Hilary Murray
  • Welcome
  • Writing as Hilary Murray
    • Excerpt from No Place In Eden
    • Excerpt from Far Side Of The Ocean
  • Writing as Galia Ryan
  • (Blog) Musings from a borrowed corner

Along with good food, good wine and good friends, one of the other essentials in life is a good book - and I have hundreds of them spread on shelves throughout my apartment! Every now and then I think I should have a clear out and perhaps get rid of a few dusty tomes I haven’t read for a while. But not today. Or tomorrow.



Latest!
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Mar 27

With everything happening recently I haven't updated this page for a while, but if you want to follow my journey, and share my determination to beat the nasty, uninvited and unwanted cancer now sitting in my pancreas, check out my blog on the tabs above. Musings from a borrowed corner!

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Dec 20

I can't believe it's come around again so soon! Where does the time go?

​Wishing you a very happy Christmas, and a peaceful, prosperous and productive 2018!
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Sept 5

Having been so busy with our month-long trip to Europe, and then arriving home only to leave again, this time for eight weeks on a remote island in Tonga, I have been very lax in keeping up to date with everything going on around me. Had that not been the case I might have found this article sooner!

Amazed and humbled at being included. 
www.melvillehousebooks.com/six-erotic-novels-written-prostitutes/ 
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​ June 29


My Kindle Scout campaign now over, and with No Place In Eden not selected for a publishing contract with Kindle Press, I'm in very good company as few books of any genre have been chosen this month. Would I go down that route again? The jury is still out.

The good news? Staying an indie author I'll be publishing the e-book version of No Place In Eden on 7 July 2017, as alway through Amazon, with other outlets coming online once the paperback version has been formatted and created.

Just click on the title to buy!

May 20

With No Place In Eden about to be published and a third book in the saga under way, a decision had to be made. I'd never intended to write multiple books about the lives and loves of the Doherty family, but somehow that's just what I've ended up doing!

While I still love the original cover for Ruby and Lilith, sadly it had little in common with the look and feel of No Place In Eden. So given it was now part of a series a brand-new cover was ordered. But we didn't stop there! A new title was thought up too, one that hopefully hints a little at what the book is about. Far Side Of The Ocean. 

Changing those details on a book that is already published is not an easy exercise though, and having torn out my hair over the last twenty four hours trying to recall
 every website showing the original cover or even mentioning the old title, it is something I fully intend to avoid doing ever again!
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May 12

Admittedly going against the indie grain a little, my latest novel No Place In Eden has been submitted to Kindle Scout, Amazon's own publishing arm. Of course, they do things a little differently over there, and before deciding whether or not to offer an author a publishing contract they require votes - or nominations - to nudge their editors firmly in your direction! So, market your new novel first, publishing contract second.

But there is a plus to this!

Nominate a winning book on Kindle Scout and you get a FREE early release copy prior to publication date as a thanks from the retail giant themselves!!

AND you can nominate up to three books at a time! So, click on the book cover below to hop onto the Kindle Scout site, and I'd love it if you'd start with mine!
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April 27

The brand new and very gorgeous cover for Past Sin!
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​April 16


Getting closer and closer to the publishing date of my next novel, No Place In Eden.  Set in the years leading up to WW2 and following on from Ruby and Lilith, we are at the exciting stage of cover approval and feedback from beta-readers.

Not long now!
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April 7
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​Not just an author but now a journalist too!! My piece on our house-sitting lifestyle is featured in the April edition of the glossy Auckland mag Verve!!!! Page 74 for those able to get their hands on a copy. So excited!!!!!!!


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 February 24

The writing bug is back! The one that sits on my shoulder creating plot-lines that leaves me wondering just where the story is heading! Nazi Germany in 1937? Just where did that come from? Isn't it enough I'm trying to hold my readers sympathy for two of the main characters as they find themselves caught up in a relationship that can only lead to betrayal and social stigma?

