In my day job I am a biochemist working in medical research. The journal articles I write there must focus on facts – therefore I enjoy being creative in my free time by inventing fantasy stories.
Chris Hoffman – 12 March 2018
The Back Flap
“Gideon interrupted Asha by pressing his hand on her mouth. Asha wanted to protest, but he pointed at something moving among the trees. Gideon let go of her. Asha turned around to have a closer look. It was a black orb. The sphere lowered its flight altitude, passed between the trunks, and approached them. Gideon grabbed Asha’s shoulder and pulled her behind his back, raising his wooden buckler mere seconds before lightning shot forth from the orb. With an earsplitting noise, the bolt singed the shield.”
Mysterious flying orbs have appeared everywhere. Who created them, and for which purpose? Accompany the thrill-seeking Batseba, “bookworm” Asha, the sword fighter Gideon, and Samyaza the mage on their search for the orbs’ origin. Follow them on their first fantasy adventure from a dark cave to a pristine city, and through a lush rain forest.
It is a short read (58 pages), without long descriptions of every boring detail. If you like it and want more – this is just the beginning!
About the book
What is the book about?
The appearance of strange flying orbs brings together a shy book lover, a reckless thrill seeker, a cynical loner, and a handsome wannabe leader. Their best chance to survive and discover what is behind this would be teamwork. Will they combine sword and sorcery, or try to succeed alone?
When did you start writing the book?
I started to write down ideas and create the setting in 2012.
How long did it take you to write it?
It took four years of occasional writing to finish Beginnings, and another year went into editing.
Where did you get the idea from?
The basic idea originates from my experiences with online and offline (pen & paper) role-playing games. In the past I thought up fantasy adventures for my friends, now my creativity finds its way into written form.
Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?
At first, I found it difficult to write from the perspective of a person with character traits very different from mine and from the opposite gender.
What came easily?
Once I had developed a feeling for the protagonists’ quirks, dialogues almost evolved on their own. I had the impression that Gideon, Asha, Batseba, and Samyaza debated, cursed, and joked in my mind without any effort from me.
Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?
When I thought up the first traits of my characters, I borrowed behavioral patterns from myself and people I have encountered throughout my life. But during the writing process, the protagonists grew out of these drafts and became unique personalities.
We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?
I love the Dragonlance fantasy novels by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. Maybe it was their band of unexpected heroes who made me send my own group of unequals on an adventure.
Do you have a target reader?
Anybody who likes sword & sorcery fantasy stories. Due to mild sexual innuendo I would like readers to be at least 16 years old.
About Writing
Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?
‘Process’ sounds too orderly. I write whenever and wherever I find the time. This could be on a train, a forest clearing, or while lying in bed shortly before I fall asleep.
Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?
I arrange all the ideas for my story with the mind map function of my favorite writing software. This gives me an overview of the rough direction into which the plot will develop. Then I select a couple of ideas from my map for the next chapter and start to write.
Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?
I write many passages on paper sheets and do some quick editing when I transcribe the text with my computer. Afterwards, I wait with editing until the story is finished.
Did you hire a professional editor?
No. I rather invested my limited budget into a professional cover design.
Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?
I prefer silence to fully concentrate.
About Publishing
Did you submit your work to Agents?
Nope. Skipping the whole traditional process with agents and publishing houses is part of my love for the indie way.
What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?
Throughout my career as a scientist, I published research results in different journals and submitted proposals for new research projects, thereby encountering many scientific reviewers. A few of them really helped to improve manuscripts or project plans, but often enough it seemed like a lottery if I hit a reviewer who liked what I wrote or not. I could not bear the thought that my novels would suffer the same fate. I did not want a single person to decide what is worth to be read, rather let the people decide for themselves.
Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?
When I compared my own cover attempt to book covers of professionals, I decided to hire a cover designer.
Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?
It was a week after the release of my e-book, and nobody had bought a single copy yet, when I realized that I have to come up with some marketing ideas. This is why I am very thankful to TheIndieView for the opportunity to tell people about my book. So far, I have offered the book for free on Amazon for one day (7 people grabbed a copy). Next up is a giveaway of 100 e-books on Goodreads.
Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?
I still feel like a newbie, so no wise words yet.
About You
Where did you grow up?
In Berlin, Germany.
Where do you live now?
Still in Berlin, Germany.
What would you like readers to know about you?
In my day job I am a biochemist working in medical research. The journal articles I write there must focus on facts – therefore I enjoy being creative in my free time by inventing fantasy stories.
What are you working on now?
I am currently writing the next book in the MUNDIVIDERI series, Part 2: Earth.
End of Interview:
For more from Chris, visit his website and like his Facebook page.
