K.L. Murphy
Author Interview - K.L. Murphy
Author of The Great Forgotten
One War. Two Loves. A Lifetime to Remember.
July 4, 1918, Nashville, Tennessee. Even as the war in Germany drones on, patriotism swells at home. There are celebrations, music, and dancing. But for five men—one train engineer, one porter, one salesman, one farmer, and one thief—the world will soon take a terrible and tragic turn.
Summer, 1988. Ginny Campbell is a young woman unsure of her marriage and her future. Moving into a new house, she finds an old, abandoned trunk filled with carefully wrapped memorabilia, photos, and a woman’s name. Intrigued, she sets out to uncover the mystery of the steamer trunk, leading her on a sweeping journey of love and loss that stretches back to 1918.
Inspired by a true event. The great train wreck near Nashville on July 9, 1918, when two passenger trains collided due to human error, was a horrific disaster that killed over 100 people and injured hundreds more. The Great Forgotten is a gripping tale of five men whose lives were intertwined that fateful day and the ripple effect of this little-known American tragedy on the woman who knew them all.
Author Interview - K.L. Murphy
Author I draw inspiration from:
There are so many. As a child, I started with the Little House on the Prairie and Nancy Drew books. As a teen, I loved Stephen King (I still do). I know, it's a strange combination. Maybe that's why I still love so many genres. My favorite book is Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier. She was a master at creating mood and mystery.
Author Interview - K.L. Murphy | Author I Draw Inspiration From
Favorite place to read a book:
My favorite place to read is the beach. I completely lose track of time.
Book character I’d like to be stuck in an elevator with:
Hmmm. Interesting question. I'd love to be stuck in an elevator with Evan Smoak of the Orphan X Series. He would be uncomfortable being stuck there and is not naturally communicative but I would make sure to go straight to one of his favorite subjects: Vodka.
Author Interview - K.L. Murphy | Book Character I’d Like to be Stuck in an Elevator With
The moment I knew I wanted to become an author:
There was no particular moment, but I've always loved the idea of writing. When I was a teenager, I leaned into journalism, but as I got older, I let myself explore fiction. I never went back.
Hardback, paperback, ebook or audiobook:
I love hardbacks, but I don't love taking them on vacation. For that I love an ebook, because I can take several at once. Paperbacks are a great compromise but they don't have quite the beauty of a hardback. Audiobooks are a new favorite because I listen while I walk the dogs. I always have two books going at once!
The last book I read:
My Friends by Fredrik Backman. I didn't want this book to end. I fell in love with the friends and like Louisa, wanted only happy endings for each of the characters.
Author Interview - K.L. Murphy | The Last Book I Read
Pen & paper or computer:
I write exclusively on my Surface, but I do make all my notes on paper. I think this is to give me the satisfaction of checking off revisions and/or corrections as I get them done. I am a pantser/discovery writer because I don't outline. I prefer to sit down and let the words guide the story. I generally write in the same order that the reader sees the book--even for The Great Forgotten where I switch back and forth between time periods. During revisions, I pull out that red pen and paper.
Book character I think I’d be best friends with:
Madeline from Liane Moriarty's Big Little Lies. I love her sense of humor, loyalty, and even recklessness. I'd love to have a glass of wine with her!
Author Interview - K.L. Murphy | Book Character I’d be Best Friends With
If I weren’t an author, I’d be a:
I'd love to be a chef if I had any creativity in the kitchen. I can follow a recipe, but I don't have instincts--only a deep appreciation.
Favorite decade in fashion history:
From a nostalgic standpoint, the glamour of the 40s with men wearing hats and women wearing gloves and dresses that made their waists look tiny was pretty special. In my real life though, I like the fashions of now and am always willing to test the boundaries a bit, too!
Place I’d most like to travel:
Ireland and Denmark as both are ancestral, but in the short term, I'm hoping to travel to Paris soon to spend time with a wonderful friend.
My signature drink:
Chardonnay and hot tea. Both are essential!
Favorite artist:
I love so many musicians, but one I do listen to often and have been to see is Sheryl Crow. I've loved watching her career and always look forward to what she's going to put out next.
Number one on my bucket list:
Number one on my bucket list is always to spend time with family and friends. I love to travel and try new places but rather than pin my list on a place or an event, I'm going to keep it around the people I care about.
Anything else you'd like to add:
Only that it's been an honor to write a book inspired by this mostly "forgotten" moment in our country's history. While this book is fiction and not meant to be a retelling, it is a bit of a love letter to Nashville and those that were lost in 1918 to the tragedy. I hope I got it right.
Find more from the author:
https://www.instagram.com/k.l._murphy/
https://www.facebook.com/klmurphyauthor/
About K.L. Murphy:
K.L. Murphy
K.L. Murphy is the author of The Great Forgotten (November 2025) as well as the award-nominated Her Sister’s Death, a January 2023 Once Upon a Book Club Pick. Of Her Sister’s Death, Publishers Weekly said, “Murphy keeps the tension high…” and “readers will eagerly turn the pages” and Library Journal called the book “[A] riveting tale…”
In addition, she is the author of the Detective Callie Forde Mysteries: Last Girl Missing and the forthcoming The Murderer’s Girl (July 2025) and the Detective Cancini Mystery Series featuring A Guilty Mind, Stay of Execution, and The Last Sin. Her short stories are featured in Deadly Southern Charm, Murder by the Glass, First Comes Love, Then Comes Murder and Friend of the Devil: Crime Fiction Inspired by the Songs of the Grateful Dead. She also co-edited and is featured in Crime in the Old Dominion. K.L. makes her home in Richmond, VA, where she loves spending time with her family, friends, and two amazing dogs.
