This book promo is through WOW: Women on Writing.
To Have and To Hold, To Love and To Kill blog tour includes an author interview. Check it out, share, comment, follow.
Book Summary
In her past life, after causing the death of a little boy, Nikki was so devastated that her soul mate promised to murder her in their next life, to make her pay for what she had done. With no knowledge of this, Nikki lives for years as an addict, down on her luck, until she is rescued by Ken, who helps her with all aspects of her recovery.
With the help of a few new friends and a cat named Destiny, Nikki turns her life around. What she doesn’t
know is that someone out there is destined to kill her, and he is watching, his passion for killing her growing stronger each day.
The question is: Can an agreement made between two souls be broken, and how far will one soul go to keep a promise made in a desperate attempt to save the other?
Publisher: Black Rose Writing
ISBN-10: 1685133428
ISBN-13: 978-1685133429
Print length: 195 pages
Where to Find To Have and To Hold, To Love and To Kill:
https://amzn.to/47v5TNz
https://bookshop.org/p/books/to-have-and-to-hold-to-love-and-to-kill-an-agreement-of-souls-amy-s-
cutler/20601757
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/200655790-to-have-and-to-hold-to-love-and-to-kill
About the Author
Amy Sampson-Cutler, author of “To Have and to Hold, to Love and to Kill: An Agreement of Souls” and “A
Shadow of Love,” is a writer who earned her master’s degree in creative writing from Goddard College. Her work can be found in Slut Vomit: An Anthology of Sex Work, Tales to Terrify, WOW! Women on Writing, The Pitkin Review and more. She is the Executive Manager at Mount Peter Ski Area, where she grew up skiing in the winter and dreaming up stories in the summer. Her favorite days are spent knocking around story ideas with her husband. She lives in the Hudson Valley with her husband, son, and a ridiculous amount of furry family members.
She can be contacted through https://AmysHippieHut.com. Also follow her on:
Facebook: https://facebook.com/AmysHippieHut
Instagram: https://instagram.com/amyshippiehut
Author Interview
Welcome! Can you start by telling us a little about yourself and how you began your writing journey?
Thank you so much! I grew up as a kid in the ski business, which meant that I had lots of friends and activity in the winter, and lots of alone time during the summer months. I relied heavily on my imagination to keep me occupied during the off season, and eventually, I figured out that I was better at communicating with words on paper than words I spoke. Even better, I learned that writing short stories and poems that were fictional were actually a great way to work through my own feelings. My early boyfriends would often receive a poem that would somehow explain why I was upset; or a short story that somehow conveyed that I really liked them. Since I didn’t live in a neighborhood with a huge friend group, I always had a notebook with me and anytime I felt a little lonely or awkward, I would write. Suddenly, the time would pass, the very long school bus ride would be over, and I never felt truly alone.
For readers who are just discovering you, how would you describe your writing style or the kinds of stories you enjoy telling?Â
I am a sucker for a good ghost story, both writing and reading them. Most of my stories are haunted in some way, even if a ghost or spirit is only a secondary or background character. I enjoy gothic romance elements in many of my stories, although the most fun stories are the ones that give people the creeps.Â
What inspired you to write your latest book, and what made this story one you had to tell?
This book came about very organically; through a conversation I had with a friend of mine who is an energy healer. We were discussing my current life troubles, and she suggested to me that perhaps my problems had nothing to do with anything that I had done in this life, but something from a past life. Maybe, she said, I have some agreement from a past life that is directing this one. This was a concept that fascinated me, and I had to explore it.
Every book has its challenges. What was the most difficult part of writing this one, and how did you overcome it?
My biggest challenge is always time. Having a full-time business, a family, and a bunch of pets can take a lot of time, as most authors well know. Writing is a discipline that has to be nurtured and tended to. There is nothing leisurely about writing a book, and one has to give up something along the way to do it. I gave up dinners, hanging out after work with coworkers, movie nights, and a bunch of sleep for this one.Â
What does your writing process look like—are you a meticulous planner, a go-with-the-flow writer, or somewhere in between?
I am somewhere in between, and it really depends on my mood. There are times where I feel super organized and I will write an outline and plan everything out, and there are times where I’m lucky if I can find a sticky note. Even when I plan ahead, though, nothing I write ever ends up the way that I thought it would.Â
How do you stay motivated and inspired during the writing process, especially on the days when creativity doesn’t come easily?
There have been days where I’ve been on a deadline, that I have to use tough love on myself. I say: Amy, sit your ass in the chair, and focus. Most of the time, getting into the right headspace and sitting down to write is the most difficult for me. Once I open up the document and get to the writing part, it just gets easier and easier. So yeah, I’d say tough love is the way to go!Â
Do you have any favorite writing rituals, tools, or habits that help you get into the creative zone?
Candles have always helped me get in the mood for creating something spooky. I try to theme my candles with what I’m working with. Other than that, stay away from rituals or anything that would allow my brain to make up more excuses for me not to write.Â
What do you hope readers experience or take away after reading your work?
