MEET SAMARRA

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Where were you born?  I was born in Brooklyn, NY.

Do you speak Haitian Creole?  Yes, I speak Haitian Creole fluently. Growing up I had translated for my mother and godmother. I only speak Creole to some people. Sounds strange but the language used when I met you determines how we communicate.

What high school did you attend? Clara Barton High School in Brooklyn where I became a certified dental assistant. 

What was your first job? I worked as a physical/occupational therapy aide at Methodist Hospital in Brooklyn at 16 years old. This great opportunity was the result of being part of the summer youth program. I can still vividly remember my outfit, morning train rides, and working with patients. Fun fact, one of the patients taught me how to count in Polish. 

What’s your favorite food?  I love, love, love and appreciate good food. Lambi, Legume, Authentic Jerk Chicken (made on an outdoor grill), Roti, Diri djondjon, and Marinade, just to name a few. My absolute favorite food is eggs. I can eat eggs every day but not just any eggs. I’m talking about tomatoes, onions, spices, spinach, smoked herring, ham, and more. My husband makes the best eggs, in fact, he can challenge any top chef to an egg cooking duel. If he had an all-things eggs food truck, the lines would long. 

How many children do you have? I have 4 amazing children, three daughters and one son. 

What do you like to do during your spare time? Watching movies and series is at the top of my list. While watching I think about the casting process, set design, inspiration for the script, character chemistry, and hidden meanings. I also enjoy playing Handball (New York Style) and Scrabble. 

What kind of music do you sit to? R&B, Konpa, 90s Hip Hop, Reggae, and Gospel are my favorites. I also have a couple Kizomba and Reggaeton.

Journey to publishing Brushed Between Cultures

What inspired you to start writing for young adults? One day after watching a movie with my daughter she said, “Mommy, you know the movie was based on a book, right?” My response was, “I can write a book about a Haitian American teenager.” At that moment I truly believed in my ability to write a novel but had no intentions of doing so. That very night while sleeping, the first paragraph of the book including the name of the character flooded my mind like rain to the point of not being able to sleep. I grabbed my phone and quickly began typing without even really seeing the words. The next morning, I read the paragraph, not knowing what to expect. That is truly how the process of writing Brushed Between Cultures began.

Can you share a little about your journey as a writer? I self- published a handwriting book back in 2017. I also self-published 2 children’s books with my friend Ruma in 2021. The process of writing a YA novel was very different due to the length, character development and overall growth as a writer. Between working, being a mother and wife, I had to dedicate several hours daily to complete the book. Although the manuscript was completed within 9 months, this journey has taken 4 years between finding an illustration and editor, in addition to making the necessary adjustments to the manuscript. Self-doubt was a major battle during the process as I at times intentionally delayed progress. “Is this good enough? Will people like the book? Am I making a mistake? I’m not an author.” These are just a few of the many thoughts that crossed my mind over the last 4 years. I had to fight those thoughts with faith. I trust that God led me along this path. Even if just one person is encouraged by this book or my journey, I will be content in knowing that I was obedient to God. Along this journey, I am blessed to have had the encouragement of friends and family. 

What themes do you explore in your books? In a world that often seems chaotic, I decided to make this book positive in terms of the character’s journey of growth in self-confidence. I also attempted to highlight positive friendships amongst young girls. The protagonist, Manushka, can be described as funny, talented, fashionable, caring and a little insecure. 

What do you hope readers take away from your books? I want readers to believe in themselves despite their circumstances. I believe there is greatness in everyone, you just have to find that very thing that makes you special. Give yourself permission to Dream Big!

Do you have any advice for aspiring authors? There is so much to learn about being a author. Honestly, I am still learning. My only advice would be to start writing. Don’t allow the desire for perfection stop you from moving forward. 

What's the most challenging aspect of writing for young adults? To be honest, I really enjoyed the process of writing the book despite the countless hours of typing, reading, editing, and headache due to extensive screen time. Learning how to be more descriptive with words was the biggest challenge. I can only hope the readers will find Brushed Between Cultures relatable and inspiring. 

How do you approach character development in your novels? I allowed Character development to occur organically. The best way to describe the process of character development was allowing the characters to speak to me. For this reason, I didn’t allow for much interruption while typing. My family gave me the necessary time alone to work on the book. 

Why did you opt for self-publishing rather than traditional publishing? I did consider traditional publishing several times. However, for me, the self-publishing route because it allows for complete ownership of my book. I wanted to tell the story my way without compromise. I found an editor of choice, and illustrator of choice. I created my own timeline for completing the project. The self-publishing route is expensive but worth it. 

Another factor is that I am an unknown author, so I didn’t want to spend the time writing query letters and finding an agent. I’m not saying traditional publishing is off limits but for now, self-publishing is the best option.