Interview with dark fiction author Samie Sands

Dark fiction author Samie Sands is here today to chat with me about her new horror sci-fi novel, Lockdown.

During her virtual book tour, Samie will be awarding a $10 Amazon or Barnes and Noble (winner’s choice) gift card to a randomly drawn winner; and three additional people will win a print copy of a book in the series. To be entered for a chance to win, use the form below. To increase your chances of winning, feel free to visit her other tour stops and enter there, too!

Bio:

Samie Sands is the author of the AM13 Outbreak series – Lockdown, Forgotten, and Extinct. She’s also had a number of short stories published in very successful short story anthologies.

Welcome, Samie. Please share a little bit about your current release.

Leah Watton’s practical joke has spiralled way out of control—all to impress a crush…

With a prank online video, Leah hopes to catch the attention of Jake Colton, a cute, blond-haired, blue-eyed co-worker she’s had a crush on for months. But instead of sending it to Jake, she manages to forward the clip to her boss—who buys every gory second.

When mass panic ensues, Leah learns the video is more than a staged act…

The government is calling the virus AM13. As the outbreak spreads, citizens are forced to stay indoors while they assess the gravity of the illness. Most people are quarantined in their homes, but Leah, Jake, and Leah’s best friend Michelle are some of the unlucky few who are stuck at work when the Lockdown occurs.

That’s where she first encounters one of the infected…

Aside from a contaminated woman devouring one of her co-workers, Leah has another problem. Does she do as she’s ordered and stay at work? Or should she disobey government orders and break free to reunite with her family?

She can’t go it alone—after all, Leah has none of the skills needed to survive—but with Michelle and Jake by her side, not even a contagious virus and a sea of the dead can keep her from…

Breaking out of the Lockdown…


What inspired you to write this book?

With Lockdown, I wrote the book I wanted to read. I didn’t think about doing it professionally, I simply enjoyed doing it. I didn’t even think anything would come of it when I sent the manuscript off to get published but when it did it inspired me to write more. Now, I absolutely love it!

Most of the zombie apocalypse books that I’ve read in the past feature very capable main characters. It made me wonder what would happen with an ordinary person trying to survive, someone without any particular talents to help her live through such horror. Leah is a normal, girl next door type without any skills to survive. Sometimes she's flawed and she doesn’t always make the right choice, but that makes her more realistic. Not everyone likes her, but I no one can be liked by everyone!

Excerpt from Lockdown:

He’s disgusting. I’ve never seen one this close before, heading towards me with such vigour. I’ve always done my best to avert my eyes from the infected, but now time seems to freeze as I can’t drag my gaze away. What I thought was him shuffling, was actually him dragging his broken, bloodied leg behind him. This wound is so deep I can see bone poking through. I can’t help but retch.

The bite on his shoulder is absolutely huge and rancid—all blackened from the infection. His arm is hanging down by his side, completely useless. He’ll never be able to move that again, no matter what happens. His face is also in a terrible state. His skin is a deep grey, much murkier than the others I’ve seen. He must have been infected for a very long time. The bags under his eyes droop incredibly low, causing his face to look deformed. The blood running down his skin, staining all his clothes, looks really old. Scratch marks cover his torso; he looks as if he’s been brutally beaten in some awful fight. I would never have thought someone could survive these injuries, they’re just so severe. People have died over much less, and yet here he is, still moving towards us, baring his teeth, ready and waiting to eat.

Jake pulls me hard and I stumble backwards, tripping over a box. I hit the ground hard and suddenly find myself unable to move, as if I’m physically paralysed by fear. It’s almost as if I’m having an out of body experience, looking down at myself, screaming run. Something is pulling me upwards, but my body is too sluggish to comply. It just won’t do what I want it to, I’m too panicked. Now I understand how Tim was feeling when he was attacked and unable to scale the fence. Limp and useless. I know an assault is imminent, but I can’t do anything to stop it. I’m utterly screwed, and I’m just sitting here, waiting for it to happen.

I’m shaking, sobs rising up in my chest. I’m going to die if I don’t get up now, so why can’t I? All I need to do is make my way over to the door, but it feels a million miles away. I don’t even know where Jake is. I can hear him hissing at me, encouraging me to move, but I can’t see him anywhere. He might have even made it outside already. If so, he should probably run before he has to witness my death.

Thud. The loud noise shocks me into looking up. Thud. There it is again. This time it’s following by a sloshing sound, like a wet mop hitting the ground. I need to locate the source of the noise. I need to know what’s happening, how long I have left. Can I escape? Can I really survive this? My heart leaps into my dry, panicked mouth and my slick palms slide across the ground.

It’s Jake, I can finally see him. He’s absolutely covered in blood. His axe is discarded on the ground next to him. He’s offering me a hand. I reach up tentatively to grab it, still trying to piece together the scene around me.

“He’s…?” I can’t finish my sentence. I can’t vocalise all the hundreds of questions that are swirling around in my mind.

“Yes, Leah, he’s gone. ”Jake blows out some air, as if all the stress is seeping out of his body.

Relief floods my chest, pushing away some of the numb sensation. I’ve never had a near death experience before, so I’m not sure how you’re supposed to feel. We sit silent for a while, just the sounds of our heavy breathing to keep us company. The shop owner doesn’t move again, so I can feel myself starting to relax in his presence. I wonder what happened to him, how he managed to get into that state, when he got bitten—all of these questions that we’ll never get the answer to now that he’s gone forever.

What exciting story are you working on next?
I have just signed a new contract with Limitless Publishing for a book in a completely different genre. Lottie Loves is a romance novel that involves looking back as past loves and working out how love should be. That isn’t to say that there won’t be more from the zombie apocalypse though, I still have many ideas!

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I think when the book series was finally published and I started getting some positive feedback from readers. I still want to be better and to write more though, I’m never satisfied that I’m doing the best I can do.

Do you write full-time? If so, what's your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?
I write every day, but when I get to do that can be varied. With work and motherhood, it’s not always easy to get some quality time with the laptop!

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
Most writers listen to music as they work, but I can’t do that. For some reason I find TV in the background must less distracting!

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be a vet! I did love to read though, my head was always in a book so maybe it was destined.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
Thank you so much for having me on your blog, I would love to connect with readers on social media and I always love reading any messages and reviews.

Links:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Wattpad | Instagram | Amazon paperback | Kindle

Thank you for being a guest on my blog!

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