Biography:
Pamela Murdaugh-Smith
Author of: A Biker Saga
"I prefer to be in the wind, surrounded by like minded souls. I love riding, listening to southern and classic rock, socializing and writing. I've always had a passion for reading and a secret desire to write, but never had the time, too busy living. For years, my ol' man and I have had a running joke, that if we ever wrote our life story, nobody would believe us.
In 2014, I finally had time on my hands, and decided to write down some of the things we've experienced and it ended up inspiring my first book, A Biker Saga. It's not a biography, it's a book of fiction inspired by actual, individual events, and filled with colorful glimpses from our years together. Having worked in bars for years and then later, opening my own biker bar, served to add another layer. The fact that my ol' man not only rides, but is also a truck driver, who drives stock cars, added yet another layer. Surrounded by bikers, truckers and race-car drivers, combined with bar-room antics and truck stop encounters, we have both instigated and observed some hilarious and scary events. We have also been privy to the inside scoop of some wild times by those involved. A good story is a good story, so why not use them to inspire a good read and share it with others? In essence I decided to weave a fictional story about fictional people, incorporating things that we say and do in our daily lives. Well, at least that's how we do it in our world! At this point, I have written and published four books. The first two in each series, A Biker Saga and the Brenna's series."
Questions & Answers: From the Authors point of view:
1. Do you think there is a difference between being alive and truly living?
Answer: Absolutely. Passion is the difference. Without passion there is only survival.
2. What was it that motivated you to write your first book?
Answer: Life experience. I have lived a rather colorful life and decided to turn the tables and weave life into fiction.
3. What challenged you most, while creating the characters in your book?
Answer: Almost all of my characters are bikers, and there are a lot of them. It was a challenge to come up with aka's that fit each characters persona, or was the direct opposite. It was hard not to use those of people who I am familiar with, although some of them would have been perfect! The challenge doubled when I wrote book two of the saga and added so many more bikers into the mix!
4. What is the most important thing you have learned in life so far?
Answer: I will share with you my most valuable life-lesson, it is also our family motto:
"If you surround yourself with good souls,
You will never be alone,
You will always be loved,
and you can get through anything"
5. A Biker Saga, what made you choose that title?
Answer: It was a no-brainer. Biker speaks for itself, and the definition of the word saga is; 'A long involved story, account or series of incidents'. It was a perfect fit, and with book three in the works, it continues to be self-evident.
6. Reviews and criticism, how well do you handle this aspect of writing?
Answer: I would like to think, with grace. As a indie (independent author/self-publisher) who can't afford to hire an editor, I must learn as I go. Recently, another author advised me that my book was 'passably indie'. The remark was not so much about my story, as it was advising me that I needed to pay for a professional cover and a professional editor.
As an new independent author, I not only appreciate honest feedback, I learn as much as I can from it. The mechanics of writing are daunting, but like everything else in my life, I'll learn it slowly, by trial and error, and hopefully I'll end up on the other side.
As far as the cover of my book, I've struggled with that too, and book one has just received a new cover. That's my ol' man on the cover of book 1 and our son is on book 2, and I am proud of that. As a biker, we tend to live outside the norm and use what resources we have available. Why would I hire someone to take a picture of a model dressed like a biker, when I live in a house full of bikers, who actually look like real bikers! Even my author photo is a selfie, that alone should tell you something about who I am and what's inside.
I'm not trying to be a traditional, NY Times Bestselling author, I'm trying to sell a book of fiction about 99% bikers, to other 99% bikers! By definition, we are not a pretentious people.
7. Why should people read your book?
Answer: It's a different kind of read, written for those who ride and know the true heart of a biker. A Biker Saga is filled a unique blend of characters, all working towards the same goal. I chose to create something new instead of rehashing the same tired story. The 99% who ride are a unique and multifaceted breed of people, who come together when times get hard.
When I wrote the book, I formed a Club based on lineage, the characters are of Irish and Scottish decent who are like minded, ex-military, survivalists and entrepreneurs. I created for them, a place in the community that most bikers can relate to. It's such a different story-line that even I am having a difficult time finding the correct genre for the book.
Someone asked me recently if my story is similar to Sons of Anarchy. I think Sutter's work is pure genius and I am sad to see it end, but my story is not at all patterned after his, nor is it comparable to an MC Romance novel.
A Biker Saga, is a fictional story about a unique Club, with all of the elements we love to read about. Mystery, suspense, humor, family, drama, love, laughter, loyalty, and respect. An alpha male and a strong female protagonist are surrounded by many interesting support characters...it covers all the bases. There is also sexual content, alcohol, drugs, guns and conflict within each volume, but it's all pretty much recreational. Not for profit, not for power. Okay, maybe the guns are for power, but even that is about being prepared.... It's hard to describe. One of my readers put it like this:
"It's not like the usual MC book, it's grown up MC, I think if you decide to buy it you won't be disappointed."
... And to be honest with you, I couldn't have said it better myself!
Book Blurbs:
A Biker Saga, GGS (book 1)
Stax and Strangler find their lives on a collision course with an unknown force, which is hell bent on taking over every Club in the south. As they attempt to solve the mystery of who is trying to destroy the biker community and why, prospects and family members begin to fall victim and the GGS is forced to find a way to save themselves, their Club and ultimately the very MCs that consider them unworthy.
A Biker Saga, Switzerland (book 2)
In Book one, we met the GGS and learned of the threat against them and the biker community. After the initial shakedown by the UC, they discover each Club in the state has a member being held hostage. Not all Clubs are strong enough to make a stand. Some have fallen, forced to join the UC, and those strong enough, lack the necessary resources to win the war. As outlaw bikers converge on the GGS Clubhouse, there is no choice but to set aside differences. As war breaks out and personal agendas interfere with strategy, secrets are revealed, undermining the only chance any of them have to ride out of there alive.
A Biker Saga, (book 3) To be announced in 2015.
The Saga continues!
Links to the books:
A Biker Saga, GGS (book 1) - http://tinyurl.com/q4h7w2z
A Biker Saga 2, Switzerland - http://tinyurl.com/kzffqpf
Author Contact Info:
Pamela Murdaugh-Smith
email: goodgaelicsouls@gmail.com
twitter: @goodgaelicsouls
website: http://www.ggshc.webs.com/
December 24, 2014- -
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