Author bio of Samantha March: Samantha March is an author, editor, publisher, blogger, and all around book lover. She runs the popular book/women’s lifestyle blog ChickLitPlus, which keeps her bookshelf stocked with the latest reads and up to date on all things health, fitness, fashion, and celebrity related. In 2011 she launched her independent publishing company Marching Ink and her debut novel Destined to Fail. When she isn’t reading, writing, or blogging, you can find her cheering for the Green Bay Packers.
Interview with Samantha March
What about the Chick Lit genre do you love the most? I love the main characters. I am big advocate for strong women, and even though some characters might start off unsure of themselves or confused with a certain situation, they always figure it out and get their happy ending!
Describe how writing/editing/publishing works for you? I love what I do, and while some call it a hobby, I take it very seriously. I have set hours, I have deadlines that I meet, and work hard every day – weekends included! I’ve always loved writing and creating stories for characters, and I’m sometimes in awe where that little idea has taken me to. Calling myself a freelance editor was a big deal for me; I enrolled in online courses to learn as much as I could and begged for clients to let me work for them for free in the beginning. And now I’m so busy I’ve had to (sadly!) turn some requests down. And then came launching Marching Ink, my independent publishing company. I love books, I love writing, I love it all. Being this busy and wearing so many hats works for me because this is my passion, and I never feel like I’m working!
You’re a very busy woman, take us through your busy day: Oh boy. Okay. It can change a lot, so I’ll just make it easy on myself and do the day that I am typing this, which happens to be a Thursday. I work 10-630 at my full-time job on Thursdays, which is for a hospital in my town. I do get to work from home, which is a great perk! But I woke up at 730 and hopped on the computer to tackle my emails, go through CLP Blog Tours, and make sure my scheduled post ran on time on Chick Lit Plus. I ate some breakfast and headed off to the gym. Once home I did a quick workout DVD (currently participating in Jillian Michael’s 30 Day Shred) showered, and then logged in to the hospital. On my lunch break I check out my emails again and get caught up. At 5 I welcome home my fiancé for a hot second before he leaves for his bowling league (he’s 24 – I swear!). Log off at 630 and eat some dinner, then really tackle my emails, work on blog tours, get the posts ready for CLP for Friday, and do all this while watching some wedding shows on TV – I’m getting married next September! I typically work on the computer until about 10 when my fiancé gets home, then I give my eyes a rest! That’s my fun-filled day 🙂
What has been your greatest challenge in your career? I would say getting started. I really wasn’t too sure what I was doing, and I was basically diving in blind. I didn’t even own a laptop when I got the idea to start Chick Lit Plus – which was the kick off to everything else. So learning how to create and manage a website was crazy hard for me!
You’re a Green Bay Packers fan! Brett Favre or Aaron Rodgers? Go Pack Go! My fiancé and I actually also just bought stock in the team last year 🙂 Just had to get that out there! I was a big Favre fan growing up (of course) but when the decision time came, I was all for Aaron. I was okay with looking towards the future instead of staying with the past, and um…look how that decision panned out 😉
Where is your favorite place to write? Just my office! It’s easier for me to write (and work) in my office because I don’t have any distractions there.
What or who helps you create ideas for your next book? Really just my mind. Characters and scenes jump into my head literally all the time, and I’ve started a running list with all the ideas that have come to me. I think a lot are inspired by my life and my friends, and I’m really passionate about telling stories that mean something to me.
As a writer, what is the item you must have with you at all times? It used to be a paper and pen, but now it’s my phone with the memo app. If I get an idea or hear something that I think would work in a book, I’ll type it in. I do also keep paper and pen by my bed for when I have an idea and my phone is out of reach charging!
Tell us about the most memorable highlight in your career: My most memorable moments are really just when I get told by a family member or friend how proud of me or how excited they are for me. It never fails to make me cry.
What is one thing that people would be surprised to know about you? Gosh that’s hard because I am to the point where I feel like I share everything! Maybe the fact that I don’t eat vegetables – I don’t like any of them!!
What is your favorite snack while working? Can I say ice cream? That’s my favorite all-time snack! I do try to eat healthier at home though, so I like to keep Special K Cereal Bars on hand – they are yummy!
Can you tell us about any of your upcoming projects? I am working on book number 3, starting the planning and researching for that now. My first two books are set in Iowa which is where I live, but the third will be out of state, so I am busy researching right now to get all those little details right 🙂
**Bonus question!
Congratulations on your engagement! How are the wedding plans going, and do you plan on writing about your journey as a bride-to-be through a fictional character? Thank you so much! I am very excited to get married next year 🙂 The wedding plans are coming along! It is a lot of work, but I have great friends and family members that are supporting and helping all the way. I have also started video blogging about the journey on CLP! I did actually intern with a wedding planner a few years back and always wanted to write a story where maybe the MC is a wedding planner, and this is just giving me more ideas to work with!
**Contact Samantha!
**Click HERE to read my 5 star review of “The Green Ticket!”