Interview with Sami Abrams and a Giveaway!

Welcome to Readers Write to Know! I asked you, my readers, what questions they would ask their favorite authors if given the chance, and the authors visiting my blog answered them! This week, I am excited to have debut author Sami Adams as my guest. I enjoyed her interview. Her enthusiasm for writing just leaps out of the screen. And I can totally relate to her way of getting past writers block. I have someone that will let me vent then will work through plot with me. It’s wonderful! Sami is giving away a copy of her upcoming release. Read on to see how you can enter to win!

Tell us a little bit about yourself. My husband and I live in Northern California, but we’re originally from Kansas. I’m a total country girl at heart, and even after living in California for 30 years, I still think a town of 75,000 people is a big city. I have two adult kiddos along with three furry grandchildren. I’m a Kindergarten teacher by day and a writer by night. (Okay, afternoon, but you get the idea.)

Tell us about your current release. My debut releases on December 28^th. I’m super excited to share Melanie and Jason’s story with everyone.

Recovering her missing memories could be the key to solving a murder.
Searching for her best friend’s remains could help forensic anthropologist Melanie Hutton regain her memories of when they were both kidnapped—unless the killer gets to Melanie first. For her safety, Melanie must rely on Detective Jason Cooper, who still blames her for his sister’s death. Can Jason set the past aside to solve the cold-case murder…and shield Melanie from the same fate?

What do you think is lacking in Christian Fiction? In one word, Grit. I’d like to see more real life in Christian Fiction. Christians aren’t perfect and aren’t immune to the struggle to make good choices. As authors we tend to be careful how we portray a Christian character. They can make all the bad decisions before they are a Christian, but not after. Let’s face it, people blow it every day, Christian or not. I’d love to see more real-life struggles.

What inspired you to start writing, or did you always want to write? Lol! I had to laugh at this question. I wrote my first novel as a bucket list item. But God had a different idea and gave me a giant shove into the writing world. I went to my first writer’s conference five months after I finished the first draft of my first book and as they say, the rest is history.

What advice do you have for aspiring writers? We all know that writing isn’t easy. Even seasoned authors will agree. So, if you’re new, go to workshops and conferences and learn, learn, learn. Next, find writer friends. Writers understand the ups and downs that others can’t. And lastly, never give up. Everyone receives rejections. Don’t let it stop you from what God has called you to do.

[Tweet “Enter to win #romanticsuspense BURIED COLD CASE SECRETS by @samiaabrams! @halleeb #giveaway #christfic @LoveInspiredBks“]

What is your preferred method of writing? Computer. Always computer when I write. However, I will use pen and paper to jot down ideas.

What do you do when you hit a roadblock and have NO idea what to write? Besides banging my head on the desk? 😊 I zoom with Virginia Vaughan and complain that I’m stuck. After she lets me vent for a while, we start throwing ideas around until something sticks.

I assume when you start a book, you pretty much have the plot laid out. Do you ever change your mind later on in the book, and go in a different direction? Haha! I’m not a plotter. I’m what you call a pantser (as in I write by the seat of my pants). I usually have a concept in my head and play around with different ideas of what might happen. Then I sit down and write. I let my characters tell me their story. Sometimes they go in a direction that surprises me, but they know best, so I follow their lead. Top secret information: I rarely know who my villain is until I’m almost done with the book.

What is one thing that you “never saw yourself doing” and either do it now or have done? Right around the time I started writing, I guess I was on an adventure kick. I learned how to scuba dive and learned bouldering and rock climb (at the gym on the wall not outside).

I don’t dive often, so I’m still not super comfortable with it. And my rock climbing/bouldering days have come to a halt due to knee and shoulder issues. Which is a bummer, because for someone scared of heights, I really loved climbing. 

Here is where you can find Sami online:

https://www.instagram.com/samiaabrams/

twitter.com/samiaabrams

https://www.facebook.com/samiaabrams2

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21487374.Sami_A_Abrams

https://www.bookbub.com/authors/sami-a-abrams

Sami is giving away a signed copy (US only) or ebook copy of Buried Cold Case Secrets to a reader! See below how to enter to win:

a Rafflecopter giveaway