Check Out Randi Samuelson-Brown’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Randi Samuelson-Brown.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I live, more precisely, in the San Rafael Historic District in Denver. Which got me to thinking. I rented a carriage house in the neighborhood from a woman who restored old houses in Denver. After breaking up with someone who I thought was “the one”, who hated old houses for example, I recall sitting down one night at a candle-lit table, thinking on how I wanted to write a vampire story. Obviously under the influence of Anne Rice and dramatic (most certainly) but it started me down this path. And that writing didn’t come easy at all – something that shocked me at the time.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Writing and publishing – I’d argue starting ANY endeavor or something new on one’s own – is never easy. In fact, I didn’t really know what the exact direction was for years. I still work in a traditional job, as I did then. But I started out be realizing I needed to use my free time. And a whole lot of it! I had a purpose, and I wasn’t bored. That said, in writing, one needs to take the time to learn the CRAFT. And everyone faces a lot of rejection. You learn how to compromise – and when to stay true to yourself. For example, for my first book, I wanted an agent and never found one. I did manage, however, to capture the attention of editors at the publishing houses via writers’ conferences. While that books STILL has not been published, I’m going to take a hard look at it soon. It may need some tweaks – and I’m a better writer now. It might find itself published yet!

What I also figured out was to “stick with Colorado.” My first book published book featured a second-rate Denver Madam in the 1890s, and one of Denver’s unsolved murders. I know some of her descendants – and it’s a fascinating story. I made a “deal” with the universe, that if it got published, I would support every library, museum, and historical society/genealogy society that I could, if they wanted a speaker. That notion paid off splendidly. Not only do I get to meet great people, they tell me stories that sometimes provide a spark. The name of that first book was THE BEATEN TERRITORY but became MARKET STREET MADAM when a different publisher took the rights and published it in paperback.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I write novels and books based in the West, and more specifically, Colorado. What I am proud of, and what I intentionally pursue, are those stories and events that I feel may be lost to time for the more “common” people. For example, my first book (now MARKET STREET MADAM) was about Denver’s underworld and corruption in the 1890s. From that, came THE BAD OLD DAYS OF COLORADO – which was a finalist in the Colorado Book Awards in 2021. I dug deep into Colorado’s history to find those people who often fade from view. From there I wrote about a clairvoyant and a mining swindle in ON THE FRINGES. My latest is another history book THE WESTERN HORSE: A Popular History of the Wild and Working Animal which came out in September of this year (2024). Those are my “serious” books. For more of a fun spirn – I’ve written the DARK RANGE SERIES. The premise of those books is that if you scratch the surface of the modern West, the Old West is right there – alive and stong.

Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
I love Denver deeply. I was born here, grew up in Golden, but my grandparents were in Denver from about 1910. My grandfather was a train conductor for the Union Pacific Railroad back in the day. There have been a lot of changes – some good, some bad. When I was growing up, it seemed that old buildings were not valued. Look at all the restoration that has been done!

What I don’t like is all the road construction – but that’s been a complaint since day 1 – hasn’t it been? I value my neighbors and friends, it would be great to foster more of a community spirit.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.randisameulsonbrown.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brown_randi/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/randi.brown.167/
• Twitter: https://x.com/rsamuelsonb1
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@randisamuelson-brown-autho5109