Bestselling author, Samantha Young, is a 26-year old writer who graduated from the University of Edinburgh in 2009. She studied ancient and medieval history, which really just means she likes old stuff. Since February 2011, Samantha has been self-publishing her bestselling young adult novels (paranormal and fantasy). She’s the author of eleven novels and one novella. Her debut into adult fiction (contemporary romance), On Dublin Street, has spent 30 days in the top 100 and is currently #2 on Amazon’s Best Selling Romance books.
What motivated you to write your first book?
My classes at university. I was studying Greek mythology in one of my classic classes and I couldn’t get the idea for a YA series out of my head based around some of the history and mythology I was learning.
What types of books do you enjoy as a reader? Are those any different from the books you enjoy as an author?
I am a voracious reader when I get the time and I’ll read YA and adult urban fantasy, sci-fi, dystopian, contemporary, fantasy… I’ll read anything if it sounds good! Okay, anything but horror. Not a horror fan. I like a little bit of horror within another genre but not horror as a genre, if that makes sense…
How would you describe your writing style and the many series you have?
I’d describe my writing style as contemporary and fast-paced. My YA series center around a female protagonist – sometimes a clear heroine, and sometimes not – and what I hope is their epic journey within a fantastical world. There is always action, drama, and romance.
Academia tends to look down on scholars who don’t follow the academic route. In your case, you’re writing romance / paranormal novels. Have you spoken to any of your fellow historians about what you’re doing and if so how do they feel about it?
No, I haven’t spoken to any of them about it, I lost touch with them after I left university. I couldn’t tell you how any of them would react to my job.
As a historian, what is the most romantic Medieval tale in your opinion?
Depending on how you weigh the evidence, and what your own thoughts are on it, the true story of Sir Jacques Le Gris and Sir Jean de Carrouges fighting the last duel ever fought in France. If you believe in the guilt of Le Gris who was accused of raping Carrouges wife when Carrouges was away in Paris in 1396, then it’s truly extraordinary the lengths Carrouges went to, to gain justice for his wife and their honor in a time when a woman was shamed when raped and these things were usually swept under the rug. There is a whole back history of animosity between Le Gris and Carrouges, but the consequences if it had been found that Carrouges and his wife were lying were severe. His wife would have been burned for perjury and Carrouges could have died in the duel. Not to mention the shame and difficult publicity they dealt with throughout the trial. In the end, Carrouges killed Le Gris and won his justice. If he and his wife Marguerite were telling the truth then this is some tale of love and honor….
Your Lunarmorte trilogy features ancient Greek gods. Will any of your future work contain any other Ancient/Medieval tales or a spin on one?
I would never discount the option to draw on real history and mythology in the future.
You’ve said you incorporate pieces of history into your books. How do you limit yourself from not over saturate a book and bog it down with history facts?
I use only what’s necessary and I try to weave it into the story progressively, so it doesn’t overload the reader.
The elements of weather/land can sometimes be quite spooky in Scotland. Have you ever been inspired by the elements? I ask this because Glencoe is hauntingly beautiful and the road up to the Isle Skye spooky at night.
Definitely. I have an amazing view of Wallace’s Monument from the balcony off my sitting room. A little while ago at dusk, I was sitting in my living room watching a fog circle Wallace’s Monument. It was so supernatural-looking and it inspired a new concept for a series.
As an American, who spent a little over a year living in Glasgow, (Lover Jessica) I met a lot of fellow Americans, but we all adopted Scottish mannerisms in the way we speak (still do) rather quickly. I commend you for making note of Joss and the way Americans refer to items, but why did you keep that? Joss had already spent several years in Edinburgh, which was enough time to start speaking “like the locales.” I’m not criticizing just wondering. Did you keep it so you wouldn’t have to go into details of what certain items mean? I do remember scratching my head a few times wondering what the heck was being said since the Scottish language can be confusing. Drookit, say what?
