The interview appeared in the May 05 Issue of BOOKING MATTERS MAGAZINE
Born and raised in Little Rock, Arkansas, Sammie Ward is no stranger to writing. Evidence of her work has been featured in several national romance and erotic magazines from True Confessions and Black Confessions to Bronze Thrills and Black Secrets. Now, with two full-length books on the scene, she is now making her presence kwown in the world of fiction novels.
BM: How were you introduced to the craft of writing?
SW: First, thank you so much Booking Matters Magazine, for featuring me. To answer your question I grew up reading Harelequin/Silhouette romance novels. I mean, I loved those books. Every time I finished one, I found myself saying, "Oneday I'm going to write a novel." It didn't happen until years later. I was in between jobs, so I took advantage of the free time and begin writing, In The Name Of Love.
BM: What are the differences in your experience in writing for magazines and writing novels?
SW: Writing short stories for a magazine, I have to be able to write a good, tantalizing story in a small amount of time, with fewer words, and from one person's point of view. If I get assignments (which I do) the magazine provides me with a topic that they're looking for at the time, so I have to be really creative and come up with a story. The brawback is that I'm not able to fully develop the story lines and characters the way I can in a novel.
BM: You curently have two titles available for purchase. Briefly tell our readers a little about In The Name Of Love and why you chose to create Shari and Derrick's story.
SW: In The Name Of Love is the story about lovers, Derick and Shari who are separated by a lack of trust on his part then reunited six years later. Together again, secrets from the past threatens to tear them apart for the second time. This is a story that bounced around in my head awhile begore I finally put it on paper. I believe readers will be able to relate to the characters' dilemma and cheer for them to get through it together.
BM:Both In The Name Of Love and Love To Behold seemed to have hit the literary scene almost simultaneously. Why did you decide to produce them so closely together?
SW: (Laughing) It wasn't planned. In The Name Of Love was being shopped around by my agent at the time. I was asked to write Love To Behold for a major publishing house. Love To Behold was rejected, along with In The Name OfLove. Tired and frustrated, I asked my agent to withdraw InThe Name of Love from circulation. I formed Lady Leo Publishing and self-published instead. I'm proud to say both novels are doing well and have received good reviews.
BM: As a self-published author, have you found marketing your books to be at all difficult?
SW: Not at all. Writing has brought me in contact with a lot of people over the years, therefore marketing has not really been a problem. Support from everyone has been good.
BM: With all that you are involved in, your plate is full, no doubt. But are there other books on the horizon? If so give us a taste of what we can expect from you next?
SW: My next book is scheduled for release late summer of 2005. It's a military/mystery novel titled, Seven Days. After sixteen years of military service to his country, Lieutenant Colonel Victor Sexton of the Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID) is looking forward to retiring in seven days, but when an army nurse is found murdered in the officer's quarters, time is against him to find the killer. Victor is involved in the most difficult battle of his military career. He has to fight to solve the murder and win back the love he once shared with Captain Dominique Frazier (the heroine)
Ms. Sammie Ward currently resides in Silver Spring, MD. To read more about her and future releases, visit her website at: Click here
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