Indie Support Sunday: Samantha Butterfield

When Samantha Butterfield started writing stories, they were fanfiction about band guys—and she discovered she was good at writing smut too! So it shouldn’t come as a surprise that her debut dark romance series features musicians. Combining her love for music and telling stories created The Melodiverse. While it’s an interconnected series, each book can be read as a standalone.

The third book, A Tragic Melody, releases October 9th, but Samantha’s also been talking about the next two in the series—A Bitter Melody and A Twisted Melody—so there’s a lot to look forward to! And if rockstar romances are not your cup of tea, Samantha also writes poetry and has three collections available right now!

All of Samantha’s books are available in Kindle Unlimited.

BEING AN AUTHOR

Who or what inspired you to write?

I always loved telling stories so when I found out what an author was in first grade, I became hooked on the idea of writing down my own stories.  

What’s the best and worst part about being an indie author? 

The best part about being an indie author is the freedom. I get to do things at my own pace, in my own way, but that’s also the worst part because that means I have to do everything on my own, in my own way. 

Why did you choose to self-publish instead of going the traditional route?

I choose to self-publish because of the freedom that I spoke about. I have never done well with rules. In English class when they told me to write about a certain thing I’d lose all inspiration. I knew if I went traditional I’d have to follow some rules, and rules don’t inspire me. 

When you’re not writing, what do you do to get the creative juices flowing?

To get creative juice flowing I listen to music. Or help my husband create Magic The Gathering decks, because to me that’s like putting together a puzzle, and while I don’t like actual jigsaw puzzles (because I’d have to finish it in one sitting or I’d feel unresolved) I like solving puzzles.

If you were to recommend books to me (in any genre), what would they be?

I’m going to shout out some of my favorite indie authors!! 

More Than an Encore by Jessa Hart. It’s a rock star romance about second chances and healing. The way Jessa reps mental illness is by far and away one of my favorites. It is so well done. Doesn’t Count by Phoebe Farrow. It’s another rock star romance, but this one is dark and so so good. It also touches on mental illness, and is unhinged in the best ways. My one non indie author book would be Liars and Liaisons by Sav R. Miller. It’s a dark romance and one of my favorite books of all time. 

What are your top 5 tips or pieces of advice for aspiring authors?

1. Write. Just write it. 

2. Don’t think of the after, just focus on getting it finished.

3. Don’t compare yourself to others, every one writes differently.

4. First drafts aren’t meant to be perfect. 

5. Build friendships with other authors. Their encouragement will help in the long run. 

ROMANCE AS A GENRE

Why did you choose romance as the genre to write in? What is your favorite thing about the genre?

I started out writing fiction as a child, but as a teen I went big with fanfiction, which heavily focused on romance. And found out I’m really good at writing smut scenes, so I just stuck with it. My favorite thing about the genre is the smut scenes! No I’m kidding, I love the tension, and how oftentimes, especially in the books I read, love heals all. I found that in real life, so I love writing about it. 

If not romance/subgenres of romance, what genre would you like to write in?

Well I already write poetry, so I feel like it's cheating to say that. I’d probably write standard fiction. I have a lot of ideas for general fiction novels, I just haven’t written any yet.

What are your most and least favorite tropes?

My favorite trope is enemies to lovers. I love the idea of a thin line between love and hate and the characters continuing to cross it. I honestly don’t have a least favorite trope. I like everything if it’s written right. 

What are some tropes you want to write in the future?

I’ve been trying very hard to write a second chance romance. I’ve started a few but abandoned them. I’m hoping in the future I’m able to write one. 

What are some topics (sensitive and otherwise) that you think should exist more in romance?

Therapy. I feel like more characters should be in therapy, even if it’s at the end of the book. I know I said I love how love heals all, but let’s be real, just cause love heals doesn’t mean there isn’t work to be done after. Put more characters in therapy. Put more people in therapy.

