Thanks so much for agreeing to be with us today, Samantha!
Thank you for having me here today, Becky!!
What 5 things should readers know about you?
Oh my goodness…where do I even begin??
- I am a voracious reader of contemporary romance and no, I never sway from that genre.
- 2. I am addicted to HGTV. Seriously, I could watch that channel 24/7.
- I don’t have an assistant so every time I comment on Facebook or respond to an email, you are seriously talking to me 🙂
- 4. If I could live anyplace, I would build a house in Disney World.
- 5. I spend 30 minutes every day just listening to my iPod to unwind – and normally to 80’s metal or Donna Summer!
Isn’t everyone addicted to HGTV? I’m pretty sure it’s a universal thing. 😉
Tell us all about your main characters—who are they? What makes them tick? Most importantly, what one thing would they need to have with them if stranded on a desert isle? 😉
Okay, so Zach Montgomery is technically our 7th Montgomery in the series. He’s an adrenaline junkie – or at least he was until his catastrophic fall during a mountain climb on Denali. For Zach, there’s always been a no-limits rule – in business and his personal life. He’s the oldest of his four siblings and an over-achiever. I imagine him to be a little like MacGyver – like he wouldn’t need anything on an island because he could make it himself! LOL!
Gabriella Martine is the epitome of efficiency. She’s beautiful and organized and keeps Zach’s world completely on track. For her, having self-control is a necessity. She’s had a pretty upsetting history with her family and how people perceive her so at this point in her life, she needs to maintain this persona of perfection. She’s been crushing on Zach for so long and she’s stayed working for him – even when he’s been a real jerk to her – because the thought of not seeing him every day is almost painful. As for the island thing , she’d probably need her iPad! And then we’d have to change Zach’s answer to he would need HER with him on the island to take care of him!
Perfect answers!
Where did the inspiration for this book come from?
I really liked the idea of a wounded hero and knowing Zach’s propensity for being a dare-devil, he was the perfect character to work with. I enjoy writing a story where the couple really has to work for their happy ending and boy do these two! I remember reading a Sandra Brown book years ago where her hero was injured in a skiing accident and he was just brutal to be around and I thought that would be an interesting trope to work with.
I like it!
How long have you been writing, and what (or who) inspired you to start?
I fell in love with writing in the third grade. Seriously. I hand-wrote my first romance in the ninth grade – and that was because a friend got me hooked on reading Harlequin Romances in middle school! After reading them, I knew that was what I wanted to do. But life has a way of getting in the way of things. It wasn’t until I was teaching creative writing to homeschooled high schoolers that I really got inspired to go back to my love of writing. They were all competing in NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month – every November) and were self-publishing their books! I thought, if I’m going to sit here and encourage these kids to follow their dreams – which some already were! – then why aren’t I?? I am so grateful for the time I had with those students because they were all incredibly inspirational.
Yay, another NaNoWriMo success story! I do miss not doing NaNo with my students…good times! Crazy, but good 🙂
What do you like best about being a writer? What is the most challenging part?
I love being able to create these relationships and happily ever afters. I really do. And to be able to do it now full-time is just amazing! The most challenging part? Edits. I absolutely loathe the editing process. I think part of it is because once the story is done, my brain is already on the next book, the next couple, the next story. So to have to go back into a story that’s completed, is very hard for me.
I hear you! There’s times when I finish a draft of writing and I NEVER want to look at it again…and yeah, your brain does move on to the next project. Patience is not my strong suit!
What are you working on right now? What can readers look for from you in the next year?
Next year is going to be VERY busy! In February, Sourcebooks will be re-releasing my Life, Love & Babies trilogy in a 3-in-1 edition in paperback. I’m very excited about that! In March (or May), I have an indie book coming out which is more women’s fiction with romantic aspects – if that even makes sense! In April Love Walks In – Shaughnessy book 2 – comes out. In June, Sourcebooks will re-release Jordan’s Return. In July, Always My Girl – Shaughnessy book 3 – comes out. Then in October, Sourcebooks will re-release my Christmas novellas Mistletoe Between Friends and The Snowflake In as a 2-in-one paperback. In November I’ll be putting out an indie Christmas novella – untitled as of right now! And then in December Our Song – Shaughnessy book 4 – will come out. Whew! That’s a lot, right???
