Spoiler Free Q & A / Samantha Downing Author of He Started It

[Brenda ~The Sisters~Book Witch]

I am excited to have Samantha Downing join us to talk about

[Lindsay L]

This is very exciting! Welcome to our chat Samatha! Very happy to have you here.

How did you come up with the idea for He Started It? Did you have an idea of how it would end right from the start? Or did you let the characters take you where they wanted to go?

[Lindsay L]

What does your typical writing day look like?

[Lindsay L]

How long did it take you to write He Started It vs. My Lovely Wife?

[MarilynW]

Just want to say that I'm am trying not to put a spoiler in my post, as I seem to do, every single time. 😂

Is the ending of this story in concrete, to you, or do you see it as an ending where the reader is meant to decide what happens next?

[Brenda ~The Sisters~Book Witch]

Welcome, Samantha! Thank you so much for joining us!

I loved the setting here and it really added to the story and the tension between the characters. How do you go about creating and developing the setting? How important is the setting to you?

[Brenda ~The Sisters~Book Witch]

What came first for you the idea of the story, the characters or the setting?

[Brenda ~The Sisters~Book Witch]

You created a few characters here. How did you go about creating their voices and the dynamics between them? Were any of them relatable to you somehow?

[Brenda ~The Sisters~Book Witch]

Was there one character you had more fun creating or struggled with more?

[Brenda ~The Sisters~Book Witch]

What's a road trip without stopping at some tourist traps!! I love how you added that to the story. How did you come with the idea of adding them to the story? How did you choose the ones you used?

[Brenda ~The Sisters~Book Witch]

As a reader what do you like from a suspense story or thriller? Do you find yourself writing more on what you like or what you think readers like?

[Brenda ~The Sisters~Book Witch]

Are you working on anything you can share with us?

[Samantha]

Brenda - Traveling Sisters Book Reviews wrote: "I am excited to have Samantha Downing join us to talk about "

Hello! Thank you so much for having me!

[Samantha]

Lindsay - Traveling Sisters Book Reviews wrote: "This is very exciting! Welcome to our chat Samatha! Very happy to have you here.

How did you come up with the idea for He Started It? Did you have an idea of how it would end right from the start?..."

Hi Lindsay, thank you so much for having me!

The idea for He Started It came from a friend of mine who was telling me about a road trip she went on with her family. A lot of things went wrong - a flat tire, someone got sick, etc. It got me thinking about road trips, and what a great setting that was for a thriller!

So many options!

[Samantha]

Lindsay - Traveling Sisters Book Reviews wrote: "What does your typical writing day look like?"

I am definitely a morning writer. I like to get up early and write first thing, while I'm still fresh. At the end of the day, my mind has too much in it to write clearly! Sometimes I do some editing, but normally I write in the morning and read in the evening. That way the two are separated for me.

[Samantha]

Lindsay - Traveling Sisters Book Reviews wrote: "How long did it take you to write He Started It vs. My Lovely Wife?"

I wrote My Lovely Wife in about six and half months. That was before I had an agent or a book contract, so I was doing it for fun and sharing it with my writing group.

He Started It was very different! Originally, I wrote a different book. Normally, I don't plot my novels but my editor asked for a synopsis for my second book so I wrote one. Then i wrote the book...and it was terrible. Turns out, I should not plot my books!

After a lot of talking, we decided to throw that book out. Completely. At that point, I had three months to come up with a book...so that's what I did. I wrote He Started It in three months because I had no choice.

But if I had my preference, I would have six months to write each book!

[Samantha]

marilyn wrote: "Just want to say that I'm am trying not to put a spoiler in my post, as I seem to do, every single time. 😂

Is the ending of this story in concrete, to you, or do you see it as an ending where the ..."

I absolutely think the book had a concrete ending! Although I understand that others don't think so.

Without giving anything away...this story is about the Morgan siblings. The book ends when you know how each of their stories ends.

I hope that clears it up!

[Samantha]

Brenda - Traveling Sisters Book Reviews wrote: "Welcome, Samantha! Thank you so much for joining us!

I loved the setting here and it really added to the story and the tension between the characters. How do you go about creating and developing ..."

Thank you so much, it's nice to be here!

The road trip was essential to this story for a couple of reasons. First, because it forced them to be together. They had to be in that car, locked in together for hours every day. That can be a real pressure cooker situation if you don't like the people you are with!

Second, it gave the story movement. You knew how many days were left from the beginning, and you knew it was building up to something.

[Samantha]

Brenda - Traveling Sisters Book Reviews wrote: "What came first for you the idea of the story, the characters or the setting?"

The idea of a road trip came first, and then I had to think about who would go on the road trip!

I didn't want to use another family like in My Lovely Wife - husband, wife, and kids. I thought about a group of friends, but it's hard to take two weeks off from your family for a road trip unless you are very young...and I couldn't think of a good reason why friends would have to go on a road trip.

