Final answer:
Samantha is fulfilling her need for self-actualization, as defined by Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs, by achieving her lifelong dream of publishing a novel.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs, Samantha is meeting the need for self-actualization by publishing her first novel. This is the highest level in Maslow's pyramid and represents achieving one's full potential after more fundamental needs have been met. The satisfaction of publishing a novel is a creative achievement and exemplifies an individual reaching for personal growth, fulfillment, and realization of one's own abilities, which is at the core of self-actualization. Samantha's accomplishment reflects the humanistic emphasis on positive aspects of human nature emphasized by humanistic theorists like Maslow.