From Professional
Hockey Player to Published Novelist
From a family of avid
readers, even as a child, I always had a passion for books. Whether it was
reading novels on road trips or writing assignments in school, literature was
always part of my life.
In the winter of 2000,
after sustaining a season ending eye injury while playing professional hockey
in Oklahoma City, I found myself with a lot of time on my hands, and a new
hobby emerged.
I didn’t write with the
intention of being published. I wrote for the love of writing, as a hobby. I
continued to hobby write through the years, honing my craft, making time
between work and family obligations.
Then I made a decision
to take my interest one step further. I’ve never been one to take things
lightly or jump in half way. I took a full year off from writing to study the
craft.
I constantly read, from
novels in my favorite genres to books written by experts in the writing field.
My first two purchases were “Stein on Writing”, a book written by successful
editor Sol Stein, and “Self-Editing for Fiction Writers” by Renni Browne and
Dave King.
I read through these
novels and highlighted important answers to my questions. My major breakthrough
from Stein’s book was to “Show don’t Tell”. I had to trust my readers. I even
wrote that phrase on a sticky note and put it on my computer monitor.
The Self-Editing book
helped me learn how to cut the FAT off my manuscript, eliminating unnecessary
details, making it more lean and crisp, with a better flow. I learned to cut
repetition and remain consistent throughout the novel.
I continually
researched the internet, reading up on the industry and process “What is
selling?” and “Who is buying?” were my two major questions.
I attended the “Bloody
Words” writing conference in Ottawa, Canada, rubbing elbows with other writers,
editors, agents and publishers. I made friends (published and unpublished
authors), bombarding them with questions, learning what it took to become
successful.
Feeling that I was
finally prepared, in the winter of 2007, with an idea in mind and an outline on
paper, I started to write DEAD MAN`S HAND. It took me two years (working around
full time jobs) to complete the first draft of my novel.
The first person to
read my completed manuscript was my former high school English teacher. With
her experience and wisdom, she gave me some very helpful advice. I then hired
McCarthy Creative Services to help edit DEAD MAN’S HAND, to make it the best
possible novel.
I joined a critique
group, teaming up with published authors Nadine Doolittle and Kathy Leveille,
and exchanging manuscripts and information. Working with an editor and other
authors was very rewarding and not only made my novel better, but made me a
better writer.
When I was ready, I
researched agents who fit my criteria (successful, worked with my genres, etc.)
and sent out query letters. After six months of rejections, I pulled my
manuscript back and worked on it again. Then in my next round of proposals, I
was offered representation by the Jennifer Lyons Literary Agency.
After months of editing with Jennifer, and more
rejections from publishers, my dream was finally realized in April, 2012, when
I signed a publishing contract with Imajin Books (Edmonton, Alberta).
What happens when the deck is stacked against you…
From NFL rising-star prospect to wanted
fugitive, Calvin Watters is a sadistic African-American Las
Vegas debt-collector framed by a murderer who, like the Vegas Police,
finds him to be the perfect fall-guy.
…and the cards don't fall your way?
When the brutal slaying of a prominent
casino owner is followed by the murder of a well-known bookie, Detective Dale
Dayton is thrown into the middle of a highly political case and leads the
largest homicide investigation in Vegas in the last twelve years.
What if you're dealt a Dead Man's Hand?
Against his superiors and better judgment, Dayton is willing to give Calvin one last chance. To
redeem himself, Calvin must prove his innocence by finding the real killer,
while avoiding the LVMPD, as well as protect the woman he loves from a
professional assassin hired to silence them.
“Dead Man's Hand is a pleasure, a debut
novel that doesn't read like one, but still presents original characters and a
fresh new voice.” Thomas Perry, New York Times
bestselling author of Poison Flower
“You may want to
give it the whole night, just to see how it turns out.”—William Martin, New York Times bestselling author of The
Lincoln Letter
Luke Murphy lives in Shawville, Quebec with
his wife, two daughters and pug.
He played six years of professional hockey
before retiring in 2006. Since then, he’s held a number of jobs, from sports columnist
to radio journalist, before earning his Bachelor of Education degree (Magna Cum
Laude).
Murphy`s debut novel, Dead Man`s Hand, was
released by Imajin Books on October 20, 2012.
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