Once again set in New Zealand and continuing the lives of some of those first met in Ruby and Lilith, though eight years on, I'll post more on the publishing date later. But subject to a few important stages, such as editing, proof-reading and a good cover, it could be as soon as May!




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​December 23

I can't believe it's that time of year again! Where have all the months gone?

2016 has been wonderful! My second novel set at the turn of the nineteen-thirties, Ruby and Lilith was published in July, and the sequel is now well underway, while The Bordello Girl is gaining more readers every time I look. On the other hand, I haven't been as prolific under Galia Ryan this year, so note to self - must find time to put out another Choices in 2017!

And so, with this year almost over I'm sending my very best wishes for a very Happy Christmas, and a peaceful and prosperous New Year!

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​October 18


Belated update on my September Goodreads Giveaway for The Bordello Girl:  a huge (to me anyway!) 2049 entrants, with the winners drawn by Goodreads being from USA, England and Ireland.

Since the whole thing was so much fun, I did it again at the beginning of this month, this time offering three copies of Ruby and Lilith. 1610 readers entered to win. This time the winers were in USA and Canada.

​Watch this space for more Giveaways!

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August 31

GIVEAWAY!

If you'd like the chance to win one of five signed copies of The Bordello Girl click the image and pop over to Goodreads.  

Giveaway promotion running from today, August 31 to 8 September.

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August 5

“The combination of the imagery of the author's writing and the sex scenes made for an exciting reading experience and the reason I've given Ms. Ryan 5 stars.”

A fabulous review for The Outsider from The Romance Reviews website.

Click on the link below for the complete review: 


erotic.theromancereviews.com/viewbooksreview.php?bookid=21151


August 2

Check it out! Reviews for Ruby & Lilith are starting to come through on www.amazon.com/Ruby-Lilith-Hilary-Murray-ebook/dp/B01HT7M0V8/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8#navbar and they're both FIVE STARS!!
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July 11

Ruby & Lilith 
is up on Smashwords.com as a pre-order too. Click on the image for a link to Smashwords.com page.

Want to read an excerpt? Hover over the Writing As Hilary Murray tab at the top of this page and click the dropdown! Enjoy!

July 2

A little over a month after the proposed publication date, Ruby & Lilith is now up on Amazon for pre-sales and with a new release date of 28 July. Feeling a little sad at saying goodbye to my
characters!

Click on image for link to Amazon page.
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May 25

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And another change of blog title!
Writing on a remote tropical paradise was nowhere near as productive as I'd thought it would be. In fact, the beauty and tranquility was far too distracting at times, and that means Ruby & Lilith is a few weeks behind its publishing date of end of May. Will update with a new one ASAP! 
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March 15

Never having been up for an award before I'm so excited to announce Alice After Hours is up for The Romance Readers Awards Summer 2016!! Now all I need is a minimum of 50 nominations to continue on.
There's a huge number of selected books for these awards, with all genres of romance covered, not just erotica. Historical, paranormal, and even comedy are amongst those listed. The full range is amazing!
So, with just 22 other submissions in my category, please, click on the below link between 14 and 31 March, and get Alice through to the final judging!!

http://erotic.theromancereviews.com/viewbooks.php?bookid=21152

March 7

Saw the call for submissions to volume 2 of The Best Women's Erotica of the Year 2017, and thought hey! I can write a short story! So I did! Now the long wait to find out if I've been successful...
February 10

Changed the name of my blog to Musings from a tropical island... because it is! 

February 5


An article on me, published in Verve magazine!
http://vervemagazine.co.nz/category/lifestyle/page/2/


January 29

Arranged the cover image for Ruby & Lilith. Far earlier than usual, since the book is not due for publication until the end of May, it will be up upon Amazon for pre-ordering and one less thing to sort out during our up-and-coming adventure on a remote island in the Kingdom of Tonga. Check out my tab above, Musings from the corner of the room to follow my blog!  

