We chat with author Gryffin Murphy about Twig’s Traveling Tomes, which is a cosy romantasy is a love letter to all things bookish, perfect for fans of Howl’s Moving Castle, The Spellshop, and The League of Gentlewomen Witches
Hi, Gryffin! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
I live in Virginia with my husband and our two pugs (Bagels and Buster), and when I’m not writing or reading books, I’m working at a local gift shop. Now that I’ve achieved my lifelong dream of becoming an author, my eyes are set on achieving the second lifelong dream, which is to catch a bird in my bare hands. If you ever see a grown woman chasing seagulls at the beach with her two hands outstretched, I will deny, deny, deny that was me. (It was likely me.)
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
I grew up with three older sisters who were all creative storytellers in their own right— from performing paper puppet shows to filming homemade horror movies, they were always dreaming up new plots to share with our supportive (and likely often tired) parents. I spent my early years following their lead, and the moment I could write, I started coming up with stories of my own, scribbling in the back of the composition notebooks I was supposed to use only for schoolwork. By middle school, I leveled up to writing stories on the computer, and haven’t stopped since.
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: Blue Moose by Daniel Pinkwater. It was about a blue moose (I bet you saw that coming) who begins working as a waiter at a restaurant at the edge of the woods and convinces the entire town to fall in love with the chef’s clam chowder. I revisit it every now and then, and it’s still a five-star read for me.
- The one that made you want to become an author: A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket. It was the first time I really giggled at a book, loving how the author really played with his readers, and I wanted to write books that did the same.
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: Howl’s Moving Castle by Dianna Wynne Jones! The characters. The magic. The humor. Each aspect pops into my mind often, at different times. One of the best fantasy writers ever to do it!
Your latest novel, Twig’s Traveling Tomes, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Whimsical! Low-stakes! Humorous! Romantic! Cozy!
What can readers expect?
A low-stakes romantic fantasy romp full of humor, found family, and magical creatures. A fun adventure with episodic mini-quests that guarantee a happy ending and feel like an ode to all things bookish. A palate-cleansing read best paired with a cozy blanket, a nice-smelling candle, and a pet snoring by your side. (Do be careful of the feet-shuffling romantic parts, however, lest your slumbering pet’s peace be disturbed by the repeated giddy motion!)
Where did the inspiration for Twig’s Traveling Tomes come from?
I was watching Howl’s Moving Castle (the Studio Ghibli adaptation of the book) whilst crafting a book nook kit of a bookshop scene. It may have been the fumes from all the spilled permanent glue (I never said I was good at the craft), but I found myself daydreaming of a bookshop that could travel with a similar magic to Howl’s castle. I saw a shop run by a witch with a unique magic that told her the exact book a reader would need. Just as the barefoot book witch with layers of skirts came into view, the scene was interrupted by a shackled rogue, who dove through the window of the traveling shop and whisper-shouted, “Go! Go! Go!” Their meet-cute has changed somewhat since that first vision, but the essence of their characters remains the same: a witch with the unique power to pair a reader to the perfect book they need, and the charming scoundrel who hides away in her shop and ropes her into an adventure.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
Everett Sharp, the handsome rogue, was such a fun character to play with in the story. Charming as he tries to be from the start, Louella Twig is very resistant to his clever lines, and the tug-of-war of their banter had me giggling to myself for hours. There’s instant attraction on both ends, but she really makes him prove himself to win her heart in the end.
I also enjoyed exploring the nature of Louella’s magic. When a reader enters her shop, books that reader may need begin to call out to Louella from the shelves. She’s eager to oblige her magic when it comes to her customers, but when the books are calling out for her to read them, she is often obstinate and even argues back. I had a lot of fun with that dynamic!
Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?
I’m the kind of writer that hops around a story, jumping into whatever scene is calling out to me the most. For this one, as I was writing a slow-burn romance by nature, the hopping about got a little tricky. There were some scenes where the Louella who immediately stepped onto the page was still a little too stubborn to Everett’s advances for where we were in the development of their relationship. Other times, the Louella who popped in seemed won over too soon.
I ended up creating a color meter that ran along my chapter outline, shifting from pink to red as the story developed. Whenever I launched into a scene, I’d first check the hue of the chapter and think something like, “Okay, Louella, so you can be quick with a retort here… but maybe let’s deliver it with a cheeky smile this time?”
What’s next for you?
Ash’s Airborne Apothecary, another story set in the world of Twig’s, will be coming out in the Fall next year!
Lastly, what books are you looking forward to picking up? Any you’ve read so far this year that you’ve enjoyed?
I can’t wait to dive into all the autumnal vibes: Meet Cute Magic by Morgan Elizabeth, The Mechanics of Broomstick Racing by Vermilion H Baine, and The Soulmate Bakery by Safa Ahmed are at the top of my list.
Earlier this year, I was lucky enough to read an ARC of Love Felt Like This by Julie Olivia, and as a lifelong Muppet lover, this is a contemporary romance I’m going to revisit often! It’s about a puppeteer who teams up with a grumpy rock star to revive a beloved children’s TV show. 10/10, would recommend—and we share the same publication date!
I’m also a little late to the game on this one, but at the start of the year I read The Maid and the Crocodile by Jordan Ifueko. I picked it up after hearing some of its comp titles (Howl’s Moving Castle and Half A Soul, if set in a rich West African setting), and I immediately fell in love. I devoured it in a single day, and the next day I picked up the audiobook to dive back in again. It remains my top read of the year so far!
