CLP Blog Tours Interview and Excerpt: Omni by Andrea Murray
**Interview**
When did you know writing was for you?
My brother-in-law died in a hunting accident. Terry was a young man, a year younger than me, and he left behind a wife and a baby. His death made me realize I had to do something, something more, something to remind me I was still alive. When I had the idea for my first novel, I knew it was time. My first novel, Vivid, was born because from this need and from one of my classes.
Several years ago, I was teaching a class made up almost exclusively of eighth grade girls. These young ladies were voracious readers, and I was reading one to two books a week just to keep up with them so that I would be able to recommend novels. Predominately, these girls preferred paranormal romance, which is also one of my favorites, so reading for them was no great hardship. However, as I book talked these novels, I noticed one similarity–female dependency. In nearly all of these books, the female protagonist relied upon the male character (endowed with some supernatural ability, of course) to rescue her. Though the POV was female, the true hero was not. That really bothered me. How could I recommend these novels where women were often victims while telling these girls that they could be anything and do anything they set their minds to? Why couldn’t a female character tell the story AND save the day? Thus, Vivian was born. I wanted a strong, quirky girl with real-world problems, like bullying and self-esteem issues, who could finish her English homework and rescue the love of her life all in one night. Two more novels completed that trilogy then I began Omni.
How would you describe your books?
I love sci/fi and paranormal. Those are the books toward which I gravitate for my personal reading, but I grew up sneaking a peak at my mom’s cheesy romance novels, so I like those, too. I would say my own writing is a combination of those two. After all, love is the ultimate conflict, and giving the characters supernatural gifts or setting the story in a dystopian world just makes it that much better.
Why was Omni a book you wanted to write?
I wrote Omni for my nephew. I’ve been a teacher for seventeen years, and many years ago, I taught seventh grade language arts. As part of that curriculum, we completed a large unit on Greek and Roman mythology. I was fortunate enough to have my nephew in one of those classes. He developed an appreciation for all those great old stories, and every time a new mythology movie comes out, he calls me for confirmation that the story is accurate or to tell me whether it’s worth watching. He inspired the use of the story.
Omni is a retelling of the ancient story of Paris and Helen. Nearly all of the characters were created from one of the original characters. I attempted to give the characters names that begin with the same letter as their namesakes as well as making those names words which denote character traits. For example, Pierce, an orphan like Paris, is a Drudge. As a Drudge, he’s the lowest member of the Omni society, yet he doesn’t let that limit him. Instead, he manages to “pierce” through those restrictions and gain the attention of important members of society.
The society, Omni, came from my classroom. Each week, we study Greek and Latin root words. One of those a couple of years ago was “omni,” which means “all.” While discussing the word, the idea of a society completely controlled by the government came to me. I created the society, in part, from our own society, where entertainers like sports heroes and film stars make unfathomable amounts of money while many families can’t even pay their utilities. It’s truly the direction I see for our own world.
What is the hardest part of the writing process for you?
Time! Finding the time to write is often the most difficult part for me. I’m a full-time English teacher in a junior high school, and I have two children of my own. I usually drag myself up at 4 AM to do my writing (and reading as well). I try not to take too much time away from either my family or my occupation in order to write, but when the writing fairy gifts me with a great idea, I sometimes manage to send the kids to my mother and just spend the afternoon writing.
What are your favorite genres to read?
Sci/fi and paranormal fiction are my favorites. I LOVE seeing the world in a different light, seeing characters with special abilities that both cause adversities and help them overcome those problems. We all have gifts—maybe we can’t fly or shoot electricity from our hands, but we all have some kind of gift. Some people are smart; some people are super-caring. I like to see those gifts enhanced then turned loose on society to wreak havoc. Plus, it’s an escape from reality, and who doesn’t need that once in a while?
What do you want readers to take away from your story?
I hope readers will see that Omni is about integrity and hope. Pierce doesn’t settle for what society has dealt him; he has dreams of a better life, maybe a better world, where class lines don’t hold citizens back. However, he’s also learned to work within those constraints without compromising himself. While a part of the story is from Harmony’s point of view, the story really belongs to Pierce, and I want readers to understand that he isn’t defined by the stratum to which he belongs. He’s a person, not a title.
How important do you think social media is for authors these days?
Oh my! Social media is very important to authors, especially indie authors. We couldn’t survive without it. The publishing world is changing. It doesn’t have to be about rejection letters and dashed hopes any more. Social networking has breathed life into careers that would be nonexistent ten years ago. However, that’s a double-edged sword as well. We live and die by reviews, and most authors can identify with that bad-review-knot-in-the-pit-of-your-stomach feeling of a poor review. It’s difficult to be blasted by reviews, but the benefits far outweigh the cost. I love when I hear from fans around the world. Knowing I’ve made a tiny dent in their lives is really cool, and I’ll take that any day.
What would be your advice to aspiring writers?
Don’t do it! I’m just kidding although I’ve definitely had those days when it feels less than wonderful. Actually, I’d say those are exactly the days you need as a writer because it just accentuates the positive moments. Don’t give up, and don’t think the you are defined by all the “no’s”. Keep tapping away even if you don’t have great success. If it makes you happy, it is worth it.
**Excerpt*
PrologueFlames licked dangerously close to Pierce’s shoulder as he dragged an overturned chair into the fire’s path. Behind him, the steel safety door slid closed, blocking his only escape. He kicked at the chair, hoping the blaze would choose leather and wood over flesh and bone as he crawled to the window overlooking the courtyard. Alarms screamed, and neon-green liquid squirted from hidden ceiling sprinklers. His bloody hand slipped the first time he tried to pull himself up to bang against the tempered glass he didn’t stand a chance of breaking.
Swiping at the liquid and sweat stinging his eyes as much as the smoke, he screamed, lifting his hand and slamming it down even though the street was empty of citizens at this hour. Leaning heavily against the unyielding glass while coughs wracked him, he tried to call out again, but the heat seared his lungs from the inside out.
In another fit of coughing, he slid back to the floor and glanced down at his bare, alcohol-soaked chest. It was pointless, all of it, the fame, the credits, Hale’s sacrifice.
Harmony’s face flashed into his mind. He had never told her he loved her. He’d tried to show her, but he should’ve said the words he’d thought nearly from the first moment, should’ve shouted them from the roof of this damn building. He loved her silky curls against his cheek and the way her blue eyes had stolen his soul that afternoon in the park. He loved the way she tried to protect her sister and how she’d fidget with her shirt when she was nervous. He loved every part of her. She had been his for a little while, and her face would be his last thought.
He smiled, closed his eyes, and waited for death.
.
Author Bio:
Andrea Murray has been teaching English for longer than most of her students have been alive. She has taught everything from elementary reading groups to concurrent credit classes. She is currently teaching junior high language arts. She has a BSE and an MA in English. She lives in a very small town in Arkansas with her husband of nineteen years and their two children. In addition to teaching, she also blogs on Chick Lit Plus, writes young adult fiction, and recently completed her fourth novel, Omni, a YA dystopian based on the story of Paris and Helen. Andrea has also written The Vivid Trilogy, a YA paranormal romance. When she isn’t doing that, she’s probably reading or watching bad B movies.
Buy the Book!
http://www.amazon.com/Omni-Andrea-Murray-ebook/dp/B00GBZCGKU/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1393366595&sr=1-1&keywords=omni+andrea+murray
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/omni-andrea-murray/1117236902?ean=2940148846673
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/369148
