Writing for me has always been a cruel mistress. My brother was the original writer, I just continued it to the logical conclusion. I first started writing as a dare by a college professor, soon I was getting challenged by a former high school teacher. When I met my wife, she became my new inspiration convincing me to retake up the mantle and try my hand at it again.
The printed word has always been an addiction. As a young child I could be found with a comic in hand or a picture book. Even when it was bed time I could be found still reading by nite light. Growing up I was inspired by Anne McCaffrey, Dean Koontz and Sue Grafton. As the years have progressed I’ve enjoyed Brian Lumley, Ernest Cline, Naomi Novik and Sedwick Bowser.
My current work is titled Oath of Blood and Shadow. I have three more books ready for editing and eight more in development. My future goals are to continue to hone my craft for as long as I can to help inspire others.
Advice/ tips. This is a hard one and an easy one. You’re going to make mistakes, you’re going to want to give up. When that occurs thats when you know you need to persevere. There will be times where it seems so easy to quit, that’s when you make sure you’re still reading. You’re going to have those that try to tear you down, don’t let them. Find the inner fire that drives your passion and keep it stoked. Your first draft will not be pretty,, but its yours. Take the time after you write the rough draft. Set it aside for a few weeks, then return to it with fresh eyes. Keep honing it till it feels polished. Then send it off to an editor find beta readers and be prepared for your work to be ripped apart. This line of work, there is no place for an ego, only for growth. Make sure you know which way you want to go publishing wise and do your research. Be ready to pay for editing, cover art, marketing and the like. NEVER PAY TO PUBLISH THOUGH!
My drive will be different than yours and that’s alright. Each of us is unique in how we see the world and how the written word moves us. Im driven to keep setting a legacy for the future generations. Im driven with the hunger to challenge the norms and push the envelope of what is good writing. I like writing Dark Fantasy and Horror. It allows me to explore that which terrifies me. When I write about it, I conquer it. When I can master it, I own it. I write because I have questions that need an answer.
Samantha Evans--Author 