AUTHOR BIO
Samantha Jillian Bayarr founded Livingston Hall
Publishers in 2002. Named for her great, great grandfather,
Edward Livingston Hall, who owned a publishing house
in the 1800's, until his passing; Samantha resurrected this
legacy as a way of honoring him for passing onto her his
love for the written word.
Working in the production aspect of publishing has
provided her with the expertise needed to produce, develop
and design books from the inside out. When it came time
to publish her own work, her experience in the field lent
her the ability to produce several genres such as: Urban
Fantasy, Paranormal, Young Adult Fantasy, Time Travel
Romance, Chick Lit, and Amish Romance.
Her first book, Little Wild Flower, an Amish Romance,
was borne from her up-close encounters with the Amish
community she lived near in Indiana until 1995 when she
moved to Florida.
Please visit:
www.LivingstonHallPublishers.blogspot.com
to win FREE books and see all upcoming titles.
Samantha Jillian Bayarr founded Livingston Hall
Publishers in 2002. Named for her great, great grandfather,
Edward Livingston Hall, who owned a publishing house
in the 1800's, until his passing; Samantha resurrected this
legacy as a way of honoring him for passing onto her his
love for the written word.
Working in the production aspect of publishing has
provided her with the expertise needed to produce, develop
and design books from the inside out. When it came time
to publish her own work, her experience in the field lent
her the ability to produce several genres such as: Urban
Fantasy, Paranormal, Young Adult Fantasy, Time Travel
Romance, Chick Lit, and Amish Romance.
Her first book, Little Wild Flower, an Amish Romance,
was borne from her up-close encounters with the Amish
community she lived near in Indiana until 1995 when she
moved to Florida.
Please visit:
www.LivingstonHallPublishers.blogspot.com
to win FREE books and see all upcoming titles.
THE APOTHECARY
56,000 words
When Claire Mayfield suddenly finds herself the new heir
of a property that has lain vacant for over one hundred
years, she becomes leery of the rumors of the hauntings
from the three young children who were said to have
been murdered there. With a little encouragement from
Ben, the lawyer who breaks the news of the inheritance
to her, Claire agrees to explore the manor, but only on
the condition that Ben accompanies her. Finding her
attractive, he accepts the challenge, and the two embark on
an adventure that will forever change their lives.
Despite a few distractions and bumps along the way, Claire
discovers her great uncle, Dr. Blackwell's, apothecary and
traveling medicine show from the late 1800's, and even
stumbles upon clues that could help her solve her ancestor's
one hundred-year-old murder-mystery—all with a little
help from a mischievous young girl who has been dead for
over one hundred years.
Link to Buy the Book:
INTERVIEW with Samantha Jillian Bayarr
1. What was your inspiration for the book and its characters?
I was looking at a one hundred year old picture of three
children that I’d found in an antique store. These children were
neatly dressed, probably from a very wealthy family, but they
looked very unhappy. The only clue I had to their lives were their
first names and ages, which someone had written on the back of
the cardboard frame with a quill pen. The frame boasted a large
photography studio in New York, and I wondered if they had just
been visiting, and where they might have lived.
As I began to wonder about their lives, each thought turned my
curious side toward their expressions. There was something in those
somber faces that gave me the idea to reinvent their past, and make
it whatever came to my mind. Within minutes, I decided their father
was a doctor. But deciding the photograph was probably taken late
1800’s to early 1900’s, I decided their father, Dr. Blackwell, was also
an apothecary. That became the title of the book, but they needed
a reason for the sorrowful looks on their faces, so I gave them one.
Twenty minutes later, I knew the book from start to finish, including
all the characters and where they fit in the story. From that point,
all that was left to do was to write it.
1. What was your inspiration for the book and its characters?
I was looking at a one hundred year old picture of three
children that I’d found in an antique store. These children were
neatly dressed, probably from a very wealthy family, but they
looked very unhappy. The only clue I had to their lives were their
first names and ages, which someone had written on the back of
the cardboard frame with a quill pen. The frame boasted a large
photography studio in New York, and I wondered if they had just
been visiting, and where they might have lived.
