Melanie Murphy has announced her first fiction novel, If Only, which will be released on June 6th 2019.
“This novel is for anyone who, like me, often wonders how things may have panned out had they made different choices in the past”, Melanie Murphy revealed about her debut novel If Only.
“It’s for anyone who grew up loving fantasy and magic and who, even to this day, melts when a little drop of that escapism is weaved into their contemporary reads.”
If Only follows the story of Erin who “is about to turn thirty and her life is definitely not where she thought it would be. She hates her job, she’s jealous of her perfect flatmate – and she has just called off her wedding.
“What she’s not prepared for is the gift she receives: a secret family heirloom that will change everything. Could this be the answer Erin has been looking for – the key to the happy life she’s always dreamed of? Only time will tell…”
If Only ✍🏻👀📚 #writing pic.twitter.com/RodeBmOFjx
— Melanie Murphy (@melaniietweets) February 10, 2018
The book will be Melanie’s second book following Full Functioning Human (almost), a memoir full of advice for young people growing up in this digital age which was published in 2017.
“Writing Fully Functioning Human (Almost) was easy in that I didn’t have to make anything up, I just had to transfer my experiences onto pages,” Melanie explained. “It was, essentially, a bunch of essays which I could then go in and loosely tie together at the end of the writing process.
“With narrative fiction you’ve got so much going on: characters and a protagonist, all who’ve grown out of the depths of your brain; then you’ve got story vs plot, setting, internal and external conflicts, pacing, prose… it’s a lot to unpack. In that sense I’ve found it far more challenging, and thus far more enjoyable. Maybe I’m terrible at it, only time will tell, but regardless I’m having a lot of fun and I’m learning things about my process with every page I write.”
It’s #NaNoWriMo and I’m gonna finish ‘If Only’ if it kills me ✍🏻 Been putting off writing a pretty sad chapter but ya bitch loves a writing challenge and if this doesn’t push me over that edge, nothing will!
— Melanie Murphy (@melaniietweets) November 1, 2018
Melanie revealed that a lot of the novel was written while travelling, due to her career and personal life. “I wrote an awful lot of If Only on trains, planes and in random nooks and crannies whenever I could find the time! But no matter where I write, playing epic film scores always gets the juices flowing.
“If I had my way I’d always write with my headphones blasting film soundtracks from the comfort of my recliner couch while everyone’s out and the house is empty, save for my kitty friends. Either there, or in a fairly quiet cafe over a pot of tea.”
When asked about her inspirations, Melanie explained that watching films and television have a big impact on her. “Many of my favourite movies and shows began as books and when I read, the scenes play out in my mind like they would on a cinema screen. If I’m reading something and I can’t imagine watching it, I don’t tend to enjoy it as much and I mightn’t even finish the book. So I really like to write in a way that enables the reader to see what’s happening in their mind’s eye.
“My granny had all sorts of trinkets that she’d spin tales about”, she revealed. “But they all went to her many children after she died. I absolutely took inspiration from my relationship with her for the book. Gah, I’m just so bloody excited for it to be in people’s hands!”
If Only is available for pre-order now.
Want more?
Read about Our Favourite Hannah Witton Moments or YouTubers Do #HogwartsInTheSnow 2018. Alternatively, read about Seven YouTubers Participating In NaNoWriMo 2018.
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