The Journey of Samara Black and 'The Asset'

Meet Samara Black, a multifaceted creative who embarked on her writing journey with a blend of music vibes and storytelling prowess. Her debut novel, “The Asset,” birthed from a fusion of childhood inspirations and life’s twists and turns, delves into the thrilling world of espionage with a unique twist. Facing challenges head-on, Samara’s resilience shines through as she crafts her trilogy amidst personal and professional triumphs. Discover how she navigates creativity, tackles setbacks, and finds balance in her life and art in this insightful interview.

Can you share a bit about your personal journey and how it led you to create “The Asset”?

I’d played around at writing ever since I was a child, starting with weird poems and a Halloween short story about a magical cello that went trick or treating with me when I was 9. I was a junior in college and didn’t want to study for an economics test and was listening to music on my bed and being lazy. The song “Angry Johnny” by Poe came on. It’s a song where the singer describes all the ways she could kill Johnny. I mused to myself it sounded like an offbeat tune an assassin could enjoy. The next song was a remix of “Sundown” by Elwood, which has a sort of funky upbeat vibe to it. It made me start thinking of the misadventures of a spy. I then started combining the two ideas and conjured the story of a secret agent who works for both the FBI and the CIA – how that would work, what motivates her, why she is the way she is. I then put the idea away for a while to finish school and then, as they say, life got in the way of my creativity for a while. I still thought about my “spy story” every now and then, but I didn’t really start pressing myself to put ideas on paper until around 2015 when I started randomly making a list of characters on my phone. I turned 40 in 2017 and decided it was now or never. I gave my spy a name (Larissa Donovan), a purpose, and plotted her story. On November 1, 2017 I started writing The Asset – almost 20 years after the first seeds of the story were planted.

What inspired you to combine music vibes with your creative project, and how did this combination influence your work?

Music has ALWAYS been present in my life. I played cello when I was a kid and then married into a family of musicians. There are so many times that I’ve found a song that can express what I’m feeling when words fail me. And sometimes it’s just how the song makes me feel or the melody that can move my brain to find a creative spark. There are a few chapters in The Asset and the other two books in the series that I can point to and tell you the exact song that inspired them.

Could you tell us about a significant challenge or struggle you faced during the development of “The Asset” and how you overcame it?

I lost my job in late 2019, a job I’d planned to leave because it was toxic and I’d been sexually harassed for over 6 years. Escaping the abuse and harassment was the easy part. Convincing your mind that you’re safe and nobody is going to devalue your work or treat you like an object is a lot harder. Add to that all the stress of a new job AND the pandemic in early 2020 and my mental health sapped all my creativity for a while. During that time I prioritized my mental health and listened to what my mind and body needed. I wrote every now and then – there were a lot of starts and stops along the way but I let my mind and body set the pace. During that time, I kept a list of the ideas I had when sparks of creativity appeared. In the spring of 2022, I felt that familiar need to create again. I opened my manuscript to The Asset and started making a list of changes I wanted to make. After that I didn’t look back!

What lessons have you learned from your experiences while working on this project?

Don’t set out to hate your art before you even finish it. I’ve seen so many memes joking about writers hating what they’ve written. In the beginning I used to be hard on myself during the editing process for my writing not being “great” or “cringe”. I found that it only bred impostor syndrome and made me not want to try! I now recognize that my first draft is just getting the ideas on paper. It’s supposed to “suck” and be “cringe”. That’s all part of the process. “That’s why we edit” is my new mantra as I go through the editing process and as I edit the sequel to The Asset, I’m actually excited about editing it.

How do you stay motivated and inspired when faced with obstacles or setbacks?

I give myself a lot of grace. I’m a wife and mom of 2 active boys and also work a full time job that sometimes exhausts me at the end of the day/week. If I don’t meet all my weekly creativity goals, I take a step back and first give myself a mental health wellness check. Was work too stressful? Was my list of goals too ambitious? Am I starting to feel burnt out and need a mini break? I’m not afraid to adjust my goals and take it easy if I’m feeling overwhelmed. I need to have a healthy mind and body in order to create and that’s always my first priority.

What advice would you give to aspiring creatives or entrepreneurs who are just starting their journey?

The journey will be long and bumpy. There will be moments you will love and moments you will hate. You will question every decision you ever make, including your decision to even start the journey. It will be scary. But it will be worth it.

Can you share a moment or accomplishment related to “The Asset” that you’re particularly proud of?

The day I held a paperback copy of The Asset in my hands was an absolute dream come true. Knowing I created every piece of that book – the front and back cover, the words inside – all from one afternoon of procrastination over 25 years ago. It was absolutely surreal.

How has living in Seattle influenced your creativity and work process?

Moving to Seattle in 2013 was a huge leap of faith for my family. We didn’t know anyone in the area. We didn’t even know our way AROUND the area when we got here! It was way outside of our comfort zone, but it was something that made both my husband and I create our own communities and opportunities. I’ve made some amazing friends and found a great writing community both in person and online.

What are your future plans or goals for “The Asset” and your creative endeavors in general?

The Asset is the first book in a trilogy and I’m currently editing the second book with the hopes of publishing in October 2024. I’m hoping to publish the third and final book of the series sometime in 2025. As for new endeavors, I’m currently plotting a new series. This series will lean more into the thriller genre as opposed to my usual romantic suspense. I’m also considering a spin-off from The Asset series, but that’s still very much in the development/brainstorming phase.

How do you manage the balance between pursuing your creative passion and other aspects of your life?

I make a list of goals for the week, which is usually about 3-4 items and includes writing/editing, and things to help with marketing and content creation. During the week I usually focus on the marketing or content creation items as they’re sometimes quick items such as saving images to my Pinterest boards. The weekends are for sleeping in and writing or editing.