Keeper Of The Golden Dragon's Heart

Today dear readers we have Gemma K. Murray author of Keeper Of The Golden Dragon's Heart. Hi Gemma, it's a pleasure to have you visiting. Tell us a little bit about yourself.  

I have been married to my elementary school crush for almost 19 years. We have 5 (yes, 5) large canine kids. I have spent most of my marriage as a stay at home wife who had a severe reading addiction. We’ve lived in lower Michigan, southern Pennsylvania, northern Oklahoma, and we now currently call the Upper Peninsula of Michigan home.

How did you decided to enter the world of writing? 

I was at a point in my life where I knew we would never have children and I wanted to leave my mark on the world in some way. My husband asked me, “So, what do you want to do?” My response was “Write.” We went out and bought plenty of notebook paper and pens. I spent the next ten years writing out books in long hand.

What does your family think of your writing? 

My family is very proud of me. My father passed away at the end of May, but he was around to share in the joy of my first book. My husband can’t stop grinning (or pushing me to write every day).

Where do you get your ideas? 

I have the most bizarre dreams. Most people have several dreams throughout the night. I don’t. I have dreams filled with color and activity which continue from night to night. I simply write what I dream.

Can you tell us a little about your book? 

Keeper of the Golden Dragon’s Heart is set in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan on the shores of Lake Superior. Cedar River is a small town filled with shifters of every shape and size. This is the first book in the Cedar River series. It focuses on Cedar River’s sheriff, Bowie Golden, a golden dragon shifter, and Anastasia Plum, a puma shifter/witch hybrid. Bowie and Ana have known each other all their lives, but their feelings are shifting and they are seeing each other as romantic partners instead of simply friends. As they are falling in love, danger comes to Cedar River and threatens to tear them apart.

 What is your writing process? 

Before I start a new book, I make up a playlist of music. I get a sense of who my characters are by listening to the music. I often simply sit down to the computer, pop my earbuds in, turn up the volume and tune out the world around me. I dive into the story heart first and write until I am forced to come up for air…usually by my husband who is insisting I eat some real food. (I tend to snack when I write.)

What was the hardest part for you when working on your book? 

Setting aside the time to actually write. I tend to procrastinate simply because life in our house can be pretty hectic. When it was finished, I had a hard time believing any publisher would really want to put my book out for the public. It was really hard for me to push that “Send” button when I had to send it outJ

What influenced or inspired you to write? 

My husband and father’s belief in me. To have them believe I could do this really pushed me to strive to be the person they believed I could be.

Was there a scene that you didn’t add or you removed in your finished work? 

Yes, but when I realized this was going to be a series, I simply put it in Book 2 (coming out Fall 2012).

Do you have a favorite character (from you're book)? Why? 

Oh goodness, only one character? I’d have to say Ana is my favorite. She resembles me in her behavior and language. She doesn't hold back. Sometimes the filter between her brain and her mouth fails and whatever she’s thinking shoots out her lips. She and I butted heads as I wrote Keeper of the Golden Dragon’s Heart, but she won out each and every time.

Do you already know what to write next? Can you tell us? 

Book 2 is in my publisher’s hands, waiting for edits. Book 2 is Adam’s story. Adam Thomas is Bowie’s deputy and very best friend. Luna McIntyre is Adam’s love interest. They’ve been in love since they were teenagers, but because Adam’s is a puma shifter and Luna is a wolf shifter, they’re families have tried to keep them apart.

I’m currently working on Book 3 which is Brady Golden’s story. With Brady’s story comes the introduction to a spin-off series. Brady is Bowie’s brother and his love interest is a witch named Silver from the lovely town of Witch Lake.

Where can we find more information about you and your books? 

You can find me at http://gemmakmurray.com. My books are available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Leap of Faith Publishing, and Coffee Time Romance.

Do you have any last words? 

I want to thank you for allowing me to share my book (and upcoming books) with all of you! It has been an absolute pleasure to be here. If you’re on Facebook and want to keep up to date on book news, you can find me at http://www.facebook.com/GemmaKMurray.

Gemma it has been a pleasure learning about you and your books. I know that lots of readers will also enjoy learning a little more about you. Thank you for the little extra  fun questions-

I love weekends because I take time off to spend cuddling on the sofa with my husband and dogs, watching movies.

I hate negative people.

I want to buy a new carJ

My favorite song is “Hallelujah” by Celtic Thunder.

My favorite precious stone is the emerald.

I want to travel to Scotland, Ireland, England, and Wales. My husband’s family is originally from Scotland and mine is from England and Wales. 

I would love to walk where our ancestors have walked. Why Ireland? It’s such a beautiful place.

I want to meet Diana Gabaldon. She is one of my favorite authors and I’d love to spend time in her presence.

I want to invite Oscar Wilde, J.R.R. Tolkien, and Nora Roberts to dinner. 

They are all some of my favorite authors.

My dream is to be able to make a living writing books so our life will be a little easier than it is at this moment in time.

My favorite book is Outlander by Diana Gabaldon because she takes a reader deep into the story of Jamie and Claire as they travel through Scotland and fall in love.