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+ Writing

You Can Write More – course is live!

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I’m so delighted that so many people have been enjoying my course, “You Can Write More” – it’s so mind-blowing!

I love teaching! After becoming a full time author, one of the few things I was sad to leave behind was the opportunity to teach and mentor. It’s something I’ve tried to do with authors I know, and after a few of them asked me to create a course…

I created a course!

I am not perfect (or even good!) at everything, but there are a few things I am really good at, and that’s what I’ve worked to capture in this course. It’s designed to help people write more words in a shorter amount of time: either because they want to get more words down on the page, or because they want to reclaim their time.

And it’s not just craft! (I mean, a lot of it is craft). But the course also covers a bunch of things you might not consider, like:

– goals and motivation

– incentivisation and goal setting

– mental and physical health

– craft expertise

…and more!

I know that not all my readers want to be authors, and of course that’s totally fine. But on the off-chance that you do, then I’d like to share a 10% off coupon with you, as a special thank you for supporting me 🥰

Here’s the course: https://love-writing-start-authoring.teachable.com/p/you-can-write-more-words

And here’s the coupon code: MURDOCHWEBSITE 

(If you’re signed up to my newsletter, you should have received a 20% coupon code – and if you are one of my Patreon supporters, you can get 25% off – just check out my latest post for a different coupon code. If you’re not a Patreon, what a great time to join!)

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+ Writing

When was the last time you fell in love?

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Love.

It’s something that almost all of us crave, whether it’s from a romantic partner, a parent, a child, a friend – or a pet!

Whether you believe in true love or not, falling in love is an absolutely incredible, frightening, wonderful experience. It’s a real challenge to create in a book, as you can imagine, and as an author I always want to make sure that each book is unique.

Everyone falls in love differently. The circumstances are different, the people are different, and the way that people respond to love is different too!

It can be frightening, to lose control of your emotions like that.

But it’s why I write romance. Though the genre is sometimes looked down on by others, in my mind, it’s the most potent and incredible genre that explores and challenges us to examine who we are, what we want, and what we’re willing to do to get it.

I’d love you to fall in love with my books, which you can find here.

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+ new book, regency

Out now! The Determined Mistress!

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You’ve waited, you’ve been patient – and now Micah de Petras’ story is out in the world! 🥰

You can click here to grab it now…

Welcome to book 4 in The de Petras Saga from USA Today Bestselling Author Emily E K Murdoch!

Micah de Petras finds solace in one place: the arms of his mistress.

That should be mistresses – after all, why limit yourself to one? Micah never saw the point in settling for anything less, considering it’s his sister and not himself who is the de Petras heir.

Babysitting his sister? Holding an actual baby? Isn’t there some sort of gambling den he can lose himself in?

Scorned by the other gentleman of Society and frustrated with the constant irritations of his family, Micah returns again and again to the only woman who wants nothing more from him than his weekly allowance. The trouble is, Catherine Tetlow has had enough.

Enough of being Micah’s Thursday evening; enough of making love then waking up alone; enough of being treated merely like a mistress by the turbulent handsome gentleman. She has a plan, and Catherine is determined to win not just the body, but the heart of Micah de Petras.

If only she did not have so much to lose with secrets of her own…

When a gentleman vows never to lose his heart and his favorite mistress challenges him to do just that, sparks will fly and hearts will be bruised as a couple who are certainly not a couple are both determined not to have their way – no matter the cost?

This full length novel is a steamy Regency romance with a happily ever after, no cliffhangers, and is part of a series that can be read in any order, but is best enjoyed in sequence.

Pre-order at a MASSIVE discount, or read Free in Kindle Unlimited!

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+ History

My memory of Queen Elizabeth II

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I know I am not the only person around the world, right now, who is mourning the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

All my life, I’ve considered myself a New Elizabethan. She’s been the only monarch I’ve ever remembered – the only monarch my mother could remember. The Queen was the same generation as my grandparents, and swiftly became, in my mind, the grandmother of the nation.

