Pump Up Your Book Chats with Peter Murphy

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Peter Murphy was born in Killarney where he spent his first three years before his family was deported to Dublin, the Strumpet City. Growing up in the verdant braes of Templeogue, Peter was schooled by the De La Salle brothers in Churchtown where he played rugby for ‘The Wine and Gold’. He also played football (soccer) in secret!

After that, he graduated and studied the Humanities in Grogan’s under the guidance of Scot’s corner and the bar staff; Paddy, Tommy and Sean.

Murphy financed his education by working summers on the buildings sites of London in such places as Cricklewood, Camden Town and Kilburn.

Murphy also tramped the roads of Europe playing music and living without a care in the world. But his move to Canada changed all of that. He only came over for awhile – thirty years ago.

He took a day job and played music in the bars at night until the demands of family life intervened.

Having raised his children and packed them off to University, Murphy answered the long ignored internal voice and began to write.

He has no plans to make plans for the future and is happy to let things unfold as they do anyway.

LAGAN LOVE is his first novel.

You can visit his website at www.peterdamienmurphy.com or his blog at www.peterdamienmurphy.blogspot.com. Connect with him at Twitter at www.twitter.com/PeeloMurphy and Facebook at www.facebook.com/LaganLove.

About Lagan Love

If you know something about passion, and desire, and giving everything to live your dreams then leave your world behind for a while. Come with Janice to Dublin, in the mid nineteen-eighties when a better future beckoned and the past was restless, whispering in the shadows for the Old Ways. Janice has grown tired of her sheltered existence in Toronto and when Aidan leads her through the veils of the Celtic Twilight, she doesn’t hesitate. In their love, Aidan, Dublin’s rising poet, sees a chance for redemption and Janice sees a chance for recognition. Sinead tells her that it is all nonsense as she keeps her head down and her eyes fixed on her own prize – a place in Ireland’s prospering future. She used to go out with Aidan, before he met Janice, so there is little she can say. And besides, she has enough to do as her parents are torn apart by the rumours of church scandals. But after a few nights in Grogan’s, where Dublin’s bohemians gather, or a day in Clonmacnoise among the ruins of Celtic Crosses, it won’t matter as the ghosts of Aidan’s mythologies take form and prey on the friends until everything is at risk. Lagan Love is a sensuous story of Love, Lust and Loss that will bring into question the cost we pay for our dreams.

Q: Thank you for being our guest today, Peter. Can you tell us why you wrote your book, Lagan Love?

I wrote LAGAN LOVE to leave some record of Dublin before the Celtic Tiger came and threatened to change everything I held dear. I wanted to remember a people and a culture that were unique and fascinating.

Q: Which part of the book was the hardest to write?

Presenting the opinions of very biased characters was difficult as I wanted fairness and balance. Readers often confuse the views of the characters with the views of the author.

Q: Does your book have an underlying message that readers should know about?

I think LAGAN LOVE has many underlying messages about how we approach love and ambition. And while they might be distasteful to some they are vital aspects of real life where happily-ever-after is a myth.

Q: Do you remember when the writing bug hit?

Since I can remember I have been under the spell of well written words. I grew up in a house where books and writing were revered and great writers were idols. As a teenager I found writing a great comfort and outlet for angst and all the other things that were swirling around inside of me.

Q: Besides books, what else do you write? Do you write for publications?

I have written short stories and poetry which I keep to myself. On occasion I pen songs but since deciding to try my hand at novels I have been hooked and absorbed by it all.

Q: Do you have a writing tip you’d like to share?

I think we must write about what really matters to us. I also think we must write to stay in touch with all that goes on inside of ourselves – below the surface and we must write without fear of censure or ridicule.

Q: Would you like to tell us about your home life? Where you live? Family? Pets?

I live in Toronto, Canada with my wife of 25 years with whom I have shared all that is good and not so good. We have two sons who are now off in University reading Philosophy and History. And when asked: what will they do with that? I answer: learn to think for themselves and learn from the mistakes of the past! We also have an aged dog and cat who pester me for attention throughout my working day!

Q: Can you tell us a little about your childhood?

I am the youngest of six boys. I was born in Killarney – famous for the lakes – but I grew up in Dublin – famous for its infamy!. From the beginning I was often told that I was ‘an old soul’ but it took me years to figure out what that meant. I grew up around books and music and I am ever thankful for that. My mother was a school teacher and never allowed a television into our house – something that I am also very thankful for.

Q: Where’s your favorite place to write at home?

I work at my desk and when the dog and cat sleep, it can be a very productive place.

Q: What do you do to get away from it all?

I never really get away from it all but I do like to walk around the neighbourhood in ‘conversation’ with the next part of my story.

Q: What is the most frustrating part of being an author?

By far the most frustrating thing is finding the words to convey the ‘pictures’ I have in mind. Words are prone to misunderstanding and that which is plain to some is obscure to others.

Q: What is the most rewarding?

The most rewarding part of writing is when a reader really gets what you were trying to do or say.

Q: If you had one wish, what would that be?

I wish that we could all stop and think more often. We are too prone to saying and doing things without reflection and that is when we are at our most dangerous. I wish we would all spend a little time reflect on life and not spend so much time scuttling around.

Q: If you could be anywhere in the world other than where you are right now, where would that place be?

Rome! When I visited it for the first time I realised a sense of belonging that I have never felt anywhere else. Subsequent visits have reinforced rather than diminished the feeling despite the fact that the city is a circus.

Q: Thank you so much for this interview, Peter. Do you have any final words?

Yes! Thank you for letting me drop by and talk about myself and my work. And for those of you who read LAGAN LOVE – let me know what you think!

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Question of the Day

How do you make sales happen for you?

A lot of hard work! I sponsor a lot of on line parties, festivals and contests. Book sales don’t magically happen, believe me. An author has to work hard to earn her readers. And then she has to work hard to keep them by giving them something they’ll enjoy reading. I try hard to make my books worth a reader’s time.

-- Sheila Roberts, Author of Winter at the Beach