Interview With Author Vivian Murdoch

Do you like your romance with some spice? Then be sure to check out Vivian Murdock, prolific author of “diet dark” romances. I got to chat with Vivian about how she became an author, the biggest myth about dark romance, and how she manages to juggle so many series.

Author Vivian Murdoch

 What was your path to becoming an author?

I've been writing since I was able to. It started off as poems and grew to a love of all things words. I published my very first short story when I was in college, but soon realized it wasn't quite what I wanted. Fast forward to about 2020/2021 when I realized I could indie publish and GAME CHANGER.

How would you describe ‘diet dark’ and what drew you to write in this genre?

To me, diet dark is dark as it relates to mainstream romance. My books are not always consensual but there is rarely violence between the main characters. I have nothing but love for all authors, but I can't personally write violent rape or things like that. So to daaaaark readers, I'm not dark. But to others who grew up reading sweet romances, I'm definitely not sweet. Thus, diet dark. 

I’ve heard you try much of what’s in your novels and that’s led to great research and great stories!

You know how you see stuff on tv and it's not at all what you think? that's how I was with chloroform. It seemed easy peasy, put the cloth over someone's mouth and nighty night time. Well, I was working on a romance where the mfc gets kidnapped and was like... huh. Let me see just how it works. Like how long it takes, how it feels ect. Asked my hubby and he's like absolutely not. So I go to facebook to see if my friends will help me convince him to let me try, but was met with more absolutely not. It wasn't until a nurse friend actually explained how it works and why it works and that it can cause permanent brain damage that I was like... maybe I don't want to try this. So, I bought a shirt on etsy instead that says my favorite essential oil is chloroform. All that build up and all I got was a lousy tee shirt. 

What’s the biggest myth about dark romance?

To me, that it has to be horrific to be dark. You don't have to read torture porn to be considered a dark reader. It's a spectrum just like everything else. I just happen to be on the slightly lighter scale, but no less a dark author. 

You’re an incredibly prolific writer! How do you manage to keep so many series in the works at any given time?

It helps that I'm undiagnosed ADHD. That and a plot bank I have going on my discord. If I get a great idea, I got it down. Going between the different series helps me keep from burning out on one. It works for me but not everyone else.

And speaking of being prolific, where should a reader new to your books begin?

It all depends on what you like. For contemporary, Teacher's Toy. For PNR, From Russia With Blood (one of my darkest) or Nice (Not so dark). For Regency omegaverse, The Duke's Unwilling Bride. For contemporary omegaverse, Bound to the CEO. For more scifi dystopian omegaverse, Dark Revolution. For Aliens, Milked for the Holidays. For much darker OV, my annual game night books. Start with The Alpha’s Forbidden Omega.

What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

You don't have to write what you hate to make a living. Find a niche that goes with what you enjoy and write it well. :D

What books are you currently working on?

I SHOULD be working on Dean's Delinquent, the next in the Loftry series. What I'm actually working on is Milking Her Beefcake for the Eight Maids a Milking antho coming out on the eighth day of Christmas

Where can readers find you and your books?

I am on all platforms. So amazon, kobo, kobo+, google play books, apple books, and smashwords. I also have a direct store that benefits me directly.: https://payhip.com/VivianMurdoch