The Novel
Title: Behind Green Glass
Author: Amanda Von Hoffmann
Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal, Faeries, Young Adult
Take a look at my review for Behind Green Glass.
Isolde is a shy and artistic sixteen-year-old who moves into a house rumored to be haunted. When she discovers a shard of green glass, a new world opens for her. Through the glass she sees Lyric, who mistakenly believes that he is a ghost, and other ethereally beautiful creatures. As their mystery unfolds, Isolde learns that they are not ghosts, but The Forgotten Ones, fairies cast out of their realm, labeled imperfect for their physical and mental differences. Isolde’s friendship with Lyric and The Forgotten Ones teaches her that sometimes our “imperfections” can also be our greatest strengths.
The Interview
1) Hello Amanda! I really enjoyed reading your novel Behind Green Glass. What inspired you to start writing, and how long have you been writing?
Thank you. I fell in love with writing in the second grade. My teacher, Mrs. Hanley, gave me my first creative writing assignment. I wrote a detailed story about a mouse astronaut visiting a moon made of cheese. I remember standing in front of class hurriedly reading my story, my face burning with embarrassment. Mrs. Hanley ordered me to “speak up and slow down!” Then, she told me that I had written a wonderful story. Praise from Mrs. Hanley was rare, so it meant a lot. I wish I still had that mouse story!
From 6th-12th grade I was homeschooled. I spent many hours reading and writing, imagining life outside of my rural town. Books offer a wonderful escape from routine.
2) I was so glad that Isolde, the main character in Behind Green Glass, isn’t the generic stereotype feisty, stubborn and overly confident heroine. On the contrary, she is a shy, kind and artistic person. Did you choose this set of personality traits on purpose, and if so, why?
I believe there are many girls in the world like Isolde—girls that are shy, kind and find it easier to express their innermost feelings through art instead of social interaction. I am a girl like Isolde, except I express myself through writing instead of painting. I think that introverts sometimes live vicariously through their friends and worry that life is passing them by. I wanted to give a shy girl her own adventure, challenging her to find and appreciate her strengths.
3) Another thing I thoroughly enjoyed about your novel was the original and innovative way in which you portray your faeries. Rather than the mischievous, deal-making and deal-breaking type of faeries we see all too often in mythology and other young adult novels, you created kind, friendly and good-hearted faeries. Was this a conscious choice?
It was a conscious choice. Like Isolde, The Forgotten Ones don’t fit their stereotype. They are outcasts, making their own rules. The villainous faeries in Behind Green Glass are the ones that either abuse their power or blindly follow their society’s rules.
4) My favorite characters were Isolde and Lyric. Who was your favorite character to write?
I really enjoyed writing some of the secondary characters like Damarion and Maria. If I write a sequel, I think I’ll spend more time with them.
5) When you are working on a novel, what does your writing schedule look like?
I wish my writing was more scheduled than it is! I tend to write during my lunch breaks at work and on weekend mornings while my daughter is eating pancakes and watching cartoons. I dream about a writing sabbatical.
6) Are you currently working on another novel? Maybe a sequel for Behind Green Glass? (I would definitely read the sequel!)
I’m working on another novel, but it isn’t a sequel to Behind Green Glass. Maybe I’ll write a sequel or prequel to Behind Green Glass in the future. Right now, I’m working on a YA steampunk novel. I’m having fun writing it. Thank you for the lovely review, Majanka.
The Author
Thanks for this. This book definitely seems like something both I and my Not-So-Bebe-Girl Autumn would love. I like the idea of faerie outcasts who are ‘good guys’ and most of us are still shy people inside, even if other people can’t tell.