"If Only..." by Erika Hoffman

 – I have loved you dearly.

I cannot immerse myself in memories. My grief differs.

Erika Hoffman of Chatham County, North Carolina, has been writing with the goal of publication for 12 years. She’s been published 430 times in venues such as anthologies, newspapers, magazines, and ezines. Her niche is the non-fiction narrative although she has written novels. Erika received her undergraduate and graduate degrees from Duke University where she met her husband. Besides teaching high school, Erika kept busy raising four children.  She belongs to a few writing groups: NC Writers Network, Carteret Writers, and TAF.

Author’s Talk

Erika Hoofman

Mostly, I pen inspirational, non-fiction essays that appear in anthologies such as Chicken Soup for the Soul or in regional magazines like Sasee of Myrtle Beach. I’ve had my advice on writing humor appear in The Writer as well as essays on the craft published in the online Funds for Writers Magazine and Author Magazine.   For a few years, I wrote a column on writing for the section called The Writers’ Table in the ezine Page & Spine. Additionally, for five years, I taught a course for OLLI at Duke University on composing the personal essay. I’ve also hosted workshops for Carteret Writers in Morehead City, NC and also was a presenter for the Triangle Area Freelancers Conference Write Now in 2019. Although my niche seems to be the non-fiction narrative, I’ve crafted fictional stories which have been featured in Deadly Ink Anthologies, Tough Lit. Magazines,  Page & Spine, and the TAF anthology called Omnibus. In toto, I’ve had over 430 pieces published. And, been paid for most of them. After my non-fiction essays are published, I compile them into collections which are available for purchase on Amazon: My Sassy Life; More Sassy Stories; The Most Sassy Stories; Erika’s Take on Writing; Erika’s Take 2 on Writing; Erika’s Take 3 on Writing; Erika’s Take on Travel. I used to publish in religious magazines too such as Mature Years, Mature Living, Celebrate Life, Australian Catholics, Evangel, Living Together. 

March 1, 2019 Library Partners Press of Wake Forest University published my mystery Why Mama because publication was the first-place prize for the contest they sponsored in 2018. 

Prior to writing, I taught public high school for ten years and raised four children. My degrees are from Duke University. I reside with my husband in Chatham County, North Carolina. 

Although I am proud of my career and writing accomplishments, I am proudest of my children and grandchildren. 

The story featured in Lost and Found is not typical of what I usually create.  I’ve a tendency to see the humor in life. But this tragedy left me feeling confused, utterly sad, and unable to know how to comfort my devastated daughter. It’s a poignant tale.  I guess the inspirational message I want my readers to take away is to cherish life, feel gratitude for every baby delivered, and to know how lucky one is to cradle a live child who will bring you joy for the rest of your life. Babies are miracles. I still mourn the loss. I guess I always will.—Erika Hoffman