Introducing LaShaunda C. Hoffman of SORMAG

It gives me great pleasure to spotlight one of the first people I met in the literary world who also had a passion for books and promoting Black writers: LaShaunda C. Hoffman.

IN HER OWN WORDS:

In the real world, I’m a mother of three, wife to my hero and caregiver to my mother. I work for the government and am a military vet – Navy. In my fantasy life, I’m the publisher of SORMAG an online magazine for readers and writers of multi-cultural literature – http://sormag.com – http://sormag.blogspot.com. We celebrated seven years online this month. I’m an aspiring Christian fiction writer currently working on contemporary romance.

Thank you very much for this opportunity.

ONE-ON-ONE INTERVIEW

RAWSISTAZ: First off, I guess I won’t crack on the whole Navy thing, huh?  My husband is prior Navy, but I’m Air Force, so you know we have some interesting debates around here about which is the best branch, so since you might get the answer wrong, I’m going to pass on that.  LOL.  How long were you in the Navy and do you miss it?

LASHAUNDA: I won’t crack on the Air Force thing either.  LOL.  I went into the Navy right out of high school.  A baby thinking I was going on the Love Boat.  NOT.   I didn’t have a clue about what I was joining, but I learned quickly and enjoyed my six years active and six years reserves.  I was enlisted and I went in thinking I could find my own career.  That’s what they tell you at the recruiter. (Don’t believe them.  LOL get a job first)

Even though I don’t recommend going in this way, it actually worked to my benefit because I was able to work different jobs until I found what I liked.  Would you believe I was a military police?  Little old me, one of the best jobs I had.  Nobody messes with you when you’re packing.  I found my job in the supply field and that’s what I did until I got out.

The Navy changed my life, I learned a lot and made a few life long friends.  I highly recommend it if you don’t have a clue what to do with your life.  There’s nothing more honorable than serving your country.

RAWSISTAZ: I can’t imagine you as an MP…lol. But I can relate to making life-long friends. I miss my days in the Air Force; especially the paycheck.    Moving on…  I also wanted to send another big ole HAPPY ANNIVERSARY hug your way.  You celebrated nine years with SORMAG this month, just as we did.  Congratulations!! Time flies, huh?  What is your most memorable moment working with SORMAG?

LASHAUNDA: Time sure has flown.  I started putting SORMAG together right after I had my second son.  I was on maternity leave, bored crazy and thought why not.  So when I look at my son, I see how old SORMAG really is.  My babies are growing up.

I have a few memorable moments.  The first was going live and the counter actually moving.  Somebody other than my mother was looking at the magazine.

Being mentioned in Essence Magazine was thrilling.  People called me up before I got my copy screaming for me.  That was wild.

Seeing SORMAG on the book flap of Brenda Jackson’s book as a real reviewer, we had arrived.

This year my most memorable was being able to honor a writer friend, Katherine Jones, who passed in 2007, with a scholarship in her name.  I’ve always wanted to something like this for our readers and I finally got the opportunity this year.

RAWSISTAZ: What wonderful memories! Your scholarship in Katherine’s name was a wonderful, wonderful tribute to her life and her writing.

I love your blog, though I don’t get to stop by as much as I would like to.  It’s a wonderful resource to readers & writers– as is your online conference.  Tell us about both.

LASHAUNDA: We started off as an online magazine, then grew into a print magazine, but the cost of printing made me realize online was the best avenue for us.  We moved to the blog concept in 2005 and we’ve never looked back.

I started SORMAG as a way to say thank you to the romance writers I read.  There weren’t many romance magazines that featured multi-cultural authors, so I wanted to offer a place where they would be showcased.  We feature interviews, articles, book reviews and short stories.  I try to keep the readers abreast on what’s happening in the literary world.

I started the online conference in 1999 when I couldn’t afford to go to a conference.  I thought why not bring the conference to me.  Our first conference was on a site and featured articles as the workshops.  We had live chats in the evening.  It was a lot of fun and I decided to do it again, crazy me.  I offer the conference bi-annual.  Our next one will be in 2011.  If you missed this year’s, you can still see what was offered online at – http://sormag.blogspot.com/2009/08/2009-online-conference.html

RAWSISTAZ: What are some of the other services you offer through SORMAG?

LASHAUNDA: We offer free interviews.  I like to feature the author when their book is released.  We also offer free reviews.  I have a team of 20 reviewers and they enjoy reading.  We were on hiatus for a little while due to a book thief; however we’ve resumed reviewing and hopefully will be back on track.

Our paid advertisement includes eblasts to our SORMAG community and featured spots on the blog and main SORMAG site.

You can go to the main site – http://sormag.com and get information on our promotions.

My policy is the first promotion is on me, the second is on you.  I understand the writer’s budget, so I like to offer the first promotion (interview).  I know if you plan on making this a career, there will be plenty of times to pay for promotion later.

RAWSISTAZ: When you are not working and have free time, what do you do for fun?  And, when can we expect to see your book?  Some of us are waiting…

LASHAUNDA: Free time, what is that?  LOL  I’m addicted to t.v.  I have to be honest and say it helps me relax.  Some days are pretty stressful, so if I can get lost in one of my t.v. shows, the day isn’t so bad.

I love a good book, so I’m forever reading.  My book is coming one of these days.  I’m thankful for friends, like you, who won’t let me forget about my dream of being published one day.  I will tell you, I let FEAR rule me for years because it’s hard to let someone else read your stuff.  But as a good friend told me, you can’t get published if they don’t read it.

I’m moving past the fear.  I started my own blog – See Ya On The Net.  It’s my online journey with my writing – http://lashaunda.blogspot.com

I will be letting someone read one of my manuscripts in October.  I’m sure it needs a lot of work, but I’m ready for the challenge because I don’t want to leave this earth without a book with my name on the cover.

RAWSISTAZ: LaShaunda, thanks SO MUCH for everything you’ve done for the literary community.  You are to be commended for your passion to SORMAG and the literary community.  I’m looking forward to continued years of networking and seeing your name in on that book cover soon.