Today’s special author guest is Robert Hoffman. We’re chatting about his new literary fiction, Blind Spot.
Visit his other tour stops to learn more about Robert and his writing.
Welcome, Rob. Please tell us a little bit about yourself.
I’m originally from a town on Long Island called North Massapequa. I attended SUNY Oswego where I majored in Communications, a degree that it turned out I had little use for. I did however meet the woman who would eventually become my wife, the former Michelle Lindell. Michelle and I lived in the aptly named Flushing, Queens for six years before moving to a town called Clifton Park, New York just south of Saratoga Springs. Finding little value in my degree in communications, I became a social studies teacher, teaching in Long Island City, Queens for four years before spending the remainder of my career in Rensselaer, New York, a small city on the banks of the Hudson River just across the water from Albany. I taught for 31 years before retiring in June of 2021, only to come back as a part-time teacher in September of 2021 at Rensselaer High School.
I had always been interested in becoming a writer and my began my blogging career as a contributor at the “Times Union” of Albany for six years. In this time I also blogged for a variety of sites including Fark.com, Crooks and Liars.com, Albany.com, and Knees and Fists.com. I have managed to remain happily married to Michelle for 34 years and counting, and I have two grown sons, Andrew and Alex, ages 29 and 23. Most recently, we became grandparents to the newest addition to the family, Sam Hoffman, son of Andrew and his wife Katie.
Please tell us a bit about your new release.
Blind Spot represents my first true attempt at writing fiction, an experience I found to be both fun and exhausting. I threw around several ideas as I began to think about what it was I wanted to write about, and then one day my wife had sent me to the supermarket on an errand where I saw somebody I really didn’t want to spend anytime talking to, so I raced out of the store, got in my car, turned it on, slammed it into reverse and was about to speed out of the spot when I stopped myself and said, “Dumb-ass, be careful, you could hit somebody.” Then, as I began to slowly and carefully pull out of the parking spot, I thought for another second and it occurred to me how ironic it would be if I accidentally hit the person I was trying to get away from and Blind Spot was born.
The character of Doug Kaplan, while not autobiographical, is sort of based on the best and worst of my traits. Doug is at times the guy I always wanted to be, and yet at the same time, Doug also represented the guy I was relieved to know I never became. The other characters are combinations of people that I knew from his childhood, as well as college and work experiences.
What inspired you to write this book?
I had really enjoyed blogging, but after about six years I felt that it grown a bit stale. I began to take an interest in reading fiction, and my brother who is a college English professor and who served as the editor of “Blind Spot,” had been giving me an assortment of classical works of fiction to read, and as I began to make my way through them, it inspired me to try and write a work of fiction.
Book Summary
Doug Kaplan seemed to be doing about as well as one could hope. He had a beautiful and loving wife, three healthy boys, and a successful career. He also had a neighbor who seemed to exist for the very purpose of driving him crazy. Trudy Fleischmann was a force of nature, a presence to be reckoned with for sure. She didn’t mean any harm, but if she had a thought, or an opinion, she was going to share it with whomever happened to be in her crosshairs, and lately that had been Doug.
The problem was, nobody else seemed to mind Trudy, and this made Doug even crazier. With peaceful coexistence seemingly beginning to fail, it appeared as if an ugly conflict between Doug and his elderly German immigrant neighbor was going to be unavoidable, until the accident, the accident that changed everything.
Now, in the aftermath of a moment of carelessness, everything Doug holds near and dear is at risk of being taken from him, and now the one individual whom he wished to see purged most of all from his life may hold the key to any chance of normalcy and happiness going forward in his life.
What exciting story are you working on next?
I’ve begun working on my next novel which is a work of fiction but based on a true story. (If that’s possible?) A few years ago, my wife took a DNA test and it ended up presenting her with some very surprising information. The book will discuss her family’s dynamics, and how this new revelation left her feeling disconnected and unmoored.
When did you first consider yourself a writer?
Well, everybody tells me that the fact that I finished and published a book, I should be really proud and therefore I can consider myself a writer. However, now that I’ve sold a few and gotten some money, that felt like it made it more real. I do thing though that until I get an agent, I won’t totally consider myself a “real writer,” whatever that means.
Do you write full-time? If so, what’s your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?
I just recently retired as a teacher, so now I have a lot more time to work on my next novel. I was able to finish my book throughout the school year since I got home fairly early. I don’t really have any set times where I write, it’s kind of whenever the mood hits me, and usually not for more than about two hours at a time. I’m actually still teaching part-time, so it does cause me to be a little bit more disciplined as a writer.
What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
I used to do a lot of writing right before I left for work last year. In like 10 minutes time just as I was going to leave for work, I found that I could write several pages, and really had some of my best ideas. I think it was that I didn’t want to go to work and so writing seemed to have a lot more appeal for me.
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Once I got into high school, I wanted to be a journalist, since I always enjoyed writing. I at first wanted to be a sports reporter like Mike Lupica of the “Daily News,” but then I found that sports was somewhat restricting, and I liked the idea of writing about different things from my perspective, I didn’t follow through though, and so I ended up a history teacher, which worked out just fine.
Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
My goals going forward are to continue writing and continue trying to get an agent so I can work with a real publisher and then I can really dedicate myself to writing as a second career as opposed still seeing it as a hobby. I’m also working with a writing partner which has been a fun experience. We have submitted a treatise for a reality show, and now we’re working on a screenplay which is proving to be an interesting challenge.Links:
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Purchase your copy now available on Amazon. Make sure to add it to your GoodReads reading list, too.
— Blog Tour Calendar
November 22nd @ The Muffin
Join us at The Muffin for an author interview, giveaway, and blog tour launch post for Robert Hoffman’s “The Blind Spot” https://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com/
November 23rd HERE!!
November 24th @ Choices with Madeline Sharples
Readers at Choices will hear from guest author Robert Hoffman with his post titled ” Man Plans and God Laughs “. Don’t miss this guest post and an opportunity to hear about Hoffman’s debut novel “Blind Spot”. http://madelinesharples.com/
November 26th @ The Faerie Review
“The Blind Spot” by Robert Hoffman is the highlighted book today at the Faerie Review – don’t miss a chance to learn more this work of humorous fiction by an accomplished blogger! https://www.thefaeriereview.com/
November 29th @ Word Magic with Fiona Ingram
Robert Hoffman pens today’s guest post at Word Magic (fellow author Fiona Ingram’s blog). Don’t miss this great article titled: “Sorry isn’t Enough” and an opportunity to learn more about Robert and his latest work of humorous fiction – “Blind Spot”. http://fionaingramauthor.blogspot.com/
December 2nd @ The Knotty Needle
Judy reviews “Blind Spot” by Robert Hoffman for readers at the Knotty Needle. Don’t miss this opportunity find out more about Hoffman’s humorous work of fiction! https://beverleyabaird.wordpress.com/
December 3rd @ Beverley A. Baird
“Do I Have a Story to Tell” is today’s post at Beverley A. Baird. This post is penned by none other than Robert Hoffman who recently released “Blind Spot”, a humorous novel readers are raving about! Don’t miss your chance to learn more from Hoffman himself! https://beverleyabaird.wordpress.com/
December 4th @ Author Anthony Avina
Readers at Anthony’s blog will delight in today’s guest post “Woulda Coulda Shoulda” by author Robert Hoffman. Don’t miss this guest post and opportunity to learn more about Hoffman’s new book “Blind Spot”. Stop back in a few days (on the 11th) to read Author Anthony Avina’s review of “The Blind” spot as well! http://www.authoranthonyavinablog.com
December 7th @ World of My Imagination with Nicole Pyles
Readers at World of My Imagination are in for a special treat! Not only is Nicole going to review “Blind Spot” by Robert Hoffman, but she also will be offering a giveaway! This is your chance to learn more about this humorous book and maybe even snag a copy of your own! https://beverleyabaird.wordpress.com/
December 9th @ Bring on Lemons with Crystal Otto
Crystal Otto reviews “Blind Spot” by Robert Hoffman for readers at Bring on Lemons – Otto has hinted that she would give this book 5 stars and said “it made me laugh out loud so often” – so don’t miss your chance to hear more about this debut novel! http://bringonlemons.blogspot.com/
December 11th @ Author Anthony Avina
Fellow Author Anthony Avina reviews “Blind Spot” by Robert Hoffman. http://www.authoranthonyavinablog.com
December 14th @ Linda Appleman Shapiro
Fellow Author Linda Appleman Shapiro shares her thoughts about Robert Hoffman’s “Blind Spot”. Find out what an accomplished Memoirist and Psychotherapist thinks of this humorous work of fiction. http://applemanshapiro.com/category/book-reviews/
December 15th @ Bring on Lemons with Michelle DelPonte
Michelle DelPonte, a Wisconsin mother, healthcare worker, autism advocate, and history buff shares her review of “Blind Spot” by Robert Hoffman. You won’t want to miss Michelle’s insight into this humorous book! http://bringonlemons.blogspot.com/
December 16th @ Bring on Lemons with 14 Year Old Carmen Otto
14 year old Carmen Otto heard her mom laughing out loud while reading “Blind Spot” and couldn’t help from grabbing a copy to read for herself. Find out what a young reader things of this debut novel by Robert Hoffman! http://bringonlemons.blogspot.com/
December 18th @ Bring on Lemons with Cathy Hansen
Wisconsin business owner and educator Cathy Hansen offers insight into what she thought after reading Robert Hoffman’s debut novel “Blind Spot”. Will this be a lemon or sweet lemonade? Stop by Bring on Lemons to find out! http://bringonlemons.blogspot.com/
December 24th @ Jill Sheet’s Blog
Stop by Jill Sheet’s Blog today and hear from Robert Hoffman as he pens his guest post titled “Aren’t We All Just a Little Bit Selfish?” just in time for the holidays! Learn more about this topic as well as Hoffman’s novel “Blind Spot”!
http://jillsheets.blogspot.com/