Lol. It also depends in which part of Scotland you’re staying and the Glaswegian accents are some of the strongest. There are areas of Edinburgh where the accents are pretty thick, and other areas where the accent is far more melodic and easy to understand. The reason Joss has picked up on fewer mannerisms was to give my non-Scottish readership (I have a much larger US readership for example) a character to relate to. Even though Joss had been in Scotland for a number of years, I wanted the readers to discover a bit of Scotland through her and the only way to do this was to still give her an element of integration.
Slumber has the elements of Sleeping Beauty, but is different. Do you foresee the retelling of any other fairy tales?
I wouldn’t discount any concept for future novels 🙂
This was your first adult contemporary romance novel. What inspired you to write On Dublin Street?
Although I came into self-publishing as a young adult urban fantasy writer, it was always my intent to branch into adult fiction. I like a challenge, and starting with a contemporary romance was a challenge for me. I needed it to be part fantasy, part realism, so I used my own personal experiences and those closest to me to build characters and a world that I hoped many people could relate to. Choosing Edinburgh as the setting had two purposes. One: I know Edinburgh well and felt I could bring it to life more than any other locale. Two: It was somewhere different for romance readers to journey to, and I thought they would enjoy that experience.
Who, if anyone, did you model Braden and Joss after?
Braden is sort of a mix of reality and fantasy. He’s an amalgamation of many Scottish men I know – blunt, no nonsense, straightforward, teasing jokers. Also, from my experience, the Scottish men I know are overprotective big brothers just like Braden. The rest, however, is purely Braden. As for Joss… Joss is an exaggerated version of me and friends and all of our experiences put together.
What was your favorite chapter/part from On Dublin Street to write and why?
My favorite part to write… I had a few… but the one that sticks out the most is the restaurant scene because I was giggling away like an idiot as I wrote it.
Which character has been the easiest to write and which has been the most challenging to write?
In a way, Joss was both the easiest and the most challenging. It was easy to bring her emotions to the table, but it was a challenge to develop her changing feelings over the course of the story so that they developed in a way that felt natural and real to the reader.
Which character do you most closely relate to?
I most closely relate to Joss.
Braden is wealthy in the novel; but unlike other novels, he doesn’t flaunt his wealth as other rich heroes do. Did you make a conscience decision to write Braden’s character that way?
You know, now that I’m asked that, I don’t think it was a conscious decision. Growing up in Scotland, like growing up anywhere, gives a person a deep-seated sense of ‘the people’ as individuals and as a group. And although there are guys in this country that would flaunt their money… well, to generalize the Scots, we’re very low-key about money. Or perhaps that’s just the people I’ve met, and again I’ve brought those experiences to this book. Braden doesn’t flaunt his money because my self-conscious drew upon the fact that the people I’ve met with money don’t. They’re still down-to-earth despite their affluence. Also, I have noted some readers refer to Braden as a billionaire and I think this is because of other popular books in this genre, but at best Braden is a millionaire. The industries he’s involved in are centrally-based and not within a big enough market for Braden to be a billionaire.
You recently stated that you would be “returning to the characters of On Dublin Street.” Does this mean there will be a sequel with Braden and Joss or will you be writing another book from a character’s POV?
I’ll be able to tell readers more about this in the very near future. (Oooh, we are anxiously awaiting to hear any breaking news about the sequel.)
7 Smooches Showdown (first thing that pops into your mind)
- Favorite TV Show? The Vampire Diaries
- Favorite ice cream flavor? Phish Food
- What’s your favorite movie? The Fifth Element – one of many favorite movies!
- If you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be and why? Boston, USA. Because it’s steeped in American History and is the home of the Red Sox.
- Favorite piece of clothing to shop for? Dress
- What is the last book that you read? A re-read – Twice Bitten (Chicagoland Vampires #3) by Chloe Neill
- Glasgow or Edinburgh? (Be fair! Hehehe) Edinburgh. Glasgow is awesome for shopping and the occasional night out, but I love me my pretty Edinburgh.
Join the Lovers this Sunday, October 7, 2012, at 6:00 PM EST for our on-line chat with Samantha Young.
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