LOL, yes! That’s great, though—congrats!
What authors and/or books have inspired you?
Sandra Brown was a HUGE inspiration to me! Her romances – like “22 Indigo Place” – were always on my nightstand. Then I got into Nora Roberts and Susan Mallery.
I love Sandra Brown! I’ve mostly read her romantic suspense, though—I know, I know, I need to get busy…
What are you currently reading? What are your thoughts about it so far?
I am currently reading Melanie Shawn’s Hope Falls series. I love her to pieces!!! I’m reading book two in the series and I love the world she created and the friendship – there are four friends that kick off this series and each one gets their own book. It’s a fun, light read and the perfect escape!
Sounds great! (And darn it, my TBR grows again…)
If you had to “sell” this book in a single Tweet, what would you say?
Sell “I’ll Be There”? In a single Tweet??? Oh…clearly you don’t know how BAD I am at Twitter! LOL!
A devastating accident. A disappointing recovery. A chance at redemption with the one woman he’s been pushing away
See? You did it—awesome job! 🙂 Thanks again, Samantha!
New York Times and USA Today Bestseller/contemporary romance writer Samantha Chase released her debut novel, Jordan’s Return, in November 2011. Although she waited until she was in her 40’s to publish for the first time, writing has been a lifelong passion. Her motivation to take that step was her students: teaching creative writing to elementary age students all the way up through high school and encouraging those students to follow their writing dreams gave Samantha the confidence to take that step as well.
When she’s not working on a new story, she spends her time reading contemporary romances, playing way too many games of Scrabble or Solitaire on Facebook and spending time with her husband of 25 years and their two sons in North Carolina.
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Reaching across the table, Zach took one of Gabriella’s hands in his and just marveled at how soft it was. He always wondered what her skin felt like and now that he knew, he wanted to feel more. “Don’t leave me. Please.”
Her blue eyes filled with tears and she used her free hand to quickly wipe them away before they fell and then studied their hands on the table. “Zach,” she said softly, “we’ve been over this.”
“I know, I know,” he replied just as softly. “I need another chance, Gabriella. I need a chance to make things right.” He looked up, his gaze meeting hers. “I need you.”
Deciding to be bold, he turned her hand over and twined their fingers together and gently squeezed. He was surprised she didn’t pull away and thought maybe—just maybe—they were making progress. “I know I can’t erase the things I’ve said and done, but if you’ll give me one more chance, Gabs, I promise not to screw up. If I do anything to upset you, you can walk away. Hell, you can slap me in the face, kick me in the shin or throw something heavy at me and I’ll take it. I just…I can’t do this without you.”
Her eyes never left their joined hands.
“I don’t want to do this without you,” he said quietly.
“I’m afraid to…believe you.” He barely heard her words, they were uttered so softly.
Everything inside of him clenched with pain. His always confident, ever-efficient assistant was now distrusting and uncertain—because of him. “I don’t know what to say to make you believe me. Tell me. Tell me what I need to do. Anything. Anything you need from me to gain your confidence, and I’ll do it.”
She looked up at him. “It’s not that easy. Every day I walked into the office, I gave you another chance. Every time you berated me or made me feel like I screwed up and I came back, I gave you another chance. From my standpoint, you’ve had two years’ worth of second chances. I think I’ve been more than generous.”
His other hand reached out to cup her hand in both of his. “I know you have and you have no idea how much I appreciated it.” She looked at him with disbelief. “It’s true! I know I never said it but every morning you were there, I was thankful. Every time you walked into my office, I was thankful. Please. I’m begging here, Gabs.”
Oh my goodness…this was the MOST FUN interview! Seriously, we should have done it face to face. Thank you for hosting and having me here today!!
LOL–next time, say the word and I’m so there!
Thanks for the interview and visit, Samantha 🙂