Author Interview: Lynda Mullaly Hunt

Stopping in today is Lynda Mullaly Hunt to talk about her debut release One for the Murphys!



If you were in Carley's situation, do you think you would have taken to the Murphys sooner than her?

Well, Carley is observant (as am I) and tough. However, no matter how tough a kid is, most would love to be protected. To feel like someone was there to speak for them. I think most people would like that.

I put in a chapter where Mrs. Murphy proved her mettle to Carley by stepping in when Carley assumed she’d be on her own. I did that because, in order for Carley to gain some trust in Mrs. Murphy in a timeline that wouldn’t take 500 pages, I needed something that would shock her. Open her up even when she didn’t want to be. Of course, none of this take place on the outside, really.

Given a circumstance like that scene, I think I would react to Mrs. Murphy—and learn to trust her—in a very similar timeline to Carley. But, I guess that’s not a shock. J

Which of the three Murphy boys was the most interesting for you to write and develop?

Well, Daniel would have to be the most interesting because at the heart of him, he is more similar to Carley than either of them would think. Daniel is also struggling to figure out who he is, stand his ground to make his own decisions. He does some things that aren’t that nice but his heart is good. I understood why he behaved the way he did—and I hope readers do as well. However, I loved writing his moment of triumph and I loved how Carley and Daniel came together to be friends.

What part of the book surprised you the most as you were writing it?

Well, writing the flashback when the reader finds out why Carley is in foster care shocked me. I literally pulled my hands from the keys as if they were hot upon typing what happened. It came out of me, but I had no idea that it was going to happen.

Which Death Eater, besides Voldemort, would you want to fight?

In the spirit of protective mothers (such as Julie Murphy), I would fight Bellatrix who attempts to kill Ginny Weasley but is then killed by Ginny’s mother. I have to admit that I kind of liked that scene. However, Bellatrix is also just plain evil, torturing Hermione and killing Dobby who is pure innocence.

My first thought for an answer was Malfoy, but Malfoy couldn’t bring himself to kill Dumbledore, so he has sliver of good in him –even though he is a pompous jerk from the very first scene in the very first book. But, Bellatrix? Do NOT like her—but, then again, I don’t think I was supposed to.

What kind of cookie would you describe yourself as?

Well, I guess I’m going to go with the Oreo. I do think I tend to be layered, however, I’m also a “what you see is what you get” kind of person, too.


Thank you, Lynda, and congrats on the release!

You guys can check out the first chapter here, and check out the trailer here.