We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Samantha Mendell. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Samantha below.

Samantha, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

For the last several years, I worked full-time in ministry in both church and parachurch (non-profit ministry) organizations and picked up as much freelance copywriting as I could. Writing and editing had always been my passion, but I feared making the jump into full-time freelance. In 2022, the tension between what I longed for and where I currently was grew stronger every day; by the summer of 2023, I knew that I needed to take the risk and commit my full-time efforts into what I loved. Once I made the leap, projects and connections poured in, and I have never been more grateful!

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is Samantha Mendell, and I am an editor and copywriter at Mendell Studios. I specialize in developmental editing, line editing, and copy editing for fantasy novels, faith-based fiction, and nonfiction theology. Additionally, I do commercial copywriting and content creation for organizations and churches.

I am enthralled by the written and spoken word, and am deeply appreciative of the art of storytelling. My passion is partnering with new and aspiring authors to help bring their stories to life. With my background in the mental health field, my particular specialty is character development. Using my education and expertise in mental health services provides a greater depth for my authors to draw from when we are developing their stories.

Working in the world of fantasy has been a dream for as long as I can remember. From Disney and Harry Potter, to The Lord of the Rings and the world of Narnia, my life has been deeply impacted by the great authors and creatives who’ve lent their talent to developing this beautiful subculture in which all may belong. It is my hope to continue to contribute to the world of fantasy and fiction for as long as there are new stories to be told.

In the other end, I have a passion for helping organizations create meaningful content and tell their stories in a way that is impactful and innovative. People and their unique stories will always be the driving force behind my work, and it is through that lens that I enjoy creating copy for larger entities.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being a creative is the community! In my early years, I was a singer, and almost every fond memory I have from my teens and early twenties involves performing, rehearsals, or traveling with fellow vocalists and musicians. Now, in the writing world, I am consistently amazed at the support and compassion that exists across the writing and editorial space. There’s nothing like connecting with creatives from across the goal who have the same passion as you do, who aim to lift up one another and spur one another on to better our craft.

We’d love to hear about how you met your business partner.

My business partner is my husband, Weston! We met in 2019 while serving in the worship department at our church, and married in 2021. Weston is an audio engineer who works in film, music, and podcasting. Since we met, we dreamed of working together in the creative space, and it has been a dream to be able to collaborate together. We also enjoy writing and producing music on the side, and we’re excited to continue to see that area of our marriage and business flourish.

Contact Info:

• Website: mendellstudios.com
• Instagram: @mendellstudios

Image Credits
photo of me singing: Spencer Urban photo of my husband and I: Sara Stewart