Q & A

WHAT GENRE DO YOU WRITE?

I write middle grade and young adult fiction that is a blend of narrative, paranormal, and mystery. I intentionally blur the line between reality and imagination. I also write poems of the same categories. Some have said that my poems sound like magical realism, which I find to be a compliment.

why do you use a pen name?

I chose a pen name for three main reasons. First, I thought it would be fun and distinctive to use a pen name to represent my creative side. Second, I wanted to use a name that was easier to remember, spell, and say.. And third, it’s in thankfulness to my parents—my dad, who nurtured my love of art at a very early age, and my mom, who always satiated my hunger for reading. Samuels is my dad’s middle name and Lucille is my middle, which my mom chose for me.

who were some authors you enjoyed reading when you were growing up?

That’s a really tough question! I loved reading all types of books, from literary classics to contemporary. The first authors that come to mind are Roald Dahl, Beverly Cleary, R.L. Stine, Mildred D. Taylor, Judy Blume, Jane Austen, the Bronte sisters, Ann M. Martin, Maya Angelou, Alex Haley, Shakespeare, and Gertrude Warner. I also enjoyed reading my older brother’s books, which were by Michael Crichton and John Grisham. I could go on and on, but that gives you a snippet of the eclectic mix I enjoyed.

what inspired the phoebe douse trilogy?

I would say it has been my experiences, passion for telling and reading stories, and my very active imagination. So it was fun to put this all together in a story!

On a very important and serious note as well, I wrote Phoebe Douse to share an overall message, which includes lessons I’ve learned in my own life. I want readers, especially young people, to feel assured about who they are and know that finding friendship and building trust is a journey. Don’t be too hard on yourselves when you make mistakes or don’t know at first who to trust. I also wanted to share that there’s a place for all of us and that our individuality and quirkiness should be embraced and celebrated. Continue being you!