Straight Chatting from the LIbrary: Sami Sands

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Samie Sands will be awarding a $10 Amazon or BN GC to one winner, and three additional winners will each receive a print copy of a book in the series. READ THE INTERVIEW

What was the hardest part of writing this book?

I really enjoyed the process of writing Lockdown because at the time I was just doing it for myself. I didn’t really think that it would end up published, so I didn’t think too much about it. Even when I sent the manuscript off to publishers, I didn’t actually think anything would come of it so it was very exciting when it did!

When it came to editing, and I realized how little I knew about being an author and writing in a readable way, so the challenges came then. It was a good learning curve though, and I think my writing has improved a lot because of these lessons.

What did you enjoy most about writing this book?

I liked creating the main character, Leah. Most of the zombie apocalypse books that I’ve read in the past feature very capable main characters. It made me wonder what would happen with an ordinary person trying to survive. Leah is a normal, girl next door type without any skills to survive. Sometimes she's flawed and she doesn’t always make the right choice, but that makes her more realistic. Not everyone likes her, but I no one can be liked by everyone!

What do your plans for future projects include?

I have just signed a new contract with Limitless Publishing for a book in a completely different genre. Lottie Loves is a romance novel that involves looking back as past loves and working out how love should be. That isn’t to say that there won’t be more from the zombie apocalypse though, I still have many ideas!

Do you ever get writer’s Block? Any tips on how to get through the dreaded writer’s block?

Yes, I get it a lot. I find the best thing to do is to do anything but write. All the jobs I’ve put off because I’ve been busy get done, then eventually I can get back to writing with a fresh mind.

Have you ever had one character you wanted to go one way with but after the book was done the character was totally different?

Most of my characters don’t turn out as planned. I have one idea of them in my brain, but the plot often takes on a life of it’s own and it changes them with it. I prefer that though, I think it makes the end result of them more organic.

READ THE BLURB

Leah Watton’s practical joke has spiralled way out of control—all to impress a crush…

With a prank online video, Leah hopes to catch the attention of Jake Colton, a cute, blond-haired, blue-eyed co-worker she’s had a crush on for months. But instead of sending it to Jake, she manages to forward the clip to her boss—who buys every gory second.

When mass panic ensues, Leah learns the video is more than a staged act…

The government is calling the virus AM13. As the outbreak spreads, citizens are forced to stay indoors while they assess the gravity of the illness. Most people are quarantined in their homes, but Leah, Jake, and Leah’s best friend Michelle are some of the unlucky few who are stuck at work when the Lockdown occurs.

That’s where she first encounters one of the infected…

Aside from a contaminated woman devouring one of her co-workers, Leah has another problem. Does she do as she’s ordered and stay at work? Or should she disobey government orders and break free to reunite with her family?

She can’t go it alone—after all, Leah has none of the skills needed to survive—but with Michelle and Jake by her side, not even a contagious virus and a sea of the dead can keep her from…

Breaking out of the Lockdown…

READ AN EXCERPT

I know that others are walking alongside and behind me, but I don’t know if they’re infected or healthy. I’ve become weirdly desensitised to it all. Logic would dictate that there are no other humans out here, but as I’m not in direct trouble right now, I’m not too bothered about figuring it out.

I spot a girl, maybe six or seven-years-old. She’s fallen over before me, in the middle of the road. I need to help her. That’s what people do, help children, isn’t it? Others are just stepping over her, ignoring her. But I won’t do that. I’m going to help her. There’s a tight knot of anxiety forming and twisting in my chest. I need to help her.

I try to pick up the pace and get to her before anything bad can happen, but my sluggish body can only do so much. As I get nearer to where she lays, I feel the familiar rage overtaking me. I’m suddenly angrier than I’ve ever been in my life. How can people just leave this sweet innocent girl like this? In the middle of the road, potentially injured, definitely in a lot of danger! God, the human race is so screwed up. I can’t be the only one who can see that she needs someone to look after her.

That’s when I realise, with a sickening crunch that she hasn’t fallen. Both her legs have broken. And not just broken, snapped off her body. And she’s growling. Moaning and growling just like the others…

MEET THE AUTHOR

Samie Sands is the author of the AM13 Outbreak series – Lockdown, Forgotten, and Extinct. She’s also had a number of short stories published in very successful short story anthologies. To find out more about her and her work, check out her website at http://samiesands.com.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/samiesandslockdown
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SamieSands/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samiesands
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8102183.Samie_Sands
Wattpad: https://www.wattpad.com/user/SamieSands

Buy Lockdown at Amazon or Amazon UK.
Buy Boxset at Amazon or Amazon UK.

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