Jean Murray
East Coast, USA
Good morning, Jean, and welcome to Vision and Verse, the Place for Art and Authors. Tell us a little about what you've written.
I am currently writing
the last few books in my Key to the Cursed series, based on Egyptian mythology.
Soul Unleashed due to
release
January 1, 2016
I have a few more books
in the series to write. It’s hard to stop with so many great characters.
What is your favorite genre to write?
I chose Egyptian
mythology because I’ve always been fascinated by the culture. Not many have
written novels based on this and I’m always up for a challenge.
I love to read and
write paranormal romance. The darker the better with complex plots and soul
wrenching experiences.
Dessert of course –
anything chocolate.
Coffee or Tea?
Coffee—dark roast, the
kind that will put hair on your chest (well hopefully not) with cream. That’s
what 20 years in the Navy will do to you. LOL
Ice Cream preferably
with chocolate and peanut butter.
Wine – dry red, merlot
or cab – yum!
Where would you like to visit?
I would love to go to Alexandria
(Thebes) Egypt. It plays a pivotal role in my series.
Do you listen to music
when you write? What?
For Soul Unleashed I
dusted off Human Clay by Creed. Awesome inspiration for some very dark moments
in the book.
I love slap stick
humor. Family’s Funniest Videos—I fall out of my chair and laugh until I can
barely breathe.
How old were you when
you started writing?
Thirty-nine (39)
believe it or not. It started as a hobby and then it grew into something I
never expected. My husband encouraged me to publish my manuscripts. I am
thankful for every day and every story.
Describe your perfect
evening.
Curled on the couch in
pajamas with the dog, kids and hubbie watching movies.
Where do you get your
inspiration?
It can come from
anywhere. A picture or a person crossing the street. Honestly, my brain runs a
mile a minute creating stories. I wish I had enough time to write them all.
My inspiration for my
series came from my experience as a nurse. To be able to care for someone in
their most vulnerable moments, whether in birth or death, is such an honor for
me. The Key to the Cursed series is very much based in that concept of life and
death and the balance in between. Taking a character from their lowest moments,
fighting adversity to winning the heart of the woman he loves—it doesn’t get
any better than that.
What do you do when you
get a writer's block?
Take a break for a few
days and then go back to it. Sometimes things are clearer and you can jump
right back into it.
Who is your favorite
author?
Lara Adrian – I love
her work. I think her character development is top notch. I like male focused
series, but it’s nice to see strong female characters supporting the plot. The
man is only as strong as the woman supporting him (that of course, goes both
ways).
Not to mention, the
woman is so nice to boot. She would be my dream endorsement on my book cover. Fanning self. So freaking fan girl!
Who is the one person
who has influenced your personal life the most and why?
I would say it was my
dad. Funny how you realize that after they are gone. There wasn’t anything he
couldn’t do and he taught me that very valuable lesson. I learned how to change
my oil and tires, spot weld a car, chop down trees, rehab a boat….I could go on
and on. At the time it was hard and laborious and not what other girls my age
were expected to do, but he taught me independence and the value of never
giving up. Strong girls rule!!!
My one wish is that he
would be proud of my accomplishments.
What advice would you
give someone who aspired to be a writer?
I would say “ignore
that inner voice” or “others” that tell you it’s not good enough or that you
can’t do it. When I first started writing, it was a hobby, only because I
thought publishing was out of my reach. Thankfully, I had a husband that
encouraged me to try. I started studying the craft and absorbed everything I
could to make my stories better. At one point I was even told by a fellow
author my series would never sell. Well, my husband will tell you I’m as
stubborn as they get, so I set out to prove her wrong.
I look back thinking on
that moment. What if I had listened to her and shelved that first book? I would
have never know the joys of getting that first sale or review or all the other
books that followed.
Believe in your
writing. And more importantly—Believe in yourself.
Soul Reborn is on sale for 99 cents!
Dark paranormal romance. Three sisters and their fated mates, Gods of the Underworld, on a journey of love, redemption and war.
THE HUMAN REALM, HIS BATTLEFIELD.
Asar, the Egyptian God of the Underworld, has been tortured and left soulless by a malevolent goddess, relegating him to consume the very thing he was commissioned to protect. Human souls. Now an empty shell of hatred, Asar vows to kill the goddess and anyone involved in her release, but fate crosses his path with a beautiful blonde huntress who has a soul too sweet to ignore.
DEADLY SECRETS BETTER LEFT UNEARTHED.
Lilly, fearless commander of the Nehebkau huntresses, is the only thing standing in the way of the goddess' undead army unleashing hell on earth. But Lilly has a secret—one she is willing to sell her soul to keep. If the Underworld god discovers her role in the dig that released the goddess, she will lose everything, including his heart.
What Reviewers Are Saying...
Thanks for Your Support!
Visit Jean Online!
