Samantha Young is the New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of adult contemporary romances, including the On Dublin Street series, Hero, and this month’s Girly Book Club book of the month, Fight or Flight. Samantha is currently published in 30 countries and is a #1 international bestselling author.
Visit her at authorsamanthayoung.com/ or on Twitter @AuthorSamYoung.
SY: A great story possesses a character or characters that I’m fully invested in and rooting for. It has a warm, fluid storytelling that draws me in and a balanced pace. I want to get to know the characters, but I also want the plot to move forward at an entertaining pace. I don’t put as much importance on the plot as I do on the characters and a storyteller’s voice. A great story will make me laugh and make my chest ache with emotion, and only an investment in the characters will evoke those reactions.
SY: If I’m not writing, I’m usually reading. And if I’m not reading, I’m usually hanging out with friends and family. Also, I have dogs, so I take them on long walks which gives me plenty of time to plot my books. My interests outside of books? Music. Interior design. Shoes. Pilates. Traveling.
SY: Barter Books in Alnwick, England. It’s a second-hand bookstore housed inside an old Victorian Railway Station. There are crackling fireplaces and comfy armchairs! It’s also the home of the WWII ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’ poster that went onto create the merchandise craze.
SY: I’m really stuck between physical and e-book. I love having thousands of books on my e-reader and being able to open up a book wherever I am, whether it’s on my e-reader or on my e-reader App. The convenience of it is fantastic. However, I love my paperbacks because they’re pretty and they’re tangible. If I read an e-book and it becomes a favourite, I have to buy it in paperback. What if we end up in a real-life dystopian novel with no electricity or technology? If I didn’t buy my favourite books in paperback, I’d be living in a crappy dystopian world without any decent reading material. Um. No. Just… no.
SY: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis. Closely followed by Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl.
SY: The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness. It is the first book in the Chaos Walking trilogy and has an unconventional narrative style which makes for a fast, entertaining read. Most importantly, however, is the strength of its young hero Todd who is multi-faceted, compelling and incredibly likeable. Filled with action and adventure, TKONLG is an extraordinary and unique middle grade read that appeals to readers of all ages. I’ve convinced a number of adults in my life to read it and every single one of them loved this trilogy.
SY: Our Planet which is a Netflix original series narrated by David Attenborough. It’s a documentary series about the species currently affected by climate change. It’s fascinating, mind-blowing and heartbreaking. And everyone should watch it.