Ask the Author: Samantha Young
Answered Questions (19)
Samantha Young
Hi Crystal, thanks so much! As for Beck and Claudia from 'Into the Deep'... well at the moment I have no plans in my writing schedule for their story, however, I never say never! It is still a story I may return to if/when inspiration strikes :)
Samantha Young
Hi Jessica,
As Castle Hill is a novella it is digital only on its own. However, you can find it published in the back of the US paperback edition of Fall From India Place.
As Castle Hill is a novella it is digital only on its own. However, you can find it published in the back of the US paperback edition of Fall From India Place.
Samantha Young
Hi Ashley,
Thanks for your question. One of my favourite scenes is from On Dublin Street when Joss finally gives into the idea that Ellie has become family and she'll be there for her no matter what. When I was writing the scene she holds her hand while they fall asleep crying, I bawled my eyes out.
As for you second question... honestly we're not a family of cooks! But my dad is a good baker and he taught me to bake when I was a little. I have very fond memories of making a mess of the kitchen while making scones!
Thanks for your question. One of my favourite scenes is from On Dublin Street when Joss finally gives into the idea that Ellie has become family and she'll be there for her no matter what. When I was writing the scene she holds her hand while they fall asleep crying, I bawled my eyes out.
As for you second question... honestly we're not a family of cooks! But my dad is a good baker and he taught me to bake when I was a little. I have very fond memories of making a mess of the kitchen while making scones!
Samantha Young
Hi Kimberly. My current plans are for six novels in the Hart's Boardwalk series. :)
Samantha Young
Hi Pauline. Thank you! I'm so happy you're enjoying Hart's Boardwalk.
I like to concentrate on writing one book at a time, however, that doesn't mean I don't have ideas for other books and characters running around in my head at the same time. I've usually got upwards to three other book ideas bopping around in the background of my brain while I'm working on one. As for characters... I tend to have many in there, especially when I'm working on a series. Even when I'm concentrating on my main character, the secondary characters are all telling me their story, impatiently waiting for me to get around to telling it for them :)
I like to concentrate on writing one book at a time, however, that doesn't mean I don't have ideas for other books and characters running around in my head at the same time. I've usually got upwards to three other book ideas bopping around in the background of my brain while I'm working on one. As for characters... I tend to have many in there, especially when I'm working on a series. Even when I'm concentrating on my main character, the secondary characters are all telling me their story, impatiently waiting for me to get around to telling it for them :)
Samantha Young
Hi Lisa. Keep in mind that there will always be readers with whom certain sex words work and with whom certain sex words don't work. So knowing that I think the best thing to do is to use words that you are comfortable with. If you read a word in a book and find it silly then don't go with it. Go with whatever works for you. :)
Samantha Young
Hi Georgia,
Writing is very personal, and my biggest tip is to keep it that way. Try to be as authentic as possible in your writing. No matter what genre you're writing in as a writer, and as a reader, I think it's really important that you connect with the characters. The best way for a writer to make sure readers can connect with the characters is to take time building those characters in planning stages. I always put something real into a character - whether it be my experience or a friend or family member's experience; or even something as simple as giving them a quirk that I have or that a friend has. From there it's important to think about your character's personality and their history. How has their history informed their character, and vice versa. And how will they react to events within your book - because that reaction will drive a plot, too. So it's also important to think of your character in line with your plot because one will affect the other. I guess that's my longwinded way of saying I truly believing plotting and planning is incredibly useful for writing a book. As you write, of course, the characters and inspiration can take you off course and that's okay. It's good to be flexible too.
:)
Best,
Samantha
Writing is very personal, and my biggest tip is to keep it that way. Try to be as authentic as possible in your writing. No matter what genre you're writing in as a writer, and as a reader, I think it's really important that you connect with the characters. The best way for a writer to make sure readers can connect with the characters is to take time building those characters in planning stages. I always put something real into a character - whether it be my experience or a friend or family member's experience; or even something as simple as giving them a quirk that I have or that a friend has. From there it's important to think about your character's personality and their history. How has their history informed their character, and vice versa. And how will they react to events within your book - because that reaction will drive a plot, too. So it's also important to think of your character in line with your plot because one will affect the other. I guess that's my longwinded way of saying I truly believing plotting and planning is incredibly useful for writing a book. As you write, of course, the characters and inspiration can take you off course and that's okay. It's good to be flexible too.
