Author Spotlight: Sam Summers

We’re so excited to introduce our April–July 2026 Lit Club 4 Kids read, The Lost Defenders (Book 2) by Sam Summers!

Packed with adventure, mystery, and unforgettable characters, this story is set to take our young readers on an epic journey. But before you dive in, we caught up with Sam to learn more about the inspiration behind the story, writing habits, and what makes this book so special.

What made you want to become a writer?

Books were my safe haven growing up, and from a very young age, I knew I wanted to be a writer (or an artist for Disney!). I loved the idea of creating worlds and characters that people could escape into, the same way I did when I was reading. It took me a little while to find my way there, but that dream never really left me.

Do you have any weird or funny writing habits?

This is a great question! I definitely have a slightly odd one: I love to write in bad weather. Rain, grey skies or a good thunderstorm always seem to help my imagination. Living in Australia doesn’t always cooperate with that, so most of my writing ends up happening at night instead, when everything is quiet, and the world feels a little bit more mysterious.

What’s one fun fact about you that most people don’t know?

When I was a kid, I had not one, but several imaginary friends. One of them could turn into a unicorn. So I guess I’ve been making up stories for a very long time!

If you could hang out with any author, who would it be?

I’d love to hang out with R. L. Stine. His books were such a big part of my tween years and made me fall in love with spooky stories. Maybe we’d try to out-scare each other with story ideas… I’m pretty sure I’d lose rather quickly though!

What’s one thing you hope readers remember about The Lost Defenders?

More than anything, I hope readers remember how the book made them feel. A sense of adventure, excitement, and maybe even a bit of comfort in being different. Those are the things I’ve carried with me from the stories I loved most.

Ready to start reading?

We can’t wait for our Lit Club 4 Kids members to dive into The Lost Defenders and experience the adventure for themselves.

Keep an eye out for upcoming activities, discussions, and opportunities to share your thoughts. We’d love to hear what you think. Happy reading!

Thanks, Sam!