I hope that they feel a big emotion – whether they laugh or cry, feel happy or sad or scared or creeped out – feelings are the keys to life, and to make someone feel any big emotion after reading something you wrote is on the best things in the world.
Let’s have a little fun—if you could spend a day with any fictional character (yours or someone else’s), who would it be and why?Â
This is a hard one, but I’d spend the day with the vampire Lestat de Lioncourt from Anne Rice’s “Interview with the Vampire.” Lestat is unapologetically bold, and thrives on drama. I have always been fascinated by vampires, am enthralled by the mix of tragedy, desire, power, and of course, eternal life.
Lightning round:
Ebook, paperback, or audiobook?
Paperback when I have more time, audiobook when it’s time for chores.
Write in silence or with music?
It depends on the day. Sometimes I like music on, it gets me in the groove, and other days I write with headphones on but no music just to block out any and every background noise.
Pen and notebook or laptop?
Laptop! I used to be a pen and notebook girl but these days I can hardly read my own writing.
One thing your readers would be surprised to learn about you?
Readers may be surprised (or not?) to learn that I am scared of the dark. If I am alone at night, I always have a light on. If I walk alone outside in dark, I always assume something otherworldly is hunting me down. Some people tell me I’m nuts for writing scary stories, and that I’m making it worse, but I have always felt that shining a light on the darkness is a whole lot better than pretending it’s not there. Fiction lets me turn fear into fascination, and honestly, I just think it’s fun!Â
Blog Tour Calendar
October 6 @ The Muffin
Join us as we celebrate the launch of To Have and to Hold, to Love and to Kill by Amy Sampson-Cutler. We interview the author and give you a chance to win a copy of the book.
https://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com
October 6 @ Tracey Lampley’s blog
Visit Tracey’s blog for a guest post by author Amy Sampson-Cutler on why she writes scary stories even though she’s afraid of the dark.
https://www.traceylampley.com
October 7 @ All Things Writing
Visit Caitrin’s blog for a guest post by author Amy Sampson-Cutler on finding time to write on a busy schedule.
https://www.caitrincking.com/blog
October 12 @ Author Anthony Avina’s Blog
Visit Anthony’s blog for his review of To Have and To Hold, To Love and To Kill by Amy Sampson-Cutler.
https://www.authoranthonyavina.com
October 15 @ Chapter Break
Visit Julie’s blog for a guest post by author Amy Sampson-Cutler on how to turn everyday encounters into spooky stories.
https://chapterbreak.net
October 18 @ Boots, Shoes, and Fashion
Linda interviews author Amy Sampson-Cutler about her book To Have and To Hold, To Love and To Kill.
https://bootsshoesandfashion.com
October 20 @ A Storybook World
Visit Deirdra’s blog for her spotlight of To Have and To Hold, To Love and To Kill by Amy Sampson-Cutler.
https://www.astorybookworld.com
October 22 @ Guatemala Paula Loves to Read
Visit Karen’s blog for her review of To Have and To Hold, To Love and To Kill by Amy Sampson-Cutler.
https://guatemalapaula.blogspot.com
October 23 @ Knotty Needle
Visit Judy’s blog for her review of To Have and To Hold, To Love and To Kill by Amy Sampson-Cutler.
https://knottyneedle.blogspot.com
October 23 @ The Faerie Review
Visit Lily’s blog for her spotlight of To Have and To Hold, To Love and To Kill by Amy Sampson-Cutler.
https://www.thefaeriereview.com
October 24 @ Author Anthony Avina’s Blog
Visit Anthony’s blog for an excerpt from To Have and To Hold, To Love and To Kill by Amy Sampson-Cutler.
https://www.authoranthonyavina.com
October 25 @ Word Magic
Visit Fiona’s blog for a guest post by Amy Sampson-Cutler on creating the perfect ambiance to write
paranormal tales.
https://fionaingramauthor.blogspot.com/
October 27 @ Lit World Interviews
Visit Ronovan’s blog for his review of To Have and To Hold, To Love and To Kill by Amy Sampson-Cutler.
https://litworldinterviews.com
October 28 @ Kaecey McCormick’s blog
Visit Kaecey’s blog for a guest post by author Amy Sampson-Cutler on tips on writing for your favorite genre.
https://www.kaeceymccormick.com/blog
October 29 @ Sarandipity
Sara interviews author Amy Sampson-Cutler about her book To Have and To Hold, To Love and To Kill.
https://sarandipitys.com
October 30 @ Words by Webb
Stop by Jodi’s blog for Amy Sampson-Cutler’s guest post on her favorite books to read on Halloween.
https://www.jodiwebbwriter.com/blog
October 31 @ Sarandipity
Visit Sara’s blog for a guest post by author Amy Sampson-Cutler on creating the perfect ambiance to write paranormal tales.
https://sarandipitys.com
November 2 @ Jill Sheets’ Blog
Visit Jill’s blog for her interview with author Amy Sampson-Cutler about her book To Have and To Hold, To
Love and To Kill.
https://jillsheets.blogspot.com
