Comments on Author Exposure: Beth Hoffman: LIVE Chat and Giveaway

Thank you everyone who stopped by and helped make ...

2010-02-03T16:19:58.598-05:00

Thank you everyone who stopped by and helped make this author chat a success!

Beth, Thank you so much for taking some time out o...

2010-02-03T16:16:10.981-05:00

Beth, Thank you so much for taking some time out of your busy schedule to chat with us today. It's been a pleasure getting to know you better and learning more about your book!

Oh, there have been so many. Looking out into the ...

2010-02-03T15:41:32.608-05:00

Oh, there have been so many. Looking out into the audience and seeing people cry and laugh is a memory that I'll cherish.

I was recently on TV with graduate students who had read CeeCee's story, and it was incredible how much they embraced the book and how eagerly they wanted to discuss certain passages. To hear my own words being read aloud by those who loved them was amazing.

The Readers Guide has some great discussion questi...

2010-02-03T15:32:27.495-05:00

The Readers Guide has some great discussion questions. Here's one that I altered slightly for you:
At several key moments in the story, CeeCee finds that her Life Book is being revised. What are some moments, since your book launch, when you knew an indelible memory was being made? Can you tell us a time during your book tour that you recall thinking, "I'll remember this forever"?

I haven't seen any other covers yet. It also ...

2010-02-03T13:40:03.466-05:00

I haven't seen any other covers yet. It also sold to Israel, Korea, and Poland ... so I imagine it will be fascinating to see what all the different covers look like.

I absolutely love the cover design! I know the boo...

2010-02-03T13:36:16.674-05:00

I absolutely love the cover design! I know the book has been sold in Italy, Germany, Israel, and France. Have you seen any of these covers?

Hi Janet, Thanks for asking these questions. The...

2010-02-03T13:26:18.150-05:00

Hi Janet,

Thanks for asking these questions.

The title came rather naturall. I believe all of us wish, at some time or another, that we'd be saved from problems in our lives, and CeeCee was so hopeful that someone or something would help her that I knew the title was right.

The cover was my publishers creative idea. And the architectural element is from a photograph taken of a detail of an old Southern mansion. When I first saw the cover, I was enormously pleased. I loved that the hummingbird was featured as it's so appropriate to the core theme of the book.

Beth, Did the title come naturally to you or did ...

2010-02-03T13:17:10.910-05:00

Beth,

Did the title come naturally to you or did you have do some debating?

Also, what was your reaction when you first saw the cover

Janet

Among the most surprising things was how the chara...

2010-02-03T13:15:17.345-05:00

Among the most surprising things was how the characters came to life and dictated much of the story. They were so vivid, and I could hear their voices in my head so clearly.

I know it's not unique to me and that many, many writers have experienced this kind of creative alchemy, but it really was rather magical.

Beth, what was one of the most surprising things y...

2010-02-03T13:09:53.286-05:00

Beth, what was one of the most surprising things you learned while writng this book?

Hi Marie! Oh, thank you for your kindness and nev...

2010-02-03T12:59:23.885-05:00

Hi Marie!

Oh, thank you for your kindness and never-ending support! I'm thrilled that you enjoyed CeeCee's story and glad that Thelma Rae made you laugh out loud.

I know it sounds a bit crazy, but the characters are now totally real to me! LOL!

Hi Beth, Just stopping in to let all these lovely ...

2010-02-03T12:54:11.844-05:00

Hi Beth,
Just stopping in to let all these lovely people know that your beauty and talent pour out of you in this WONDERFUL debut novel. Congratulations on all the fabulous reviews and making the Bestseller lists!

My favorite characters have to be: CeeCee as she captured my heart, Oletta as she has so much life lived wisdom, and of course Thelma Rae as she made me laugh out loud.

Three TV spots thus far and another next week in C...

2010-02-03T12:27:29.706-05:00

Three TV spots thus far and another next week in California. Radio is about the same.

We'll find a good place! I heard from Shannon...

2010-02-03T12:23:06.850-05:00

We'll find a good place! I heard from Shannon Twomey yesterday - told her about the TV interview. How many times have you been on TV now for your book?

Hi Emily, I have celiac disease and strange food ...

2010-02-03T12:20:21.202-05:00

Hi Emily,

I have celiac disease and strange food allergies, so eating is a bummer. But I can have salads (no croutons). LOL!

Hi Beth! I was wondering, what is your favorite k...

2010-02-03T12:17:42.038-05:00

Hi Beth! I was wondering, what is your favorite kind of food? I wanted to treat you to lunch on March 4th after the interview!

Traci, I'm blessed to have the marketing team...

2010-02-03T11:26:58.297-05:00

Traci,

I'm blessed to have the marketing team of Pamela Dorman Books/Viking behind me, but I do quite a bit of marketing on my own. I think it's vital that an author have a fabulous website, make connections via social media, and support others along the way as well.

Offering giveaways and connecting with book lovers across the globe is so easy now via the Internet, and I think far too many authors are reluctant to put themselves "out there" so to speak. But for me, even though I'm a tad bit on the private/introverted side, I've found many wonderful new friends and people who are happy to support my book.

So my best tips would be those things I mentioned and not being afraid to step out and meet people.

Beth, Congratulations on making the bestseller li...

2010-02-03T11:21:24.167-05:00

Beth,

Congratulations on making the bestseller lists that Libby mentioned. Do you have any tips for marketing your book? Do you enjoy it?

Yes, there's a wee bit of me in CeeCee - espec...

2010-02-03T10:58:20.698-05:00

Yes, there's a wee bit of me in CeeCee - especially her curiosity and penchant for one-liners.

And I love watching and listening to the conversations of girls who are around CeeCee's age. The ages between 10 and 12 really are magical because one minute something so mature and profound can be said, and yet the next minute the child is a child again. It tickles me no end.

Beth, you really captured 12 year old CeeCee's...

2010-02-03T10:50:24.087-05:00

Beth, you really captured 12 year old CeeCee's character well. Reading her story brought back so many memories of my own childhood. She made me chuckle so many times with her misunderstandings of double entendres and times of grinning as if she understood. How did you go about developing CeeCee's character? Is there a little bit of you in her?

Thank you, Claire! That's wonderful praise com...

2010-02-03T10:46:42.455-05:00

Thank you, Claire! That's wonderful praise coming from you.

Hi Traci, I had wanted to write from the age of s...

2010-02-03T10:46:03.397-05:00

Hi Traci,

I had wanted to write from the age of six when I first held one of the DICK and Jane books in my hands, but I eventually chose a career in art and design.

I can't say an author or book inspired me to write per se, but my love of girlfriends and my fascination with mother/daughter relationships sparked the flame of CeeCee's story.

Well, the whole world is glad you finally did it, ...

2010-02-03T10:42:15.430-05:00

Well, the whole world is glad you finally did it, Beth! SAVING CEECEE HONEYCUTT is such a fabulous book!

Hi Christine, Yes, you're absolutely right. W...

2010-02-03T10:42:07.163-05:00

Hi Christine,

Yes, you're absolutely right. When we're children we don't have a sense of place until we venture out into the world, that's when we see and feel how other towns and States and even countries are in contrast. For a child, it's quite an amazing experience.

Hi Beth! Welcome to the blog. So much fun going ...

2010-02-03T10:40:31.812-05:00

Hi Beth!

Welcome to the blog. So much fun going on here. Pardon any typos my pupils are still dilated.

What author or book inspired you to write?