If you write open door romance, why did you choose that and what inspires your sex scenes?

Well I already admitted that I found out through fanfiction that I’m good at writing smut scenes, minus an over use of the word member (I was fourteen, cut me some slack!!). But honestly, I think so much can be said through the act of sex with someone you are romantically connected to. I love writing it out. 

YOUR BOOKS

What inspired your published stories? How and when did you come up with these stories and plots?

All my fanfiction was about band guys, so I just stuck with the whole band guy idea. Plus, music is really important to me, so I figured why not blend that with my love of telling stories, and thus The Melodiverse was born! To be honest these aren’t my first attempts at writing rock star romances. I have an unfinished project that I’ve been working on for the last eleven years now that really started the idea of my rock star universe.  

Can you briefly tell me about your books?

A Dark Melody was the first story I ever finished. It’s a dark romance, where two singers form an instant bond and try to just be friends, but of course that doesn’t last long.

A Broken Melody started because a side character in A Dark Melody refused to fade to gray, so he got his own story. It’s a dark romance filled with a lot of banter, where the characters have similar wounds they are healing from, and decide to heal together. Also a lot of chaos happens. 

A Tragic Melody, which is due out later this year, is an enemies to lover, dark romance story. It features a female singer and a male guitarist that hate each other, but do they really??

Each story is a standalone set in the same world. So it’s an interconnected series, not one that needs to be read in a certain order. 

Do you already have a favorite character from the stories you’ve written?

Yes and I’m not even remotely shy about telling people. I love Ben Parker from A Broken Melody. Without him my universe would’ve stopped with A Dark Melody, but he wouldn’t let me stop. He is an asshole, but has a big heart. I love my husband very much, but if Ben Parker became real there might be a fight for my heart… JK. 

If you were to cast your book for a movie/television show, who would you cast in the lead roles?

I don’t have an answer for this even though I think about it constantly. I don’t imagine famous people in any of the roles. I would pick unknown actors and actresses. I do know I’d want it to be a tv show and I’d want to try to hire people actually in the music scene. 

How much of yourself do you put into these characters?

Normally my characters are their own beings, but I do realize I kind of, sort of, self inserted a little bit of myself in Ben Parker. Totally not why he is my favorite or anything…  

What is a story/stories that you really want to tell?

I mentioned it already but I’ve been working on this rock star love story (it is not going to be a romance because there won’t be a HEA). It’s a story I really want to tell, it’s just taking me a long time to put it together. It’s about the dark side of fame, which I touch on in all my stories, but none like I’m doing with this one.  

Is there one common element that readers can find in all your stories?

Rock stars!! And pain and suffering. But really the common theme in all my stories is that being famous doesn’t fix all your problems.  

What’s next on the bookshelf for you? Anything you can tell us about a future project?

I mentioned A Tragic Melody, which comes out later this year. And on my social media I’ve also been talking about the next two books in The Melodiverse, A Bitter Melody and A Twisted Melody. I’m also trying to wrap up a dark, smutty, mafia adjacent story called A Mistaken Desire.

When you write these stories, what are you hoping your readers will feel?

I hope they feel the passion between the characters. I hope they feel the mental pain the characters go through, compare it to their own and realize they aren’t alone. Everyone suffers, it’s how you endure that tells your story, and I hope people endure their suffering like characters from books, triumphantly!  

AUTHOR’S CHOICE

• Paperbacks, hardbacks, ebooks or audiobooks

• Contemporary, fantasy, historical or romantic suspense

• Single or Dual POV

• Standalones, series or standalones in a series

• Open door, ajar door or closed door romances

• Music or silence when writing

• Plotter, pantser or plantser

• Water, tea, coffee or….wine? Redbull lol

• Cold or warm weather

• Write better in the morning, afternoon or night?

• Illustrated or photo cover?

Samantha can be found on Instagram, TikTok and Threads. Visit her website for more and sign up for her newsletter to stay updated!