The Last Word
Samantha Hastings
Published by: Swoon Reads
Publication date: July 9th 2019
Genres: Historical, Romance, Young Adult
Set against the smoky, gaslit allure of Victorian London, this sweetly romantic historical debut is full of humor and stars a whip-smart female heroine ahead of her time.
Where one story ends, another begins.
1861. Miss Lucinda Leavitt is shocked when she learns the author of her favorite serialized novel has died before completing the story. Determined to learn how it ends, Lucinda reluctantly enlists the help of her father’s young business partner, Mr. David Randall, to track down the reclusive author’s former whereabouts.
David is a successful young businessman, but is overwhelmed by his workload. He wants to prove himself to his late father, as well as to himself. He doesn’t have the time, nor the interest, for this endeavor, but Lucinda is not the type to take no for an answer.
Their search for the elusive Mrs. Smith and the rightful ending to her novel leads Lucinda and David around the country, but the truths they discover about themselves—and each other—are anything but fictional.
Chosen by readers like you for Macmillan’s young adult imprint Swoon Reads, The Last Word by debut author Samantha Hastings is a fun yet intellectual romp through Victorian London—the perfect book for book-lovers.
Interview with Samantha Hastings
As a writer,
what would you choose as your mascot/avatar/spirit animal?
Unicorn.
How
many hours a day do you put into your writing?
On average about 2 hours a day,
unless I’m on a deadline and then it goes up to 6-8 hours a day. But I think
about my writing all day long while I’m doing other things. I take notes in my
phone and then when I get an opportunity to sit at my computer, I’m ready to
go.
Do you read
your book reviews? If yes, do they affect what you write in the future?
I do! One review I read on the
SwoonReads.com website was very helpful to me. She wrote that her favorite
character in my book was a young man who was flawed and vulnerable. And that he
wasn’t the typical “historical fiction” hero. All of my heroes since then have
had more heart.
Do you
leave hidden messages in your books that only a few people will find?
If you know Victorian literature
there are several Easter eggs in my book for you! Look for references to:
Anthony Trollope, Elizabeth Gaskell, Charles Dickens, and more.
Can you tell us a little bit about the characters in THE LAST WORD?
Miss Lucinda Leavitt is fresh out
of finishing school, but she’s anything but the perfect lady. She’s a genius
with numbers and she wants work in her father’s business. She’s headstrong,
determined, but quick to see the ridiculous and laugh at it. When her favorite
author dies before finishing the series, she’s determined to discover what
would have happened to the heroine.
Mr. David Randall inherited his
half of the business when his father died. He’s kind and capable, but still
trying to prove himself to the world and to his late father.
Can you tell us a little bit about your next books or what you have
planned for the future?
Yes! I am super excited for THE INVENTION
OF SOPHIE CARTER which is coming out in 2020 from Swoon Reads. It’s another
historical fiction novel set during the Great Exhibition of 1850. Twin sisters
pretend to be one person during a visit to their aunt in London. They both find
the perfect suitor, but both young men think they are in love with Sophie
Carter. Its double the romance and double the fun.
Do you allow yourself a certain number of hours to write or do you
write as long as the words come?
I have four children, so I usually write
during naptime or after I’ve put them to bed. Occasionally, I’ve been known to
keep writing when the words are coming. I once yelled at my children, “Please
be quiet, Mom’s trying to murder someone here.” It’s a good thing they never
listen to a thing I say.
Do you have a certain number of words or pages you write per day?
I try to get to 1,000 words a day, unless
its NaNoWriMo and then I need at least 2,000 words a day.
What inspires you to write?
Everything. My life. What I read. Stories
about my ancestors. What I watch. Conversations I overhear in the grocery
store. There are so many stories where ever you look and as an author, it’s a
privilege to tell them.
Would you rather
Read fiction or
non-fiction?
Fiction all the way. But I do love researching for my novels
with non-fiction books.
Read series or
stand-alone?
Stand-alone.
Read Science fiction or
horror?
Science Fiction.
Read Stephen King or Dean
Koontz
Neither (sorry). Georgette Heyer, Jane Austen, Cindy Anstey,
Kerri Maniscalco, Patricia Wrede, Y. S. Lee, etc.
Read the book or
watch the movie?
Book. Every. Time.
Read an ebook or
paperback?
Paperback in the bubble bath.
Be trapped alone for
one month in a library with no computer or a room with a computer and Wi-Fi
only?
Definitely the library.
Do a cross-country
book store tour or blog tour online?
Cross-country book store tour for sure. I love to travel and
see new cities while trying the local food.
Author Bio:
Samantha Hastings has degrees from Brigham Young University, the University of Reading (Berkshire, England), and the University of North Texas. She met her husband in a turkey sandwich line. They live in Salt Lake City, Utah, where she spends most of her time reading, eating popcorn, and chasing her kids. The Last Word is her debut novel.
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