Recently, I had the privilege of interviewing Samuel Davel about writing and the writing life. He grew up in rural Wisconsin leaving home at 18 for the Army. In the Army, Sam was an Airborne Ranger Who was constantly taking in the world around him. He has lived in NYC while pursuing a film and television career and actually appeared on the small screen.
Dear Monica is his first published work.
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INTERVIEW
Share about yourself
I’m an author, writer, and sports podcast host. Mostly enjoy writing romance and have found that to be what I lean towards when writing. It has to do with growing up watching romcoms with my mom. Currently 26 years old and I live in NYC. Was a member of the 1st battalion 75th ranger regiment before moving to New York and acting and writing. I try to write about small moments, the easy stuff that we as people often overlook. I mostly do it because it makes me feel like I notice more, allows me to be more present, and appreciate being present.
Share about your work
I write romance with mental health twists or dark twists. There seems to be a lot of light in modern-day romances but I’ve found that in life there is a lot of darkness, a lot of horrible things happen and in my writing, those things still happen but often aren’t enough to wreak someone’s life, or are they?
Tell us about your writing style
My style is really a basic version of F Scott Fitzgerald, I love his similes and metaphors and have really tried to incorporate those kinds of realism into my writing. I say basic because I keep my vocabulary pretty every day and write as people actually talk. I try to keep it as real as possible for me and the reader.
What do you find challenging about the writing life?
The biggest challenge I find in the writing world is staying focused. I’m sure most of us authors have other jobs and other things to pay the bills. so it’s easy to put writing aside for a day that ends up turning into a few weeks. The monetary gains just aren’t there and a book takes months to produce if not years so the instant satisfaction isn’t there with writing too. so it can be difficult to stay true and keep pressing on through multiple books.
If you could write from any place on earth, where would you choose to write from?
If I could write from anywhere in the world I would write from a beach somewhere. I have some sunglasses on and a mojito close by for when I get thirsty.
When asked to set goals, what do you see for yourself or current WIP in five years with your writing?
In 5 years I see myself as a mainstay in the romance genre. I truly believe in myself and the stories I want to tell. I think that will happen and I hope it does.
What are you reading right now?
Right now I’m reading a mystery called “The Whispering Man” by Alex North. it’s very good.
Who is your favorite author?
F Scott Fitzgerald. the way he writes about love and life you can really drift away and dream about those stories.
Give a bit of advice for an aspiring author
My advice to people who want to write is just to start. you will only get better but you have to start. my first novel took 5 edits before I thought it was even okay enough for my sister to read. It took another 15 before I finally published. Everything can be made “Better” but someone once told me “don’t hide greatness from the world waiting on perfection”.
BOOK COVER for Samuel Davel
by Samuel Davel
LINKS
Dear Monica on Amazon
Amazon author page
https://www.amazon.com/Samuel-Davel/e/B08GH6Z2PN