Author Interview: Lauryn Hamilton Murray

Get the inside scoop on ‘Heir of Storms’!

Lauryn Hamilton Murray is the author of our June YA ‘The Storm Within’ featured book: Heir of Storms.
Read on to get the inside scoop from inspiration to favourite scenes and more!

What inspired you to write Heir of Storms?

Blaze has been living in my head since I was twelve. I don’t know how she came to be, but I’ve always had the feeling that she was meant to be, and I loved the idea of a heroine who is actually considered the anti-heroine within her own story. I was also fascinated with subverting the concept of hereditary monarchy. That’s why in this book, Heirs are selected for their power, not their bloodline, and crowns aren’t inherited – they’re won.


Did you have to do any special research for Heir of Storms?

Not really, though when describing the Golden Palace and various garments such as the ornate gowns and doublets and cloaks, I was inspired by mediaeval royalty. I enjoyed combining that very gilded, very grand historical aesthetic with fantasy – specifically elemental fantasy. One dress might be made of the finest silk, while another is woven from blades of grass. Someone’s necklace might be made of silver, another’s from shark teeth.

Describe Heir of Storms in 5 words.

Suspenseful. 

Surprising. 

Empowering.

Hopeful.

Fun!

Can you tell us about your writing process?

I’m definitely a planner. I have a plan for the whole book, then individual mini plans for each chapter, which I’ll adapt and flesh out as I go along. This allows me to stay on track, and is also really helpful in terms of structuring the plot, tracking character development and planting clues for big reveals. Having said that, some of my favourite parts of Heir of Storms have been unplanned – an example being Blaze’s chaperone, Spinner, who just appeared on the page one day and made it clear she was there to stay!

What was your favourite scene to write and why?

This is a tricky one, but probably the second trial. I was so absorbed when writing that scene that I had to keep reminding myself that it wasn’t me who needed to hold my breath! 

In general, my favourite scenes to write are those between Blaze and Flint – the introvert/extrovert sister brother duo. Think Grumpy vs Sunshine but the sibling edition!

Did you listen to any particular songs/playlists whilst you wrote this?

I wrote this book to music by Sleeping at Last, specifically both Atlas albums and the instrumental playlist. That goes for all my school work and university assignments too! Highly recommend. I also listened to a lot of The Japanese House and Cigarettes after Sex, and always played Florence and the Machine when writing the trial scenes. I would say that Blaze is very much an evermore girl, and would definitely be a huge Phoebe Bridgers fan! 

When you write, do you have any go-to snacks? If so, what are they?

Popcorn – sweet and salty, always. Kids’ cereal. Grapes. Anything I can dip into humous.

What did you find most challenging about writing this book?

The timing was definitely a huge challenge. I wrote Heir of Storms while writing my undergraduate dissertation, and it was quite jarring to jump between researching Jane Austen’s juvenilia and writing a high fantasy novel! But once I started, I couldn’t stop. 

Something else I found challenging was overcoming that little voice of doubt. I really take things to heart, so a fear of rejection was a constant source of anxiety. My advice to anyone experiencing the same thing would be to bury the worry, rise above it, and just keep going. 

What can you tell us (if anything) about the sequel?

I can tell you that it’s multi-POV. I can tell you that it explores themes of grief, oppression, PTSD, and loss of identity. And I can tell you that I’ve upped the romantic tension to the point at which some of my family will be receiving copies with pages ripped out!