Heather’s Bookshelf: Author Interview with Ode Ray
Book Titles: Of Magpies and Men
Released: 01/31/21
Genre: Mystery/Crime Novel
Interview by Heather L. Barksdale
What inspired you to write “Of Magpies and Men”?
Ray: ‘Longings’, particularly the ones that are out of reach and how loopy or sad or even desperate they can send us. Also, part of Of Magpies and Men is set in Marseille, where I spent my childhood. My family is from a working-class background but my father's white-collar career landed us in New-York when I was a teenager, where I came into contact with uber-privileged young people. It felt alien to me and also brought to life the saying that 'money contributes to happiness but not contentment'.
When you encounter writer’s block, what do you do to break yourself out of it?
Ray: I turn to the internet I learned a lot researching surrogacy for example and one of the criteria used to judge what makes a good prospective surrogate mother is her credit score. Who knew?!
Is there anything that you want readers to know about you, your writing process, or your book?
Ray: I started writing whilst on maternity leave. I was made redundant not long after, which gave me a little push towards finishing my novel… It was either going to be writing or yogurt making – I suspect that I saved a few people from some pretty bad “artisan” yogurts.
If "Of Magpies and Men" were adapted into a movie, who would you like to see cast to play your lead characters?
Ray: I’ve pictured:
a young Rufus Sewell for Benedict
Audrey Tautou for Marie
Daniel Dae Kim for Yokinobu
And Michele Morrone for Giandomenico
What is your favorite book, genre, and/or author?
Ray: The honest answer is that I do not have one. I enjoy immersive books, but whether it’s a thriller, fantasy or YA it
makes no odds to me – variety is the spice of a reader’s life. So, expect a surprise from my second book…
Are there any tips that you would like to share with other aspiring authors?
Ray: I’m sure others do something similar but after writing dialogues I use a tool to play them out loud. It helps to ensure
dialogues sound like how people actually speak ‐ especially as I’m writing in my second language. Ps. I love the word
‘quirk’, it sounds like its meaning.
What are you working on next?
Ray: Sadly I’ve had no time to write lately, but when I do I’m hoping to finish editing a book I wrote a few years ago or maybe start a new one that would borrow one of the characters from Of Magpies and Men
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