The first thing you may notice, is the change of day for the newsletter. That is because with all the madness in the world I am taking Sunday’s off completely from social media so this will be our new time to chat. Now on with the article
I asked ChatGPT to interview me, and these were the questions it wanted me to answer. Now it is your turn to learn about how I started writing.
What first got you into writing, and when did you realise it was more than just a hobby?
From an early age, I have always written. Last year I even found a story I had written for my Grandad when I was five.
I cannot remember exactly when I started journaling, but it was very young, and I still have journals dating back to when I was ten years old. This habit of writing, naturally led me towards creating more imaginative stories.
When my niece was born, I wrote my first book, a story just for her. However, it was not until lockdown that I began to write seriously and set up my crime website.
You cover crime, history and fiction. Which of those feels the most natural for you, and why?
My passion is writing fiction, but if I am completely honest, crime and history are the areas that feel the most natural to me. I have been writing in these genres for so long that they flow with greater ease.
The process feels natural because it is an area I have practised the most. What I especially enjoy is the research. My other great passion is reading, and research allows me to bring that into my writing.
What is the hardest part of writing for you: starting, sticking with it, or finishing?
With fiction, finishing is by far the hardest part. I have so many ideas I want to work on that I struggle to see one project through to the end. The story might be complete in my head, but translating all of that onto the page takes discipline.
With my newsletters, though, I do not struggle at all. The schedule I set for myself keeps me on track.
Overall, my biggest challenge as a writer is simply finding the time. I run my own tutoring business and have three children under ten, two of whom have additional needs. Balancing family, work, and writing is no small task.
If someone has never read your work before, what is the one piece you would point them to first?
I would point them to The Water Plague, my latest fiction book, because it is the best thing I have ever written and the novel I am proudest of. It is a gripping dystopian story about a couple who fight against a regime for a better future.
I am not concerned about making lots of money from it. What matters most to me is that people read it, because I believe it is a brilliant story worth sharing.
Away from writing, what is something people might be surprised to learn about you?
My full-time job involves working with children who have been permanently excluded from school, helping them re-engage with education. I love this role. Even if I became a bestselling author, I doubt I would ever give it up because I would truly miss spending time with teenagers.
If you had to pick one piece of work that you would like everyone to read, what would it be? Drop a link in the comments.
Until next week, remember, read to learn. Read to escape. Read to smile.
Sam 😊
The real difficulty is overcoming how you think about yourself. - Maya Angelou
