About C. D. Samuda:
I always tell people that I have a passion for writing and a weakness for cheesecake. I used to be a chocoholic… well maybe I still am.
I found my first dog when I was three and ever since, I’ve had a soft spot for animals. I hate seeing people suffer and that has led me to sharing my meals with the homeless. It’s not every time I am able to do it but whenever I can.
What else can I say? I spend most of the 24 hours that exist in the day at my computer. My mom and husband think I’m writing, but the truth is, half the time I’m on social media idling.
Seriously, the thought of never scribbling another word completely freaks me out. Therefore, I try to take care of the tools that allow me to create my worlds. Of course, one of those tools is actually my brain.
What inspires you to write?
I think my determination to be a successful author is what inspires me. My drive to be better at my craft pushes me. That dream I’ve had since I was a child also inspires me.
I can also say the love and support of family and friends also inspire me. Without this support, I would not have reached this far in attaining my dreams.
Tell us about your writing process.
Do you really want to know? Jeez. Well, most times we (most writers) sit and create a neat outline, get organized, you know how it goes and then BAM, we start writing and forget all about the outline and how organized we want our writing day to be.
My last novel, I completely forget I’d outlined it. After typing the last word I suddenly remembered the outline, went to check it against what I’d written and the last few chapters were completely different from what the outline originally had.
The writing process most days:
(1) Coffee
(2) Check Facebook
(3) Open your file and stare at it
(4) More coffee
(5) Mom interrupts or you get a call from hubby
(6) The cat needs attention
(7) Check Facebook again
(8) Some time later that day, you drink another coffee and do some writing.
Or, on an off day, you rush out of bed at 2 AM and get 3,000 words done before 7.
About outlines. I use just a blank word file. I create a synopsis of the story first, then I create character profiles down to what they like to eat. After that, I create the chapter outlines so that I know what each chapter will entail. This allows me to build the beginning, the middle and the end of the story.
The story is in your head already, so most times the outline is just for reference.
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
I am my characters. Do you know how some actors study a role and then ‘get into character’ so much that it’s hard for them to get back to reality? I don’t know what reality is.
What advice would you give other writers?
Never give up your dream of writing because regret is a difficult thing to live with.
Also, if you are self-published, read a lot about editing and grammar. Make sure what you put out there is your best. Ask others for assistance if you are unsure, but never publish mediocre work.
How did you decide how to publish your books?
I was a ghost writer for many years and people would ask me what I do. When I told them I was a writer, they’d ask what the name of my book was, and I had no answer but to tell them I worked for others.
I started feeling like I was cheating myself. I had to create everything from plot to characters and then write the story. I felt like I was giving away my best. Then it all came crashing down. I had a meltdown where I could not write for people any more. My brain would start freezing up.
So I started working on my own stories and viola, my brain functioned just fine.
I self-published because that was the quickest way to get my name on my work. However, going traditional is still a goal of mine.
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
I don’t know. I never really thought about it.
What do you use?: Professional Editor, Beta Readers
What genres do you write?: Paranormal, Supernatural, Science Fiction, Erotica, Romantic Suspense, Crime Thrillers, Contemporary Romance (Any kind of romance)
What formats are your books in?: Both eBook and Print
Website(s)
C. D. Samuda Home Page Link
Link To C. D. Samuda Page On Amazon
Your Social Media Links
Goodreads
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
LinkedIn
Instagram
All information in this post is presented “as is” supplied by the author. We don’t edit to allow you the reader to hear the author in their own voice.
