Bestselling author, Alice Hoffman, wrote her 1st book, Property Of, at the age of 21. Since then, she has published more than 35 books. Four of her books have been made into movies: The River King, Aquamarine, Independence Day, and Practical Magic. Hoffman was in San Diego last night, promoting her latest book, The Rules of Magic, which is a prequel to Practical Magic. Warwick's and USD hosted the event, which Hoffman started off by talking a little bit about herself, her books, and writing.
Hoffman said that she became a writer because she is a reader. She shared that reading Ann Frank's A Diary of a Young Girl was a transformative experience for her. Edward Eager was an early inspiration, as was Ray Bradbury, whom Hoffman called her second father. She said that, when her father left the family home, he left behind a box full of Bradbury's books, and she devoured them.
Hoffman stated that she thinks witches are the ultimate feminist icon. Unlike princesses, who are dependent on princes or kings in order to get power, witches are powerful by themselves. "Witch hunts happen when the ruling patriarchy tries to punish women they can't control", Hoffman said. Many of the women who were accused of being witches were independent, land owners, and/or business owners etc., who did not conform to the social norms of the day. "Witches create their own reality", Hoffman said, pointing out that the magical phrase, "abracadabra", translates to "I create what I imagine". Hoffman shared that she has always been fascinated by witches, magic, and fairy tales, and this is why she writes about it.
Hoffman said that she wrote Practical Magic in 1995, while she was living on Cape Cod. She said she had a title, but no book. "I wanted to write about the power of women, and the importance of female relationships and family". She locked herself away and wrote the story of the Owens family. After writing the book, she found herself really interested in the 2 aunts in the Owens family, Frances & Jet, and wanted to know more about their story. It took until now for her to re-visit the Owens clan and tell their story, which she does in The Rules of Magic.
Hoffman said that she wrote the prequel, rather than a sequel, because she has always been interested in the past, and the things that have shaped people that nobody really knows about. The Rules of Magic takes place in the 1960's, the era Hoffman grew up in, in Greenwich Village. There was so much going on in the country, and the world, in the 1960's so Hoffman said she decided to focus only on those events that most effect her characters.
Some of the surprises in the prequel are that Frances and Jet have a brother - Vincent Owen - something that Hoffman, herself, did not expect. Another surprise is the connection between the Owens family and the family of Nathaniel Hawthorne. The Owens family can trace their roots to the 1600's. That history, and the connection to Hawthorne, is revealed in the book.
After her talk, Hoffman read from the 1st chapter of the book, then took questions from the audience. A fan asked where she gets her inspiration to write. She replied, "Toni Morrison said that she starts every book with a question, and so do I. I want to find something out, discover something new, get answers. I wanted to find out who these 2 old aunts were. I was interested in their stories. That's why I wrote The Rules of Magic."
Another fan told Hoffman that, when he reads her books, he is stroke by the lyrical nature of her prose. He asked if she listens to music when she writes, and if she is aware of how musical her writing is. Hoffman responded, "I do listen to music when I write. I feel like I am playing the piano when I'm writing, though I don't really know how to play the piano. There's a rhythm I am looking for. I've always wanted to write my books the way Van Morrison writes songs. When I write, I read passages aloud so I can make sure they have the right rhythm."
A fan asked Hoffman how/why she became a writer. She replied, "I became a writer because I couldn't do anything else. I have always been a big reader. I was an escapist reader, wanting to live inside the world of the books I read. The library really saved my life. I learned that librarians are rebels. I felt like I was free in the library. Writing lets me stay in the world of books all the time." After the Q&A, Hoffman met with fans and signed books.
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Labels: Author Appearances
