Magic Thursday – the joys of creating an expansive world.

By Nicole Murphy

Way back in the mists of time – nine years ago, to be exact – I decided to write some fantasy romances. Rather than go with the usual suspects (vampires, werewolves, fairies, witches) I decided to create my own unique race of magical beings.

The gadda are based in Ireland, have existed for as long as man-kind has but keep it all a secret for fear of the trouble that would be caused if it got out that magic is real.

At the time, I was focussed solely on the idea I had for three books (which six years later, sold to HarperVoyager as the Dream of Asarlai trilogy). But now, I am coming to realise what a gift I gave to myself.

I have, sitting there ready to be discovered, an entire world. I can go anywhere in history – back or forth – and I can find myself a gadda story.

A case in point is my upcoming publication ‘The Black Star Killer’ (a short story). It started a couple of years ago, when Twelfth Planet Press put out a call for fantasy stories set in the 1920s. It suddenly struck me that if I wanted to, I could set a gadda story ANYWHERE.

So, I did. I researched Chicago, the speakeasies and mobsters and from that devised a noirish story of murder, sly grog and a sexy woman who won’t take shit from no one.

That anthology unfortunately didn’t go ahead, but six months later Ticonderoga Publishing announced the anthology “Damnation and Dames”, wanting supernatural noir stories. I sent them ‘The Black Star Killer’ and they were delighted.

So now I’ve put my toe in the water. While the other gadda stories (the Dream of Asarlai, my free short story Kenyon and Nami available here) are set in the modern age, in April there will be a gadda story very different from those.

And now the back of my head is ticking. No, not with a bomb. With wondering about where else I can set gadda stories. I like history – doing the research isn’t going to bother me, particularly if its about favourite periods of time like the Elizabethan period or Regency. But then, there’s the idea of toying with the gadda in a post-apocalyptic world. Or gadda in space…

Over to you, readers. If you could pick any time in history to set a story, what would it be?If you want to know more about the gadda, you can check them out here: www.gadda.info But don’t tell them I sent you ;0

I've got two short stories I've self-published electronically and you can get them both for free. One, Kenyon and Nami, is a thank you to all the readers and fans of the gadda books and is available at Smashwords. BLURB: Kenyon Audley doesn't care much about his secret gadda heritage, preferring to travel the world searching for the perfect wave. In Japan, he finds a different kind of perfection but his chance at happiness could be ruined by the demands of the gadda.

The other book is How Astrid Found Her Passion, a story about an unusual heroine in unusual circumstances. It's also available at Smashwords. BLURB: Astrid Summer has never been sure what her purpose in life is. On a regular trip to think about her options, she finds herself in a strange place with a multitude of options. What will she do?