Author Interview – Samara Breger – A Long Time Dead

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On The Table Read Magazine, “the best book magazine in the UK“, author Samara Breger shares the inspiration behind her new book, A Long Time Dead, and her creative writing process.

Written by JJ Barnes

www.jjbarnes.co.uk

I interviewed Samara Breger about her life and career, what inspired her to start writing, and the story of her new book, A Long Time Dead.

Tell me a bit about who you are.

I’m Samara. I’m a writer and performer. I like to write about queer women falling in love. I drink my coffee black, mostly out of laziness and lactose intolerance. I really like anchovies and I think more people should be eating them. I waste a lot of time on TikTok. I have a wife and a dog and I love them both very much.

When did you first WANT to write a book?

I had been a journalist for a few years and I was miserable. A story I had traveled to report got killed by an editor who fundamentally misunderstood it. I was also pretty sick of sanding down real people’s stories in the name of narrative journalism. I wondered what it would be like to have complete control over a story and let my imagination run wild. There was maybe an hour between having that thought and actually starting my first book. Writing was a total impulse decision.

When did you take a step to start writing?

See above. I didn’t prep anything. I just started. I highly recommend just doing it. Sometimes, people will say “Well, I have to take a class first,” or “I have no idea what to write about.” I think the best move is to write some stuff down and take it from there.

How long did it take you to complete your first book from the first idea to release?

A couple of years, give or take some months. I try not to think too hard about that or else I’ll question whether I’m productive enough and I’ll completely spiral.

What made you want to write A Long Time Dead?

Two other authors at my publisher approached me to write a vampire novella, the idea being we release all three together. Independently, our novellas got out of control, and here we are. When I committed to the vampire idea, I knew I was going to go gothic. Those are my favorite vampires. I like them bloody and dramatic and a little spooky. My big deviation from the genre was to promote the queer coding to overt, explicit queerness.

What were your biggest challenges with writing A Long Time Dead?

The research was extensive. I have limited patience and I get too excited to write, which means I often make mistakes and need to backtrack. I spent a lot of time googling whether certain words were used in certain contexts in certain years. I know there are some anachronisms left in the book, but at this point, I have to live with them.

Who or what inspired you when creating your Protagonist?

Because this was a novella, and because I planned to write it quickly, I didn’t do much preparation and a lot of my own personality snuck in. When I think of the yearning and dyke drama I wanted to put into this book, I go immediately to a relationship I had when I was twenty. It spanned three years and three countries and was a total mess, but, a decade later, it’s great fodder for fiction.

Who or what inspired you when creating your Antagonist?

I wanted her to be a true obsessive. That’s the scariest thing to me: someone who just can’t let an ex go. She’s a real “if I can’t have her, nobody can” type of person, except with creepy paranormal abilities.

What is the inciting incident of A Long Time Dead?

I hate thinking about structure. I really do. I know it’s useful, and would definitely benefit me as a writer to consider it more, but it does make me itchy. I’m trying to plan out my next book in advance, which is something I’ve never done before, and the process is kind of miserable. I know it will make the writing easier, but it’s way less fun.

But to answer the question, my inciting incident is my main character being turned into a vampire.

What is the main conflict of A Long Time Dead?

It’s a romance, so the conflict has to do with two women who have been torn apart finding their way back together. Also, it’s that there is a very powerful vampire trying to kill them.

Did you plot A Long Time Dead in advance, or fly by the seat of your pants and write freely?

I fly, baby. I’m a bird. But I’m trying to be a more organized bird. A bird with glasses and a spiral notebook. Maybe an owl.

Did you get support with editing, and how much editing did A Long Time Dead need?

I had one massive development edit with my editor, Kit Haggard, who is a genius. I love getting edits. I’ll take as many as I can get. A few friends offered to give me notes, and I absolutely took them up on that offer. The book is dedicated to my friend Alessandra, because without her notes this book would probably suck.

What is the first piece of writing advice you would give to anyone inspired to write a story?

Do it. Don’t think too hard. Just start writing stuff down and see if it feels good. If it doesn’t feel good, go on a little walk and try again. If it still doesn’t feel good, write about something else. You don’t have to be married to your first idea, and sometimes a great idea doesn’t lead to a great story. Take edits. The first thing you write is probably going to be bad. That’s fine, and doesn’t mean you’re a bad writer. If it feels good, keep doing it.

Can you give me a hint about any further books you’re planning to write?

Yes! I’m writing a Victorian spiritualist ghost romance based loosely on the play Blithe Spirit. I’m also working on a romance inspired by Gallus Mag and Sadie the Goat, two notorious characters from 19th century New York City. I don’t want to spoil too much, but someone does get their ear bitten off.

And, finally, are you proud of your accomplishment? Was it worth the effort?

I am very proud! I hope people like the book. I really liked writing it.

Pop all your book, website and social media links here so the readers can find you:

Learn more at www.samarabreger.com

Kindle: https://amzn.to/3qTypGJ

Paperback: https://amzn.to/3NAJFAU

Connect with Samara

Instagram @yesjbreg

Twitter @SamaraJBreger

TikTok @samarajbreger.

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