When readers talk about authors who reinvent the superhero genre, Samantha Bryant often rises to the top of the conversation. Known for her innovative and character-driven Menopausal Superheroes series, Samantha has carved out a distinct corner of speculative fiction, one where women in midlife take center stage, claim their power, and save the world in ways only they can.
Her catalog includes 10 books, spanning novels, novellas, and short fiction collections, including:
- Going Through the Change
- Friend or Foe
- Change of Life
- Face the Change
- The Good Will Tour
- Through Thick and Thin
- Be the Change
- Agents of Change
- Change for the Better
- Stories from Shadow Hill
While most superheroes begin with radioactive spiders or cosmic accidents, Samantha Bryant’s creative spark began somewhere much simpler and far more universal: a childhood love of reading and a mother who encouraged every imaginative leap.
Today, her writing is not only beloved by readers but also deeply instructive for emerging authors navigating the challenges of publishing. In this WriteStats interview feature, we explore her creative origins, her publishing journey, and her perspective on writing in an increasingly complex industry.
Falling in Love With Story: The Creative Origin of Samantha Bryant
For Samantha Bryant, storytelling began early:
“Through reading, I fell in love with story and words. I’ve always noodled at writing, beginning with journalling and poetry as a child.”
Yet she didn’t fully commit to writing books until she turned 42, an age she notes with the kind of geeky humor her readers adore:
“I didn’t commit and start finishing things until I turned 42 (42, which Douglas Adams taught us is the meaning of life, the universe, and everything).”
This late-blooming commitment is something many writers will find encouraging. And in fact, it aligns closely with our broader research on author career timelines. Creative success often emerges not from youthful precocity but from midlife clarity, discipline, and experience.
For Samantha, the catalyst was developing a daily writing habit, an insight we examine more deeply in our earlier research report on why only 1–2% of manuscripts get published and how authors can beat those odds.Â
Influences That Shape Her Work
When we asked who influenced her writing most, Samantha Bryant’s answer was immediate:
“Most important was my mother, who listened to all my stories and encouraged me from a very early age to develop my creativity.”
This theme—creativity supported in small but meaningful ways—runs throughout her work. Whether she’s writing speculative fiction or exploring emotional journeys, Samantha’s stories are rooted in empathy and connection.
What Keeps Her Writing When It Gets Hard?
Not inspiration. Not muse. Not sudden flashes of brilliance.
Stubbornness.
“Stubbornness. I don’t give up easily, even when the ‘enemy’ I’m fighting is me.”
The honesty in this answer—and the willingness to acknowledge internal battles—highlights something profound about her creative process:
“The stories matter to me, and it’s important to get them told, and to get them told well.”
It’s a reminder that long-term writing careers are rarely fueled by confidence alone. Persistence, even in the face of doubt, is often the deciding factor.
The Tools Behind Samantha Bryant’s Books
Samantha writes with a combination of structure and spontaneity. As a discovery writer who doesn’t always move linearly through a manuscript, she relies on tools that allow flexibility:
“For long work, I use Scrivener… I use notes apps, voice memos, and a variety of other tools on my phone to track ideas and work on the fly.”
However, she’s clear that the “real work“ happens on her laptop, where drafting, shaping, and refining unfold.
Her reading habits also support her craft. Samantha reads roughly 60 books a year, giving her a significant breadth of exposure to structure, voice, and genre evolution.
The Publishing Journey of Samantha Bryant
While many writers query dozens—or even hundreds—of agents and publishers, Samantha’s path looked very different.
Three queries. One offer. Six months.
“I sent 3 queries.”
“It took 6 months to get my first publishing offer.”
Her first publisher, Curiosity Quills, was a connection made through a friend:
“It was as simple as asking who published his work and what his experience had been like…and after hearing positive things, submitting my work there, too.”
However, the experience was bittersweet. The company eventually collapsed:
“While things started well…[they] imploded a few years after publishing me. So, that was heartbreaking.”
From heartbreak came new opportunity. Samantha was able to reclaim her rights and find a home with Falstaff Books:
“They’ve been handling my work for six years now and I’m still happy with them.”
This transition—from early success, to disappointment, to resilience—is a trajectory many traditionally published authors recognize all too well.
Is Samantha Bryant a Full-Time Author?
Despite publishing 10 books, Samantha doesn’t write full-time:
“I don’t. It’s supplemental income only since it cannot be relied upon to be regular enough to pay bills with.”
This transparency matters. It reflects the financial realities of authorship, even for those with long-running series and dedicated readerships.
Her Biggest Challenge: Time
Like many writers who balance creative work with day jobs and family responsibilities, Samantha struggles most with time:
“My writing life could easily fill full time hours, but it doesn’t pay full time dollars.”
To carve out time, she made intentional lifestyle changes:
“I’ve made small adjustments to my life…giving up time-sinks like television and videogames, and building strict boundaries that protect my writing time.”
This kind of structural commitment—rather than sudden bursts of inspiration—is what sustains long-term creativity.
Samantha Bryant’s Perspective on AI in Publishing
Unlike some authors who take a nuanced or neutral stance on emerging technology, Samantha is clear:
“I am against using AI tools.”
She does distinguish between assistive and generative AI:
“Assistive AI like grammar and spelling evaluation and speech-to-text tools don’t bother me.”
“Generative AI troubles me…because the work is no longer the sole creation of the artist/author.”
Her concerns center on ethics, ownership, and the authenticity of creative labor—a perspective increasingly shared across the industry.
The Legacy Samantha Bryant Hopes to Leave
When we asked what she hopes readers carry with them, she gave a beautifully balanced answer:
“I hope I entertained people…while also inspiring them and encouraging them to think deeply.”
It captures the dual nature of her work: joyous, imaginative storytelling with emotional and intellectual depth.
What’s Next for Samantha Bryant?
Samantha’s upcoming project expands her storytelling range into GenX romance:
“My next project is a trio of GenX romances, featuring people in their 50s falling in love.
Not Too Late, Acid Reign, and Ready or Not will come your way in spring 2026.”
This direction not only diversifies her portfolio but also serves an underrepresented demographic in romance fiction, readers who want mature love stories that reflect real-life complexities.
Final Thoughts: Why Samantha Bryant’s Journey Matters
Samantha Bryant is more than a creator of menopausal superheroes; she is a testament to what persistence, self-knowledge, and authentic storytelling can achieve. Her career illustrates that:
- Writing can begin at any age
- Career setbacks are survivable
- Daily habits beat bursts of inspiration
- Creative work thrives with the right boundaries
- Authenticity resonates, both on and off the page
Her voice is honest, grounded, and deeply human. And for emerging writers looking for a realistic model of sustaining creativity over time, her story offers exactly the kind of hope our research consistently points toward.
As Samantha herself says:
“I might walk away short term, but I always come back.”
And perhaps that is the truest marker of a writer.