As the world starts to acclimatise to the fact that the Queen Elizabeth II is no longer with us, I wanted to share my favourite memory of her.

I am fortunate enough to be close friends with someone who is the daughter of a royal servant based in Windsor. In 2016, my husband and I were invited to stay with our friend in Windsor, and attend the church service in Windsor that weekend – which happened to be Her Majesty’s 90th birthday.

It was absolutely incredible.

I can’t describe the feeling of being in the room with the Queen. Elizabeth II was a very petite woman but she had such a presence, even in a coat, dress, and shoes that my own grandmother might have worn.

The church service flew by, but that wasn’t the end of the precious moment. We all then went to the church hall and did things that I will never forget.

We watched the Queen plant a tree, and applauded as she jested about the number of trees she’d planted in her 90 years.

We sang her happy birthday, during which she smiled throughout.

We had champagne.

We had birthday cake.

And we waved goodbye as Prince Philip, her beloved husband, drove her back to the castle.

I will never forget that day. It was a privilege to be so close to her, to share in one of her many birthday celebrations, and to honour and respect the only monarch I had ever known.

It’s hard to believe that she’s gone, and it hasn’t sunk in it. I’ll never know another queen of my country, and I’m grateful to her: for her service, her heart for people, and her symbol as a woman who acted out of love and compassion, through leadership, for such a long time.

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+ Guest Post

Guest Post: Body Dysmorphia

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Welcome to this week’s guest post from Libby Rochester, a 21 year old Theatre Graduate and soon-to-be Creative Writing Masters Student from London.

Body positivity and beauty standards are ever changing as society grows as a whole. In 2010 you had to have thigh gaps and perfect eyebrows, in the 2000s you needed to have an hourglass figure and now in 2022 Brazilian butt lifts and lip fillers seem to be the way forward.

Confidence with my body was something I never really had. From the age as young as eleven, I knew my body type wasn’t the same as everyone else’s and growing up in the early 2000s, you never really saw my body type in magazines or on TV.

As I reached age sixteen I started to see more of my body type in the public eye, but not for positive reasons. “Lose 2 Stone in 60 days”, “Weight Lose Tricks For A Summer Body”, “Go From This to This with these Diet Changes”—only some of what was being associated with the body that I had.

That is when I started on my weight loss journey that I felt was being pushed in my face by society’s beauty standards at that moment in time.

I lost almost three stone in six months, which looking back now doesn’t seem that healthy compared to the view I had when I was on my “Journey to an Hour Glass Figure”. And that is when my life changed.

I started becoming addicted to losing weight.

Punishing myself if I didn’t lose weight one week from the next and joining the social hype of Slimming World to see if anything would actually change became my entire world. At this point I was seventeen years old and in sixth form (or a senior at high school, for those in America), constantly checking what I ate, how I ate it and the pace that I ate at. Telling myself that if people saw me eating fast, they will only think, “Well, with her body type, you wouldn’t expect anything else—would you?” and the same for what I ate. 

I started cutting back on everything and replacing it with water, because that was a trick mentioned in a magazine, and all editors are health doctors right? I was gullible and just wanted to fit society’s beauty—ignoring the health warnings and the alarm bells. I started to notice myself feel tired all the time, I was pale, if I stood up I felt like I was going to pass out. But beauty was worth the pain, in my eyes.

Fast forward to me being twenty one, just coming out of nine months in body dysmorphia therapy learning how to re-love my body like I once did when there was no pressure. When I was a kid starting my journey of life, not my journey of weight loss.

Learning to re-love myself was a difficult process and honestly, I’m still not fully there. I’ve always been afraid to wear certain clothes, eat certain foods in front of my friends—sometimes to even eat in front of them at all because the fear of judgement was something I did not want to risk. But now after my therapy and learning what body dysmorphia actually was, I’ve come to terms with my body, and the way it looks.

