We chat with author Aleese Lin about Samantha Spük: Paranormal Wedding Planner, which is a delightful, spooky—or Spük-y?—contemporary romance debut, perfect for fans of Legends & Lattes and Netflix’s Wednesday.
Hi, Aleese! Can you tell readers a bit about yourself?
Hi! I’m an extroverted author of spooky, quirky stories that have an inner core of love, coziness, and redemption. I went to college in Japan and graduate school in the UK, so I speak fluent Japanese and realize that my English is tragically inferior to the posh accents I encountered in England. I am terribly fond of novelty and hot baths. If I were to pursue a phd, my subject area would be baths. I love gardening, but right now all my plants are dying because just a few weeks ago, I had a baby! So I’m a mother of two newborns: Samantha Spuk, and Lucy O. My family is rounded out with two outspoken tortie cats, a kind partner, and a son, 3. Life is chaotic right now!
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
When I was five years old, we had a free writing assignment, I started writing about an episode of Muppet Babies. We only needed to write a page, but once I got started, inspiration struck. I literally could not stop writing; I felt like the whole world needed to know about Muppet Babies. And now, I guess, it will.
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: My first chapter book was Bunnicula!
- The one that made you want to become an author: Roald Dahl’s The Witches absolutely rocked my world.
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: Right now!? Ministry of Time. As a kid? The Island of the Blue Dolphins. I guess I love a good survival story. Never noticed that before!
Your debut novel, Samantha Spük: Paranormal Wedding Planner, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Cozy, spooky, Salem, zany, family
What can readers expect?
Not a romance! (laugh) Only because I think that label describes a specific story focus and narrative. I’d say instead that readers are in for a cozy, grounded fantasy with a voicey, edgy narrator, an extra helping of humor, high stakes weddings, and many characters exploring love. Sabby, the protagonist, is figuring out her feelings toward her deceased grandmother and gaining a new “found” family, all at the same time as she’s helping she’s falling for Hanry, her love interest. About Hanry–he is a total cinnamon roll in lumberjack clothing. He’s incredibly understanding. Sabby is really tough and snarky at the start of the story, but he’s patient with her. I’m happy to say that readers can expect to see some character growth from her, a bit of softening.
The spooky small town where Sabby’s story is largely set is familiar, lived in, and cozy—but with more supernatural creatures, beings, and monsters as characters than humans. None of them are creepy or villainous, though! In general, they’re the chaotic and lovable sort. Especially the ones getting married.
I think I’ve rambled a bit, so I’ll stop there before I end up spoiling the story!
Where did the inspiration for Samantha Spük: Paranormal Wedding Planner come from?
This book came together like a patchwork quilt with so many different sources of inspiration! I came up with the character of Bulan in 2014, when I was living in Japan, and news articles were circulating about literal skeletons being found in the closets of the recently deceased. I’d been interested in Welsh folklore at the time. But what story did Bulan belong in. . . ? I knew he needed a home. And I knew, even then, that it was a pink one shaped just like a piece of cake.
The second key bit of inspiration came from a different project I’d been working on: a dark fantasy in which the protagonist parents were wedding planners. The town was spooky and creepy.
Lastly, I fell in love with the quirky, comedic books about bounty hunter Stephanie Plum by Janet Evanovich.
It just goes to show that inspiration can be very, very surprising!
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
I had so much fun with the second wedding that Samantha puts on! I’m a sucker for cryptids, among other supernatural creatures. I really felt like I could let loose with that mini-arc, and I loved getting to dig into the moments when Samantha started to see herself as a real wedding planner. And to enjoy it.
Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?
I had only written ~5,000 words of Samantha Spuk: Paranormal Wedding Planner when I shared the opening pages with an agent at a writer’s conference. The agent loved it and asked me to send her the rough draft as soon as I finished!
Which sounds great and all, but I was 27 weeks pregnant. Knowing that I wouldn’t be in a good headspace to write once the baby came, I worked as fast as I could… and sent her the finished manuscript from the delivery room. Yes, I was in labor, and yes, I do mean that in more than one sense of the word!
On the back end, my publisher asked me to do a turnaround of the manuscript’s proofread and copy edits at the same time! Now that was a multi-monitor, manuscript cross-checking doozy. . .
This is your debut novel! What was the road to becoming a published author like for you?
Long but satisfying! I started earning writing awards and competitions from childhood, then I spent years developing manuscripts while living abroad. I took a writing sabbatical in 2019 to develop my first fiction manuscript. After attending workshops, gaining a writing community, and learning the publishing industry, I queried two novels unsuccessfully. Enter Samantha Spuk! Her story got very very early interest from an agent in 2023. After a delay due to a cross-country move and adjustment to life with a newborn, I officially queried in 2024. Now, everything moved fast! My manuscript quickly generated requests, leading to an offer of representation just 20 days later. After receiving multiple offers, I signed with Caitlin Blasdell, and two months after going on submission to editors I received an offer from Amara Hoshijo at Saga Press. I think my breakthrough came from combining years of craft development with a distinctive voice, a strong hook, strategic preparation, and finding a project that aligned with my natural strengths as a writer. embracing a humorous voice and style that felt more authentic to me. And frankly, I think it’s impossible not to love Samantha’s pet head, Bulan!
What’s next for you?
It is strongly hinted at the end of the novel—and I’m happy confirm that there will be more to come from Samantha and ger crew in Fall 2027! I’m also working on two other secret projects with similar tone, but a bit more romance.
Lastly, what books are you looking forward to picking up? Any you’ve read so far this year that you’ve enjoyed?
I have three literal stacks of books on my dining room table of books I’m excited for. . . Among them, I can’t wait to read Field Guide for the Formerly Villainous, Bromantasy, Jedidiah Berry’s Kill All Wizards, and The Farewitch Of Foxe Holler! I can’t stop telling people how much fun I’ve been having with India Holton’s Love’s Academic romance series and how obsessed I am with The Poet Empress and the upcoming spooky cute titles, Jenny Howell’s How to (Not) Renovate a Haunted House and Brianna Bourne’s Meet Me at Midnight. As you can see, I’ve had eclectic tastes lately!
