Talking with Samantha March

Today I’m happy to be talking with Samantha March about her newest novel, The Green Ticket. Welcome, Samantha. How did you come up with the title of your book?

I actually thought of the title in the very beginning stages of planning, which was the opposite of what happened with my first title, Destined to Fail. I envisioned the scene with my characters talking about “the green ticket” and that was also one of the first scenes that I wrote for the book.

Do you have another job outside of writing?

I sure do! I work full-time at a hospital in town, and then also besides writing I run ChickLitPlus.com, am the owner of CLP Blog Tours, and do freelance editing.

How do you write--with an outline, by the seat of your pants, or do you let your characters tell you what to write?

With my first book, it was very much write by the seat of my pants. I general plot, but no characters really carved out or anything in mind for chapters. With The Green Ticket, I had my main characters all thought out, I had ideas on how each chapter should begin and end, and there was basically no write by the seat of my pants! I’m curious to see what book three will bring!

Did you have any say in your cover art?

I had a great time with my cover. I had an idea – I wanted to see Alex on there and wanted money involved. My cover designer, Scarlett Rugers, was fabulous at taking those little ideas and turning them into my gorgeous cover!

How do you get to know your characters?

What I am trying with book three is interviewing my characters. I have a set of questions that range from what’s your favorite childhood memory to what car do you drive to what is a secret no one else knows. This is helping me tremendously in building a new cast of characters.

I’m constantly on the lookout for new names. How do you name your characters?

I google baby names! I typically know what I want their name to start with, so that helps narrow it down!

How do you handle criticism of your work?

I think it’s something to learn from. I really dislike when authors take the time to attack people that gave them criticism, which in the book blogging world I have seen way too much of. I will email or comment to the reviewers simply thanking them for giving me a chance. I firmly believe keeping it classy is the way to go, and that’s what I strive for.

Where and when do you prefer to do your writing?

I prefer to write in the morning, and I typically always stay in my office to help keep me focused and away from the TV.

What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

Well, right now I am planning my wedding! I am getting married September 7, 2013 so I am working hard on my wedding checklist!

Congratulations! Besides a wedding, what's next?

Book number three! Not much yet to talk about though ;)

Thank you for being here, Samantha. Good luck with your new book, and with your wedding!


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 the author:

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 her debut novel Destined to Fail. When she isn’t reading, writing, or blogging, you can find her cheering for the Green Bay Packers.

Where to find Samantha:
Website
Blog
Facebook page
Goodreads author page
Twitter
Amazon paperback  Ebook
Barnes & Noble eBook
Kobo eBook
Marching Ink