Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I was born and brought up in England, and ever since I can remember all I wanted was to read, write and travel, so I count myself pretty lucky! I live in Sydney, Australia now, but I find I’m still drawn to British history for ideas for books. I’ve been writing all my life (I started out mostly with pony stories), and I now have two published novels, with a third one to come out at the end of this year.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
It’s called The Officer’s Affair. I’ve always been intrigued by all things relating to World War II, and everything I write seems to centre on conflicted relationships.
There was no one moment of inspiration – just an evolving story about the often untold aftermath of the suffering of the war years.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write best in the morning after a long walk. A quiet house is optimal, and frequent cups of tea are essential.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I spent my teenage years on a diet of Victorian novels and Romantic poetry – Thomas Hardy, the Brontes, John Keats, William Blake. Then I discovered American literature and fell in love with F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, William Faulkner, Tennessee Williams. I guess the thing they all have in common is their focus on the complexities of relationships, and the things we do for love.
What are you working on now?
A novel set in 17th Century London. It’s still in the early stages, and I’m not quite sure where it’s going yet.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
The million dollar question! I think it’s a case of a little bit of this and a little bit of that, and tweaking as you go. And things are ever-changing, so there’s no one answer – I really wish there was.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Read everything you can. Write as much and as often as you can. Hone your craft. And learn to take criticism on the chin – it’s something you’re going to have to get used to.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
A professional writer is an amateur who didn’t give up. I think it was by Richard Bach.
What are you reading now?
The books next to my bed at the moment include the Poetic Edda, Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller, and Story by Robert Mckee.
What’s next for you as a writer?
My current work-in-progress is taking a while, and after I conquer the first draft I’m planning put it aside for a while and resurrect an old manuscript I’ve been wanting to rework for some time. Maybe.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Tricky. Am I allowed to take collected works? If so, definitely the collected works of both Shakespeare and T.S. Eliot. Novels are harder to choose – most of my favourite novels are pretty sad (A Farewell to Arms, The English Patient, The Great Gatsby, Tess of the D’Urbervilles) so I’m not sure they’d be great choices for solitude on an island. Perhaps Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter would be good. Oh, and Wolf Hall.
Author Websites and Profiles
Samantha Grosser Website
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