I’m no longer afraid to wear certain clothes but still am afraid to eat certain foods when in the company of friends—which just proves how much the viewing of beauty standards when you are younger can affect you later on in life, if not throughout your whole life.

It sums up the twenty-first century, doesn’t it? Gen Z women and their worry over looks. Not for them personally, but a worry of outsider opinions. Not having a big enough bum, not having full lips, not having a skinny waist but thick thighs ratio—it must stem from what has been advertised to us growing up, right?

Magazine with the entice of fake makeup—or sometimes even real—teaching girls from a young age that makeup must become a daily routine, concealing your “flaws”. Diet ideas tied in more mature magazines. Face tune apps downloaded on most phones.

Body positivity has become such a big movement, giving the least of confident people, i.e. me, a voice and ability to be comfortable in the body they have—not changing to meet standards that, in reality, do not even matter.

Chances to remove those rose tinted glasses given by social media and showcase their body to their hearts content instead. And if that means being a size bigger that 0 and wearing a bikini, then so be it.

Body positivity is giving people a voice to say no to societies constricting idea of what is flawed and what is beautiful—and I for one am here for it.

So if you see me wearing a crop top and shorts in this baking heat this summer? Just know I’m done hiding who I am, hiding how beautiful I deserve to feel, letting body dysmorphia take over my life and I’m stepping into my new reality of loving who I am.

Thank you so much, Libby, for this vulnerable and powerful guest blog! You can follow Libby on Instagram @libby_rochester_

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+ new book, regency

Pre-order now! The Determined Mistress!

by

So many of my readers have been desperate to find out what mischief the de Petras son, Micah, will get himself into…and now you can pre-order to find out!

You can click here to grab it now…

Welcome to book 4 in The de Petras Saga from USA Today Bestselling Author Emily E K Murdoch!

Micah de Petras finds solace in one place: the arms of his mistress.

That should be mistresses – after all, why limit yourself to one? Micah never saw the point in settling for anything less, considering it’s his sister and not himself who is the de Petras heir.

Babysitting his sister? Holding an actual baby? Isn’t there some sort of gambling den he can lose himself in?

Scorned by the other gentleman of Society and frustrated with the constant irritations of his family, Micah returns again and again to the only woman who wants nothing more from him than his weekly allowance. The trouble is, Catherine Tetlow has had enough.

Enough of being Micah’s Thursday evening; enough of making love then waking up alone; enough of being treated merely like a mistress by the turbulent handsome gentleman. She has a plan, and Catherine is determined to win not just the body, but the heart of Micah de Petras.

If only she did not have so much to lose with secrets of her own…

When a gentleman vows never to lose his heart and his favorite mistress challenges him to do just that, sparks will fly and hearts will be bruised as a couple who are certainly not a couple are both determined not to have their way – no matter the cost?

This full length novel is a steamy Regency romance with a happily ever after, no cliffhangers, and is part of a series that can be read in any order, but is best enjoyed in sequence.

Pre-order at a MASSIVE discount, or read Free in Kindle Unlimited!

+

+ Writing

You Can Write More – course launch!

by

One of the things I’ve been able to do more now that I’m a full time author is start to share more of my knowledge and expertise.

I love teaching! It’s one of the things I miss about my old day job, and after so many authors and aspiring authors have asked me to do this, I’ve finally done it.

I’ve created a course!

This is specifically to help people write more words in a shorter amount of time. It covers a bunch of things though that you might not consider, like:

– goals and motivation

– incentivisation and goal setting

– mental and physical health

– craft expertise

…and more!

