Lee Murray author, editor
An author interview with Lee
Hi Lee! What is something unique/quirky about you?
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Fun Fact#1:
You know that old story about having to smooch a lot of frogs before you find the prince? Well, before becoming a writer, I tried on a lot of hats: I was a research scientist, a massage therapist, a safety and health officer, as well as New Zealand’s Energy Advisor to the OECD. I’ve also done some time putting up kiwifruit irrigation lines, serving chateaubriand, and as a wallpaper hand. These days, you’ll find me in my natural writing habitat, in my home office overlooking a cow paddock.
Fun Fact#2:
A serious cheese junkie, I’m lucky that our travels have allowed me to indulge my addiction. In fact, we have lived for several years in some of the most significant cheese locations of the world, beginning with my home country of New Zealand, then England (home of Red Leicester and Wensleydale), France (my favourite is still the Tome de Savoie) and America’s Dairyland, Wisconsin, famous for its cheese curd and Montforte Blue.
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What do you consider is your biggest failure?
I’m excellent at failing so it’s hard to pick just one! One of my keenest regrets though, is failing to learn Cantonese—my mother’s first language. Later in life, I learned to speak French, and of the insights into a people and their culture which can be achieved through understanding the language. So while being bilingual is a good thing, it has led me to understand that by not speaking Cantonese, I am missing a part of myself.
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What got you into writing?
I don’t really know. I’ve always been a scribbler, a prehistoric blogger before they were a thing. Encouraged firstly by my dad, and later by various teachers and mentors, it was always on my mind to write, but it wasn’t until my children were small, and I was at home during their naptimes, that I made a conscious effort to ‘become’ a writer’, completing some masters papers in creative writing, along with a couple of unfinished novels which had been sitting in boxes. Then, a decade ago, on the advice of a colleague, I started to call myself a writer, and even wrote ‘writer’ against my occupation on my passport, which made it more real somehow.
Tell us something really interesting that's happened to you!
There was the time my husband and I had just landed in New York for the New York marathon (where I did an epic run and I came in about 33,000th in a field of 39,000) and we were walking past the Ed Sullivan theatre, slightly jetlagged, just taking in the atmosphere, and we got randomly selected as audience members for the David Letterman show. We sat in the second row, and our kids, back home in New Zealand, got to see us on television that same night. (Yes, the rumours are true: it is really cold in those television studios.)
What are some of your pet peeves?
Have you ever noticed how pretentious the verb ‘to do’ is? Not the everyday version of the verb, but those condescending in-your-face formulas intended to remind you who’s boss, when that tiny little word conveys so much contempt. Airlines are often guilty of this. “We do ask that you take care when opening the overhead lockers as items may have moved in transit.” “We do require that you wait for the aircraft to reach the terminal before unclipping your seatbelt.” What’s wrong with saying please? That’s just one of my peeves.
Who is your hero and why?
My mum. She’s a tiny little thing, but as my dad always used to say ‘good thing come in little packages’ and he was never more right. When I tell stories of my childhood, Dad features a lot. Hardly surprising because he was a big personality. An athlete, a storyteller, and a real camp Dad, he was the sort who could fix a bicycle with a plastic BBQ plate. Mum’s approach is less flamboyant, but she’s always there, in the background, getting on with things with integrity, kindness, and courage.
What kind of world ruler would you be?
A kind one, I hope. I find you can make a lot of progress when you act from kindness.
What are you passionate about these days?
All the usual things: clean water, the environment, education for all, freedom from slavery, equal pay for women, eradicating childhood diseases, care of the elderly… it’s a long list…
What do you do to unwind and relax?
I used to be a distance runner, with twenty-five marathons and an ultra under my belt, but an injury put paid to that, and nowadays I like to catch up on my reading, watch movies with my son, play with my dog, soak in the spa pool, take weekend walks and trips to the beach, pop across town to see family, and chat with my daughter on skype. (Note that housework, cooking, and ironing do not feature on my favourite things to do when I’m not writing.) My husband and I recently bought a caravan, and it’s surprised us how much we’ve enjoyed picking up at the weekend and taking ourselves off to the beach or the hot pools for some R&R. New Zealand has a lot of great seaside campsites with great views, access to the beach or bush trails, and for not much more than the price of a couple of cups of coffee. A cheap and fun way to grab some down-time.
Photo by Ellen Datlow
Weekend!
Describe yourself in 5 words or less!
Short Kiwi with book fetish.
E-Book, Paperback or Hardback?
Books please. However they come. I love books in any format. I’d read them if they were printed on the back of a cornflakes packet. Recently, though, I’ve tried to cut down on print books. A couple of house moves have highlighted the way print books can impede the packing process. I’m always tempted to interrupt what I’m doing, put on the kettle, and waste an hour or two reading books I haven’t opened for a year or two, dipping in and rediscovering beloved characters. These days, to keep the distraction to a minimum, I tend to limit my print book purchases to titles written by my colleagues. Which doesn’t narrow it down at all really.
Which of your novels can you imagine made into a movie?
I’d love to see the entire Taine McKenna series made into movies, but all writers say that about their books don’t they? The thing is, I’m not the only one saying they would love to see McKenna on the big screen. One New York Times bestselling author told me he thought they would be the perfect vehicle for actors like Jason Momoa or Dwayne Johnson. What a lovely compliment. Aussie thriller writer Greig Beck, bestselling author of the Arcadian and Primordia series, has made a similar comment:
“Lee Murray is one of New Zealand’s most awarded and top selling authors, and INTO THE ASHES is Lee’s continuation of the Taine McKenna adventures. This magnificent story weaves ancient Maori mythology, brutal action, and cinematic scenes that cry out for movie treatment.” – Greig Beck, author of the Arcadian series.​
What literary pilgrimages have you gone on?
