Interview with author Samantha Christy

1 – Have you always wanted to be a writer?

Not in the overall scheme of things. Eight years ago, I was an avid romance reader. It was a New Year’s Resolution/bucket-list kind of thing where I wanted to see if I could write a book. I had NO idea about publishing or self-publishing. I wrote it just to see if I could. I never intended to do anything with it. But then I showed it to my sister who said I had to try and publish it. So I looked into it and discovered it was easy to do it myself. That was my first book, Be My Reason. It took me 3 years to make writing a full-time career. Now it supports my family, and my husband runs the business side of things. Moral of the story: don’t be afraid to do something totally outside the box, it may lead to living your wildest dreams!

2 – When you start a book series – do you know the couples who will appear in the following books? Do you know what the plot will be?

When I start a new series, I know who the primary character will be (if it’s a brothers series, I know who each of the brothers are; if it’s a firefighter series, I know exactly which firefighters will appear). I don’t always know the love interest of the second and third books – that will come to me later. I also don’t necessarily know the plot. However, in the upcoming series I’m planning, I DO know the plots for all of the books – which takes a lot of the burden off me to come up with them later.

3 – Did you write a book and decide not to publish it?

Not an entire book. I have a few half- or partially-written books that I hope to get back to someday.

4 – By what do you choose a cover for a book?

Good question. Over the years, I’ve changed the covers of many of my books. When I first started writing, I picked covers to match the story (a piece of abstract art for Abstract Love; a letter on the steps of a building for Purple Orchids). And while that worked eight years ago, today there is so much competition in the romance industry, you really need to go with what’s the most appealing to readers. In my genre that means a very attractive man on the cover. Haha!

5 – Where did you get the inspiration for the stories?

I try to write about real problems. I tackle difficult issues in my books such as illness, death of a spouse or child, even sexual assault. I believe happiness can come out of tragedy and I always strive to write about the issues with grace and empathy as I know there are so many readers who have lived through their own battles. Most of my ideas come to me in the middle of the night, so I’ll often hop out of bed and jot notes down so I don’t forget.

6 – Who is your favorite couple you wrote about?

That’s like asking which of my children is my favorite. Typically, my favorite couple is the last one I wrote about. So right now, that’s Quinn and Amber from Texas Roses (book to be published in January).

7 – How long does it take you to write one book?

It varies. I’ve written a full-length novel in as little as three weeks. But I usually allow about six to eight just to be safe. Then it takes months of editing, beta reading, proofing, etc. So from start to finish, about four months.

8 – What is your favorite genre to read?

I love reading my own genre (new adult romance), but I also have a weakness for post-apocalyptic fiction, not zombies, just end-of-the-world stuff. And space fiction. Andy Weir and A.G. Riddle are some of my favorites.

9 – If you could turn one of your books into a movie – which book would you choose?

That’s a tough one. Maybe Igniting Ivy. She went through so much tragedy. And I love the flashbacks into her past, even though they are difficult. The plot twist, the adventure, the ending! Second to that one, I’d love to see the Reckless Series, because who doesn’t love movies about rock stars?