An Interview with Samanthya Wyatt

The Write Way Café welcomes author Samanthya Wyatt, who draws on personal experience to craft believable scenes and brandishes a mean collection of organizational tools. 

When did you first have the thought you'd like to write a book? Was that first thought related to writing romance? 
Ever since I can remember, I have loved curling up with a book. When I was young I wrote poems and short stories. When I graduated, my life changed. I married a military man, traveled across the US and abroad, settled in the Shenandoah Valley and had a family. Then I found romance novels. I fell in love with the characters and needed to know their happy ending.

Where did the idea for your story come from? 
One day I was playing around to get my mind off edits and I wrote a scene with two women bantering back and forth. I had so much fun and the words seemed to flow. So I ended up writing my first contemporary Something More. Modern day women have more freedom, and my wit seems to come out more with contemporary. I have started several stories including a hunky fireman series. Station Eight. Can’t wait to get those published.

What was your path to getting this book written and published? What type of research did you do?
I’ve taken every workshop I could to improve my writing. I’ve entered many contests. I joined RWA and joined several chapters. Savvy Authors offered a pitch contest with several editors, agents and publishers. Coming up with a pitch—25 words or less—is extremely difficult when you’re in a group with thousands of other authors. But I got the attention of 3 editors and two different publishing companies. My dream paid off. I signed my first contract with Soul Mate Publishing.

Why did you pick the setting you did?
The setting is New York. The beautiful Brooklyn Bridge is on my cover. New York is a magnet, exuding power, and encases a very active life style. So I created two strong characters with such a régime.

Are your main characters completely imaginary or do they have some basis in real people? Do they reflect aspects of yourself? 
My characters are fictitious. I have taken real life experiences to achieve the emotion on paper for my characters. I’m currently working on a series, The Firemen of Station #8. The stories will be mine, but I interviewed some real fireman for the research and background information to be as accurate as it can be. For my historicals, I do a lot of research for the time period, studying the lingo / slang and culture. With appropriate details, hopefully I put the reader in the setting.

Did you face any blocks while writing the book, and if so, how did you handle them? If not, what's your secret?
I find that I get a lot more accomplished if I just sit at the computer and write. As long as I write something, I just keep going. Later I can delete or gather tidbits together. And I have deleted whole chapters. But if I want my story to go somewhere and be a good MS, there has to be GMC. I learned this from many workshops. I learned how to do character sketches, GMC charts, plots—everything one needs to bring a story together.

Tell us about your writing space and how or why it works for you.
I have my own office, my desk, and everything in it is just for my writing. I have a cabinet with lots of binders—GMC—POV—Edits—Research—Characters—ideas …. I am organized, keep a main calendar, and a blog calendar of authors who host me or I give space in my Newsletter. Lots of notes, lots of books, and I juggle my pens. I color code everything.

What are you working on now?
In my first historical, Katherine’s brother is missing. Find out what happened to Kat’s brother in the thrilling sequel in the One and Only series.

Book 2, Stephen’s story - The True One  to be released in December.
     His ship in splinters and his men captured, Stephen is a broken man. Yet the torture he received by his enemies is nothing compared to the torment he bears from an angel with lavender eyes.
     Jennifer left England full of a young girl’s fantasies of romance and adventure. When she cares for a near death captain, memories emerge of the family she left behind. Will the passion they share be enough? He must choose – her or revenge.

After that, Book 3, Giles story - The Only One

Would you like to try your hand at writing a different genre?  Which one and why?
Who has not been inspired by Kathleen Woodiwiss!! I would have liked to live in the Regency time period. Dashing Lords and pirates seem so romantic. Even though historical romance is my first love, the regency requires a lot of research and effort with language of the time period. But I learn a lot of history while I’m looking. So many amazing details which makes a good foundation for any MS. I find the more I research, the more I write down, the deeper my thoughts and the more my characters come alive.

What aspect of writing gives you the most trouble?
Getting Started. Seems like I procrastinate a bit. Takes me forever to get settled in. I check my emails and get so involved with other authors and blogs, hours go by before I know it. And research takes hours of my time.


A determined man, a headstrong woman, and a battle of wills.

     On his way to an important meeting, a light flirtation turns into more than Matthew expects. The alluring beauty does not need his money, and makes it clear she does not need him. 
     Carrie trusts no man. Until a pair of mischievous eyes melts her defenses, and has her second guessing her convictions.
     Infatuation and excitement spark a journey of passion and forbidden emotion where two people must overcome their earlier convictions to find an everlasting love.


