Get ready to learn more about the book A String of Days in this discussion with sapphic author Barbara Lynn Murphy.
Join us for an exclusive peek behind the scenes as we quiz Barbara Lynn Murphy about A String of Days, writing, reading, and more.
This book is part of the Growing Older category in the 2024 IHS Reading Challenge.
Why did you write A String of Days?
A String of Days actually came out of a failed attempt to write a different book, which was a true story about how my wife and I met and got together. I guess sometimes, the book we want to write turns out to be the book we’re supposed to write instead.
Who is your favorite character in the book?
My favorite character is the MC Debra’s mother, Sandy. She’s probably the mother we all wish we had because she’s so loving and supportive, even when it’s not the easiest thing for her to do.
What part of A String of Days was the most fun to write?
I love writing about the process of falling in love. It’s my favorite thing to put into words–that newness and the flood of emotions that happens when the character figures out that what they are feeling is love. It’s a joy to write those scenes.
How did you come up with the title for your book?
The titles of my books all come from a song lyric that is particularly meaningful to me. In this case, A String of Days is a line in a 10,000 maniacs song called “My How You’ve Grown.”
What is your writing process like?
I am definitely a pantser. I like not knowing where the story is going to go. The characters tell me what’s going to happen as I write. I’m incapable of plotting a book out from beginning to end, so this method works well for me.
Where do you usually write, and what do you need in your writing space to help you stay focused?
When I wrote my first book, the words just spilled out onto the page and I wasn’t distracted by anything. I could sit on the couch and watch TV or listen to music – it didn’t matter. But now that I’m on my fourth book, it’s become a little harder. I have to be in silence, preferably at my desk as opposed to on the couch. I wish I knew what was different with the first book, because I preferred that “no bothered by anything” atmosphere and wish I could get it back.
What do you do to get inside your character’s heads?
I’m fortunate that I don’t have to do much to get inside their heads. As I’m writing, they “speak” to me and guide the story where it’s meant to go. I guess that’s why I’m a pantser and not a plotter.
Have you ever cried when writing an emotional scene?
I have. I wrote a particularly emotional scene in my latest book, “A String of Days” and I felt the moment as if I was living it in real life. It surprised me because I’m not generally a crier.
What books have you read more than once in your life?
I’ve read The Prince of Tides three times and the entire Outlander series twice. When I find a story that is well written and captivating, it doesn’t matter that I know the ending. I just want to experience it all again.
Describe your favorite reading spot.
I read in bed. I spend the last ~2 hours of each day snuggled under the covers and getting lost in a story.