As I began to wonder about their lives, each thought turned my
curious side toward their expressions. There was something in those
somber faces that gave me the idea to reinvent their past, and make
it whatever came to my mind. Within minutes, I decided their father
was a doctor. But deciding the photograph was probably taken late
1800’s to early 1900’s, I decided their father, Dr. Blackwell, was also
an apothecary. That became the title of the book, but they needed
a reason for the sorrowful looks on their faces, so I gave them one.
Twenty minutes later, I knew the book from start to finish, including
all the characters and where they fit in the story. From that point,
all that was left to do was to write it.
2. What is the one place you can just plop down and write?
You can’t see it from my office picture, but there is anoversized chair that goes with the striped footstool you can see,
and I sit there a lot with my laptop. When it’s not too hot (I live
in Florida), I love sitting on my patio in the shade with my laptop,
while the birds chirping and my wind chimes provide perfect
background effect for writing.
3. What was the worst criticism and best compliment you have ever received?
No one likes criticism, and everyone loves compliments. I
try not to let either of them effect me too strongly. In the end,
my opinion of myself or my work is the only one that counts
anyway…everything else is just background noise.
4. What is the one question you are sick of answering?
I never get sick of questions. Mostly because I ask a lot of
questions myself. Asking questions is sometimes the only way we
learn about a subject or another person, and I love learning new
things (and new people).
5. What is your favorite type of sweet and what flavor?
Chocolate, without a doubt.
6. If you were not an author or didn't get the chance to be one, what would be your next career options?
To me, there is no other option! Up until a year ago, I was a
Paralegal (I always wanted to be a lawyer, but after working in the
field, I changed my mind). Before that I was a licensed Real Estate
Agent. No matter what I was doing in life, either college or a job, I
would daydream of being an author. Now that I’m a successful Indie
author, I will never give it up. It’s in my blood!
7. If you could have dinner with any person in history, living or dead, who would you meet? Why did you choose this person?
Leonardo Da Vinci. He was so versatile and multi-faceted and
highly intelligent as an artist and scientist, and as a person, that I
feel I could really learn a lot from him. Yes, there is a lot to learn
from his work, but sometimes getting something straight from the
source is priceless.
try not to let either of them effect me too strongly. In the end,
my opinion of myself or my work is the only one that counts
anyway…everything else is just background noise.
4. What is the one question you are sick of answering?
I never get sick of questions. Mostly because I ask a lot of
questions myself. Asking questions is sometimes the only way we
learn about a subject or another person, and I love learning new
things (and new people).
5. What is your favorite type of sweet and what flavor?
Chocolate, without a doubt.
6. If you were not an author or didn't get the chance to be one, what would be your next career options?
To me, there is no other option! Up until a year ago, I was a
Paralegal (I always wanted to be a lawyer, but after working in the
field, I changed my mind). Before that I was a licensed Real Estate
Agent. No matter what I was doing in life, either college or a job, I
would daydream of being an author. Now that I’m a successful Indie
author, I will never give it up. It’s in my blood!
7. If you could have dinner with any person in history, living or dead, who would you meet? Why did you choose this person?
Leonardo Da Vinci. He was so versatile and multi-faceted and
highly intelligent as an artist and scientist, and as a person, that I
feel I could really learn a lot from him. Yes, there is a lot to learn
from his work, but sometimes getting something straight from the
source is priceless.
Thank you so much Samantha for joining us to answer these questions!
Giveaway Time!
Samantha has given me the chance to host a giveaway for her book!
THANKS A BUNCH SAMANTHA!
Here is the next stop in the tour:
June 11 – Getting Naughty Between The Stacks http://gnbstacks.blogspot.com
ROSHINI
Great interview!
ReplyDeleteWonderful interview - I love the premise of this book and thank you for the opportunity to win the giveaway.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the support...don't forget to visit my blog at the end of the tour for the BIG giveaway!
ReplyDeleteGood Luck,
Samantha
Nice interview. Thank you for the giveaway.
ReplyDelete