Great Summer Reads; Mrs Murray's Hidden Treasure by Emily-Jane Hills Orford
An avid gardener, artist, musician and writer, Emily-Jane Hills Orford has fond memories and lots of stories that evolved from a childhood growing up in a haunted Victorian mansion. Told she had a ‘vivid imagination’, the author used this talent to create stories in her head to pass tedious hours while sick, waiting in a doctor’s office, listening to a teacher drone on about something she already knew, or enduring the long, stuffy family car rides. The author lived her stories in her head, allowing her imagination to lead her into a different world, one of her own making. As the author grew up, these stories, imaginings and fantasies took to the written form and, over the years, she developed a reputation for telling a good story. Emily-Jane can now boast that she is an award-winning author of several books, including Mrs. Murray’s Ghost (Telltale Publishing 2018), Queen Mary’s Daughter (Clean Reads 2018), Gerlinda (CFA 2016) which received an Honorable Mention in the 2016 Readers’ Favorite Book Awards, To Be a Duke (CFA 2014) which was named Finalist and Silver Medalist in the 2015 Next Generation Indie Book Awards and received an Honorable Mention in the 2015 Readers’ Favorite Book Awards and several other books. A retired teacher of music and creative writing, she writes about the extra-ordinary in life and the fantasies of dreams combined with memories.
There is a hidden treasure in the
grand old mansion on Piccadilly Street, in a place called London, but not the
real London of English fame. There’s also a lot of mystery and a murder that’s
been unsolved for decades. But it’s the treasure that captures Mary’s interest.
Mary lives in this house along with her family, her Brownie friends and a
ghost. When the ghost reveals her secret about the hidden treasure, there’s no
stopping Mary, her Brownie friends, or her enemies to searching for this
treasure.
Why the intrigue? Apparently there’s a little bit of magic connected
with this treasure. And so the adventure begins.
Who will find the treasure
first?
Q&A With the Author:
1. What do
you like to do when you're not writing?
I love my garden. I keep expanding it and moving
things around. My garden is what helps me endure the long, cold winter months.
Knowing that spring will eventually come is my winter survival tactic. I also
paint (collage acryllics), do needleart, compose, play the piano, and, of
course, read.
2. What would you say is your interesting writing
quirk?
I have to work on my current writing project every
day, preferably in the morning. I just have to write; it defines who I am.
3. Do you have any suggestions to help budding
authors become better writers? If so, what are they?
Keep writing. Don't get discouraged when you
receive rejection letters (we all do). Network with other creative people.
4. Where do you get information and ideas for your
books?
Everywhere. My grandmother always told me I had a
vivid imagination, so I guess that helps. My dog and our daily walks help, too.
5. What do you think makes a good story?
The idea, the theme, but also the craft of weaving
everything together, like a fine piece of tapestry.
6. Tell us about your favorite summer vacation? Or
what do you like to do in the summer?
My favorite summer vacation was the year my husband
and I traveled across the country. We were newly weds and my husband was
starting a new job on the west coast. Once our household belongings were packed
and shipped ahead of us, we took our time, exploring on the way. We visited
Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Edmonton, Jasper, Banff and finally reached our
destination, Victoria, British Columbia, where we lived for five years and
enjoyed many fun trips on Vancouver Island as well as the British Columbia mainland.
Thank you for hosting me and my book, "Mrs. Murray's Hidden Treasure".
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