January 
28

Another four star review of The Outsider, and one for Alice After Hours too:
https://theultimatepet.wordpress.com/2016/01/27/the-outsider-and-alice-after-hours-a-review/comment-page-1/#comment-298

January 24

A great review of The Outsider from Poppy on Long and Short Reviews.com! And a compliment too! Click the link below to check it out: 
http://www.longandshortreviews.com/book-reviews/the-outsider-by-galia-ryan/#comment-279716




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January 19
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Blog tour for The Outsider and Alice After Hours starts tomorrow! Visit these sites, check out what they have to say, and read their reviews. Then why not leave a question or a comment? See you there!

January 20: Long and Short Reviews
January 27: The Ultimate Pet
February 3: The Reading Addict
February 3: Paranormal Romance and Authors That Rock
February 10: Natural Bri - Pursuits of Life
February 10: Romance Novel Giveaways

​January 2


Just sitting here thinking where I was this time last year! Who would ever have guessed the exciting journey I was about to undertake and the amazing people I would meet on the way. Generous writers who willing gave of their time and wisdom, supportive bloggers, critical beta readers, and of course all my wonderful readers. Your encouragement and support has never faltered, and for that I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Wishing you a happy, healthy and prosperous 2016! 
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​December 19


Just in time for Christmas!
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Past Sin will be FREE on Amazon from 20-22 December. So grab your kindle, kick off your shoes, snuggle up and enjoy!!
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November 23


Past Sin goes live on Amazon earlier than expected!

November 22


Not long now! Past Sin will be available on Amazon at the end of November. Watch this space for details! 

November 20

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This has been a whirlwind month! First, ten wonderful days in Khao Lak, Thailand, before home again to complete the final revisions and edits for Past Sin.  A thriving and bustling place, Khao Lak was devastated by the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami and it was very sobering to walk along the beach after reading the accounts of those who had been there during the disaster, and who are still affected eleven years later.  

October 16


Getting excited waiting for the cover reveal for Past Sin! Should be any day now. Meanwhile I'm busy packing for my trip to Thailand where I'll be doing a little research for an up and coming novel.  

October 5


Enjoyed a weekend of meeting up with authors, readers and others associated with the self-publishing industry at the NZ Independent Authors Book Fair. Always good to chat!  

October 1


A little later than planned, Past Sin went off to my very discriminating beta readers for critiquing. After that, and once the final edits have been completed, we will be good to go!   So look out for a new launch date in early November. 


August 20


The Vixen Club is now with the publishers for editing and approval! And check out the cover for Alice After Hours on my Galia Ryan page.

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On me...

An avid reader across many genres - thrillers for the plane, romance for those cold winter evenings by the fire, biographies and historical faction for when my curiosity has been triggered -  it was never my intention to write erotica. I considered my first novel a straightforward romance. (Okay, there were one or two steamy paragraphs dotted about, but as far as I was concerned they were necessary and intrinsic to the relationship between the characters!) 

Hmm, noted my mentor in an email, you put over the smutty stuff quite well. Have you ever considered dabbling in that genre?

And so in 2012 and under the pen name Galia Ryan, I wrote Choices. Since then I've gone on to have another four novellas published with my latest, Anna After Hours, out in September. 

In the meantime - and between writing erotica and working full time -  I came back to where I started by publishing The Bordello Girl, a tale set in Auckland in 1925, in June 2015 and Past Sin, a romance spanning medieval Ireland and modern day London, in November that same year.  Far Side Of The Ocean returned to the nineteen twenties, opening in Portsmouth, England, and moving to New Zealand, while No Place In Eden takes my characters the other way. With at least another three ideas waiting their turn to jump out of my head and onto the page, I write full time.  Even so, there still doesn't seem enough hours in the day!




Social networking...

I’m very active on my Hilary Murray Facebook Author Page and my Galia Ryan Facebook Author Page, so it’s an excellent way to keep up to date with my release schedules, as well as getting occasional sneak peaks at works in progress.


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