I know that not all my readers want to be authors, and of course that’s totally fine. But on the off-chance that you do, then I’d like to share a 10% off coupon with you, as a special thank you for supporting me 🥰

Here’s the course: https://love-writing-start-authoring.teachable.com/p/you-can-write-more-words

And here’s the coupon code: MURDOCHWEBSITE 

(If you’re signed up to my newsletter, you should have received a 20% coupon code – and if you are one of my Patreon supporters, you can get 25% off – just check out my latest post for a different coupon code. If you’re not a Patreon, what a great time to join!)

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+ Guest Post

Guest Post! Arjan from Arts Emergency

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Hello there! My name is Arjan and I’m (nearly) a second-year student studying English Literature at university.

I recently earned the opportunity to work with Emily for a week, thanks to an organisation called Arts Emergency. They help young people from underrepresented backgrounds connect with industry professionals in a field of their choosing, primarily through mentorships and work experience to help us “get a foot in the door”.

Emily asked me to write a guest post for her blog and my first reaction was one of shock and gratitude—all I thought to myself was, “this is an amazing opportunity, don’t mess it up!”

I’m quite self-critical if you couldn’t tell, and that’s something I was able to work towards overcoming during the period of my work experience. The first portion of the week involved Emily and I working through and editing a piece of my prose for me to improve by the week’s end, to show me how much I could progress in a short time span.

We also discussed various methods and templates for developing characters and plot. Emily’s suggestion of using enneagrams to develop character motivations, conflicts and believability helped me to build upon the character sketches I had completed for the protagonists of my potential fantasy novel, making them feel more authentic and alive.

Working with Emily has allowed me to bolster my confidence as a writer, seeing the potential within my work and what habits I can adopt to improve and grow over time. 

The midweek period involved a pair of Q&A calls; the first focused on the craft of writing itself, with the latter focusing on publishing and the practical aspects of a writer’s life.

Both calls helped clarify the doubts and concerns in my mind surrounding things like pacing, formatting and networking within the writing community—things that I was not taught at school or thus far in my undergraduate degree. I’m forever grateful for Emily allowing me to ask question after question, so many in fact that we had to reset our zoom call during each session to make time for all our tangents and love of spreadsheets.

These sessions (and the pages of invaluable information that came from them) allowed me to gain a clearer understanding of the publishing routes I may want to consider for my novel.

My background when it comes to writing began in high school, with the English department noting my fondness for literature and helping me pursue both my academic and creative interests. It’s because of them and how they nurtured my love for literature that I chose to study English at university.

My connection to the fantasy genre stems from my love of series such as Lord of the Rings and the tabletop roleplaying game Dungeons & Dragons. I was introduced to D&D through a web series called Critical Role, where a group of well-known voice actors in the worlds of animation and video games play the game together— I could talk about Critical Role and D&D for hours, but I’ll save that for another time.

Growing up with these stories and having a fantastic group of teachers in school helped me realise that I wanted to create and share my own work with the world, just as those who influenced my love of fantasy did.

It all started with me creating my own world during the early days of the pandemic and setting up a D&D campaign within that world for a group of friends. Over the years the world I created has grown, and with the help of my players and their input it feels alive—but it still has a long way to go. 

I hope to one day publish my work, specifically within the fantasy genre and set within my world. My friends/players, people from very different walks of life, act as a focus group of sorts for my novel.

It is through the game and their response that I can test out ideas and concepts for the plot and see what the reception is—the feedback so far has been incredibly helpful! In no way is this an indication of what the genre’s global audience may think and feel about my stories, but it’s what works for me right now. 

I write for the same reasons many others do; it’s an emotional outlet for me and a great form of escapism. Writing has allowed me to create worlds where the impossible is possible—where I can step away and forget about my anxieties for a time.

Having the ability to create and tell stories is a powerful thing and without this form of expression I feel life would be meaningless (or at the very least, EXTREMELYboring). I hope I will be able to use the knowledge I’ve gained throughout my education and my week working with Emily to contribute my own work to the world.

Who knows, maybe my novel will inspire someone to tell their own stories, just like my influences inspired me. It’s a nice thought, but I know I still have a long way to go until then.