Enjoy an excerpt 
     Matthew just got a jolt to his solar plexus. His eyes darted to her mouth. His breathing slowed at the thought of his tongue sliding across and through those daring, full lips. Why was he even considering the idea?
     He’d seen her in the airport. A striking female who had his pulses leaping with excited interest. He was a leg man, and she had killer legs. He thought a light flirtation might be just the thing he needed to recover from a frenzied airport. He’d grabbed a last minute flight, got stuck in coach, and had to survive the aircraft from hell. Screaming, undisciplined children only made matters worse with the headache from an already bad day. When he’d seen her dash for the taxi, he immediately decided to take full advantage of the opportunity.
     One of the sexiest women he’d ever seen sat mere inches away. True, her long blond hair might be plastered against her lovely head and shoulders, but heat came off her like an inferno. Her shoulders squared like a warrior preparing for battle. Blue-eyed, bottle-blondes were too available, too anxious to be the next one in his bed. This poised creature was about as far from a Barbie doll as one could be. She didn’t need to flaunt her beauty like other self-centered females. In only a few moments, she’d shown self-assurance and a strength many men lacked.
     She had blue eyes the color of the bluest sky on any summer day. They sparked fire, yet generated warmth. Her intense scrutiny gave a good kick to his already skipping pulse. The magnetism pulled him in like a fish on a reel that wanted to be caught. At the same time, her look cautioned—don’t be too sure of yourself, for I may throw you back.
     It had been a long while since he’d seriously craved a woman. Matthew boldly studied her profile. His creative mind already imagined the possibilities. A kiss on her round little nose. A lingering caress over her smooth cheeks. A nibble on her stubborn chin. His gaze traveled lower to find the clinging wet material molded to her body exposed every curve and valley of sinful bliss.
     Jesus!
     Air hissed between his teeth as he recalled her beaded nipples poking the front of her soaked blouse. His blood thickened and so did another part of him. He shifted hoping to give the impression he was uncomfortable from sodden clothes.
     A soft rush of air brushed his damp face causing his gaze to focus on hers. He’d been caught staring—again. Long brown lashes fanned out around her spearing gaze. Her eyes brightened. Sensuous lips promising delight curled into an evocative smile, parted as if awaiting his kiss, and then she laughed. The throaty sound sent electric shocks of awareness drumming through his system.
     His body responded to her in a way it had not stirred in a long time, and he relished the moment. His thoughts clouded as his pulse surged. He needed to explore why this creature enflamed his senses and fueled his desire. Thank God, she had a sense of humor.
     “I believe in being a gentleman, no matter what you may have deemed from my actions earlier.” Matthew reluctantly released her hand. “Please forgive me.”
     He remembered his sister’s puppy, and how sad little eyes had secured her devotion. Matthew tried for the most pitiful look he could manage, hoping to warrant Carrie’s empathy. “Am I forgiven?” A delicious smile formed on her mouth wrenching his groin. Her intoxicating scent made him long to lean closer. The idea of tasting those sumptuous lips led to other delightful fantasies.
     “What kind of female would I be if I left a poor unfortunate man out in the cold, pouring rain without a care to his distress?”
     If she only knew.
     "Surely you’re not suggesting the kind of female as those during the bra burning era? The ones who refuse to allow a man a simple act such as opening the door for them. That type of female would lock the door at the butcher shop and dangle the steak in front of a starving man looking in the window.” He leaned toward her. “But certainly not you. You, dear lady, have been most kind.”
     “Kind that I didn’t throw you out after you manhandled me into this vehicle?”
     Mathew gave his most disarming grin. “You must take into account I’m not responsible for my actions. I’d just survived irrational people and belligerent children. I landed in bedlam instead of an airport. Disorderly people turned into an angry mob. Then I was distracted by a most beautiful woman. How can I be blamed for my quick thinking?”
     The twinkle in her eyes warmed his sense of humor. His gaze dropped to her mouth. The instinct to kiss her rose-colored lips made him wonder what she would taste like. Cherries? Sweet caramel? He concentrated on their fullness instead of the words coming from her mouth. Her voice exposed confidence and control. Forcing his gaze from temptation, he met her stare. Her eyes sent the message—I will chew you up and spit you out if I want to.
     A challenge?
     How often was it he actually met someone sexy who didn’t immediately try to seduce him? How long since he’d met a woman smart and entertaining. Not only had she captured his attention, she’d seized his curiosity. And nothing got his adrenaline flowing faster than a hardy challenge.

Buy links:          Something More          The Right One