Then when I thought of siblings, it seemed perfect. Siblings can be such difficult relationships because you have all grown up together and you certainly know how to push each other's buttons!

[MarilynW]

Samantha wrote: "marilyn wrote: "Just want to say that I'm am trying not to put a spoiler in my post, as I seem to do, every single time. 😂

Is the ending of this story in concrete, to you, or do you see it as an e..."

Thank you Samantha...that's what I needed to know. I know how the story ends 😁

[Samantha]

Brenda - Traveling Sisters Book Reviews wrote: "You created a few characters here. How did you go about creating their voices and the dynamics between them? Were any of them relatable to you somehow?"

The narrator of the story is Beth, the middle child. I specifically wanted the middle child because they don't have a defined role like the youngest or oldest in the family. So I started with her, and I knew she would have more information than just about anybody.

Eddie, the oldest, is definitely based on my brother (only my brother is not evil!) But he definitely a charming guy, the kind of guy everybody likes and makes friends easily.

Krista is 26 and she's the youngest. I would say I have the most in common with her, because I am also the baby of the family. I was also used to being left out of what my older siblings were up to!

[Samantha]

Brenda - Traveling Sisters Book Reviews wrote: "Was there one character you had more fun creating or struggled with more?"

I think their mother was the most difficult. While she's only shown in flashback, I think it's clear she loved her kids but also had to make some hard choices. I tried to strike a balance and that's really difficult.

[Samantha]

Brenda - Traveling Sisters Book Reviews wrote: "What's a road trip without stopping at some tourist traps!! I love how you added that to the story. How did you come with the idea of adding them to the story? How did you choose the ones you used?"

This was a lot of fun, and a lot of research! I knew this family wouldn't go anywhere normal, like the Grand Canyon or Niagara Falls, so I chose really out of the way, weird roadside places for them to stop. Roadside America was invaluable for this!

Personally, I have driven across the country before and have seen a few of these places, but not all of them. Maybe one day!

[Samantha]

Brenda - Traveling Sisters Book Reviews wrote: "As a reader what do you like from a suspense story or thriller? Do you find yourself writing more on what you like or what you think readers like?"

I try to write the books I would love to read. I grew up reading thrillers, my whole family read them and they were always around the house.

When I first started writing, I think I was writing for me personally. I'm sure a lot of writers do this - they write to process personal things or make sense of their own experiences. But once that was out of my system, I started writing book I actually wanted to read. And it's a lot more fun!

Thrillers/suspense novels are definitely my favorites. I do read other genres but I always return to thrillers

[Samantha]

Brenda - Traveling Sisters Book Reviews wrote: "Are you working on anything you can share with us?"

I am finishing up my third book and yes, it's a thriller! That's all I can share for right now!

[Samantha]

marilyn wrote: "Samantha wrote: "marilyn wrote: "Just want to say that I'm am trying not to put a spoiler in my post, as I seem to do, every single time. 😂

Is the ending of this story in concrete, to you, or do y..."

Oh perfect! I think it's all there in the story. But I understand some people would think "But what if..."

No. There's no what if :)

[Samantha]

This has been fun! I'll hang out for a bit and see if any other questions pop up!

[Brenda ~The Sisters~Book Witch]

How did you go about creating the atmosphere for the desert? The desert can be a dangerous and strange thing and you caught that well. In the group read we had some questions about that. Did you do any research on desert conditions?

[Samantha]

Brenda - Traveling Sisters Book Reviews wrote: "How did you go about creating the atmosphere for the desert? The desert can be a dangerous and strange thing and you caught that well. In the group read we had some questions about that. Did you do..."

I've been to the desert, so I pretty much relied on my memory for creating that scene. I knew it could be very ominous, because the desert is so vast and empty and who knows what could be going on at any given time. I wanted a sense that they were at the end of the world, with no one else around, and they were going to have to deal with each other.

[MarilynW]

Samantha wrote: Oh perfect! I think it's all there in the story. But I understand some people would think "But what if..."

No. There's no what if :)

Love this, Samantha! Thank you so much for talking with us 😊

[Samantha]

marilyn wrote: "Samantha wrote: Oh perfect! I think it's all there in the story. But I understand some people would think "But what if..."

No. There's no what if :)

Love this, Samantha! Thank you so much for tal..."

You are very welcome! Thank you for reading!

[Brenda ~The Sisters~Book Witch]

Thank you so much for joining us and answering our questions. I loved seeing more into your story and characters!

[Samantha]

Brenda - Traveling Sisters Book Reviews wrote: "Thank you so much for joining us and answering our questions. I loved seeing more into your story and characters!"

Thank you for this opportunity! It's been a lot of fun!

[Lindsay L]

Thanks so much for being here with us today Samantha! We appreciate your time. 💕

[Samantha]

Lindsay - Traveling Sisters Book Reviews wrote: "Thanks so much for being here with us today Samantha! We appreciate your time. 💕"

Thank you Lindsay! Thank you for having me