The Footnote with Alice Hoffman
An index revealing all the minute details of how your favorite authors work
The Footnote is a brand-new column from Moms Don’t Have Time to Write in which prominent writers give us the lowdown on their work habits — no matter how messy or mundane.
This week’s installment features Alice Hoffman, the author of more than thirty works of fiction, including Magic Lessons: The Prequel to Practical Magic, The World That We Knew, The Rules of Magic, The Marriage of Opposites, Practical Magic, The Red Garden, the Oprah’s Book Club selection Here on Earth, The Museum of Extraordinary Things, and The Dovekeepers.
Alice’s work has been translated into more than twenty languages. Her novels have been notable books of the year by The New York Times, Entertainment Weekly, The Los Angeles Times, Library Journal, and People Magazine. Her latest novel, The Book of Magic, was just released this week.
Follow the link to visit Hoffman’s author page, and listen to her episode of Moms Don’t Have Time to Read Books.
Early riser or night owl?
Very early riser.
Writing on an empty stomach or a full breakfast before you sit down at the desk?
Tea and English muffin.
Long-hand or computer?
Computer.
Silence is golden or music for inspiration?
Music. On rotation right now: Taylor Swift’s Evermore.
Favorite magazine/literary journal?
Ploughshares. The best.
Avoid or devour reviews of your own work?
Never ever read.
Frequency of checking Amazon ranking?
Only on pub day.
If you weren’t a writer, what would you be?
Married to Paul McCartney.
If you could be any other author, who would you be? Why?
I don’t want to be anyone else but I certainly would have loved to have written Beloved, the greatest American novel by Toni Morrison
How many cups of coffee or tea per day?
Tea. Three.
Favorite snack/meal while writing?
Tangerines.
Trick for avoiding writer’s block?
Write every day.
Last charge you’ll admit to on your credit card?
Shelby’s vet bill.
Book you’ve pretended to have read but haven’t?
I am willing to admit that I haven’t read any of the great Russians.
Word you always misspell?
Chose and choose
Go-to outfit for a day of writing at home?
Black.
Edits: love or hate doing them?
Depends on the day.
Largest number of rejections you’ve gotten for a book or essay before it was sold?
Too many to count.
Number of unsold manuscripts in a drawer?
I’ll never tell!
Career goal you still haven’t hit?
Being a veterinarian
Places on your travel wishlist?
Paris. Paris. Paris.
Number of times you check your word count when writing?
Only occasionally, if ever.
Where do you get your news?
Rachel Maddow.
Favorite place to write?
In bed.
Last book you couldn’t put down?
The Midnight Library.
Someone whose book recommendations you respect?
My friend Jill.
I hope no one finds out that….
I’m addicted to frozen yogurt.
My secret dream is to….
Move to Scotland.
Most useless skill I have is….
Picking the wrong man.
