Every Friday, we meet a member of the BFS and peer deep into their soul (or, at least, a form they filled out). Want to be featured? Email us: online@britishfantasysociety.org
Name:
J.M. Hofer (she/her)
Which region are you based in?
I live in Salt Lake City, Utah, in the United States
If you write, which genre:
Fantasy
Are you drawn to any specific SFFH sub-genres?
I write and love lore-based or mythology-based fiction
Your influences
Tell us about the book/film/thing that got you into SFFH: What was it? How old were you? What impact did it have on you?
It probably truly started with all the fairy tales I read as a child. But as I grew older, I’d say Chronicles of Narnia, Sword of Shannara, and The Hobbit—I was probably 7 or 8 years old when I read these, and could not get enough of these sorts of tales.
How does that early influence show up for you (in life/writing/agenting/publishing/editing/reading) now?
I write stories for the same reason I escaped into them as a child (hiding under my blankets with a flashlight far past my bedtime)—I just have to find out what happens next!
Once I experienced the magic of creating a world and bringing to life the characters within it, I was hooked—especially when they began talking to one another and doing things that surprised me. Creative writing is a God-like experience. To actually both create and experience the magic of a story simultaneously is thrilling.
Where do you draw your creative inspiration from?
Mythology, folklore and fairy tales are the wellspring of my inspiration. The stories we choose to tell generation after generation are doorways into the heart of humanity. They assure us we’re not the first to doubt ourselves or face what seems an impossible challenge, inspiring us to leave behind the familiar and find out what we’re made of (go face that dragon, eh?)
Subsequently, all my work has roots in myth or folklore. I like having a structure or history to wind my story around, rather than building a world completely out of ether.
(Pictured: J.M.’s bedside bookshelf)
Who do you look to as a genre hero? Why?
George RR Martin and Tolkien are the juggernauts in terms of world-building. The sheer scope of their imagination is staggering. The book that most influenced my writing, however, was Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley (pictured; source). If there is anyone my work most resonates with, it’s likely hers. I also strongly admire Evangeline Walton’s retelling of the Welsh collection of stories known as the Mabinogion.
Your Work
You’re stuck in an elevator for 60 seconds with that hero, and they want you to describe your work. Give us the pitch.
“As a storyteller, I have the power to transport you to a world that feels ancient yet familiar, where the veil between realms is thin and magic is very much alive. Are you in? You are? Great. Hit that button on the elevator with the rune symbol on it…”
What are you working on right now?
I’m currently focusing on the business side of being a self-published author. There is a huge amount of marketing you have to devote time to if you truly want to make writing your career instead of a side hobby. I’m doing my best to make that transition.
Besides that, trying to punch away at Book 6 in my series while holding down a moderately stressful day job!
Thinking about all the stories/work you’ve done, what sticks out most in your mind? Why?
The magic of how my characters have developed over the course of the five novels written, and how attached I am to them. I love getting into their minds, listening to their thoughts, and feeling the world through their skin.
Where and when do you create/are you at your most creative?
Between 5am-7am in the morning. Those dark hours before sunrise or shortly after, when everyone’s asleep, have a sacred quality to them. I go to bed quite early for this very reason—so I can get up before dawn and write.
(Pictured: J.M.’s writing space. She says: “Here is where I write – just a wee little closet, but it has a window with a beautiful view of the Wasatch Mountains, and it’s perfect for me!”
What’s the best advice you’ve received about creativity?
What I’ve learned is to just sit down and start writing, painting, sketching, doodling—whatever you’re moved to do. When you engage, Inspiration says, “She’s ready! Here I come!” By tossing that golden ball over the garden wall, you show the Universe you want to play. It’s rare the ball doesn’t come sailing back.
What’s your writing soundtrack?
I love this question! A long steady stream of Ramin Djawadi is on perpetual shuffle! Although, beware—his music is so epic, you may think your writing is better than it actually is while listening to it. It’s happened to me!
The Quick-Fire Round
Sci-fi, fantasy or horror?
Fantasy
Quiet or loud?
Quiet
Dark or light?
Oh, both! You can’t have one without the other.
Strict lines or genre blend?
I say go where your muse leads you.
Awards or bestseller?
Bestseller, I suppose, assuming it comes with consistent, gushing reviews 🙂 — with enough of those, neither of the other two really matter. All I need is to hear “I couldn’t put your book down!” on a consistent basis, and I feel successful.
Fiction or non-fiction?
If we’re talking reading, I mostly read books about folklore, legends, mythology, history, the occult, or ancient religions.
Poetry or prose?
I write prose, but love poetry…and read both.
Plotter or pantser?
Pantser first. Plotting comes in once I can no longer “hold the story in my head” anymore.
Reading or listening?
I do a fair amount of both.
Notebook or computer?
I scribble out ideas and work through them on paper but do my actual writing on my laptop. Here’s a fun one: walking and talking out my ideas is also a great way to process ideas—I’ll imagine my characters walking beside me, and we chat about life. Eccentric perhaps, but it works!
Favourite SFFH book of all time?
When I think of sheer enjoyment at the time I read it, I’d say The Vampire Lestat, by Anne Rice.
Last book you read?
Complete Works of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Favourite podcast?
On Being, Padraig O’Tooma
The Home Stretch
What’s the best thing about being part of the SFFH community?
I just recently joined! So far, I’d say the friendliness of its members. I’m loving it so far. I wish I lived in the UK so I could attend the events featured!
Time to plug your stuff! Where can we find you and your work? What have you got coming up? Consider this your advertising space.
J.M. Hofer writes stories of adventure and fantasy steeped in Celtic folklore. Set in Iron Age Britain, her Islands in the Mist series brings to life the mystery and magic of the Arthurian age. Book 1, Islands in the Mist, was chosen as one of the top five fantasy novels out of 2,000 entries in the 2013 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Contest.
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