Presenting an interview with Jacqui Murray, long-time e-friend, prolific author, teacher and much more, as she gets ready to launch “Against All Odds,” Book 3 in the Crossroads series of the Man vs. Nature series, as Xhosa’s extraordinary prehistoric saga concludes, filled with hardship, courage, survival, and family.
This comes close on the heels of “The Quest for Home,” the second book in the trilogy, which was launched in September last year.
About Jacqui
Jacqui Murray is the author of the popular Building a Midshipman, the story of her daughter’s journey from high school to United States Naval Academy, the Rowe-Delamagente thrillers, and the Man vs. Nature saga. She is also adjunct professor of technology in education, blog webmaster, an Amazon Vine Voice, a columnist for NEA Today, and a freelance journalist on tech ed topics. Look for her next prehistoric fiction, Laws of Nature, Book 2 in the Dawn of Humanity trilogy, Winter 2021.
The Interview
Thank you Jacqui for finding the time during a period of intense activity as you get ready to launch your new book. I am curious to know more about it.
It’s great to be with you today, Ankur, on your amazing blog. I always enjoy your dry sense of humor on topics everyone around the world can relate to. I’ll do my best to answer your questions.
Does your chosen genre, prehistoric thrillers, make it easier or more difficult to create the atmosphere in the story? After all, people don’t really know what it was like then. But equally, neither do you. Not even Google perhaps.
As you say, little is known about time before man kept records. To build a world that readers believe in, want to travel in, I must rely on ‘paleo’ subjects like paleoclimatology, paleogeology, paleoanthropology that look at what nature has preserved for us. We know some about the climate back then from ocean coring that reveals the world thousands and millions of years in the past. We know something about life by analyzing remnants of teeth and bones, their placement and what surrounded them. But it is complicated. I researched as much as I could (each book includes a bibliography of my sources so readers can find out more on varied subjects) and then logically extrapolated what that ancient world would have been like. My job was to create a picture that prehistoric fiction readers could lose themselves in and that armchair paleoanthropologists wouldn’t snicker over. This is one of the reasons the first few books took so long to write!
Relentless pace. Book 2 in September last year. Book 3 in September this year. The Rowe-Delamagente thrillers just before that, Building a Midshipman somewhere in between, Dawn of Humanity trilogy in the works. That is an awesome level of creativity and output. How do you motivate yourself to write and write and write?
The simple answer is, it’s what I do, for about 12 hours a day. It used to be a hobby and now it’s my favorite pastime. I love the research, the outlining, the editing, the mixing it up with other Indie authors, the countless online conversations with fellow writers. My characters romp through my head and give me ideas. They even wake me at night to tell me what they’re going to do next. It might sound annoying but I love it.
When you started this series, have elements of the story changed from the original plan till the time you published the third book. Based on later discoveries? Based on feedback from the first book? If yes, how and why.
That’s a resounding yes. I’ll give you two examples. The trilogy I just completed—Crossroads—was originally a long book I broke into two. I planned to end the second book in a place where early research told me they could exist. But when I scratched just a little bit below the surface of that location (to wrap up the final chapters), I found it was nothing like what I expected. That made Book 3, Against All Odds, easy (and gave me its title).
Another epiphany: I originally was simply writing prehistoric fiction, about man’s evolution. Just recently, I realized that my subconscious was selecting seminal times in man’s evolution where we would either prevail or disappear. The first trilogy—Dawn of Humanity—is set in the time when man first differentiated himself from his cousins, the apes. The second trilogy, Crossroads, digs into how and why man developed so many of the skills that allowed him to prevail in his dangerous world—like sophisticated tools, clothing, fire, a bias for action, balancing ‘instinct’ with ‘thoughtful decision’. The next trilogy will be that time 70,000 years ago when man almost became extinct. I am really excited to figure that one out! I mean, why didn’t we disappear?
What next Jacqui? This series is wrapped up. What can your readers expect from you next?
I need to finish the Dawn of Humanity trilogy. There are amazing evolutionary events going on in South Africa 1.8 million years ago that Book 1, Born in a Treacherous Time, didn’t have a chance to touch on. I’m outlining it this month and loving what I see. Then I’ll either do the second trilogy of Crossroads (spoiler: I left Book 3 on a cliffhanger) or go to that time 70,000 years ago when modern man almost went extinct. That’s pretty intriguing, isn’t it? I’d love if your readers would tell me what they’d like to read next, in the comments.
In conclusion, what would be your suggestions to budding, aspiring and struggling writers?
Keep writing. Don’t quit after one book—write at least three. Talk with other Indie authors—build your network. And finally, write what you love.
Thank you, Jacqui. I wish you success with this book, equalling and exceeding that of your previous books. I look forward to reading it soon.
About the Book
A million years of evolution made Xhosa tough but was it enough? She and her People finally reach their destination—a glorious land of tall grasses, few predators, and an abundance that seems limitless, but an enemy greater than any they have met so far threatens to end their dreams. If Xhosa can’t stop this one, she and her People must again flee.
The Crossroads trilogy is set 850,000 years ago, a time in prehistory when man populated most of Eurasia. He was a violent species, fully capable of addressing the many hardships that threatened his survival except for one: future man, a smarter version of himself, one destined to obliterate all those who came before.
From prehistoric fiction author Jacqui Murray comes the unforgettable saga of a courageous woman who questions assumptions, searches for truth, and does what she must despite daunting opposition. Read the final chapter of her search for freedom, safety, and a new home.
