The Nerd Daily contributor recently had the pleasure of sitting down with Julie Murphy, bestselling author of Dumplin’ (which has been adapted by Netflix), Faith: Taking Flight and so many more! We got to ask Julie all our burning questions on her bursting publishing schedule, favourite scenes to write, and upcoming projects!
Hi, Julie! Thanks for joining us once more! Tell us a bit about yourself!
Thank you so much for having! Well, I’m Julie Murphy and I’m the author of several young adult and middle grade novels. I love romance novels, pizza, my spouse, and my pets. And I’m currently a bundle of impending-deadline/new-book-release nerves!
Lightning round: what book, movie and music album can’t you live without?
Oooo these questions always get me! Let’s go with God Shaped Hole by Tiffanie DeBartolo, Magic Mike XXL, and an album…that’s a hard one, so I’m going to sort of cheat and say the Dumplin’ soundtrack by Dolly Parton with Life in Cartoon Motion by MIKA as a close second.
Now onto Pumpkin! Tell us about Waylon’s story!
Pumpkin is the story of Waylon Brewer, a fat and openly gay senior in high school on the brink of graduation. After a series of disappointments and rejections, Waylon decides to create an audition tape for his favorite reality TV show drag competition, The Fairest of Them All. Unfortunately, the tape is accidentally leaked to the whole school and as a result, Waylon is nominated for prom queen as a joke, alongside his twin sister’s girlfriend, Hannah, who is nominated for prom king. The two decide to confront the situation head on and run for king and queen and leave high school with a bang.
Waylon’s story is such a perfect way to bow out of the Dumplin’ World (even though we’d love a dozen more stories, just fyi). What made Waylon’s story feel right to end on for you?
Ha! Well, thank you. It’s the last book, but I can’t quite bring myself to fully let go of this world, but I do know it’s goodbye for now. I knew I wanted to introduce a new character to the universe and introduce him to this fun little cast of characters. I also had the bones for Waylon’s story on my mind for quite some time, so it was really just a matter of connecting the dots and realizing he fit perfectly into the world of Dumplin’.
Waylon has my whole heart – what fictional characters do you think he would get along with and who would he probably destroy with his wit and confidence?
Well, I think that Waylon would greatly admire David from Schitt’s Creek, but just like David does, I think Waylon would probably need a Stevie in his life. As for who he would verbally annihilate, I think it’s safe to say anyone with “bro” or “Karen” energy.
I absolutely loved the way Waylon’s passion for drag gave him more confidence throughout the story to explore not only himself but what he wants to do after high school! Did you ever have a passion like that when you were in high school that you wished you’d pursued? Or something you’d love to pursue now?
When I was younger, I loved ballet and then later on theatre. I ended up leaving both because they were each really difficult spaces for a fat teenager to thrive in and feel welcome in. I’m so glad my life has led to this moment, but I think I’d like to someday revisit ballet. It was just so therapeutic for me. I also want to get into some light hiking and crocheting as well. (I need more time!)
You address fatshaming in a really honest and vulnerable way in Waylon’s story and even speak about your own experiences in your author note. What do you want readers to take away from Pumpkin?
I think each the three books in the Dumplin’ universe touch on different aspects of the fat experience, and for me Waylon’s story really speaks to the ways we try to make up for our perceived imperfections. For me, that always meant being funny. For my spouse, a fat, cisgendered straight guy, it was always hyper masculine things like fixing cars or being on the wrestling team. So I really wanted to explore social currency and how we try to compensate for the things about ourselves that society has told us there is no value in. Waylon isn’t your typical guy. He doesn’t enjoy typical guy things. He’s the perfect size to block someone on a football field, but you’ll never catch him doing that, so I’d really like for readers to consider what happens when fat people don’t want to conform to the ways society has deemed them useful. There’s some real freedom in realizing you don’t have to be put together or funny or handy to be worthy of respect.
Your fantastic novel Dumplin’ was adapted by Netflix last year! If Pumpkin were to get the movie treatment as well, what scene would you be the most excited to see come to life?
Well, of course I really love the prom scene, but I’m obsessed with high school party movies, so the party scene would be something I’d be eager to see.
With Pumpkin, Faith: Greater Heights and If the Shoe Fits, you are an absolute writing machine! How do you manage your different writing projects and what is your top writing advice for aspiring authors?
It’s a busy year! And I think definitely an anomaly for me in a lot of ways. I’m thankful for how busy I am, but I think a three book year isn’t something to aim for. (I’m pretty much planning on being a zombie by December.) That said, I think the most useful professional advice I’ve ever received was to treat writing like my job before I was being paid for it. That means creating time and setting goals. Even if the time is limited and the goals are bite size. You have to start somewhere and just sitting down and writing is the first step.
Speaking of all your projects – with Pumpkin releasing soon, and apart from your other 2021 releases, what is next for you?
I have a few things in the works for next year, including a middle grade novel, which I’m so excited for! I’m also hard at work on the Dear Sweet Pea screenplay for the Disney channel, so fingers crossed there!
Last but not least, do you have any recommendations for our readers?
Always! My recent faves that are either out or releasing soon are Love & Other Natural Disasters by Misa Sugiura, I Am Not Starfire by Mariko Tamaki, Love Is a Revolution by Renée Watson, Radha and Jai’s Recipe for Romance by Nisha Sharma, and The Roommate by Rosie Dannon.
