Samantha Goodno

Tell us a little bit about yourself, your hobbies and interests.

I'm a mom of three special needs kids. I'm also a stepmom to a lady I love to call Ninja. I also have a black labradane named Thor. I love playing video games like Guildwars 2, Fallout 76, and ARK. I'm addicted to coffee... especially iced coffee... that's my latest attachment. I also seem to hoard sticky notes and pens (especially fusion ones).

When and why did you start writing books?

My first attempt at writing stories came when I was creating a mashup of several different Disney movies and typed them all out on an old-fashioned typewriter my mom had. I had forgotten all about that until my mom gave it back to me some years ago. It was destiny.

What made you decide to tackle writing as a career?

A number of reasons. I started off wanting to do this as a hobby. A side gig. It has since evolved an taken over and has become one of my main sources of income.

Which one of your books or characters is your favourite?

Hmm... I really hate to point out favorites, because I do love all of them for different reasons, but I have to say I have a special fondness for Bear, one of the characters from my Nepherium novella series published under my previous last name. There was something about his demeanor that was endearing and I really, really enjoyed creating him.

Which one of your books was the hardest to write and stretched you the most as a writer?

Aura. It was one of the stories I had written and rewritten this story before. Many times. It has evolved so much. Plus, with the gap between books, I learned a lot about structure, plot, and world-building. I applied the things I learned to the story and have come up with what I believe is the best I can bring right now. I'm still learning, and many of my previously written and unpublished works are in the process of getting a facelift. Those will hopefully be coming out within the next five years.

Who is your favourite author and book?

Two authors, actually, are my favorite. They are a team. Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. They authored the Dragonlance Series, which sparked not only my incredible fondness for reading but my love of fantasy.

What book are you reading right now?

I actually just got done reading a book from an author friend of mine. Hexes and Bones by Alesha Escobar. Fantastic!

Where do you get your inspiration for your books?

A lot of places provide inspiration on some level. Most of the time, it's a dream. Or a feeling that gets my imagination going. Sometimes, it's a picture, or a long drive through the country.

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

Writing, playing video games, and laughing with my husband or my kids.

Do you have any new books in the works?

I'm in the process of planning out Cinder, which is the second book in my Darkness Rising Series. I'm also tweaking an outline for the first book of a new fantasy series involving necromancers and dragons.