Physic, Lust and Greed Series, Book 5
Sci-Fi
Date Published: 05-16-2024
Publisher: Acorn Publishing
After foiling the political ambitions of a would-be American dictator, time-traveling lovers Marta Hamilton and Marshall Grissom return to their life in the Caribbean only to confront the murder of a friend and inherit responsibility for a gutsy 10-year old boy. Throughout their unlikely and tumultuous relationship, Marta has harbored suspicions that her time-traveling companion is not being honest with her. Is Marshall really the bumbling, good-hearted klutz she has come to love and trust? Or is he the cunning, cold-blooded assassin Gillis Kerg suspects him to be? In this fifth tale of physics, lust and greed, a bizarre parallel universe and a monstrous product of artificial intelligence will impose a costly consequence requiring both Marta and Marshall to face the truth of her most haunting question: “Who are you, Marshall Grissom?”
Interview with Mike Murphey
Have you read anything that made you think differently about fiction?
Yes. They best fiction makes you think, feel and look at the world at least a little differently. Huckleberry Finn certainly did that for me. Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption, The Stand are among many books that had that effect on me.
How do you select the names of your characters?
I like my character names to offer readers some insight into their personalities. My main characters in my Physics, Lust and Greed series—Marta, Marshall or Sheila— need to be more straightforward so readers could get to know them without preconceived notions. With other characters, though, I like to let their names offer hints of what to expect. Elvin Detwyler is eccentric, Lexi Loving is sexy, Gillis Kerg is a psychopath, Rev. Leviticus Deuteronomy Humphollar is an evangelical villain and so on.
Do you hide any secrets in your books that only a few people will find?
There are some subtle physics jokes throughout this series that I’m not sure a lot of readers will get.
What was your hardest scene to write?
In Quantum Consequence, Cecil’s death. Cecil is a beloved character who has been with me a long time and it’s hard to see him go.
Do you want each book to stand on its own, or are you trying to build a body of work with connections between each book?
The story arc of the Physics, Lust and Greed series has a strong connection throughout the five books. But, I’m very pleased that most reviewers have said each book can stand alone. Even though a reader picking up the fifth book might find some confusion in the nuances of how these worlds work, if the plot, story and characterizations are all strong enough, most reviewers seen to be willing to go along for the ride.
What were your goals and intentions in this book, and how well do you feel you achieved them?
My main goal is to make people laugh and think at the same time. Humor for entertainment, and satire to poke fun at those people and things that I think should be ridiculed. Quantum Consequence was recently named the Humor and Satire Category Grand Prized Winner in the Chanticleer International Book Awards, so I guess I’m accomplishing my goal.
What inspired you to write Quantum Consequence.
The four books in the Physics, Lust and Greed Series that preceded it. In writing a series, you always feel the pressure get your characters out of the predicaments in which you’ve left them by writing another book.
Can you tell us a little bit about the next books in the Physics, Lust and Greed Series, or what you have planned for the future?
I have about 50 pages written for the next book in the series, but other projects are competing with it. My writing partner and I are working on a screenplay for the series. I’m trying to learn screen writing so I try and find a broader audience for a couple of my other books as well.
Can you tell us a little bit about the characters in Quantum Consequence?
Marta and Marshall have been with me for a long time and are pretty complex and pretty horny. My artificial intelligence characters—Judy Garland, Lady Godiva and Otis—are the most fun to write as they misinterpret humans and try to sort out whether they are slaves or masters. The little boy, Baptiste Bedeau, showed up in the second book of the series as a very minor character and has gradually worked his way into a star. He offers candid insights into the follies of his elders.
What did you enjoy most about writing this book?
Finishing it. Writing is hard.
About the Author
Mike Murphey is a native of eastern New Mexico and spent almost thirty years as an award-winning newspaper journalist in the Southwest and Pacific Northwest. His debut novel, Section Roads, has been recognized by Indie Reader Discovery Awards, Reader Views Reviewers Choice Awards, The IAN Book of the Year Awards, the Somerset Contemporary Fiction Awards, and the Independent Publishers Book Awards. His novel, The Conman has been recognized by the International Book Awards, the eLit Awards and the Manhattan Book Awards. His award-winning Physics, Lust and Greed Series includes Taking Time, Wasting Time, Killing Time and The Outlaw Gillis Kerg. “We Never Knew Just What It Was… The Story of the Chad Mitchell Trio” is his first non-fiction work. Mike loves fiction, cats, baseball and sailing. He splits his time between Spokane, Washington, and Phoenix, Arizona.
Contact Links
Twitter: @booksmurphey
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