27, 2013

The Belgrave Daughter Blog Tour

This is late, but we're now on the third day of The Belgrave Daughter Blog Tour (click the banner below to see the full schedule), and the reviews are pouring in!

I was most impressed with the emotion expressed throughout the novel. Fawn Belgrave experiences a series of ups and downs throughout the book, and the author does a wonderful job of conveying believable emotion throughout the novel. She wrestles with love and lust, trust and betrayal, loneliness, etc. and I could empathize with her feelings and reactions throughout. ~Ryndaria (read more)


The book is well-written, and it is evident that the author poured so much time and effort into this novel. I was captivated by the vivid descriptions and unique imagery. Fawn and Caleb, as well as the rest of the cast, are intriguing and well-rounded characters, and I think many teen girls can relate to Fawn's personality. ~Jillian (read more)


I love paranormal romance and this book doesn't disappoint! It had angels, demons, Lucifer, witches... seriously, some of my favourite things to read about! ... I recommend it to all who love a good paranormal romance! ~L.L. Hunter (read more)


The Belgrave Daughter is a wonderful novel made for the young or the old. If you love a good “coming of age” novel, or in this case coming into power, you will love this one. ~Amber (read more)


Add The Belgrave Daughter to your Goodreads list now!

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Published on November 27, 2013 08:08

November 16, 2013

The Belgrave Daughter is LIVE

You can now buy The Belgrave Daughter in paperback on Createspace or Amazon, or the eBook on Kindle, Nook, iBooks, or Kobo.

Need more convincing? Read a preview on Wattpad.
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Published on November 16, 2013 07:39

October 21, 2013

Author Blog Hop

Thank you Bradley Johnson for tagging me (please note that he has my OLD release date for The Belgrave Daughter. The new date is November 25, 2013).

What are you working on right now? Well, I'm currently finishing the sequel to The Belgrave Daughter called Tears of an Angel (coming 2014). I'll probably start the 3rd book in The Belgrave Legacy trilogy next week (for NaNoWriMo).

How makes your story special? Even though my story is a YA Fantasy Romance with supernatural beings, something that the mainstream market has saturated with Twilight and others, each character is well rounded (even the villains), and the main theme of the importance of family.

Why do you write what you do? I've always loved romance and fantasy. Also, this story has been in my head for two years, and I'm finally putting the second/third installments on paper. The first took me 8 months to write, edit, and publish, so it's been a long and satisfying journey so far. I think that if I didn't write the stories my imagination invents, I'd go crazy, so that's another reason why I write whatever comes to mind.

How does your writing process work? I write a blurb to remind me what the story is about throughout the long process. I briefly outline the major scenes of the book (it normally changes as I go, but it's a good starting place for me). Then I write. Normally I finish the first draft in 3 months, then spend the next 4-5 editing and tweaking it in addition to getting publishing stuff (cover, blog tours, etc) organized.

Check out my CP Melissa Petreshock's post here.

ANNOUNCEMENT: The Belgrave Daughter is now available for pre-order on the iBookstore.
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Published on October 21, 2013 07:32

October 14, 2013

6x3 Interview at the Dragon Blog

My CP Melissa A. Petreshock's blog ("The Dragon Blog") has posted my 6x3 (six questions, three answers per each) interview. You can read it there, on my blog or continue scrolling.

Her Introduction to Me: Today I'm thrilled to welcome my friend and beta reader, Zara Hoffman onto my blog for the 6x3. Zara's a talented young author releasing her first YA book, The Belgrave Daughter, next month, a book I'm looking forward to telling you more about during her blog tour visit here November 27th, and a book you should definitely add to your TBR list on Goodreads!

My dragons adore her and are quite happy to roar out a generous welcome to this lovely young lady, so let's get started and find out how 6x3=Zara Hoffman!


Aw, thanks, Melissa, for such a wonderful introduction! And now, I'll repost the actual interview.

1. The blurb summary for The Belgrave Daughter sounds interesting, yet at the same time, there’s been a host of angel/demon books coming out on the market recently. Tell us 3 elements to your book that make it stand out from the crowd, give it a unique twist readers will feel makes it compelling and well worth their time and money.

Well, for one thing, it's based in a very mystical magic, as opposed to the showy magic done in Beautiful Creatures and the magic in my story The Belgrave Daughter is very connected to one's surroundings (both people and nature).

Another thing that makes it unique is the struggle on both ends of the romance. Fawn isn't the only person with issues to work out. Caleb has many—if not more—problems that are pushing and preventing him from being a great boyfriend to her.

And lastly, there is a huge emphasis on friends and family. Without the real people in my life who hold those titles, I doubt I would be who I am today and I wanted to reflect that in my novel. Also, I can't stand the stupid or negligent parenting that seems to be a trend in YA novels.

2. You’re fortunate to live the exciting NYC life. What are 3 ways you’d say living there has affected your interest in writing and decision to pursue a career as an author?

One, the public library and bookstores are only a few blocks away from where I've always lived (even though I've moved 3 times in my 15 years of living in Manhattan). That's a blessing because the convenience has fostered my love of reading (in addition to my Grandma's influence) and also a curse because I never seem to have enough money to buy all the books I want.

Many of the Big 5 publishers are in NYC. In the past, some of my writing camps have taken trips to some of them like Penguin (which was a lot of fun). Also, it's easier for me to network through my friends and their business connections in the writing world. I can also turn to them for advice on writing and my career as an author.

It's the "city that never sleeps." There is always something new and interesting going on in NYC. Even its history is rich with inspiration. I think that has to be my favorite part of living here. Broadway musicals have always been a big part of my love for story telling, and while I'm no actress or playwright, or composer, I can attribute my desire of being a writer to the theater.

