Samhain Publishing

In the movie Runaway Bride with Julia Roberts and Richard Gere, the end always made me roll my eyes. I mean it’s a movie, just get to the happily ever after! However, recently, I’m going through my own metamorphosis in much the same way as Julia’s character does at the end and it’s given me a new perspective.

There’s nothing like a three month road trip to make you learn a whole lot about yourself. lol I have discovered that I love the sound snow makes when it crunches under my feet. I don’t like french fries near as much as I thought, but I do love breakfast foods, especially omelets. I’m far more adaptable than I’ve ever given myself credit for. I love New York state. I don’t need much, materialistically speaking, to make me really happy and I used to be far too vain for my own good! lol

In a lot of ways, I’m discovering myself for the first time, without parents or family expectations on me or even my own expectations of what a wife and mother is. I feel free and that’s a HUGE gift. Best of all though, I’m learning the difference between girlhood love and adult love.

I married my first husband at twenty two, but not just any old twenty two. I was a very shy, very sheltered, very naive twenty two. I had no idea what life was about, let alone love and marriage. I loved my ex very deeply, with all the exuberance of a girl. Loving Dale is teaching me what it means to be a woman who loves a man…ooooh there’s almost a song in that! LOL

Something about being with Dale brings out the best in me. Maybe it’s because I never want for anything and since I always know he’s there and completely dependable, I feel I can spread my wings. Maybe that sounds weird, but he makes me want to do better and try harder.

For most of my life I’ve felt like I couldn’t handle anything. I’ve forever been told to toughen up and grow a thicker skin which left me feeling emotionally fragile. Yes I’m way more sensitive than most people, but Dale never makes me feel ashamed of that and knowing it’s okay to feel what I feel, allows me to move passed it quicker and that is making me stronger.

I swear I’ve laughed more and cried less in the year and four months I’ve known Dale, than I have my whole life. I never knew life could be like this and let me tell you, there is no better way to get to know someone than to travel with them!

But what does any of this have to do with you? lol

Well, all this life reflecting has made me realize just how lucky I am to be a published author. What an amazing, humbling thing to have someone else be willing to spend their very hard earned money on something I created. That’s not a small thing to me and I want to thank everyone who’s ever bought one of my books. Though I’ve been very quiet this year, with writing anyway lol, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking and planning and made a few really important decisions for my future as an author.

It’s a strange game, that of publishing, and though I know exactly what to write to make a lot of sales, there’s no point in that for me. I’ve always heard, write what you love, and that’s my intention. I’m writing now with a new integrity for my readers and the people who specifically look for a Samantha Lucas book. The stories I write, move people enough that they write me to say so and that’s always been my main desire as an author. I hope to always be able to write stories that tug on the heart strings, excite and engage the reader. While I enjoy writing a lot of different things, my heart is fully engaged in the longer stories of deep soul-mate love so expect to see more of those next year in three new series I’ll be writing for three of my publishers. More info on the characters you’ll be meeting and the towns they live in will be in future blog posts on my site.

To further thank you, this Christmas, I will be giving away a free download at samanthalucas.com. Stay tuned to my site as Christmas grows near, but it’s a sequel to one of my more popular series. I hope it will be all you’ve wanted and waited for.

Also, in the coming year, look forward to a lot more from me in general. This year was a rocky one personally and that took it’s toll on my writing. I’m back now though, writing with a vengeance and hope to put out a lot of wonderful stories in 2009. I’ve also got a thing or two up my sleeve that I hope will be exciting, including more free reads! It’s all in the works for the coming year and I hope you enjoy.

If you aren’t familiar with me or my writing, while you’re here check out my Samhain title One Night on a Balcony then come by my site at www.samanthalucas.com and wander around to see what else I have to offer. I blog most Sundays about my travels and life and I’d love to have you come check in with me when you can.

The holiday season is in full swing now and I’m feeling very lucky to be traveling. I get to see the snow and the lights and decorations, it’s fabulous! I hope you all are enjoying the season, don’t forget it’s not about the gifts, but about the love. Until we meet again, take care and remember to enjoy the little moments of bliss life sends you, often those are the very best ones! ~ Samantha

Samantha Lucas
www.samanthalucas.com
2007 CAPA nominated favorite author
“All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them.” ~ Walt Disney