Five minutes with Samantha J Ball

I recently got to know Samantha J Ball. We were connected by a a friend from Samantha's church who I was introduced to by another friend, and we discovered that we both also know romance author Chrissie Harrison. Since we live near to each other we met for lunch and shared books! I recently reviewed Samantha's romance Bad Reputation on this blog. Here I ask some writerly questions so you can get to know her better.

Samantha J Ball

You were brought up in South Africa. What made you choose to write stories set in the US?

Growing up, I watched a lot of US television, and I had a fascination with romcoms set in New York. Since I’m not really 'English', I felt I wouldn’t be able to do justice to the characters and the country. The British love swearing, sexual jokes/innuendo, plus slapstick comedy, and that’s not my style. I do, however, love shows like Downton Abbey. 

Your first book, Bad Reputation, is about a couple who have trouble being open with each other. Do you think openness and honesty would solve a lot of problems in relationships?

Absolutely! The key to any successful relationship is open and honest communication. 

In Bad Reputation, Stephen is an engineering consultant. What inspired you to choose this career for your hero?

An engineering consultant is outside expert hired for high-level technical advice and project management. I chose it, because I needed a MMC [main male character] who could be contractually employed and therefore happy to move around for his job. A person like him was employed for the Boathouse Project in New Haven - a real situation.

You don’t write ‘Christian books’ but your faith is very important to you. How is this mirrored in your writing?

I like to sprinkle faith in my books; sometimes with the characters just saying grace or a brief prayer for God’s help - unless they are overtly Christian. My Christian characters do attend church services, talk about Bible verses with other characters and definitely pray. To call myself a ‘Christian Contemporary’ Author, I would prefer to see faith journeys in my books, and I haven’t written one of those yet. 

Where do you write?

My laptop makes it easy to write in different places: at the kitchen table, in front of the living-room fireplace, or at my sit/stand desk.

What’s your favourite writing snack?

Nuts - any kind.

What’s the next book you plan to bring out?

I’m currently working on two at the moment, so it’s a race to the finish line. Either a fake dating novel set in New Haven (sort of a prequel to the New Haven series) or a co-authored romance novella set in London.

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