3. Some people may not know when I say you’re a “talented young author” I seriously mean young, as in sixteen. Besides already having a book coming out next month, how would you say you stand out from your peers, the 3 things that make you a serious professional despite your age?

Well, I'm sixteen and spent three years of researching the traditional path of publishing. I think that whole sentence has two reasons right there. How many teens can most people say have written a book and spent the remaining free time doing such arduous research for a career that may or may not take off immediately? Besides Go Teen Writers, because that's where all my like-minded friends go to chat about our crazy, evolving stories.

I've been to Book Expo America, know the producer who adapted Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life by Wendy Mass into a movie, and a long-time employee of Wiley Publishing. All three of those have put me at a great advantage of networking and researching this awesome, albeit difficult, career choice.

I'm self-publishing. Even though this is an upward trend, most self-published authors are adults with day jobs—a payroll—while I'm just starting my junior year of high school. In between homework and SAT studying, I'm spending my saved money to hire a cover artist, editor, and formatting in addition to writing the sequel of The Belgrave Daughter. So yeah, it's busy, but at least I'm never bored!

4. Now, getting down to the seriousness of being a teenager, what 3 books are you fangirling most over right now? Be sure to name the title and author so people can look for them!

The Divergent Trilogy by Veronica Roth. I finished the first book in a day two summers ago while visiting my cousins in the Hamptons. I don't think I was the best guest that time, but I repaid them by reading out loud the first half of the book. They have this weird thing with me narrating YA novels. I did the same for The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins the Thanksgiving before. The third book in the trilogy, Allegiant, drops October 22nd (something I'm counting down to almost more than I am to my own book debut), and the movie adaptation comes out March 21st (the day after my 17th birthday. What a great gift for me!).

Between the Lines by Jodi Picoult and her daughter Samantha Van Leer. It's about a girl who falls in love with a guy in her favorite fairytale–and he returns the sentiments. Now, that always was a childhood dream of mine, and I'm sure it's one shared by all the fangirls of all the fandoms around the world. I read that in a day too (can you see the trend? I'm an impulsive reader, and when I love something I don't put it down even to eat or sleep). Also, since I love Once Upon A Time and am planning a fairytale retelling series after I finish The Belgrave Legacy trilogy, it was also very entertaining. In the same genre, I also like The Faerie Tale Collection by Jenni James.

And lastly, I think I'll go with an old favorite of mine that is going to be turned into a movie in the near future (according to MoviePilot): The Giver by Lois Lowry. My cousin (same from the first part of this question's answer) gave me her copy to read when I was eight. Then I reread it in English class, and I've periodically reread it whenever I want to feel better about my own life. I think that's why I love Dystopian fiction, but honestly, even when compared to Divergent and The Hunger Games, this is my favorite novel in the genre.

5. We met when you joined my beta reading team, and I’ve been thrilled to have such an excellent teen reader among my All-Stars. What have been your 3 favorite moments so far getting to be “behind the scenes” during the writing and publication process of Fire of Stars and Dragons as we build to its March release and the current writing of its sequel Blood of Stars and Gods?

Getting to know you! Seriously. Cheesy as it may sound, my favorite part of being a novel fangirl is seeing author interviews and hearing about the process that goes into writing these masterpieces, so getting to be a beta for you has been a great learning—and entertaining—experience.

Immersing myself in your magical world where dragons and vampire kings rule humans. Yeah, humans are great, but among all the dystopian fiction, one has to realize that we're hastening our own destruction, while these awesomely powerful and handsome supernatural creatures have things under control. And yet, it's their human emotions that make me love the characters from the Stars and Souls trilogy.

Reading and asking for the next chapter. I'm sure it's annoying as hell for you, but I feel like it's Hannukah, Christmas, and my birthday combined whenever you send out a new chapter. I never realized how invested in a character (besides my own) I could get, but it's just an amazing experience, and I'm thankful you didn't kick me out of the group when you learned that I was sixteen. Ageism sucks, for the young and old, so thanks for letting me tag along in Cait's crazy adventure.

6. Besides writing, what are 3 other “talents” you have, and feel free to be creatively off-beat with your answers.
I can:
Sing (pop and Broadway tunes).

Dance (ballet, modern, and hip-hop—the last being my favorite).

Haphazardly play the piano (I need to practice more, but never seem to have enough time with all my school and writing work).

Melissa's Closing Note: So, there you go, Zara Hoffman wrapped up in a dragon's egg with magic, the city that never sleeps, and the truth about how she annoys me. ;-)

Thanks for taking part, Zara! The Dracopraesi and I were happy to host you on the blog and welcome you back any time!


MY Closing Note: Hope you had fun reading this interview as much as I did answering the questions! Feel free to comment below, follow me on my social networks (top right corner of the screen), and show some love to Melissa Petreshock by checking out her website, twitter, and Facebook.
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Published on October 14, 2013 08:00

September 28, 2013

Cover Reveal: The Belgrave Daughter

It's been a long time coming, but I'm so happy to finally reveal the book cover for my debut novel, The Belgrave Daughter. It comes out October 14, 2013 (2 weeks away!)

It's so beautiful, and I can't thank Juan Solorzano of Sketch2Draw and AliceofWonderland enough for all the hard work he put in! I'm talking 12 drafts here people. And though it took a long time, it was totally worth the wait to get this masterpiece! So, without further ado, here it is!

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Published on September 28, 2013 10:00

September 18, 2013

Blog Tour Sign-Ups: The Belgrave Daughter

Blog tour sign-ups for The Belgrave Daughter are now open. Click the image for more details, or the sign-up button below.



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Published on September 18, 2013 05:11