(click on image above to play the book trailer video)
Where is the Book available
Available digitally (print soon) at: Kindle US Kindle UK Kindle CA Kindle AU
Social Media Links
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Jacqui-Murray/e/B002E78CQQ/
Blog: https://worddreams.wordpress.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jacquimurraywriter/
LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/jacquimurray
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/askatechteacher
Twitter: http://twitter.com/worddreams
Website: https://jacquimurray.net
Great interview. I can’t imagine how much work putting this series together is needed. I applaud you Jacqui.
Ankur came up with great questions. Most, I’ve rarely been asked before.
Nice …. thanks for sharing
Thanks for visiting, Kingsley.
Thank you for the interview with Jacqui here! Her creativity is unbelievable, her writing pace incredible, and her determination fantastic. All your story ideas sound intriguing, Jacqui, but I’m most curious as to why man didn’t become extinct…
See, that’s how this all started. By any measure, we should have died out at the claws of mightier predators. And we didn’t. What the heck was that all about?
You’re the one to “tell” us! 🙂 I like how your focus is on different topics during your blog tour, Jacqui. I might “steal” that idea when it’s my turn!
NP. I’d be happy to do that.
The book ‘Against All Odds’ appears to provide many challenging ideas, Ankur. Thanks for providing the link to amazon.ca! I will check it out.
Thanks for visiting, Peter. I appreciate you dropping by!
Thanks for hosting Jacqui, Ankur. Her series is terrific!
I’ve been following Ankur a long time. He has a humorous take on those sorts of events that drive me up a wall. Love his posts. Happy to be a guest here.
Just followed him…thanks, Jacqui!
Congratulations on three wonderful books, Jacqui. I loved reading them!
Thanks, Anneli. And your assistance editing is much appreciated!
Totally my pleasure, Jacqui.
Thank you so much for inviting me to your blog, Ankur. You made me think with your questions, and grin over the connections. It’s going to be a great day.
I have no doubt about that Jacqui. Thank you for the opportunity. You are a great role model for aspiring writers like me.
I owe you so get that next book ready and message me. I’m on your street team.
Very kind of you Jacqui!
Excellent interview. Excellent story.
Thanks for hosting:)
Yay, Ankur!
Fascinating interview, topic and series!
I loved the questions Ankur came up with. They really dug into the background of the trilogy.
Great to see Jacqui here today. I am always amazed by the depth of research that goes into her books. This sentence really stood out for me as I simply can’t imagine the challenge: “My job was to create a picture that prehistoric fiction readers could lose themselves in and that armchair paleoanthropologists wouldn’t snicker over.”
Way to go, Jacqui!
Thanks, Mae. It’s true, too. I had to research enough that I knew I got the gist of what was going on.
Congratulations to Jacqui. Thanks, Ankur for hosting her and for the terrific interview.
Thanks, John. I am thoroughly enjoying myself!
Good.
Congratulations to your new book, Jacqui. I can’t imagine the enormous research goes into your books. Wow, it’s amazing. I enjoyed the interview. Thank you, Ankur for hosting Jacqui.
Thanks for dropping in, Miriam. I really liked Ankur’s questions. They gave me a chance to chat about intricacies I don’t usually discuss.
Yes, Jacqui, that’s something great about book launch. You can discuss many things related to the book other than reviews.
I really enjoyed reading this interview. Jacqui, you are amazing!
Thanks so much, Jennifer. It’s hard for me to shut up about prehistoric fiction. I love it!
Great interview. I really admire how hard-working and dedicated Jacqui is. Writing a series is not easy but she didn’t give up. Congrats on her new book!
Thank you, Natalie. I probably don’t work much harder than you do, just with a different goal. I am amazed at your blog, all the work that goes into hosting your guest writers!
What a fascinating interview. I’ll endorse the first two of this trilogy by saying I’m really looking forward to reading this one, Jacqui.
Yay! Thanks so much, Cath! It has a few surprises in it.
Great interview. I liked learning about the thoughts behind Jacqui’s prehistoric writing – “seminal times in man’s evolution where we would either prevail or disappear.” I think about that now and then, how each of us who lives today is the result of millions of years of generational survival – back to the old bacteria in the primordial soup. A great read.
It is true, isn’t it. There was a time man almost became extinct. I am so excited to dig into that, I might push it up, write about it right after the rest of the Dawn of Humanity trilogy. It just won’t leave me alone!
Thanks, Ankur for this interview! I had not heard about these books and I can’t wait to start reading them!
I sure hope you love them!
I applaud your research and willingness to adapt to new information, Jacqui. I have my copy of the first of this series and am looking forward to some time travel. Thank you, Ankur, for the great job on the interview.
Nice to see you here, Mark. I guess word of Ankur’s pithy wit is getting out! I hope you love the book!
Congrats again Jacqui, great interview, and love the quote at the end 🙂
Thanks! Blogging makes all those steps a lot easier than other approaches I’ve tried.
🙂
After visiting Jacqui’s website I have concluded that she is a tireless workaholic who uses a bit more than 10% of her brain power. Her list of accomplishments is amazing. Thank you for posting this interview.
Well thanks for visiting, Grumpa. I am paranoid of being bored so I tend to keep a few balls in the air. I am slowing down, though. Sigh.
You don’t sound like you are too slow to me.
It’s that pesky age thing.
Informative and inspiring… Great interview, Ankur and Jacqui!
Thanks, Bette. Ankur was a wonderful host. I appreciate you visiting!