Interview with Author Samantha Combs

As many of you know I have recently signed up with Astraea Press. One reason for my excitement was that I am now amongst a wonderful group of very, very talented writers.

Today I have the pleasure to introduce you to Samantha Combs, author of "Spellbound". The blurb reads:

Logan Daniels has always led a sheltered life in sleepy, predictable Lancaster, New Hampshire. But when beautiful Serena suddenly appears at school one day, his comfortable existence becomes anything but as he finds himself falling in love with her. There’s something special about Serena Starr. He realizes what it is when he sees her unleash her spells. Soon, a mysterious and foreboding presence settles over his placid home.

Logan and Serena find themselves battling darkness and evil with an ominous mission: it wants Serena and will stop at nothing to have her. Tearing apart Logan’s town, threatening his friends, even causing harm to his family, the demon will spread its doom over every facet of Logan’s once placid life. Logan matures in ways he could never have imagined as he struggles to protect those he loves, including Serena. But he can't do it alone.

Serena hails from a long line of able and powerful women who will aide in the battle and perhaps settle a score of their own. The strength of the coven and Serena's love will be behind him, but ultimately this is Logan’s fight to win. But, will he?

Q: Tell me about your book. How did you come up with that?

A:  My five year old kept telling me she wanted to marry Edward the vampire! LOL. I got tired of hearing that so I asked her what if mommy wrote a book, what should I write about? Without hesitation, she goes “Witches, momma!” So I sat down and intended to write her a little story for bedtime. I guess the muse was lurking and waiting to pounce. Once I started writing, she grabbed me, unleashed the characters, they all got in the car and took over.

Q: How did you get interested in writing this particular genre?

A: I don’t feel like a forty-something mom. In my head I feel like a teen so I guess that's why the genre, YA, comes to me naturally. Also, there is absolutely nothing paranormal ANYTHING in my life, so the idea of something supernatural and fantastical is so delicious, its so fun to write about it.

Q: Did you have to do any kind of research for this book?

A: This book is set in Lancaster, New Hampshire and I visited there once (to visit an old boyfriend, whatever, move on), so the only research I actually had to do was remembering the names of some of the places and street names. Most of the rest of it I have personally visited. And I have actually been to the Old Man in the Mountain before the natural accident caused the face to fall off. (now those of you from the Northeast know I am telling the truth about my age!)

Q: What is the hardest part of writing for you?

A: Sometimes it is giving myself over to the idea that I don’t know where the story arc is going. I am what is called a “pantser” writer, or a seat-of-the-pants writer, meaning I don’t outline or plot my story. I basically think I know where I want the story to go, sit at the laptop, then sort of come to a couple hours later. I read over what I wrote and am amazed the story went NOWHERE where I thought it might, yet I am thrilled with the direction. Sometimes I think that sounds slightly insane, but aren’t all writers a bit nuts anyway? As solitary an endeavour as writing is, don’t we all pace, and mutter to ourselves and celebrate our victories when no one is in the room? (Please all say yes!)

Q: What’s the best thing about being an author? 

A: Having a thought or feeling or idea and being able to express it so perfectly in words that it almost brings you to tears.

Q: What are you working on now? 

A: Two YA paranormals at once, one about a vampire hunter (not done to death yet!) and one about a girl whose father was a sea creature. I write in whichever one I feel like. It’s like shoes. I decide which one I want to put on that day. Otherwise I get bored and start to hate the one pair.

Q: What advice would you give aspiring writers?

A: If you don’t write every day, don’t beat yourself up. It means you’re not supposed to. If you force it, you will just end up deleting it the next day and be that much farther behind. I write when I am moved to. Happily, I am moved to a lot. My muse is a bitchy, slave driving sort. LOL

Q: Do you have any favorite authors or favorite books?

A: I love Stephen King. My current favourite book is Saving CeeCee Honeycutt, by Beth Hoffman. I screamed with laughter.

 
Q: What question have you always wanted to be asked in an interview? How would you answer that question? 

A: I always wanted to be asked in an interview what would be the most wonderful thing to happen to you as an author? Here is the answer: To be in a book reading attended entirely by children and have a mom come up to me and say “My child never liked reading until he/she read your book. Thank you for introducing my child to books.”

Thank you very much, Samantha, for taking the time to take part in this interview. I love your last answer - it is so true!

Samantha Combs' "Spellbound" is available at Astraea Press, Amazon and other online bookstores. Please spare a few minutes to check out this wonderful book - I'm sure you won't regret it!

I would also like to congratulate Samantha on her second book (WIP - Juice and the High School Ghost) which is going to be released with Astraea Press as well and selling another book to Aspen Mountain Press, through their new imprint Aura Spec-fic.