Thank you so much Arjan for your incredible blog, and your time this week! If you would like to follow Arjan’s journey into authordom, you can follow him on Twitter here.

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+ publishing, Writing

I’m mentoring through Arts Emergency

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I think if we’re honest, all of us know that we have only managed to achieve what we’ve achieved because of other people.

Whether that’s a practical helping hand, a bit of advice, encouragement, whatever it is…we are social creatures. Success, in any field, is because others have helped.

I didn’t know any authors when I was first starting out on my journey, and that’s why I was so excited to have the opportunity to mentor two young people through Arts Emergency’s work experience scheme.

Arts Emergency is an award-winning mentoring charity and support network. Our Network members share opportunities, contacts and advice so that young people can flourish in higher education and the cultural industries.

This summer, I’ll be mentoring two young people (each have their own week!) remotely, giving them an insight into what it takes to be a writer, the business of writing, the craft of writing…

It’s going to be incredible. How do I know that?

Because young people, given the chance, always create something incredible.

Each of them will be hosting a guest blog on my website at the end of the summer, so look out for those!

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+ new book, regency

Out now! The Contrary Debutante!

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If you thought Coral was bold, you couldn’t find a sister more unlike her: Emerald is the biggest wallflower in the ton and has a bargain with her mother to end the family search for her husband…

Yup, THE CONTRARY DEBUTANTE is out and you can click here to grab it now…

Welcome to book 3 in The de Petras Saga from USA Today Bestselling Author Emily E K Murdoch!

Emerald de Petras will not get married, and her rambunctious family cannot make her.

The definition of a wallflower, Emerald hates Society: all those people looking at her, judging her, pointing and gossiping about her family. She won’t have it, and she’ll never marry and provoke even more tittle tattle.

She is hardly a debutante anymore, however, and her contrary ways forces her mother to make a desperate agreement. Emerald will attend ten more balls this Season…and then no more. She’ll be freed from her obligation to her family to marry, and that will be an end to it.

Delighted to find a way out, it was rather inconvenient that Robert Ainsworth, Marquis of Swindmore, decided she was a challenge.

After all, what recently divorced man didn’t want a challenge?

Following a humiliating divorce, he’s just about managed to keep quiet. Robert sees something in Emerald that no one else does. Wallflower, yes—but there’s something deep and passionate in those shy green eyes.

As Emerald tries to fight the growing attraction she knows can go nowhere, and Robert begins to realize his teasing flirtation is becoming so much more, there’ll be scandal despite both their best efforts before long.

Can a contrary debutante with no wish to marry and a Marquis with no faith left in love find something truly special?

This full length novel is a steamy Regency romance with a happily ever after, no cliffhangers, and is part of a series that can be read in any order, but is best enjoyed in sequence.

Read Free in Kindle Unlimited!

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+ new book

Christmas ahoy!

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Okay, I’m just going to come out and admit it: I have an obsession with Christmas.

I adore it! The food, the sense of excitement in the air, the joy at seeing my loved ones…I just love it. And that is how I have somehow managed to have…fourteen Christmas books coming out this year.

FOURTEEN.

Twelve of them are my new series, TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS, which is exactly what you’d expect! Aren’t these covers absolutely gorgeous? The first two are up for pre-order, and the whole series will be coming out one a week, every week, for the 12 weeks leading up to Christmas. Get ready to unwrap one as a treat to yourself, every week!

Follow each of the Fitzroy women as they cause nothing but scandal and intrigue across the ton and try to keep their exploits quiet...

It’s 1813, and twelve drummers drumming are about to bring love into Jemima’s life…

Jemima Fitzroy is tired of being ignored by her loud, rambunctious family – especially as she attempts to campaign for veterans in a world that doesn’t appreciate them.

