The Sunday Spotlight
Author Interview
Yesterday, author Samantha Combs shared her awesome novel with us and today we get to talk with her about her life, writing, and a whole host of other things!
Talking with Samantha
on
The Sunday Spotlight
Hi Samantha and welcome to my blog. Thanks so much for being willing to answer all my questions!
Firstly can you tell us a little about
yourself?
I am a Southern California writer with
nine published novels. I divide my time
pretty evenly between YA and NA paranormals, and adult horror.
Have you published any other novels, if
so can you share the details?
Of my novels, 5 are YA paranormals and 4
are horror, both Middle Grade and adult
Are you working on anything new right
now?
My current Work-in-Progress is called
Wingspan. Take a girl who learns she is
growing wings, mix in a government conspiracy, and long-lost relations, and
stir.
Can you offer any advice to the
fledgling authors, just starting out?
Get thick skin. Rejection is a necessary part of the process
and it’s hard. And it sucks. I taught a workshop this past weekend and was
questioned how I handled rejection. I
told them it enraged me and as a result, drove me to write better. Rejection must happen. Only then can you truly experience the joy of
acceptance.
Who is your all-time favourite author?
I am a horror writer and therefore offer
you the stock answer: Stephen King. I
love how he lulls you and reels you in with a sense of normalcy, until suddenly
you realize all is NOT well and it’s too late to get away now.
Do you have a favourite quote?
I have two. The first is a Persian quote: Now that the
barn has burned down, I can see the moon.
It has navigated me through some seriously crappy times, the promise
that the bad thing was for a reason and needed to happen to lead me to a better
place.
The second is my own: Write, publish, but be informed. I want all aspiring writers to never forget
that writing is a business and all businesses have bad apples. Research agents and publishers carefully, and
never, ever, pay to get your book published.
How do you come up with the Titles for
your novels?
The funny thing is I write the novel
around the title! I always think if it
first and then the story line follows. I
do a lot of things backwards. Sometimes,
I even write the last lines or chapter of a story and then thread the golden
needle backwards.
When working on your current novel,
were there any moments when you thought:- OMG what am I doing?
Um, every day?
Do you have a day job, other than
writing?
Yes.
Unfortunately there are so few people who know how famous I will become.
What is your preferred method of
writing:- The plot pre-planned from day
one, or just go with the flow and see what happens next?
Winging it!
If you don’t like a character you’re
writing about, what do you do?
a.
Kill them off instantly
b. Get over it and learn to like
them
c. Give them a whole new personality
d.
Give them one redeeming quality and then redeem them.
Do you like to write while listening to
music and if so, does your book have particular playlist you’d like to share?
No, but I have to have the television
on. I am a child of the small screen.
Which type of book do you prefer to
read?
a.
ebook
b. paperback
c.
hardback
Do you have any weird writing rituals? (Such
as, you can only start writing after you’ve scoffed all the choc-chip cookies
and drank 3 cups of coffee or only after you’ve listened to a certain song or
playlist?)
I can only write with my legs on the ottoman and my
laptop on my…wait for it….lap.
Do you have any input in the Cover
design of your novel?
Total control. My publishers are wonderful about including
my vision and creating my concept.
What is the best thing about writing
for you?
When I pound the keys for three hours and
only when I stop do I realize I had no idea this is where the story was going
three hours ago.
How long does it typically take you to
write a novel?
About two and a half months from Chapter
One to The End
How many hours a day do you dedicate to
your writing?
Anywhere from one to four hours,
depending.
Are you a:
a. Laptop Writer
b. Desktop Writer
c. iPad Writer
d. Pen and Paper Writer
Tell us one thing that no-one else
knows about you.
I can recite all 50 states in
alphabetical order
So there you have it, and the funny thing is, that we both have the same method, get the title then write the novel to suit! Awesome!
Thanks again Samantha
**~*~*~*~*~*~**
Connect with Samantha online
Fan Page:
Blog:
Twitter:
WRITE, PUBLISH, AND BE INFORMED!
**~*~*~*~*~*~**
Check
out all nine of her books:
SPELLBOUND
EVERSPELL
GHOSTLY
THE
DETENTION DEMON
TEETH
AND TALONS
WAY
PAST MIDNIGHT
WATERDANCER
HELLOWEEN
THE
DEADLIES
**~*~*~*~*~*~**
Thanks for stopping by today, and I hoped you enjoyed Samantha's interview.
Her novels look totally fabulous and I'll be adding them to my TBR list asap.
Let me know if you've read any and what you think!
I'll be back before you know it
Until then keep calm and have another cupcake
(Chocolate is my preference for today - YUM!)
Bella xx
