Inspired by a true story, and replete with natural healing, glimpses of the logging boom, and heartbreaking drama, Wolf Den Hollow brings to life this unlikely, captivating romance of the early 1900s.
We chat with author Donna Murray about Wolf Den Hollow, writing, book recommendations, and more!
Hi Donna! Can you tell us a little bit about yourself!
You could say my life has been anything but conventional. I always called myself a gypsy, traveling to many places and reinventing myself many times. I have worked with iconic legends like Martha Graham and Elizabeth Taylor, and lived in Buenos Aires, Argentina and Bali, Indonesia. While working with the San Francisco Ballet on the Opening Night Gala in 2010, I left on that dark and rainy evening and stepped into a deep pothole, breaking both of my feet. With months of recuperation ahead, I was given the opportunity to write my novel, Wolf Den Hollow: one that had been waiting to be told for over thirty years.
With the current state of the world, what are you doing to cope with the changes we’ve had to make with our day-to-day?
Well, where do I begin? 2020 seems to be a never ending year of upheaval, doesn’t it? The most comforting thing throughout it all has been the strengthened bonds amongst my circle of family and friends––knowing that we are all in this together. We are kinder, more patient and grateful for what we have. As I write this, I have been evacuated from my home due to the Glass Fire burning though the Napa Valley, which started nearby.
Being in touch with Mother Nature, my meditation practice, good food and wine, great art, fun and interesting people . . . all bring me hope and inspiration through times such as these. I have rediscovered a force from within that is deeply connected to the spirit of my grandmother—something I have always felt when I needed it most. This book is a homage to her love, strength and courage.
When did you first discover your love for writing?
I have been an avid reader since childhood–-which is where it all began. Falling into the depths of my imagination has been a safe place of retreat for me. My writing began in the 1990s, when I had several magazine articles to my credit. It wasn’t until fifteen years later that I began writing my novel.
Wolf Den Hollow is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Historical, romantic, captivating, inspirational and spiritual.
Now tell us a little more! What can readers expect?
Wolf Den Hollow is set in the early 1900s, during the peak of the great logging boom that takes place in the Southern Missouri Ozarks, a historically significant community that came to life after the Civil War. It is based on a true story about the passionate romance between a young bewitching Cherokee and a logging tycoon, the empire they built, and was lost during the Great Depression. In the end, she is forced to do the unthinkable to protect herself and her children in a final act of survival.
What inspired you to write this novel?
I always felt connected to my grandmother and our Cherokee roots. When growing up as a child, her name was never spoken in our house, but I had heard stories of myth and heroism, veiled by shame and estrangement. When doing my research, the more I uncovered, the more inspired I became to write about her life. Wolf Den Hollow is for her.
What challenges did you face while writing and how did you overcome them?
I had never written a novel, so a disciplined routine was the first challenge. With months of recuperation, I set my goal to write five days per week, five hours per day. Then came the research and the draft of my first manuscript . . . and how that evolved into three, while working with my editor. Create, delete, repeat was my daily mantra. I also had to relinquish my original vision of working with a traditional publisher and embrace the new idea of working with a hybrid publisher—a huge learning curve for me that involved public relations, building a website, social media and everything in between. I overcame all of the challenges with patience and an open mind.
What’s next for you?
My second book is now a work in progress, and one that I had also been wanting to write for many years. I have yet to decide if it will be a memoir or a sequel to my novel.
Lastly, are you currently reading anything, and do you have any book recommendations for our readers?
Yes, I am currently reading The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle, written by Haruki Murakami. When I read his work, I get completely immersed into the story. I would recommend any of his books. Also, the Colombian novelist, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, another master of magic realism. Two of my favorites are One Hundred Years of Solitude and Love in the Time of Cholera.
You can find Donna on Instagram and Facebook, along with at her website.
