Interview With Paranormal Romance Author
Gemma K. Murray
When did you first realize you
wanted to be a writer?
About
15 years ago. I had always written thoughts, poems, ideas, etc. out,
but I’d never attempted a book. I was at a loss due to certain
crises in my life and my husband asked me what I wanted to do with my
life, how could I leave my mark on the world? I said, “I want to be
an author.” He said, “So, write.” I bought pens and paper to
begin the journey.
How long does it take you to write a
book?
It
takes me roughly 5 months to write a book, maybe a little less
depending on the drama in my life. I try to type up 2500 words per
day.
What would you say is your
interesting writing quirk?
I
argue (out loud) with the characters in my head. It doesn’t matter
if I’m driving down the road or having a conversation with my
husband. I talk to my characters as if they are sitting right beside
me.
What do you think is the best way of
publishing a book these days?
I
honestly think e-publishing is the best way to go. The smaller
publishers are more likely to take a chance with an unknown writer.
By giving that unknown author the opportunity to publish their book,
an e-publisher could be introducing the world to the next Stephen
King, Nora Roberts, or Tolkien.
Where do you get your information or
ideas for your books?
I’ve
learned my books are considered “gift books.” All of my ideas
come from dreams I am given. I simply write what I see. My dreams
don’t end when I open my eyes. They will continue from the time I
start a book until the time I send it to the publisher. My dreams do
take interesting turns.
When did you write your first book?
I
wrote my first story in 2003. My first book was a work which was
never supposed to see the light of day, but I fell in love with the
characters and took a chance. I spent most of 2011 writing it out,
testing theories, checking on information, and attempting to believe
in myself.
What do you like to do when you’re
not writing?
I
love to read. I also watch movies with my husband of 19 years, but
mainly I read. I love contemporary romance, paranormal romance, and
historical romance.
What was one of the most surprising
things you learned in creating your books?
People
like reading what I write. I mainly began writing for my own
amusement, but friends encouraged me to submit my works to
publishers. I still get chills when a stranger sends me an e-mail
asking questions about the characters and if there will be more
books.
How many books have you written?
Which is your favorite?
I’ve
written over 40 stories, but only one has been published at this
point. The second book in the series is sitting with my publisher at
this point. We’re hoping for a fall release.
Can you tell me and your readers
something about your main characters?
Anastasia
is this incredibly strong woman. Her parents died when she was young
and she went to live with a family of dragon shifters. As the
daughter of a puma shifter and a powerful witch, Ana has both
abilities, though her witch powers are unsteady at their best. She
has always loved Bowie Golden, the oldest son of the dragon shifters
who took her in when she was younger, but never in a romantic way.
Bowie
Golden was the “golden” boy in high school. You know the type,
right? Quarterback of the football team, could have any girl he
wanted, did relatively well in school. He became sheriff of Cedar
River, MI and his job in this quiet little town was to keep Ana, the
town hell-raiser, out of trouble. When
Ana begins to date one of his deputies, Bowie notices feelings he
never realized he had for Ana.
It’s such a
powerful relationship. The passion Ana and Bowie share is
incomparable. Whether they are arguing or making up, there will never
be a loss of heat between these two.
Do you hear from your readers much?
What kinds of things do they say?
Readers
are truly loving this book. I hear from them from time to time. They
ask about Ana’s witch powers and why she doesn’t use them when
she’s in trouble. They want to know whose story is next (and they
make suggestions for who they’d like to see next). They want to
know about the upcoming storylines. It makes me smile because my
readers are as in love with the community and people of Cedar River
as I am.
What do you think makes a good
story?
A
thought out plot line, consistency, a bit of magic and a whole lot of
blood, sweat and tears.
What are your favorite book genres
in writing and reading? Why?
I
actually never dreamed of writing paranormal books simply because I
didn’t think I had the imagination to write that genre. This was a
HUGE surprise! Most of my other (unpublished) stories are
contemporary romance.
Like I said
before, I love to read contemporary romance, Scottish historical
romance, Sci-Fi, and paranormal romances.
Who are you favorite authors to
read?
Diana
Gabaldon, Nora Roberts, Tolkien, Hannah Howell, Lora Leigh, Jill
Shalvis, Christine Feehan, Laurell K. Hamilton, Virginia Nelson,
Karen Cote, James Herriott…the list could go on and on.
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