Beastmomma

Today I am excited to have an interview with Pamela Samuels Young; I am really enjoying her book, Murder on the Down Low.  I will post my review later today, depending on travel schedules and comptuer access/cooperation.   I hope that you enjoy reading about her experience as a writer and a lawyer. Thank you Pamela for taking the time to answer my questions!

1. How do you balance being a writer and a lawyer?
It's getting increasingly difficult. I'm usually too pooped to write in the evenings when I come home from work. Fortunately, I have an alternative work schedule which gives me every other Friday off. That day is usually reserved for writing, along with weekends and any vacation time I have. It's great to go away for a week by myself and just write ten hours or more a day.

2. Before writing, do you have any special rituals or practices to get into "the zone"?
I like writing in the early morning hours more than any other time. The perfect start to a writing day is to get up around 5 a.m. and make a quick run to 7-Eleven for a cup of Hazelnut coffee with Amaretto cream. That just seems to get me going.

3. How do you contend with writer's block?
I don't have enough time in my day to utter the excuse that I have writer's block. Finding time to write with my crazy schedule is a luxury. There are times when I don't feel like dragging myself to the computer because I'm exhausted, but I've never actually sat down to write and been unable to do so. I can't go into my office and refuse to give legal advice because I have "lawyer's block." It's my job to do that. Similarly, writing legal thrillers is also my job. So writer's block just isn't an option for me.

4. What has surprised you most about becoming a published novelist?
How great I'm treated by my fans. At last count, I've attended close to 75 book clubs meetings. I love doing them because these incredible women feed me, praise my books and practically adopt me. Whenever I leave a book club meeting, I'm always so energized by the camaraderie and encouragement.


Pamela Samuels Young is a practicing attorney and author of the legal thrillers, Murder on the Down Low, Every Reasonable Doubt and In Firm Pursuit. You can find Pamela's articles on writing at BizyMoms.com, where she is a featured fiction writing expert. Visit Pamela's website at www.pamelasamuelsyoung.com.