Now available is the romantic thriller Hell Will Rise, book in the Bloodthirsty Mafia series, by Skyla Murphy.
The author has taken a few minutes out
of her busy schedule for a Q&A about her newest novel.
When did you become interested in storytelling?
I’m sure my parents would tell you that I’ve always been a storyteller, but I had never seriously considered writing as a profession up until two years ago. When I was in high school, we were made to undergo career assessments. Numerous questions were asked to decipher which career path would be best for us on an individual basis. In a fate I couldn’t understand, my results came back for creative writing. Ignoring the assessment, I studied social work, power engineering, and medical transcription instead. I’ve always written along the way, completing multiple novels that I didn’t ever take the leap to publish.
What was your first book/story published?
When I had just hit junior high, I wrote a story about a penguin that played baseball. (It was cool back then, I swear - ha!) It won first place and was published for a local festival, but that was just something I did for fun. I’ve written a handful of novels over the past few years, but Hell Will Rise will be the first one I officially publish.
What inspired you to write Hell Will Rise?
One night around a campfire, me and a few buddies were discussing which superpower would be the coolest to have. A little bit of an odd conversation for a group of twenty-five year olds to be hung up on, but we were.
The most common answer was the cliché of invisibility. Someone said X-ray vision. Another said the art of flying. I chose teleportation. I would take myself wherever I wanted to go with a snap of my fingers. Could you imagine the uncomfortable conversations a girl could avoid with that superpower?! But I would want myself to be so skilled that I could bring anything I was touching with me. I would show my friends the world!
While considering it, someone suggested seeing numbers in people’s eyes (their bank pins, driver’s license numbers, stock holdings etc.) so they could steal identities for fun. The friend who gave that answer had eaten one too many Bailey’s centered marshmallows that night, but it got me thinking. It was then that I told everyone I was going to write my next book about exactly that.
What character in Hell Will Rise is the most/least like you, and in what ways?
I suppose little pieces of me are in each of my characters. I am least like the main male, Hunter Garciez. I don’t make a habit of robbing banks, nor have I ever met the struggles in my life that he has in his. The lead female, Shayla Stone, is a sassy, “I don’t take crap from anybody” kind of girl, so I would probably compare myself to her most. I have days where I make comments that I find hilarious… but not everyone else does. For better or worse, she’s just like me in that sense.
What is your favorite part in Hell Will Rise?
Any chapter Hunter Garciez’s kid sister is involved.
I get a kick out of her.
What was the hardest part to write?
The hardest part to write was any scene that involved Hunter developing feelings for Shayla. Since Hunter’s character has so much depth, it was hard to balance the progression of his emotions. Fate plays a big role in their relationship, but I still found him challenging to get a handle on.
What would your ideal career be, if you couldn't be an author?
A film editor or a myth/legend explorer. If not that, I would probably fly around as a news reporter. It’s something I often regret not getting into straight out of high school.
Do you read reviews of your books? If so, do you pay any attention to them, or let them influence your writing?
That isn’t something I will ever focus on. I might have those closest to me review comments every now and then, sifting through ignorance and helpful critiques. The internet is full of different minds. I don’t think it’s something I should become obsessed with, you know? But I’m also always open to constructive criticism. As the writer of the book being reviewed, I think the opinions of others can get inside your head. If the opinions are a helpful criticism, that’s great. If it’s downright negative from someone who didn’t read the book in question, that’s not something I focus on. Luckily, the writing community is a world where creativity is encouraged. What one person might hate will be something someone else likes. No writer can please everyone. Even Kinger has haters.
What well-known writers do you admire most?
I obviously admire J.K Rowling for her perseverance and honest attitude. She didn’t take no for an answer, even while being faced with personal struggles that many of us are fortunately unfamiliar with… but that response might be a little too cliché. So instead of talking about her, I will detail my love for Lurlene McDaniel. She was easily the most influential writer on me as a child. I used to be heavily involved in summer reading programs through the local library, and I’ve probably read about fifty books by her. My mom bought me half of them. (Love her for that!). I can remember laying in my bed and reading three of her books in one day. Talk about being obsessed at the age of twelve! Her stories can be quite sad, as they generally involve illness, but they always left me with a warm feeling nonetheless.
Do you have any other books/stories in the works?
I have many stories that could be published after some editing and revisions, but I’m most focused on finishing the second book in The Bloodthirst Mafia Series at the time being. After that, it will be the third novel that gets my attention. Once the trilogy is complete, I might consider doing a spin off involving some of the other characters. Only time will tell. 😊
a Rafflecopter giveaway
About the Author
Skyla Murphy is a highland junkie from West Coast, Canada. When she’s not searching the Rocky Mountains for Sasquatch, she can be found researching every other conspiracy theory known to mankind. Her Yorkshire Terrier is usually clung to her side, but he doesn’t buy into her philosophies much. Therefore, she writes about them instead.
Learn more about Skyla on her website at: www.skylamurphy.com
Follow the author on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.
The cover sure is an eye catcher.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Shirley ��
ReplyDelete