Soldiers are returning home from Napoleonic France, and Captain Hugh Rotherham knows he will never be the same again. Not just because of what he’s seen, but because of what he’s seeing right now: a startlingly beautiful woman who stirs something so passionate in it, the drumming of his heart matches that of his regiment.

Jemima knows she shouldn’t be meeting this soldier without her family’s knowledge. Hugh knows he cannot cross the line from respectability to scandal.

It doesn’t matter. Twelve drummers drumming will change their lives – and the rhythm that can tease out exquisite pleasure…pre-order now!

It’s 1813, with eleven pipers piping – but only one has caught Harmony’s eye…

Harmony Fitzroy never expected to fall into the spotlight. Her musical talents finally recognized, despite her shyness she’s offered an invitation: to participate in the Christmas Eve Concert at the Assembly Rooms in Bath. If only a fellow musician hadn’t caught her eye, she’d be able to focus on the music.

David Navarre is everything Harmony knows she shouldn’t go near; a gentleman of dark handsome looks, sparkling wit, and absolutely no money. But David has a secret – one he’s left behind in Manchester, a scandal he doesn’t want high society in Bath to discover. Especially Harmony.

His eleven pipers piping are drawing a crowd, but that’s the last thing Harmony wants. She has to marry for money, but he’s about to teach her how their bodies can play a new melody together…pre-order for 0.99 now!

And just in case that wasn’t enough to tempt your appetite, my wonderful publishers at Dragonblade are re-releasing two short novellas which were parts of Christmas boxsets from years ago. Make sure to grab them!

Always under mistletoe but never the bride – but not this Christmas…

Lady Prudence Lennox is of age, and tired of being treated like a child. Her brothers are married and settled but they still think of her as their baby sister, which is growing increasingly irritating.

Especially when the Reverend Michaels is visiting for Christmas.

He’s only four years older than her but has never seen her as a woman before – and she’s determined that this Christmas as they meet under the mistletoe, all that is going to change…read for 0.99 now!

Always the reverend but never the groom – but not this Christmas…

Joseph never thought that becoming a vicar would separate him completely from his flock – and all marital prospects.
But this Christmas, he’s back with his sister and thinking wistfully of the lady in his congregation that he cannot take his eyes off.

Who has suddenly appeared in Bristol.

Will he be able to escape the trappings of his position, and speak openly to the woman he loves?…read for 0.99 now!

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+ new book, regency

Pre-order now! The Contrary Debutante!

by

I am so excited to reveal that the third book in my de Petras Saga is now available to pre-order, and for just 0.99!

You can click here to grab it now…

Welcome to book 3 in The de Petras Saga from USA Today Bestselling Author Emily E K Murdoch!

Emerald de Petras will not get married, and her rambunctious family cannot make her.

The definition of a wallflower, Emerald hates Society: all those people looking at her, judging her, pointing and gossiping about her family. She won’t have it, and she’ll never marry and provoke even more tittle tattle.

She is hardly a debutante anymore, however, and her contrary ways forces her mother to make a desperate agreement. Emerald will attend ten more balls this Season…and then no more. She’ll be freed from her obligation to her family to marry, and that will be an end to it.

Delighted to find a way out, it was rather inconvenient that Robert Ainsworth, Marquis of Swindmore, decided she was a challenge.

After all, what recently divorced man didn’t want a challenge?

Following a humiliating divorce, he’s just about managed to keep quiet. Robert sees something in Emerald that no one else does. Wallflower, yes—but there’s something deep and passionate in those shy green eyes.

As Emerald tries to fight the growing attraction she knows can go nowhere, and Robert begins to realize his teasing flirtation is becoming so much more, there’ll be scandal despite both their best efforts before long.

Can a contrary debutante with no wish to marry and a Marquis with no faith left in love find something truly special?

This full length novel is a steamy Regency romance with a happily ever after, no cliffhangers, and is part of a series that can be read in any order, but is best enjoyed in sequence.

Read Free in Kindle Unlimited!

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