Lee Hoffman
Shirley Lee Hoffman, born on August 14, 1932, in Chicago, Illinois, was a notable American author renowned for her contributions to the Western and science fiction genres. Raised in Savannah, Georgia, Hoffman developed an early passion for storytelling, writing short Westerns for her classmates and later pursuing a career in writing after graduating from Armstrong Junior College in 1951. Her writing career gained momentum in the early 1960s when she connected with influential figures in the publishing industry, leading to the publication of her first Western novel, *Bred to Kill*, and her most acclaimed work, *The Valdez Horses*, which was adapted into the film *Chino*.
Hoffman was recognized for her ability to create compelling characters and engaging plots, often blending elements from different genres, such as in her novel *The Caves of Karst*. Throughout her career, she received several accolades, including the Spur Award for the best Western novel of 1967 and recognition in the science fiction community, where she was honored at conventions. Despite her success, Hoffman faced challenges in the male-dominated publishing world, and her gender-neutral name helped her gain acceptance among a broader audience. By the end of her career, she had established herself as one of the most successful female writers in the Western genre.
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Lee Hoffman
Writer
- Born: August 14, 1932
- Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois
- Died: February 6, 2007
Biography
Shirley Lee Hoffman was born on August 14, 1932, in Chicago, Illinois, to William Ellwood Hoffman and Vera Leola Ray Hoffman. She was their only daughter. The Hoffmans moved briefly to Lake Worth, Florida, and then returned to their earlier home in Savannah, Georgia. Lee was educated in the public schools there. In 1951, she graduated from Armstrong Junior College in Savannah. In 1956, Lee Hoffman was married to Larry Shaw, a science fiction writer and editor. They were later divorced.
Hoffman had started making up stories when she was still very young. By the time she was in seventh grade, she was turning out short Westerns and passing them around to her classmates. As a child, she had also developed a passion for ponies and horses. Hoffman often drew on her knowledge of horses and horsemanship in writing her Western novels.
At Armstrong, Hoffman also became interested in science fiction. Her first venture into publishing was a mimeographed science fiction magazine for fans. While she was living in New York with her husband, she developed a new enthusiasm, folk music, and published a highly successful fanzine on that subject. However, her main support came from secretarial jobs that she loathed. Although for years Hoffman had worked on Western novels, none of them had ever appeared in print; her only publications to date were a few picture articles about go-kart racing.
Hoffman’s big break came in the early 1960’s, when she started attending meetings at the Brooklyn home of Ted White, a writer whose brother Terry was assistant editor at Ace Books. After selling a Western to Ace, Hoffman acquired an agent. When he told her that Ballantine had bought Bred to Kill, Hoffman decided to devote all her time to writing. Her next novel, and her most successful, was The Valdez Horses. It was adapted for the film Chino (1973), starring Charles Bronson and Jill Ireland. The fact that Hoffman’s name, Lee, was gender-neutral undoubtedly made her Westerns acceptable to the male audience for which they were designed. However, they owed their popularity to the fact that they had convincing characters, fast action, and well-sustained suspense.
In 1967, Hoffman published the first of four science fiction novels. Again, critics commented on her gift for characterization and plotting. They also noted the way she successfully melded genres, for example, in The Caves of Karst, which resembled a Western. In 1971, Hoffman moved to Port Charlotte, Florida, where her parents lived. During the decade that followed, she wrote one more science fiction novel and a number of Westerns.
Hoffman received a Spur Award from the Western Writers of America for The Valdez Horses, which was chosen the best Western novel of 1967. While she was also recognized for her science fiction writing, as when she was a guest of honor at World Science Fiction Convention in 1982, Hoffman was best known as an outstanding writer of Westerns and as probably the most successful woman writer in that genre.