It's the final week of these Festive Fun with... features and today it's my pleasure to welcome author Lisa Hofmann into the hotseat.
Tell us a little bit about yourself.
Hi! I’m Lisa, and I live in Germany with my family, my cats, and an absurd number of ancient pet hens. When I’m not working in my day job as a primary school teacher, I write medieval fantasy for adults (English language). For some reason, this baffles most people who know me. I have to assume I rather give the impression I should be writing children’s books. Or horror. Also, I probably qualify for the title “Crazy Cat Lady” because when I call, “here kitty, kitty, kitty”, they all herekittykittykitty.
What are you most looking forward to this Christmas?
Just spending a few quiet days at home with my family, good food, and a few board games and books. I am SO boring that way. I don’t know why anyone puts up with me.
Do you have any favourite family Christmas traditions?
Lots! Generally, in normal years, we like going to the local Christmas Markets at the weekends, but they were cancelled last year, and it might not be such a good idea this year either, unfortunately. But we love baking biscuits, and we often start early, right around the time we begin decorating the house in November. We always set up a nice Advent wreath in the living room, and light one candle each Sunday in December. The Christmas tree only goes up a few days before Christmas, though. Also, we actually still enjoy singing Christmas carols, even though my kids are all teenagers now. Friends tell me this is a bit unusual, given their age, and the fact that we live in the age of Spotify and internet gaming. But I have to admit that two out of three of my children very obviously come after me. They’re history geeks, they play instruments, read huge books, drink cocoa, and they know things. The youngest doesn’t like history, but she’ll still sing Christmas carols with us. Peer pressure, I suppose. On Christmas Eve, we all go to Mass.
