About author, Samantha Stroh Bailey: Samantha has been a writer ever since she could pick up a pen. In fact, she even sent her first manuscript, Freddy the Flame, to publishers when she was ten years old. Sadly, it was rejected, but a lifelong passion to write was born.
After 15 years of teaching ESL to adults, including at the University of Toronto, she decided to live her dreams of being a fulltime writer and editor. Now the owner of Perfect Pen Communications, she not only gets to write novels, but also writes and edits for magazines, websites, businesses, students and other authors. Her work has appeared in Now Magazine, The Village Post, Oxford University Press, Abilities Magazine, on mommyish.com and many other publications. Samantha also has a Master of Education in Applied Linguistics that looks really nice on her wall. Okay, in a box in her basement. She lives in Toronto with her husband and two children. Finding Lucas is her first novel.
Samantha loves to hear from readers! Connect with her!
Blog: http://samanthastrohbailey.blogspot.ca/
Twitter: @perfectpen
INTERVIEW
Describe yourself in five sentences: Ridiculously tiny, I am five feet tall with my hair up and my six year old son is now gaining on me. I am afraid of heights, snakes, thunder and not accomplishing everything I want to. People often call me a fireball because I have enough energy to power a small city, and I love nothing more than spending time with my friends and family. I and warm, gushy and talkative, but I am also a good listener who people know they can trust.
Salty or sweet? Salty!
You knew you were a writer when…: As a little girl, I created characters who were nicer to me than the kids at school.
What are you reading right now? I’m just finishing Saving Saffron Sweeting by Pauline Wiles. I adore the mix of American and British vernacular, and the story is funny, heartwarming and addictive. I love it!
A typical day for you involves…: Waking up early, kissing my kids and husband, making breakfast and lunches, getting the kids ready for school, making more coffee and opening my laptop. I check my emails, sales ranks for Finding Lucas, connect with my online world and start writing and editing for my clients. I also spend at least an hour a day if I can revising my WIP.
How did you come up with the title of “Finding Lucas”? I actually find it very hard to think of great titles, but that one just came to me.
Who is your favorite author? I have so many favorites who have inspired me to write. At the top of my list are: Jennifer Weiner, Marian Keyes, Sophie Kinsella, Eileen Goudge, Ernest Hemingway, Jill Mansell, Jane Fallon…the list goes on and on. I have also come to admire and respect the talent of so many of the Goddesses.
What is the writing/editing/publishing process like for you? Long. 🙂 I usually come up with my plot ideas late at night and I’m a very organic writer. I need to get a good chunk of the story from my head onto the paper before I can even think about editing. And, as a professional editor, it is very hard for me not to constantly edit myself. Once I have the gist of the story, I then go back and edit. Write more. Edit. Once I feel I have a story ready for my incredible beta readers, I send it, wanting them to tear it apart. I go back and revise and edit and then send it to an editor for a thorough look. Then I edit it again. And again.
A writer must have…: Confidence.
Where is your favorite place to write? My kitchen/office. Above my desk, there is a wall filled with my kids’ drawings.
Hard/paperbacks or eBooks? If you’d asked me this a year ago, I would have said paperbacks all the way. But since publishing on Amazon and Kobo, I have become quite attached to my e-reader. Nothing can beat the smell of a new book and the feeling of turning the pages, but taking my ereader everywhere with me, even in a diaper bag, is fantastic.
Can you tell us about any of your upcoming projects? I’m working on Everything But, my second novel, which is contemporary women’s fiction. It’s about a woman who risks her marriage and closest friendship to have the baby she never thought she wanted. It’s a story that I hope will resonate with anyone who has ever struggled to have a child.
**Additional comments by Samantha: Thank you so much for having me, Isabella. When I found the Chick Lit Goddesses, I met the warmest, kindest and most supportive group of authors. I have an amazing family and the bestest of friends, but no one but a writer can truly understand what writing and publishing is like. I am so grateful to you for founding the group.
**Buy “Finding Lucas”:
Amazon – eBook Amazon – Paperback Kobo
**Contact Samantha!:
Great interview! Sam, I really think “Freddy the Flame” could be part of your backlist 🙂 If you wrote it, I’d read it!
Thank you, Martha! I’ll just have to re-write it then.
Samantha Stroh Bailey
Sam really is very tiny. When she was in NY, Meredith Schorr and I took turns carrying her around in our purses.
They were very big purses.
Haha. The purses weren’t THAT big, Sam 🙂
I’m an organic writer too, Sam. Great interview really visual.
Thank you, Margaret! I’m always amazed by writers with flow charts and very detailed outlines. I wish my head was that organized!
Samantha Stroh Bailey
I want to know more about EVERYTHING BUT. When will readers get their hot little hands on it? Fall 2013? Spring 2014? Summer 2014? Please don’t make us wait any longer than that. Loved FINDING LUCAS. Gotta get me more books by Samantha Stroh Bailey. (No pressure!)
Maybe you can release a teaser excerpt in advance of the book release? Please? Pretty please?
Say, if you scroll up, I’m that lime green blob next to the “like” buttons that bloggers push. Lovely. Always wanted to be a lime green blob.
You are so much more than a lime green blob, Julie. You are my angel. I’ll definitely let you know when I’m ready to release something. 🙂 I hope all of my readers feel like you do!
Samantha Stroh Bailey
Samantha, loved reading all about you! You’re talented, smart, gorgeous, and your on-line presence is very kind. Such a good thing. Looking forward to your next novel!
P.S. I had such fun reading the comments, too… who knew that you would fit in someone’s purse? LOL
~ Kathleen
Kathleen, I am printing this comment so I can read it all day. Wow. Thank you so much! I’m so glad I’ve gotten to know you a bit and think you are so lovely, kind and talented.
Samantha Stroh Bailey
Great interview. Cool that you can keep an ereader in a diaper bag. 🙂
I know readers are going to love Everything But! You’re a fabulous storyteller and a great friend!!
Ditto, Jackie! You can carry almost anything in a diaper bag. And trust me, I have!
Samantha Stroh Bailey
Love the interview ladies! Can’t wait to read more from you Sam 🙂
Thank you, Samantha, for your support, love and for simply being the amazing person you are.
Samantha Stroh Bailey
Fabulous interview! I totally had a LOL moment when I pictured ten year old Sam sending Freddie the Flame off to publishers. Classic!! 🙂
You should have seen that 10 year old face when it got rejected. Thanks, Libby!
Sam is a tiny body with a HUGE heart and GIANT talent.
Oh, Meredith, do you know how much I love you? I feel exactly the same way about you. I’m so excited for Blogger Girl to be released because it is AMAZING.