:)
Best,
Samantha
Samantha Young
Hey Sona, thank you! I'm so happy you enjoyed The One Real Thing. As for bringing characters from different series together, that's a definite possibility when you're self-published. However with traditionally published series' like ODS and Hart's Boardwalk, I'd have to get permission from my publisher to use those characters in any other series. It would be fun though to have Jake and Charley vacation at Hart's Inn though, right!
Samantha Young
Hi! Thanks for your question. As for Jack... well... hmm... I just might. Watch this space ;)
Samantha Young
Hi there, thanks for your question. I loved writing Henry so I'm glad you enjoyed him! Hero was a standalone so I don't have any current plans to write a story for Nadia and Henry. I never say never though!
Samantha Young
Hi Lisa,
Thanks so much for your question.
I based the book in Boston because it has always been my number one destination in the States. Everything I've read about it or seen on Television has made me want to visit. It's rich with American history and the people seemed awesome. I was lucky enough to visit when researching HERO last year, and Boston was everything I expected it to be. Amazing, warm people, beautiful city, yummy food and lots to see and learn! I visited Harvard and I got to go to Fenway for a Red Sox game! That was so surreal and fantastic. It's a city I felt immediately at home in, and that doesn't happen to me a lot. :)
Thanks so much for your question.
I based the book in Boston because it has always been my number one destination in the States. Everything I've read about it or seen on Television has made me want to visit. It's rich with American history and the people seemed awesome. I was lucky enough to visit when researching HERO last year, and Boston was everything I expected it to be. Amazing, warm people, beautiful city, yummy food and lots to see and learn! I visited Harvard and I got to go to Fenway for a Red Sox game! That was so surreal and fantastic. It's a city I felt immediately at home in, and that doesn't happen to me a lot. :)
Samantha Young
Hi Lena,
Thanks so much for your question!
It takes me a few days to get the chapter histories and plot summary down. It's usually only a few hours to write the first few chapter summaries, and once those are written I start writing the book. I usually write five chapter summaries, and then move to my laptop to write those up in the book, and then I write another five chapter summaries, write those up, and so on and so on. It takes me between two and three months to write a novel :)
Thanks so much for your question!
It takes me a few days to get the chapter histories and plot summary down. It's usually only a few hours to write the first few chapter summaries, and once those are written I start writing the book. I usually write five chapter summaries, and then move to my laptop to write those up in the book, and then I write another five chapter summaries, write those up, and so on and so on. It takes me between two and three months to write a novel :)
Samantha Young
Hi Hazel, thanks so much! I love reading and writing paranormal fiction, but for now I am focused on contemporary writing. However, I hope to return to paranormal/urban fantasy at some point in the future. I've written in that genre for a YA audience, and I'd really love to write it for the adult audience next.
Samantha Young
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Samantha Young
Hi Sheree,
Thank you so much. I'm delighted you enjoyed HERO.
As for Declan... I announced a little while ago on Facebook that I would, unfortunately, not be giving Declan a story of his own. I know! I brought it up because a few readers had asked for his story. However, I've never really connected with Declan. To me he will always be an annoying little brother type. If I can't connect to him as a hero, I won't be able to do justice to his story. I have to be in love with my hero as much as I want my readers to be and I just feel a fond affection and sometimes annoyance for Declan. His story will be all tied up in my book, MOONLIGHT ON NIGHTINGALE WAY. It's next up, coming soon June 2015. Now Logan, the hero of MONW, is one of my favourite heroes ever. I am in madly in love with him! So hopefully that means my readers will fall for him too :)
Thank you so much. I'm delighted you enjoyed HERO.
As for Declan... I announced a little while ago on Facebook that I would, unfortunately, not be giving Declan a story of his own. I know! I brought it up because a few readers had asked for his story. However, I've never really connected with Declan. To me he will always be an annoying little brother type. If I can't connect to him as a hero, I won't be able to do justice to his story. I have to be in love with my hero as much as I want my readers to be and I just feel a fond affection and sometimes annoyance for Declan. His story will be all tied up in my book, MOONLIGHT ON NIGHTINGALE WAY. It's next up, coming soon June 2015. Now Logan, the hero of MONW, is one of my favourite heroes ever. I am in madly in love with him! So hopefully that means my readers will fall for him too :)
Samantha Young
Hi Ramona, thanks so much for your question!
