MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (Jan. 15, 2014) – Major Christopher J. Murphy of Amherst, N.H., has told the Marines in his office several times to never pass up an opportunity to do something you’ve wanted to do your entire life.
“I always say, ‘Never pass up an opportunity.’ I have learned that if you pass up an opportunity, one day, you will regret it and never forgive yourself,” said Murphy. “So, after years of wanting to, I finally followed my own advice and wrote my own book.”
As the Logistical Officer for Headquarters Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, Murphy keeps a busy schedule of coordinating daily support and embarkation requirements for supporting and external units, advising the battalion commander on the readiness status of equipment and weapons systems, de-conflicting support requests and recommending priorities and allocations of logistical support in all functional areas.
After about two years of work, Murphy found a way to work a long time dream into his busy schedule and published a fictional novel titled ‘Nashua’, which is a detective novel based in a town where he grew up.
“I have always wanted to write a book, after a while, I told myself I am going to do this and started the planning process,” said Murphy.
Inspiration for Nashua did not originate during Murphy’s Marine Corps career.
“I was a police officer prior to joining the Marine Corps so I had a basis to form the police story line. I obviously embellished those experiences to make them a bit more dramatic to fit my literary plan,” said Murphy.
All though the process of writing book is not an easy one, Murphy used the time as a stress reliever and a way to pass time when he was not working.
“I wanted to write a mystery thriller that evolved while I wrote it,” said Murphy. “I wanted it to be suspenseful and developed an initial outline. I was inspired by Dennis Lehane and James Patterson from reading their books and seeing their movies.”
Murphy said that one of the hardest parts of the writing process for him was the editing stage. He said it took him about six months to edit the novel but once finished he was very excited.
“I never wrote a book before, I never took any writing classes and I didn’t have an editing company help me,” said Murphy. “Once complete, I felt such a great relief and self-pride that I have started to write another book.”