Author Interview / L S Murphy

Senior Year.
Middle of nowhere.
What's the new girl to do?

For Piper Marks, the answer is simple. She’s determined to have her photography rock the cover of National Geographic someday, and moving to Clarkton, Iowa for her last year of high school is not going to stop her. Even if her usual subjects have changed from bright lights and skyscrapers to fields, cows…and more fields.

But when photographer at the local paper quits in a huff, she steps into his spot. Her new job keeps Piper busy capturing tackles, and zooming in on first downs and end zone dances, not to mention putting her directly in the path of varsity football star Les Williams IV. Her new friends warn her off, but she can’t resist the pull she feels toward this mysterious country boy. But this small town is keeping a secret, and it’s one that could destroy any chance they have to be together.

It’s up to Piper to decide what to do with the distorted truth. Can she risk exposing her heart? It might be worth it, 'cause Les is about to change her world from black and white to fully saturated color.

1. If you could work with any other author, who would it be and why? 

I really want to work with my friend Ella Martin. There’s a budding idea

I’ve been tossing around. It’s just a matter of finding the time to work out

the plot with her. We’ll get there though. Eventually.
2. What would be a typical working day for you? When and where do you write? 

Writing time is difficult to find. I work full-time and have a young daughter

who is my world. Normally, I’m writing late in the evenings after she’s gone

to bed. I have an office in my basement where I normally write. On

occasion, I’ll meet some friends at Starbucks. It’s nice to have write-ins with

friends to keep my motivation high.
3. What is the hardest part of the writing for you? 

Finding the time. There are nights I am just too exhausted to write. I have to

forgive myself from taking the night off. And that’s not easy for me to do. ;)
4. When and why did you first start writing?

My love for writing started in junior high. I never gave up the dream, but it

took me a long time to get to the point where I could focus on it. A dream is

great, but it’s better if you work toward achieving it. If it wasn’t for the birth

my daughter, I don’t know if I ever would have went for it. I realized if I

didn’t encourage her to follow her dreams if I never followed mine. And

here we are. 
5. How did you come up with the idea for the book your book? 

The idea for PIXELATED has been floating in my head since my senior

year of high school. My creative writing teacher showed us a “scene” he

found inspirational, which at the time I thought was crap. It was a row of

tractors in the school parking lot. The image stayed with me though and

appears in the book.
6. Are you a big reader? If so, what are you reading now? 

I love to read! I’m currently reading City of Fae by Pippa DaCosta. She’s

fabulous.
7. Do you have any advice for other aspiring writers?

Never give up. It’s your dream. Don’t let anyone take it from you. Find a

critique group that knows the value of critiquing. It’s not meant to bring you

down, but to raise you up. (I adore my critique group.)