Chapter 1: A Special Book Anniversary

Today marks a significant milestone in my writing journey—nine years since I embarked on this literary adventure. While April 23 is famously recognized as Shakespeare's birthday (and also the day he passed, which is quite poetic), it holds additional meaning for me. This date commemorates the publication of my inaugural novel back in 2015. I still vividly recall the thrill of receiving my very first shipment of books! (Captured beautifully in a photo by my husband.)

Since that initial release, I've celebrated several more book anniversaries and remain hopeful for many more to come. However, the first one always holds a unique place in my heart.

"Going Through the Change" is the debut in my Menopausal Superheroes series. Interestingly, it wasn't the first manuscript I completed—my actual first novel, titled "His Other Mother" (a piece focusing on women's issues), remains unpublished to this day. To motivate myself to finish that initial project, I promised myself I could indulge in something more enjoyable afterward.

As a dedicated pantser, I had no notion that I was setting the stage for a series when I began that first tale. Yet, by the end, it became evident that there were more stories waiting to be told.

The initial book led to the quick release of two sequels, "Change of Life" and "Face the Change." However, my journey took an unexpected turn when my first publisher unfortunately collapsed (for more details on that saga, you can read here). Just four-and-a-half years into what I envisioned as a lifelong career, everything crumbled!

Fortunately, during that time, I had managed to build a network and establish a presence in the literary community. Once I regained the rights to my work, I was able to republish my books with a stunning rebranding from Falstaff Books. The first three titles made their grand return in 2019—effectively giving me two debuts! As it stands, the series now includes four novels, two novellas, a collection of short stories, and a volume of all the shorts.

Shortly thereafter, we launched a couple of novellas along with the collection, which consolidated all my shorter works, capped off by the fourth novel.

After more than two years of dedicated writing, I'm nearing completion on the final novel in the series. Each previous installment took about a year to write, but I can now see the light at the end of the tunnel. I'm eager to wrap things up by 2025—marking the tenth anniversary of my debut work. That also feels quite fitting, don’t you think?

Samantha Bryant is a seasoned educator who has transitioned to the corporate sector, often squeezing her writing into the margins of her busy life. Her remarkable talent lies in locating lost items. She's primarily recognized for her Menopausal Superhero series, available through Falstaff Books and on Amazon. And let's not forget her famous banana bread (the secret? Sour cream!). You can connect with her through her blog, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, the Falstaff Books page, or Instagram. Or, if you're feeling adventurous, you might find her wandering in the woods—she enjoys getting lost there.

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