Today I welcome author Luke Murphy to Magic of the Muses, in celebration of his brand new release KISS AND TELL. This is Luke's second guest appearance. He first visited here in June 2012 to introduce us to his debut novel DEAD MAN'S HAND. Apparently, a lot has happened since then. Take it away, Luke!
My “Baby”
This novel took me 15 years to write. Well, not exactly, but...
This novel took me 15 years to write. Well, not exactly, but...
Even though Dead Man’s Hand was my first published novel,
it’s not the first book I wrote. Kiss & Tell is. It's my “baby”. I started the novel in the winter of 2000, while playing hockey
down in Oklahoma.
A lot of circumstances surround this novel, and it’s the
reason I started writing. This novel, and all of my writing,
happened by “chance”. I was playing professional hockey in Oklahoma, and was
struck in the eye with a stick in a preseason game. That injury ended my season
before it began.
My wife, who was my girlfriend at the time, was attending a
French college in Montreal, and her English professor assigned the class the
task of writing a short story.
My girlfriend knew that I was an avid reader, so she asked
me if I would help her develop the story, which I did. I had so much fun with
the project, that when we had finished, I took one of the characters we had
created and started writing my own story.
I wrote Kiss & Tell in six months, but it was nowhere
even close to being publishable. Actually, it stunk. It was a practice story
for me, so I left it sitting in my computer, and started writing a second book.
After I published Dead Man’s Hand in 2012, I decided to reopen
Kiss & Tell and take another look. My first reaction…it was bad, written by
a first-time, newbie, amateur author. But I loved the plot, cast of characters,
and the potential. I didn’t want to give up on this story.
So I took everything I’d learned about the craft of writing
and the industry and put it into editing Kiss & Tell. The revisions
completely changed the entire book.
After I’d finished it in 2001, Kiss & Tell was written
from the point of view of Jessica Philips, the primary murder suspect in the
Ken Anderson investigation, and the story was told from Jessica’s first person
POV.
The Kiss & Tell that came out in 2015 is told from
Detective Charlene Taylor’s point of view, written in third person. Although
the plot never changed, some of the characters and scenes did.
A major scene/twist change that occurred? In the original Kiss & Tell, the identity of the
Celebrity Slayer was never revealed. I was planning on turning this CS plot
into a series, extending the investigation through a number of books. But,
taking into consideration a suggestion from one of my editors, I decided to
change that. But don’t think I don’t have more plans for the Celebrity Slayer,
in upcoming Charlene Taylor books.
But that’s for another time, and another place.
Buy the book here: http://myBook.to/Kiss
ABOUT KISS & TELL
With the death of her father…
Officer Charlene Taylor has received her dream
promotion—working Homicide with the LAPD. Her first case is the high-profile
murder of Ken Anderson, a playboy UCLA professor with a haunted past. A mafia
kingpin, billionaire tycoon, cheated wife and jaded lover are only a few on a
long list of suspects, all with motive and opportunity.
…all hope of reconciliation is lost.
Not only does she feel the pressure from media and her boss
to solve her first case, but Charlene must also deal with her father’s murderer,
the “Celebrity Slayer,” a serial killer who enjoys baiting her with his
knowledge of her life and routines.
Can a rookie detective work two
high-profile cases and still keep her sanity?
ABOUT LUKE MURPHY
Luke Murphy is the International bestselling author of DeadMan’s Hand (Imajin Books, 2012).
Murphy played six years of professional hockey before
retiring in 2006. His sports column, “Overtime” (Pontiac Equity), was nominated
for the 2007 Best Sports Page in Quebec, and won the award in 2009. He has also
worked as a radio journalist (CHIPFM 101.7).
Murphy lives in Shawville, QC with his wife, three daughters
and pug. He is a teacher who holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing,
and a Bachelor of Education (Magna Cum Laude).
Kiss & Tell is Murphy’s second novel. He is represented
by The Jennifer Lyons Literary Agency.
For more information on Luke’ books:
visit his website
‘like’ his Facebook page
follow him on Twitter
Review Blurbs for Kiss & Tell
“Luke Murphy scores
big with this deep psychological thriller. Just when you think you've got
things pegged, Murphy serves up another twist. Fast paced and fun, you won't
want to put this book down.” —Tim Green,
New York Times bestselling author of Unstoppable
“An intricately
detailed and clever mystery featuring a tough minded but vulnerable protagonist
with more than a few demons of her own. The twists and turns kept me guessing
to the very end.”
—Christy Reece, New York Times bestselling author of Nothing To Lose
“Luke Murphy’s novel,
Kiss & Tell, has lots of twists and turns, and police procedures where the
good guy, in this case, Charlene Taylor, is not always good. The characters
come to life with suspense, drama, explosive action, and an ending you never
see coming.”
—John Foxjohn, USA Today Best-selling author of Killer Nurse
* * *
Thank you, Luke. All the best with your new release!
"Oh, baby...Let's KISS & TELL" has been brought to you by THE TRAZ, Book 1 in the BackTracker Series
“…takes the reader on a whirlwind of emotion”
“I recommend
this dark and compelling story…”
“No shirking the grim reality of stepping to
the wrong side of the law”
“This is a hard-hitting novel…”
“Raw and emotional
with fast-paced, gripping tension”
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