Thursday, December 5, 2013

The Green Ticket Turns 1!

It feels pretty crazy that I will be releasing my third novel just after the New Year. My writing journey officially started in 2010 when I buckled down and wrote Destined to Fail (unofficially at the age of 9 where I copy-catted Ann M. Martin and The Baby-Sitters Club to form my own stories) and I can’t wait to get this novel out into the world. This story is pretty different from my first two books. The characters are older and both married, and one is a mother. My characters from Destined to Fail and The Green Ticket were both still in college. Both those books were set in my current hometown of Des Moines, Iowa. My latest will be set in the fictional town of Delany, Maine. In the month of December I will start working on the cover for the book with my designer, and I also plan on releasing the title and the blurb, which I recently finalized. I’m hoping to publish the book in either late January or late February, right after I return from my honeymoon in St. Lucia. I’ll make that decision based on fast the cover design process goes. That part is so hard for me because I lack the vision and creativity when it comes to anything with design or artwork, so my cover designer really has her work cut out for her when it comes to me! I’ll be posting updates along the way on both my Facebook and Twitter accounts, and I’m looking forward to sharing the news soon!

Interview

Q. The last time you were on my blog, I was interviewing you for the release of your novel, The Green Ticket. How much has changed for you within that year?

It has been a crazy year, both professionally and personally. Professionally, I released my second novel The Green Ticket, and Marching Ink also published their fourth novel, Zoey & The Moment of Zen by Cat Lavoie. They also contracted Laura Chapman to publish her debut novel, Hard Hats and Doormats. I traveled to Toronto to attend the BookBuzz event and mingle with a whole slew of fabulous authors and book lovers, a huge highlight for me. I also finished writing my third novel, which is on its way to publication.

Personally, I bought a house, got married, and got a puppy. Life is good.

Q. Do you still feel as if The Green Ticket is your absolute favorite as opposed to Destined to Fail?

As of right now, The Green Ticket is my favorite published novel of mine. But that will change once my third novel is released :)

Q. Looking back at your novel, is there anything you would go back and change if you could?

Once an author publishes, the comments and reviews start rolling in. It’s impossible (at least to me) to not want to go back and change something, but if you constantly tweaked your writing based on a comment, it could go on forever. And that would not be pretty.

Q. Are you still considering writing a spin-off novel for Emma and her upcoming nuptials? Perhaps this can be a fourth novel for Samantha March? (I'm secretly crossing my fingers for it!)

I would love to do that! I have a huge list of books that I want to write and that one is definitely on there!

Q. What is your favorite novel that you've read in the year of 2013?

I really loved The Girl You Left Behind by JoJo Moyes and Blogger Girl by Meredith Schorr.

Q. Last year, the event you said you were most looking forward to in 2013 was your wedding. Is there anything you are looking forward to in 2014?

My honeymoon! We’ll be going to St. Lucia in February and I’m really looking forward to that.

Q. I see that Marching Ink is growing (Congratulations, Laura!). What are your hopes for Marching Ink in 2014?

Thank you! Honestly, I just hope to publish more books! I absolutely adore being a publisher and helping authors in their journey, and finding an audience for them. It’s really special to be able to say I love my job.

Q. What can your fans expect next?

Book 3 and then book 4 is currently in the planning stages! This one will be about a bride and her journey to getting married :)

Q. Are you more confident about book 3 than you were for Destined to Fail and The Green Ticket?

I am. I feel more confident about my writing, my marketing plan, even the team I had with the book. I think my confidence will only continue to grow with each novel.

Q. Since this is our third interview, I've asked you for advice for aspiring authors and I've also asked you to give advice to novelists who were struggling with self-doubt/wanting to publish, so I will give you the reins and let you decide on what lovely advice you'd like to share.

My advice this time will be for authors getting ready to publish. Love your work and let it be known. Hire an editor, don’t just rely on self-editing. Hire a cover designer that will help bring your story to life. Don’t cut corners with your work, because it will show.


About the Book

College junior Alex Abrams scores her dream job at the ripe age of twenty – manager to a successful salon and spa. Thrilled to finally have a real adult job, Alex enthusiastically jumps into the world of schedules, conference calls, and getting a massage when interviewing prospective employees. What she doesn’t expect are the very grown-up issues that comes with a demanding boss. Kevin Dohlman quickly becomes Alex’s worse nightmare – covering up his affairs, dealing with his enormous ego, and trying to protect her female staff from him becomes a full-time job in its own right. Alex has also befriended Kevin’s wife and co-owner, Dani, and is trying to keep Kevin’s secrets hidden from her. The situation only worsens when Kevin starts paying Alex off to make sure she keeps her insider knowledge to herself. While struggling to keep her wits and stay happy with her new grown-up job, Alex is juggling college courses, a new love interest, and keeping up with her close group of girlfriends. When her roommate and best friend Lila gets offered an opportunity to move to Los Angeles and sign with an agent, Alex realizes her life truly is changing, and everyone around her – including herself –– is growing up. Knowing she is faced with some hard decisions ahead, Alex struggles with keeping her job at Blissful. But does she really want to throw away what she dreamed of as a career – or will the secret-keeping for Kevin become too much to handle? The Green Ticket is a story about morals versus money, and how one young woman navigates the shaky line between the two.

About Samantha

Samantha March is an author, editor, publisher, blogger, and all around book lover. She runs the popular book/women’s lifestyle blog ChickLitPlus, which keeps her bookshelf stocked with the latest reads and up to date on all things health, fitness, fashion, and celebrity related. In 2011 she launched her independent publishing company Marching Ink and has two published novels – Destined to Fail and The Green Ticket. When she isn’t reading, writing, or blogging, you can find her cheering for the Green Bay Packers.

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1 comment:

Unknown said...

Thank you for having me!