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Mary Hoffman
http://www.maryhoffman.co.ukreaders@maryhoffman.co.uk
To download this profile page, click HERE
Q: What were you like at school?
At my state Primary School I knew I was one of the cleverest children, so I was quite cheerful and happy. Then I went on a scholarship to a girls' independent school and found I was one bright girl amongst many cleverer, That was a culture shock it took me a long time to get over. Eventually, I found my niche but was a bit of a rebel
Q: What did you want to be when you were a child?
A garage mechanic, then an archaeologist and then an architect.
Q: Which three words describe you best?
Impatient, romantic, precise
Q: What is your favourite word?
renege
Q: What makes you cringe?
Frank Sinatra's My Way; grammatical errors; most politicians, the word "hubby" - I spend a lot of time cringing!
Q: What are you afraid of?
Heights, Daddy-long-legs. Used to be camels but not so much now.
Q: When did you last have a really good laugh?
At a production of Twelfth Night yesterday, when Toby Belch, Andrew Aguecheek and Fabian were all "hiding" in a tree
Q: What is your most treasured possession?
My wedding ring
Q: What do you do as a hobby?
The word "hobby" makes me cringe. Oh no, that was "hubby"! Actually I don't like "hobby" either. I do everything whether work or leisure with the same intensity. I like reading best, then music (classical) and swimming, cooking, playing with my Burmese cats, doing cryptic crosswords, taking part in quizzes (if I am on the winning team)
Q: What strange habits do you have?
I sleep with one leg stuck out of bed
Q: What’s your favourite food?
I am a vegetarian but beyond that I like everything except beetroot, goat cheese and pineapple. I specially like Indian and Thai food, tofu, noodles, vegetable pie. I prefer savoury to sweet and am easily over-pasta-ed
Q: What do you day dream about?
Fame and riches
Q: What’s the most outrageous thing you’ve done?
I don't really do outrageous things. Maybe not addressing George W Bush as Mr President when I met him counts?
Q: What profession other than yours would you like to attempt?
Opera singer
Q: Do you feel younger or older than your current age?
Definitely younger
Q: If you could meet one person, dead or alive, who would it be?
Michelangelo. I'm writing a book about him and it would be v. useful!
Q: What quality do you most admire in a person?
Courage and honesty
Q: What is the most interesting place you have ever visited?
Siena
Q: What is the best advice anyone has ever given you?
I'm very bad at receiving advice! But I learn by example.
Q: What would you most like to change about yourself?
I'd like to be taller or have perfect eyesight
Q: What has life taught you?
I'm still trying to find out
Q: How long have you been a writer?
My first book was published in 1975
Q: Was there a specific moment in your life when you decide to become a writer?
Yes, when I had no idea what else to do, when I left university
Q: Where do you do your writing?
Mornings are best for me. I work on a green sofa in my green and white study, with my laptop on my lap. But in a sense I'm always writing wherever I am. A writer never really goes off duty.
Q: What are the best and worst things about being an author?
The best is being your own boss. The worst is having to chase other people to do their jobs
Q: Where do you get your greatest ideas from?
Inspiration particles
Q: Which of your own characters do you most identify with?
The Duchessa, Silvia, in the Stravaganza sequence. She is beautiful, powerful, ruthless and everyone adores her. Also Grace, who is a little girl who likes stories
Q: What do you do to combat “writers’ block”?
I am lucky enough not to suffer from this debilitating condition
Q: What was your favourite book as a child?
Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings
Q: What book do you wish you had written?
I don't want to write other people's books usually but sometimes I am bowled over by another writer's brilliance, such as the late Jan Mark
Q: What advice would you give to aspiring authors?
Don't aspire, perspire! You can't read too much or too widely. Don't stick to one genre. Write a lot and don't be afraid to throw a lot away.
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Stravaganza: City of Masks
ISBN
9780747595694
Published By
Bloomsbury
Status
In Print -
Stravaganza: City of Stars
ISBN
978-0747595700
Published By
Bloomsbury
Status
In Print -
Stravaganza: City of Flowers
ISBN
978-0747595717
Published By
Bloomsbury
Status
In Print -
Stravaganza: City of Secrets
ISBN
978-0747592501
Published By
Bloomsbury
Status
In Print -
The Falconer's Knot
ISBN
978-0747589006
Published By
Bloomsbury
Status
In Print -
Troubadour
ISBN
978-0747592518
Published By
Bloomsbury
Status
In Print -
Seven Wonders of the World
ISBN
0711219869
Published By
Frances Lincoln
Status
In Print -
Bravo, Grace!
ISBN
9781845070571
Published By
Frances Lincoln
Status
In Print -
The Colour of Home
ISBN
0-71121-991-5
Published By
Frances Lincoln
Status
In Print -
Princess Grace
ISBN
9781845076696
Published By
Frances Lincoln
Status
In Print -
Starring Grace
ISBN
9780711221406
Published By
Frances Lincoln
Status
In Print -
Grace and Family
ISBN
0-7112-0869-7
Published By
Frances Lincoln
Status
In Print -
Amazing Grace
ISBN
0-7112-0670-8
Published By
Frances Lincoln
Status
In Print -
Encore Grace!
ISBN
9780711219762
Published By
Frances Lincoln
Status
In Print
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