Barbican First Interview: Sam Lee

April 2, 2025

Over the next few months, we will be launching three debut titles of short fiction as part of our new Barbican First series. To celebrate, we have been questioning the exciting writers of these stories to help you get to know them and their books a little better, along with their experience of the publishing process. So pour that hot drink, get comfy, and dive into the mind of a writer with this mini-series.

Up first is the inimitable Sam Lee, whose noir thriller A Trail of Blood on the Snow releases in just two weeks.

Tell us a little about yourself: did you read a lot as a child? Have you always wanted to be a published author? How did you begin as a writer?
Sam Lee: I went to a private school in the Dominican Republic when I was six. It was an English school, but whenever our two Spanish classes per day rolled around, I was known to have an English novel hidden between the pages of my Spanish textbook. I am pretty fluent in Spanish but the reality is, I never paid attention in class because I was so besotted by literature. On the first day of Grade 7, I carried around a great big Einstein biography to appear smart. I excelled in English and Math, and was a real megalomaniac about it. I was teacher’s pet, and the biggest kiss ass. I was the kid who would beg the Algebra teacher for more homework, much to the chagrin of my classmates. I got bullied a lot for being such a little show off, arse kisser. Looking back, I would have bullied me too. I was so cocky. I had an email address I used all throughout school: beautifulgeek@hotmail.com. I really thought I was the shit, even though I spent six years in braces, and a year being called R2D2 in a full-body brace. You’ve gotta love a delusional queen, LOL. Before the back brace, when boys attempted to ask me out I would just run away screaming, even when I liked them back. I wasn’t so much a beautiful geek as a freak. Still am 😉 haha! But now I just get called a Manic Pixie Dream Girl, which is the grown up version of being a beautiful freak, so I take it as a compliment! I definitely don’t live “in this world”. I’m a fairy. I started writing at the age of six, both songs and stories. I got my first literary agent at Paradigm Talent Agency in New York at 18, but didn’t get a book deal until I was 27. My first short story was written in Canada at Montessori when I was six. It was called ‘Spider School’, about a school covered in spiders. My parents still have it.

What previous experience do you have with publishers? How did you find out about Barbican Press and the Barbican First series?
SL: Oh God, I have way too much experience. It’s been a rough road. I have been taken uber seriously as a writer since the age of eighteen, which has been good for the ego, but the bad-for-the-ego part was all the rejection faced along the way. A Trail of Blood on the Snow was far too f*cked up for the three literary agents I go between, I think I terrified them, bless their souls… So I typed in “transgressive fiction publisher” and found Barbican. I sent an email to Martin, even though Barbican was closed to submissions, because I’m a pushy North American who knows no piety when it comes to business. In the end, it all worked out.

Did you send your manuscript to other publishers? What made Barbican Press stand out?
SL: I only sent it to my three agents. Barbican was the first publisher I sent it directly to and it worked out. What made Barbican Press stand out was the glorious cover art!

Being new to the literary world, how have you found your experience so far?
SL: I love how tough it is to get published, or get a literary agent. It’s made me so competitive with no one else but myself. It’s toughened me and refined me. Now, I can truly say I’ve earned it.

What support have you received from Barbican Press regarding the publishing process?
SL: So much support and encouragement! I love everyone at Barbican!

Do you think the Barbican First series has helped get the best version of your story published?
SL: Abso-freakin’-lutely!

What inspired you to write A Trail of Blood on the Snow?
SL: The horrors of being a woman living on a transient, hedonistic island. Witnessing so much rapey behavior. Seeing the sinister side of men.

What authors and books would you compare yours to? Were there any in particular that inspired your story or writing style?
SL: Big inspos: James Baldwin, Chuck Palahniuk, Mark Haddon, Matthew Quick, Hemingway, Fitzgerald, Tolstoy, Anton Chekhov, H. P. Lovecraft, Martin and Maggie, Herman Koch, Stephen Chbosky, Madeline Cash, Antonia Pozzi, Leonard Cohen, Joan Didion, Linda Boström Knausgård, Vladimir Nabokov, Sylvia Plath, André Aciman

A Trail of Blood on the Snow is noir with elements of psychological thriller and crime. What do you think readers will find appealing about the book?
SL: The weight of existence. The hurt we carry. The madness inside each and every man.

Crime, thriller and noir are popular genres for many readers. How does your book stand out against other titles?
SL: I think this book serves as a cautionary tale. It explores every tenet of toxic masculinity and is scarily realistic.

A Trail of Blood on the Snow is a real page-turner. How do you keep readers wanting more? And what’s the secret to a good twist?
SL: Pacing. Counting syllables alongside your heartbeats is a huge tip when it comes to writing. Short sentences in times of tension. Pastoral sentences preceding horrific ones. Works like a charm.

What do you hope readers will take away from the story?
SL: To be kinder. To not shame men for showing emotions. To not shame women for being feminists. For being sexual and liberated. For admiring them for feeling so free.

What advice would you give to aspiring writers looking to get published?
SL: Don’t give up. If you’re not getting a publisher’s attention, you’re probably still shit. And I mean that in the kindest way possible. Keep writing. Keep dreaming. Write until you’re not shit anymore. It’s that simple.

What advice would you give to your younger self?
SL: You can do it, bitch!!!! You WILL do it! YEAH!

What is your favourite book? (Or what book changed your life?)
SL: Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin. It’s sensational.

What are you currently reading? What’s on your TBR?
SL: A Room with a View. Next, I am reading a Spanish novel about my small town Cabarete. It was written by my friend Paloma’s mother, and features my friends. My writing friend Mercedes told me it’s incredible, and I believe her.

Do you keep books after finishing or pass them on to others?
SL: Pass them on.

Hardback or paperback?
SL: Hardback.

Physical, eBook or audiobook?
SL: Physical.

Folded page corners: acceptable, or book sin?
SL: Book sin.

What about writing in books?
SL: Cute and quirky.

And finally, what’s next for Sam Lee? Are you working on another book?
SL: I have seven projects in the pipeline. I’m filming a pilot episode for A Trail of Blood on the Snow as we speak. I have a full cast I meet with often. We’ve filmed 20 minutes of it so far. I am also a full-time ghostwriter and currently have two clients. So things are busy!

Follow Sam on Instagram.

Many thanks to Sam for giving us her time and insights. A Trail of Blood on the Snow will be published on 15th April and is available to pre-order now from your local Amazon site and other good places where books are sold.

Check back here soon for another Barbican First Interview. In the meantime, be sure to follow us on Substack, Instagram, Threads, Bluesky, Facebook and X to keep up to date with our latest news, or consider subscribing to our free newsletter.