Interview with Author Jacqui Murray

Photo Credit: Pixabay

 

As a science fiction writer, I’ve always had a fascination with the prehistoric. It’s often been the subject of pulp fiction and b movies and so, more often than not, has been romanticized with human and dinosaur existing side by side, almost never harmoniously. Such stories can be considered what we now call alternative historic fiction, or in this case alternative prehistoric fiction. This is because science has proven that humans did not come along until millions of years after the dinosaurs went extinct. Yet, there are a lot of great books and films out there that depict early humans in a much more realistic manner than the pulps and b films. For example, there’s Jean Auel’s novel, “The Clan of the Cave Bear”, which was adapted into a 1986 film. There’s also Jacqui Murray’s “Dawn of Humanity” series of books, the latest of which is “Laws of Nature”. I had the pleasure of interviewing Jacqui for tonight’s post. 

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Jacqui Murray

"A boy blinded by fire. A woman raised by wolves. An avowed enemy offers help."

Available (print or digital) at: Kindle US   Kindle UK   Kindle CA   Kindle AU  Kindle India

Steven Arellano Rose: Jacqui, can you tell us a little about your current book, “Laws of Nature”?

Jacqui Murray: It is Book 2 of the Dawn of Humanity trilogy set 1.8 million years ago, when man was prey to much more vicious animals. I explore how he survived without the tearing claws, ripping fangs, and thick skin of other predators. I’ll give a hint: We had a cleverer brain. Here’s the synopsis:

"A boy blinded by fire. A woman raised by wolves. An avowed enemy offers help.

In this second of the Dawn of Humanity trilogy, the first trilogy in the Man vs. Nature saga, Lucy and her eclectic group escape the treacherous tribe that has been hunting them and find a safe haven in the famous Wonderwerk caves in South Africa. Though they don’t know it, they will be the oldest known occupation of caves by humans. They don’t have clothing, fire, or weapons, but the caves keep them warm and food is plentiful. But they can't stay, not with the rest of the tribe enslaved by an enemy. To free them requires not only the prodigious skills of Lucy's unique group but others who have no reason to assist her and instinct tells Lucy she shouldn't trust.

Set 1.8 million years ago in Africa, Lucy and her tribe struggle against the harsh reality of a world ruled by nature, where predators stalk them and a violent new species of man threatens to destroy their world. Only by changing can they prevail. If you ever wondered how earliest man survived but couldn’t get through the academic discussions, this book is for you. Prepare to see this violent and beautiful world in a way you never imagined.

A perfect book for fans of Jean Auel and the Gears!"

 

SAR: The trailer for “Laws of Nature” states that the book is based on a true story yet later indicates it as being one of your prehistoric fiction works. Would you say this one is based on true events more than your previous books of the genre? 

JM: Actually, they’re all based on real events. I spent years researching every facet of early man’s life to create a picture of what his world was and try to understand how he survived what should have killed him. These trilogies—five books so far—are the result of that research. There is so much we can’t know about time that far in the past because there are no records, not even oral stories. All we have are rocks and artifacts. 

SAR: Because so relatively little is known about early humans, did you have to do a lot of speculation to write the “Dawn of Humanity” trilogy and, if so, how much?

JM: I call it ‘extrapolation from facts’ but yes, I had to. Even the world’s greatest authorities on early man, paleoanthropologists like the Leakeys and Chris Stringer, can’t tell us definitively what happened before records were kept. For example, I had to find paleo versions of animals that lived back then, determine the climate and vegetation. Everything my people did—like finding salt licks—had to fit what reasonably could have existed 1.8 million years ago.

SAR: In the book, the main character, Lucy, and her group that she journeys with are stalked by predators. What is the deadliest animal that they encounter and what makes it so deadly?

JM: Paleo versions of canines and cats were the most dangerous because they considered Lucy’s kind as food. That includes sabertooth cats, Homotherium, primitive hyaena, Dinofelis, Megantereon. Other animals—primitive warthog, primitive wildebeeast, Mammoth--were common and dangerous but mostly they didn’t prey on early man.

