Writer

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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.

FindingLucasCover **Buy “Finding Lucas”:

Amazon – eBook Amazon – Paperback Kobo

**Contact Samantha!:

Blog Business Website Facebook – Author Page

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About Jennifer: Smart, ambitious, and never willing to accept no for an answer. It’s what defines rising writer-director star Jennifer Brown-Thomas, and her drive is definitely paying off.

At just 25 years old, the book author and movie director phenom has her first novel, Blissful Lies, published, topping charts and on sale nationwide on e-books and at Barnes & Noble stores.

Certain to see her star shine all the way to Hollywood, Brown-Thomas’ talents were on display at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival, where she presented Blissful Lies the movie to arousing ovations. YTINIFNI Pictures, the widely acclaimed movie distribution company, noticed the artistic value in her work, and is now working on deals to bring the film to the big screen and television sets around the globe.

However, Blissful Lies is merely the start of the Brown-Thomas empire. The hard-working writer-director is also in the process of writing her second manuscript, Vindictive Grounds, which will also become a published novel.

And, she doesn’t stop there. Brown-Thomas has also partnered with fashionista and Runway Ready owner, Fanitsa Limberis, to form Limberis Brown Thomas Enterprises (LBT). Together, LBT plans to create a fragrance line, clothing line, coffee shop and more.

Often referred to by her friends and family as “Super Woman,” Brown-Thomas can really do it all — and, with a humble attitude – a trait she learned from Teenia Brown, her mom and manager.

Growing up an only child, Brown-Thomas found it easy to dream big with the unyielding support of those near and dear to her. Always on a mission to exceed expectations, she graduated a year early from High School, participated in many sports, and volunteered for youth organizations in the area. Now an alumna of Texas Christian University, she is enjoying post-graduate life as an author and director, wife and mother.

“I always knew she was driven, but I see now that when Jennifer sets her mind on something there’s just no stopping her. From the minute she sat down with her laptop to write the screenplay, I knew it was the start of something huge,” said Teenia.

Chapter 1 tease of “Blissful Lies”

It was a typical star-studded Los Angeles night; the streets were consumed with the bright lights of aspiring talent, major celebrities and an overall abundance of indulgent taste amongst the people walking in and out of some of the most luxurious restaurants and shops in town. It was typical, however, for everyone except Addison Hamilton. Tonight was a celebration and the night she would publicly accept the great honor of being named the first woman Chancellor of the ivy-league educational institution, Brown-Thomas University, a goal she strived to achieve for most of her adult life.

At the age of forty-five Addison was not only successful and brilliant; she was stunningly beautiful, a pillar of her community, hardworking, talented and confidant. She was the kind of person every woman would fail to live up to, and every man would fail to conquer. She married her high school sweetheart and the love of her life, Spencer Hamilton, just out of college. Together they shared one flawless son, Parker. As the limousine pulled up to the grand ballroom and the driver opened her door, she gracefully stepped out and paused for a moment before walking in. She couldn’t help but think that every dream she ever had for herself, at this moment, had officially been realized. She entered the ballroom to find herself surrounded by over five hundred people waiting to welcome her into her most recent accomplishment. As she walked in, every guest leapt to their feet and a thunderous applause imploded the four walls of the ballroom. This was it… the perfect night to accompany her picture perfect existence.

After a short meet and greet, everyone was asked to take their seats as Dr. Jim Crawford approached the podium. “It’s been a long journey for our University, to find the next person who will honor and cherish the value of our institution, as we all do, and hold its future in the highest regard. But we found her.” The crowd began applauding again with an astounding amount of support.

“With that said I would like to introduce the new Chancellor of Brown-Thomas University, Dr. Addison Hamilton.” Addison emerged from her table of family and friends and approached the stage.

“Thank you, Dr. Crawford, and thank each and every one of you for being here with me tonight. It is an overwhelmingly incredible honor to be named the next Chancellor of Brown-Thomas University and one I do not take lightly. From this point forward I will strive to instill in all of our prospective and current students, the true value of an education.” She paused for an instant as she noticed her husband eagerly excusing himself from the table to answer a phone call. She wondered, at that moment, what was more important than she was? With the crowd waiting, she continued, “I will dedicate myself entirely to the continued prosperity of Brown-Thomas University as well as its faculty, staff and students. So I’d like to thank all of you again for the opportunity to serve my community, my students and my Alma Mater, Brown-Thomas University. Thank you.” She eloquently waved to the crowd and excused herself from the stage, focusing solely on returning to her table to address her husband’s brief disappearance.

As she sat down to rejoin her group, Spencer kissed her on the cheek. It was obvious to her that something was amiss. After all, they had been married for close to twenty-five years and she thought she knew him better than anyone else. “So? How was I?” She asked with a gleaming sense of attitude, knowing he had missed part of her speech while taking his phone call. “You were amazing honey, we are so proud of you.” He smiled charmingly. “So then what the hell was so important it couldn’t wait Spencer?” She asked with that Addison Hamilton force and attitude that made grown men instantly long for their mothers.

“The office called, I have to be in Boston tonight.” He recited with absolutely no remorse for excluding himself from her important evening.

“Spencer!” she exclaimed with disgust.

“I’m sorry Addison, but this is business. It is not negotiable.” An awkward silence consumed the table as Kate stepped up to break the ice. “Hey, um, Kinsley and I are going to do some serious retail therapy tomorrow. Come with us.”

Addison set her napkin on the table as she responded, “Thanks girls, but I have a lot of work to do tomorrow.” She paused momentarily as she glared at Spencer, “If you’ll excuse me, this is a very significant night for me and I have guests to greet.” She angrily excused herself from the table leaving Parker, Kate and their best friends, Jackson, Kinsley and Leighton sitting to witness this monstrosity of what started out to be such a promising evening.

Parker sat in shock of hearing his dads’ holier-than-thou attitude, “Dad?”

“Parker, do not start with me. I can’t help it. I have business to attend to and I refuse to apologize for doing my job.”

**Contact Jennifer Brown-Thomas: