Page Turning Books: Author Interview

Author Interview – Samantha Warren

Why do you write? I have to. I’ve tried to give up before. I’ve actually said “After I finish this book, I quit.” But before I finish with that one, three more story ideas have popped into my head and started nagging me to be written. If I don’t write them, they sit there and pester me until I sit down at the keyboard and let them come out.

Have you always enjoyed writing? No, I haven’t always enjoyed writing. I’ve always been good at it, but I never really enjoyed it until a couple years after I graduated college. When I tried National Novel Writing Month for the first time, I discovered that I do actually like writing. Then the bug took hold and hasn’t let go.

What motivates you to write? I’d be lying if I said that money wasn’t a motivator. But it can never be the only motivator for anyone, or your work will suffer. When I get a story in my head, I need to write that story, I need to get it down on paper and tell it the way it wants to be told. Plus, if I don’t write the story, who will? I enjoy reading my work, so if I never write the story, I never get to read it.

What writing are you most proud of? I was at the Philadelphia Writers Conference in June and Jonathan Maberry said something along the lines of “You should always try to be better than your last book.” With that in mind, I think the most recent novel, The Iron Locket, is the one I’m most proud of because it truly is my best so far.

What books did you love growing up? The book on my shelf that is the most abused is Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder. I’ve read that book so many times that it is literally held together by duct tape. It is the first book I remember reading repeatedly. I also really loved The Riddle of Penncroft Farm and Ronia, the Robber’s Daughter.

Who is your favorite author? Like movies, books, and songs, I find it impossible to pick just one. My favorite authors would have to be JK Rowling, Jim Butcher, and Jonathan Maberry.

What book genre of books do you adore? I much prefer science fiction and fantasy over almost anything else. While I do like the occasional contemporary book, I read to disappear into a world that doesn’t exist, one where the rules are different and the impossible becomes possible.

What book should everybody read at least once? The Lord of the Rings trilogy, for sure. Technically it’s three books, but they defined fantasy as it is today.

Is there any books you really don’t enjoy? I’m not a huge fan of romance, but there are some that I absolutely love.

What do you hope your obituary will say about you? “She was epic.”

Location and life experiences can really influence writing, tell us where you grew up and where you now live? I live with my grandma on a farm in the house I grew up in. I get myself up at 4am to milk the cows, then come in and write. My grandma is a huge reader and I inherited that from her. I always had a book with me when I was a kid. I remember sitting in the barn reading a lot. We lived out in the middle of nowhere and there were few kids around, so I spent most of my spare time with people like Laura Ingalls Wilder. Somewhere along the line I discovered fantasy and science fiction books, and they became my obsession.

How did you develop your writing? I try to read a lot of craft books, books from authors that are considered the best, even really terrible books so I know what not to do.