SAR: The name Lucy came much later in history than when this novel is set. How did you come up with the names for both the protagonist and other characters?

JM: All the names except ‘Lucy’ came from sounds the individual made. Lucy has a different origin story which you’ll have to read the book to discover. But, I wanted to use ‘Lucy’ because it ties into an early man most people are familiar with, Donald Johanson’s Lucy. This Lucy is a 3.4 million year old Australopithecine (while my Lucy is a Homo habilis) but I used it because I hope the name would firmly place readers in man’s prehistory. 

SAR: Did any experiences from your own life influence this book and its series?

JM: Not really, save a deep interest in how modern man became who he now is.

SAR: Which authors inspired your own writing?

JM: Jean Auel, of course, of Earth’s Children fame (the most famous being Clan of the Cave Bear). She is the grand dame of prehistoric fiction. I also continue to be inspired by Kathleen O’Neal Gear. She wrote the North America’s Forgotten Past series as well as many other well-researched historical fiction tomes.

SAR: What made you want to write prehistoric fiction?

JM: I wanted to understand how man survived truly treacherous times. How did we survive predators with deadly claws and lethal fangs when man had no weapons, protective clothing, or even shelter to hide in. That sounded impossible when I started my quest. Now, after researching every corner of that question, I understand. In fact, it makes perfect sense. 

I’ll give you an example that applies to another main character in the book, a Homo erectus named Xha. His kind didn’t shy away from preying on the animals around them. How? Weren’t these animals faster? Yes but that didn’t matter:

"Scientists call it the 'Endurance Running Hypothesis'. Early Man didn’t run faster than herd animals. They ran harder—all day or longer. The Homo genus evolved a stable head, loose hips, long legs, shock-absorbing joints, and a springy foot formation. This made them—and us—well-suited to continuous running. Other changes in body makeup meant humans neither tired nor overheated as quickly as their predecessors. Most animals sprint only short distances before they must stop to catch their breath and let their bodies cool down. Evolution corrected that flaw in man."

SAR: Have you written in other genres? If so, which ones? 

JM: My first two books—To Hunt a Sub and Twenty-four Days were techno-military thrillers. I knew the audience for prehistoric fiction was miniscule so I tried the much larger genre of thrillers. What I found was that the characters in both of these genres were quite similar in many ways. They never quit, never thought they couldn’t do something, always figured out solutions. They weren’t the biggest or strongest around but they were the cleverest among those they shared their environs with. 

SAR: Finally, do you have any advice for other writers?

JM: Find your voice and stick with it, no matter what others say. Adapt it, enrich it, but don’t change it. By writing words that come from your heart and soul, you will enjoy writing. It will transcend sales and popularity and become what you enjoy doing. That’s valuable in life. 

I’d like to thank Jacqui for allowing me to interview her. It was a real pleasure.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of  Jacqui Murray

Author Bio:

Jacqui Murray is the author of the popular prehistoric fiction saga, Man vs. Nature which explores seminal events in man’s evolution one trilogy at a time. She is also the author of the Rowe-Delamagente thrillers and Building a Midshipman , the story of her daughter’s journey from high school to United States Naval Academy. Her non-fiction includes over a hundred books on integrating tech into education, reviews as an Amazon Vine Voice,  a columnist for NEA Today, and a freelance journalist on tech ed topics. Look for her next prehistoric fiction, Natural Selection, Winter 2022.

Author's Social Media Contacts:

 

Amazon Author Page:        https://www.amazon.com/Jacqui-Murray/e/B002E78CQQ/

Blog:                                       https://worddreams.wordpress.com

Instagram:                             https://www.instagram.com/jacquimurraywriter/

LinkedIn:                                http://linkedin.com/in/jacquimurray

Pinterest:                                http://pinterest.com/askatechteacher

Twitter:                                   http://twitter.com/worddreams

Website:                                 https://jacquimurray.net

Have you read any prehistoric fiction? If so, what titles? Will you be checking out Jacqui Murray’s “Dawn of Humanity” series?

Until next time . . .