For me it depends. For instance with On Dublin Street Joss's character came to me first. She's a very personal, real character for me and I wanted my debut into contemporary romance to be as authentic as possible. I started with her and then I built Braden around her to be the kind of man that could break through her high defences.
With Echoes of Scotland Street, however, Cole was the hero I'd already spent several books developing, so his heroine had to be built around him and what he needed, and thus Shannon was born! It's all about creating couples who make each other better in some way, and give each other something that no one else has been able to before. That's what makes their love so special and hopefully so real.
For me it depends. For instance with On Dublin Street Joss's character came to me first. She's a very personal, real character for me and I wanted my debut into contemporary romance to be as authentic as possible. I started with her and then I built Braden around her to be the kind of man that could break through her high defences.
With Echoes of Scotland Street, however, Cole was the hero I'd already spent several books developing, so his heroine had to be built around him and what he needed, and thus Shannon was born! It's all about creating couples who make each other better in some way, and give each other something that no one else has been able to before. That's what makes their love so special and hopefully so real.
Samantha Young
Hi Helen,
Thank you so much. I am very much a planner which really helps not only with the development of the character and the plot, but also with deadlines. I write out character profiles, history etc, plot summary, and individual chapter summaries before I start writing the book. This gives me a really good outline to work with and makes the writing of the book a faster and smoother process. Moreover, I set myself a daily work count. It used to be 5K but that was perhaps putting too much pressure on myself so I do 3K now. That gives me the time I need to run my social media and have a personal life. It's about structure and discipline for me so I stick to my deadline. It's different for every author but this is definitely the best way for me. Hope it helps!
Thank you so much. I am very much a planner which really helps not only with the development of the character and the plot, but also with deadlines. I write out character profiles, history etc, plot summary, and individual chapter summaries before I start writing the book. This gives me a really good outline to work with and makes the writing of the book a faster and smoother process. Moreover, I set myself a daily work count. It used to be 5K but that was perhaps putting too much pressure on myself so I do 3K now. That gives me the time I need to run my social media and have a personal life. It's about structure and discipline for me so I stick to my deadline. It's different for every author but this is definitely the best way for me. Hope it helps!
Samantha Young
Hi Dawn,
Thanks for your question. The old adage is true: write what you know when you can. I always try to incorporate the real life experiences of myself and my friends and family as much as possible into my stories. It gives it authenticity, and hopefully makes the characters, as you have kindly expressed, relatable. I take little bits and pieces of real life here and there and put them in my books.
Thanks for your question. The old adage is true: write what you know when you can. I always try to incorporate the real life experiences of myself and my friends and family as much as possible into my stories. It gives it authenticity, and hopefully makes the characters, as you have kindly expressed, relatable. I take little bits and pieces of real life here and there and put them in my books.
Samantha Young
Hi Sue, thanks for your question!
I've always enjoined movies and literature set in Boston, and decided it was the perfect part of the East Coast to set HERO. As soon as that was decided I booked a research trip to Boston on the back leg of my New York author event. I'd already started writing HERO by the time I reached Boston but it certainly inspired new scenes. Just as I always imagined, I fell head over heels for the city, and hopefully this translates in the novel. When I returned home, I edited what I'd already written to incorporate what I'd learned and felt while there... and then writing the rest of the book was so much easier. It always is when you know and love your characters' setting!
I've always enjoined movies and literature set in Boston, and decided it was the perfect part of the East Coast to set HERO. As soon as that was decided I booked a research trip to Boston on the back leg of my New York author event. I'd already started writing HERO by the time I reached Boston but it certainly inspired new scenes. Just as I always imagined, I fell head over heels for the city, and hopefully this translates in the novel. When I returned home, I edited what I'd already written to incorporate what I'd learned and felt while there... and then writing the rest of the book was so much easier. It always is when you know and love your characters' setting!
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