By Ron Evans
Born and raised in hot and sunny Arizona, Samantha Hardy moved to the Wenatchee area in 2021. Since then she has been a staple in the local arts scene exhibiting and selling her bold, colorful and dynamic paintings. Hardy has now delved into a different pool - novel writing. Her inaugural book, A Whirlwind Of Loss And Ruin was released in April. I reached out to Hardy to chat about the experience of conceiving, crafting and publishing her very first novel.
First off, tell us a little about your history in the arts.
My creative journey started at a very young age due to having creative people/ artists on both sides of my family.
I fell in love with painting thanks to my grandmother who is a painter in New Mexico, and that has been my biggest love, as far as what artistically piqued my interest - until I wrote A Whirlwind of Loss and Ruin.
I enjoyed creative writing when I was in school but never executed any of that until this year.
Talk about the premise, genre and loose plot of the novel, and about the title. And when and why did you decide to write a novel?
A Whirlwind of Loss and Ruin follows the story/journey of twenty-three year old Aella Clarke, who suffers from sleep paralysis and quickly learns that while she is having what she considers to be her episodes, she is actually opening portals to different realms.
A Whirlwind of Loss and Ruin is a modern-day fiction/fantasy that is fueled with plot twists and turns, but above all, it is a story of self-discovery and magic that most of us can admire and relate to in real life.
I decided to write this novel (and I feel that every artist can relate to this) because I hit a wall with painting. Both of my dogs got sick around this time, and I wanted to spend as much time with them as I could, but I still wanted to be creative. Writing became a therapeutic endeavor for me, and my boys, Bodhi and Jude, helped push me to make it happen so that they could see it through with me.
How long did it take to write?
From the beginning stages of writing to hitting the green button with publishing, it took me nine months. I tell people that I birthed a book; this is my book baby.
I started writing in August of last year when I decided to do a dry month from drinking alcohol, and I couldn’t stop!
Talk about your workflow in the early stages. Did you just start writing and see where it goes? Was there a lot of outlining and blocking things out?
I am what my editor refers to as a Pantser because I fly by the seat of my pants with writing. I did zero outlining or blocking things out, and I feel that that is how I work best creatively.
I had an idea about what I wanted to write about, but if I’m being honest, the story kind of just wrote itself.
New ideas and plots would pop up as I was working on a chapter or scene, and I would get really excited as if I was watching a film and could see it play out before my eyes.
Once you had a finished rough draft, were you refining things on more passes, or had you given copies out for feedback and proofing?
Once I finished my first draft, I freelanced my editor to do a developmental edit. Afterwards, I did mostly all the proofing and fine tuning of the story. The biggest takeaway I have from that and into the next book will be to have some beta readers and get a copy edit done.
Because this is my first book, I was really close to the story and my work. I wanted it to be a surprise for all.
Talk about finding people to give honest but helpful feedback. That can sometimes be challenging.
Finding an editor was surprisingly easy and fun. Honestly, this whole process was a lot of fun and a huge learning curve, and I am still learning all the things about publishing and the book world.
When I decided to work with my editor, I wanted him to tear my manuscript apart and not hold back. The feedback I received from him was not what I was expecting, and a part of me thought, maybe I’m on to something.
He was exceptional to work with and he helped me ask questions when it came to the story and helped me iron out some kinks from being the Pantser that I am.
Growth is huge for creatives, and constructive criticism, even if it can feel brutal and like you are under attack, is necessary.
Fail forward!
So you got the feedback, you made any edits deemed appropriate…what was the final stage(s) of getting your book out? The cover, how you chose to publish, how you chose to distribute.
When it came to the cover, I decided to stay in my own lane for that and hired a cover design team to create something for my book. Painting and digital art are very different, and I am not equipped when it comes to digital art. I couldn’t be happier with the end result and I will be using them again for future projects.
After doing tons of research on indie publishing vs. traditional publishing, I went with my gut and decided to indie publish. The biggest reason is that I wanted to retain the rights for my book but also hold creative control. I am happy with indie publishing because now I know what goes into publishing and have a much greater appreciation/respect for the books I read.
Writing came somewhat easy for me; it was everything else that followed that was the work, and I am proud of the work I put into this project.
And, of course, edit, edit, and more editing. You cannot edit enough, and quite frankly, I hate that part of writing. It doesn’t matter how many times you comb through a manuscript, how many people you have proof or how many times an editor edits; there are always going to be some mistakes. We are human, and that is what makes art perfectly imperfect.
You read a rather saucy excerpt from the book at a pop-up RadarStation Open Mic at Host a couple months back. It was very well received. Talk about the experience of reading your own writings in front of people.
Public speaking is one of my fears, so thank you for pushing me to do something so… freeing. When I read said excerpt at the RadarStation Open Mic, I felt as though I was on the verge of passing out or having a heart attack, but it was the best experience I have had as of late. I think that breaking this social barrier and talking/reading about sexuality in a positive light, even if it is fiction, can be healthy and should be more normalized, especially in a society where it is considered taboo.
Afterward, an older woman approached me and said with a smile on her face, “That was twenty years ago.” I knew at that moment that I had made the right decision.
I have yet to read more of my writings in front of others, but I will be doing it again in the future and will push the envelope even further.
On that same note, talk about all the feedback you have been getting since the book’s release.
I have been very fortunate and am grateful since the book’s release in that the feedback I have received so far has been nothing but positive, and I have been asked when the next book is coming out.
The biggest compliment has been from people who don’t typically read this genre and are hooked within the first couple of pages.
There is a vulnerability with art and writing; you are putting yourself out there in a huge way, but that feeling of vulnerability is what makes doing something like this worth it.
“If it doesn’t scare you, then it’s not the right decision.”
Where can people find your book?
You can find A Whirlwind of Loss and Ruin on Amazon for paperback, hardback, and Kindle E-book.
Plans for a sequel or starting a new novel?
Yes! I am currently working on the sequel, and plan to have it released in the upcoming year. I cannot say how many books will be in the Loss and Ruin series, however, but there will be more to come!
Anything coming up you’d like to share?
Yes! Night Market on the Ave. is going to be awesome, and if you missed it last year, you won’t want to miss it this year. That’s May 18th (see page 40). I will have copies of my book available alongside art prints, book bags, and coasters. Come down and support your local artists and makers!
More books and art to come, stay tuned!
Website: steelycold.com
Instagram: @steelycold
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