You could say my life has been anything but conventional. I always called myself a gypsy, traveling to many places and reinventing myself many times. I have worked with iconic legends like Martha Graham and Elizabeth Taylor, and lived in Buenos Aires, Argentina and Bali, Indonesia. 

Donna Murray – 19 November 2020

The Back Flap

Sila, a young, bewitching Cherokee, flees a marriage to a brutal drunk in the dead of winter and finds herself knocking on the door of a mill office, destitute and looking for work. There, she meets the handsome Charley Barkley, the owner and a married father of ten. Despite the fact that they have virtually nothing in common—and thirty years between them—a spark ignites.

About the book

What is the book about?

Wolf Den Hollow is set in the early 1900s, during the peak of the great logging boom in the Southern Missouri Ozarks. The story begins when a young, bewitching Cherokee finds herself knocking on the door of a mill office, destitute and looking for work. There, she meets the handsome owner, Charley Barkley. Despite the fact that they have virtually nothing in common—and thirty years between them—a spark ignites. For Charley, once their passionate love affair intensifies, there is no going back to his loveless marriage—especially after Sila is with child. They marry and his empire expands, as does their family. Just as their lives seem perfect, Charley falls victim to cancer. Sila’s devastation at the loss of her husband is compounded by the onset of The Great Depression. With her inheritance gone and faced with losing her home, she is forced to do the unthinkable to protect herself and her children in a final act of survival.

When did you start writing the book?

After breaking both my feet and having the time.

How long did it take you to write it?

Ten years, off and on. Three manuscripts were written, and in between each one, I would put it away and then pick it up again.

Where did you get the idea from?

It is a story that has lived in my heart for many years.

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

Never writing a novel before, I didn’t know where to begin. My editor really helped me to get started on the right path. Before anything else, she urged me to research deeper into my family roots and the early days of logging. This opened the door that brought my story to life.

What came easily?

Things happened along the way that I considered to be acts of fate. First breaking both my feet and then finding a great editor. The research that led me to two family historians that provided more documentation and information than I could have imagined. And when my editor was busy with the launch of her new book, she introduced me to my second editor, who became my mentor and inspiration to the very end. Lastly, a reference that connected me to my publisher. It was as if someone was watching over me to get my story told.

Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?

My book is based on a true story, although the names have been changed.

We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?

I am not aware of any particular author that has influenced how I write. However, when I was writing about The Great Depression, John Steinbeck’s Grapes of Wrath influenced me in thought.

Do you have a target reader?

Historical Romance readers.

About Writing

Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?

Ideally, I like to write five days per week, taking the weekends off to give my brain a rest, and five hours per day, starting in the early morning.

Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?

I do not outline.

Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?

I edit after each chapter is written. When my manuscript reaches a final stage, I edit from beginning to end, and many times.

Did you hire a professional editor?

Yes, I had two editors, both journalists and published authors.

Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?

When writing, I prefer peace and quiet with no distractions. For me . . . the most beautiful sound is silence. If I feel like listening to some background music, I will put on soft jazz like Bill Evans, pianist, and Chet Baker, trumpeter and vocalist, or a classical cellist like Yo Yo Ma.

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

Yes, but only a few. I always received positive feedback, but nothing more.

What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?

I knew very little about Indie publishing, but when having a telephone conversation with someone in the literary world, she asked if I had considered it and gave my publisher as a reference. After reviewing their website, I was impressed that they served women authors. By chance, I contacted them and everything just fell into place.

Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?

Professionally by my publisher’s cover designer. She sent me several options, and what you see is what I chose. I’m very happy with it.

Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?

I am working with an in-house marketing and publicity team that is connected with my publisher.

Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?

For me, being a first time author, it was the right choice. I had no idea what was involved in getting a book published and it can be overwhelming. But their team was there every step of the way, from editor to copy editor, book design, etc. I would consider it one-stop-shopping.

About You

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in a historical place on the Columbia River in Northern Oregon. In the 1850s it was inhabited by the Chinook Tribe, and in the 1870s, my maternal family settled on this land. It became a prosperous mill town and was called Rainier. As a child, our house backed up to a virtual forest, and being the nature girl that I was, it became my own private playground.

Where do you live now?

I live in the heart of the beautiful Napa Valley on a vineyard overlooking the mountains. Surrounded by nature, this is where I find peace of mind and inspiration.

What would you like readers to know about you?

You could say my life has been anything but conventional. I always called myself a gypsy, traveling to many places and reinventing myself many times. I have worked with iconic legends like Martha Graham and Elizabeth Taylor, and lived in Buenos Aires, Argentina and Bali, Indonesia. While working with the San Francisco Ballet on the Opening Night Gala in 2010, I left on that dark and rainy evening and stepped into a deep pothole, breaking both my feet. With months of recuperation ahead, I began to write my novel.

What are you working on now?

My second book is now a work in progress. I have yet to decide if it will be a memoir or a sequel to my novel.

End of Interview:

For more from Donna visit her website.

Get your copy of Wolf Den Hollow from Amazon US or Amazon UK.