I’ve been on lots of literary pilgrimages. When my children were small, we lived in abroad in Wisconsin in the United States. Because my daughter (then aged 6) was a huge reader, we took a weekend trip to visit the Laura Ingalls Wilder museum in her birthplace in Pepin, and the model cabin in the Big Woods. I remember buying my daughter the cutest pink bonnet in Laura Ingalls Wilder style. Of course, Ann Packer’s 2002 bestseller The Dive from Clausen’s Pier was set in Madison about the time we were living there, although the pier itself is fictional. I have stood on the Pont Mirabeau in Paris and watched the Seine flow past, as Apollinaire did in his famous poem. I have visited England’s Lake District where Beatrix Potter was inspired by the rolling landscape, and Baker Street where Conan Doyle set his famous detective series. New Zealand pilgrimages include visits to the former homes of writer Janet Frame in Oamaru and of short story specialist Katherine Mansfield in Tinkori Road, Wellington.​
Are your characters based off real people or did they all come entirely from your imagination?
In order to create authenticity in our writing, characters must always be based on real people—at least in part. So while in the overall, my characters are conjured from my imagination, certain traits and motivations will have been borrowed from people I have met. Caveat: Be kind to writers, because one way or another they are writing you into their stories!
Do your characters seem to hijack the story or do you feel like you have the reins of the story?
Mostly, I’m in charge. At least, I like to think I am! The thing is, if you give a character a certain personality and motivation, then the way that character behaves must conform to those characteristics. If you create an impulsive gung-ho FNG soldier, like Matt Read, then it follows that character must rush in without thinking of the consequences, taking unnecessary risks. Pair that character with Sergeant Taine McKenna, a soldier who understands consequences and who is compelled to look out for his section (and for all New Zealanders), then immediately you have the basis for a plot beat. Read’s going to dash in, and McKenna will to follow up and make sure he doesn’t get himself killed. Add another twenty characters with diverse motivations and character traits, and the possibilities are limitless. That’s when things start to get interesting.
What book do you think everyone should read?
Preferably one of mine. 😊 I’m kidding. I’d love it if people would sample a book by one of our fabulously talented New Zealand speculative fiction writers. Check out the SpecFicNZ website for some suggestions. Read New Zealand works, classic texts, new releases, books written by women, by LGBTQ writers… read widely, read often, read any book that you like, just please, please, if you can, leave a review because it makes a huge difference to the author.
What kind of research do you do before you begin writing a book?
So much research. So many tabs open at one time. As I write this blog post, for example, I can confirm there are seven tabs open on articles and research papers which I am currently using to inform my work. When writing a book, I’ll research the location, scientific concepts, recent technological advances, and also historical and mythological tales relating to the region. I might look up psychological papers to get an idea of how certain personality types might react in a given situation. Occasionally, I’ll conduct an interview with someone in the industry, or an eye witness to an event. I’ll use archived secondary information such as photographs, letters, and other accounts. I’ll run the work past sensitivity readers to ensure the cultural aspects are covered with sensitivity and accuracy. For authenticity of a book, and also suspension of disbelief, I really think it helps to have precise, up-to-date details to inform your writing. But my research doesn’t just relate to the content of my work. Sometimes, I’ll refer to books and articles to improve my writing techniques too: studying means of accelerating the narrative, or how to get into my backstory in a way that isn’t too clunky.
Do you see writing as a career?
Yes, I definitely see writing as my career. I have been a full-time writer and editor for the past twelve years. The advantage is that the commute to my office is very short, only a few steps, and if I choose to spend the day working in my pyjamas, I can.
Do you prefer to write in silence or with noise? Why?
I prefer silence. My novels have a lot of characters and with all of them demanding to be heard it’s already pretty noisy.
Do you write one book at a time or do you have several going at a time?
I generally write one book at a time, although occasionally I might have a novel and a short story on the go simultaneously. I suppose the half-finished manuscripts I have tucked away are technically still on the go…
If you could have been the author of any book ever written, which book would you choose?
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater. The Girl With all the Gifts by MC Carey. Anything by Australian horror writer, Kaaron Warren.
Pen or type writer or computer?
Computer.
Advice you give new authors?
Grow a tough carapace.
Win the Lotto
Write what you love.
Describe your writing style.
Slow! 1000 words is a good day, 500 is more usual. [Sigh] I wish I were faster, but since Hemingway was also a 500-word a day writer, I’m in good company.
What makes a good story?
Real characters, compelling stakes, lively writing, and a satisfying conclusion. A great sense of place helps, too.
What is your writing Kryptonite?
Social media. It’s such a dreadful time-suck, but living down here at the bottom of the globe it’s an important means of staying in touch with readers and colleagues, so it’s a necessary evil. Plus, I do a lot of work with emerging writers, many of whom ping me with questions about their work, and since I know how important timely feedback can be, I do my best to respond. Of course, any time you’re busy feeding your social media or responding to queries is time away from your manuscript. It’s a fine balance.
How long on average does it take you to write a book?
The fastest ever was three months for an 82,000-word manuscript. Mostly, they take me about a year.
Do you believe in writer’s block?
When school students ask me this question, I tell them to write something silly and banal like ‘Weetbix’ over and over until something more interesting occurs to them. They sometimes leave those ‘placeholders’ in their work when reading it out and it provides a wonderful insight into their process—the moment where their inspiration flagged and the subsequent ‘lightbulb’ thought which kicked it off again. The lightheartedness of this approach works for students with writer’s block, because the ‘block’ doesn’t become a big deal, just a little hiccup they need to sidestep. Using a silly word like ‘Weetbix’ offers them a stepping stone to achieve that.