I am twelve years old, and I am the author of The Pathway to Dragons: The Portal to Pyranis. This is the first book in my children's fantasy series. I hope to inspire other young children to read, write and dream!

 

SIX MINUTES WITH HANNAH HOFFMAN:

Joining LitPick today for Six Minutes with an Author is twelve-year-old Hannah Hoffman. Hannah is the author of The Pathway to Dragons: The Portal to Pyranis.

Be sure to pick up a copy of her book. Hannah is donating ten percent of her net profits from sales to two New Jersey charities. These charities have causes that Hannah identifies with - horses and reading - and they both interact with children. The first charity is Special Strides. They are improving lives through equine assisted activities and therapies. Check out their website at www.specialstrides.com.

The second charity is The Bridge of Books Foundation. Their mission is to donate books to underserved children across New Jersey in order to support the development of literacy skills and encourage a love of reading. Why? Books have the power to change lives and ALL kids should have books to call their own. More information can be found at http://bridgeofbooksfoundation.org/. 

***How did you get started writing?

I started writing this book about three years ago. I wrote two pages and then took a break…a long break! A year later, I found my story and read it. After the two pages, I wanted to read more, and so I wrote more. Sure enough, I couldn’t stop. It took me a while, but the result was worth it!

***Who influenced you?

My dad is my biggest inspiration. As a sci-fi and fantasy author, he always encouraged my creativity and my love for writing. I thought writing a book was a normal everyday thing for a kid, and so it became a normal everyday thing for me.

Another inspiration for my writing was going to Renaissance Fairs. My dad always took my sister and me to them, and in full costume! I learned a lot, and it helped me to create a more vivid picture of my fantasy worlds.

***Do you have a favorite book/subject/character/setting?

As most readers probably say, “It’s tough to choose a favorite.” I really love A Spell for Chameleon, the first book in Piers Anthony’s “Xanth” series. I read it recently, as it is for an older audience. Another favorite would be the “Unicorn’s Secret” series by Kathleen Duey. It is a beautiful chapter book that I read with my dad many years ago. It is one of the stories that really prompted me to publish a book. There are many other books in various genres that I have enjoyed, but I gravitate toward fantasy, although I appreciate all genres in a different way.

***What advice do you have for someone who wants to be an author?

Believe in yourself, don't give up, and never stop dreaming! Don't worry about getting the technical stuff right in your first draft. It’s all about the story. Punctuation and grammar can always be fixed later with editing. Just let your writing flow, and the ideas and words will come to you.

***Where is your favorite place to write?

I like to write at my desk with a warm cup of chamomile tea. But story ideas come to me anywhere, anytime…but mostly in my dreams! So never stop dreaming, because you might just discover something to write about in them!

***What else would you like to tell us?

I would like to thank all my readers, and I hope that they enjoy reading the story as much as I enjoyed writing it! I would also like to thank LitPick for this amazing opportunity! Finally, I am currently working on book two, so keep an eye out for it in the future.

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Hannah, thank you very much for sharing your inspiring words with our readers. You are proof that dreams can be accomplished with hard work, no matter a person’s age. We are touched by your generous heart to impact the lives of other children through your love of horses and books.