Multiple Sir Julius Vogel Award winning author of novels such as A Dash of Reality (romantic comedy)Battle of the Birds (children’s novel) and the young adult novel, Misplaced. Lee lives with her husband and two teenaged children near the ocean in New Zealand.
http://www.leemurray.info/
I asked Lee some questions about the Refuge Collection and her story in the collection:
How did you get
involved with the Refuge Collection?
It was one of
those ‘our eyes met over a crowded room’ stories actually. I’d been following
the refugee crisis, and agonising over how helpless I felt to do anything
meaningful down here at the arse end of the world. Sure, I could put my hand in
my pocket and hand over a few dollars, but it wasn’t what I wanted. I was keen
to do something more. Then I saw a Steve’s post on a Facebook forum. And again
on another site. The candles flickered. Violins played. Here was something
positive I could do to raise awareness of children fleeing from their homes
with only one set of clothes, babies walking miles and miles to sleep on
cardboard boxes on the side of the road. I contacted Steve and, happily, he
didn’t turn me away at the border.
What did you
learn about writing whilst writing your Refuge Collection story?
That Steve
Dillon never sleeps. A great editor, motivator and community builder, Steve
asks and talented generous writer people put their hands up to help. “What do
you need? Oh, sure, I can do that.” Artists jump in. Techy people. I learned
that every writing project needs a champion, and Steve has lead Refuge from the front of the pack.
Do you have a set
writing process, if so what is it?
Most days, I
sit at my computer. About mid-morning when I can tear myself away from Facebook
and editing my colleagues’ amazing stories, judging writing competitions and
other similar distracting activities, I try to write stuff that doesn’t suck
too much. I’m not a natural writer: I’m
not one of those people whose stories write themselves in a coffee-fuelled marathon
frenzy of words. I’m very slow. My daily output is less than Hemmingway’s
purported 500 words. The quality is considerably less. But I keep at it until I
have something that might be worth reading, which I then send out to trusted
friends for critique. Rinse and repeat. When I think it might be finished, I
like to leave the text to sit for a few weeks. Often the story will turn to
vinegar, but occasionally I’ll get it out and find it’s aged to a satisfying
dark red. That’s my writing process.
Do you write a
lot of short stories?
I write more
stories than people who don’t write. I write fewer than Marty Livings.
Do you prefer the
long or short form? How do you feel about Flash Fiction?
Flash Fiction?
Short, right? Dynamic, forthright and great to hook up with when you have a
spare few minutes? Yes, Flash and I met
at a speed- dating event and dated on and off, but I don’t see us ever being a
long-term thing. I’m married to a novel, but I still like to hang out with
stories: short, flashy, with pictures or without. Just because you’re married
doesn’t mean you can’t spend time with friends.
Which character
in your story do you most identify with and why?
I think…
Ginger Rogers. We both enjoy lounging in sunny places, and meals that involve
playing with your food. But mainly because New Zealand speculative fiction
writers are a small community, and our local market is teensy, so getting
noticed is hard. I’ve been lucky to enough to have had some great support from
various sources and although I’m no one famous, I try to pay it forward through
(mostly unpaid) writing mentorships and activism. Sharing encouragement and
skills can be hugely rewarding, but I put so much energy into these activities
that I sometimes feel like an emptied husk. I’m learning to take a step back,
which is something my character Ginger should have done.
Which bit of your
writing are you most proud of?
That would be
the epic world-shattering book I haven’t written yet.
Can you give us a
teaser for your story in the Collection?
The agent had
said the clasp was broken. Whitney ran her fingernail along the groove. She
touched the clasp and noted the dent in the mechanism. She slid her jeweller’s
screwdriver carefully into the gap, applying just enough pressure… The lid
popped up, a tiny puff of dust escaping. She smiled. It was all in the way you
held your tongue.
In one sentence
what is your best piece of advice for new writers?
Grow a
carapace.
Many thanks to Lee - go and check out her other work over here:
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