Book review, by readers, for readers Interview with Dwayne Murray, Sr.
Like a Good Neighbor
Madbo Enterprises (2009)
ISBN 9780976985525
Reviewed by for Reader Views (2/09)
Today, Tyler R. Tichelaar of Reader Views is pleased to interview Dwayne Murray Sr., who is here to talk about his new thriller novel “Like a Good Neighbor.”
Dwayne Murray Sr. resides in New York City, where he was born and raised. An electrician by trade, the author walks a fine line on the job and gets a thrill bringing that same sense of heart-pounding danger to his action-packed novels. He is the author of “The Mouse That Roared,” “Whatever It Takes,” and his newest edge-of-your-seat thriller “Like a Good Neighbor.”
Tyler: Welcome, Dwayne. I’m excited to talk to you about your new novel, “Like a Good Neighbor.” To start off, let’s talk about the setting. The story takes place at 666 Cypress Avenue in the South Bronx. Do you want to explain why you chose that significant sounding address? What did you want the reader to understand about the story’s location?
Dwayne: Well, when I was a freshman in high school I had become very good friends with a fellow student named Mike Grant. One day he invited me to his family’s apartment to watch a basketball game, and when I started to enter the building, I happened to catch the building’s number, which tripped me out. So when I started the book, I needed a location for everything to open up at and that’s when I thought of Mike’s building. The only thing I wanted the reader to feel about the building’s location was that living there was not going to be pleasant.
Tyler: Will you give us some examples about what makes life unpleasant at 666 Cypress Avenue?
Dwayne: Rat infestation, a non-working elevator, very high rents, and stressed out tenants.
Tyler: Tell us about Raven Thorn—what about her makes the residents of the building come to trust and like her?
Dwayne: They trust her because she radiates hope. Raven Thorn comes off to the tenants as a highly intelligent, caring, compassionate and externally beautiful woman who even you would be drawn to just for those qualities alone. But once drawn to her, she would use those same attributes to rip your heart from your chest.
Tyler: I understand Crystal Bright doesn’t like Raven. Why is that?
Dwayne: Because of a very dark dream Crystal had even before Raven’s arrival, Crystal had ill feelings about someone’s arrival. Once Raven arrives at 666 Cypress Avenue and watches as everyone falls for her charm, Crystal remembers her dream and is distrustful of Raven right away.
Tyler: Why did you choose the title “Like a Good Neighbor”? I’m guessing you assumed it to be somewhat ironic.
Dwayne: Right on the button, Tyler. The conditions of the building along with the tension amongst the tenants fit right in for Raven’s arrival so the title was simple.
Tyler: Dwayne, without giving away the plot, can you tell us more about Raven’s background?
Dwayne: A woman who has traveled here and abroad, unrelenting, unapologetic, determined as hell, unwavering in her beliefs, no remorse, and a former mother and wife who once held God in high regards.
Tyler: What motivates Raven? Why does she pretend to be friendly, when she obviously has ulterior motives?
Dwayne: Other people’s suffering and torment are just a few things that motivate Raven. Her belief that she can cause God pain is another, but her desire to please her “Dark Prince” is the ultimate motivation. She pretends because Raven realizes people with low-self esteem are easier to suck in by using a “honey” character instead of her “vinegar” one.
Tyler: Crystal has her own demons. Why did you want her to have her own issues, yet apparently be a better or stronger person than Raven Thorn?
Dwayne: We all make bad choices in life but just because we do, it doesn’t have to bury what’s good about us if given another chance. Crystal even in her “gutter” state still held on to certain morals and truths. She also knew that the only way she would be able to face Raven would be to exorcise her personal demons. I also believe that a true underdog should face some hurdles in life because in the end it builds character.
Tyler: Dwayne, I’m curious how you come up with the names for your characters. They seem almost allegorical. Is it intentional that you want to make the names stand out?
Dwayne: For the main two characters yes it was intentional. I mean we have this strong and beautiful woman named Raven Thorn who underneath that beauty is dark like a raven. While on the other hand we have a crack-addicted graduate from MIT who is looked down upon by the building’s tenants but has a heart that shines bright, hence Crystal Bright.
Tyler: Will you tell us about some of the other tenants at 666 Cypress Avenue, and perhaps why they are vulnerable to Raven’s attractions?
Dwayne: Melinda Davis suffers from a lack of education and self esteem and while she may be very street smart, people with low self-esteem tend to be needy so Raven steps right in to offer that shoulder to cry on while at the same time plotting Melinda’s demise. Another tenant named Patricia Jones is very young and craves for her freedom to explore the good things in life such as college, traveling, and meeting new people, but she is held down unmercifully by her nasty and unappreciative crippled father. When Patricia begins to crumble because of the stress, Raven befriends her and tells her how she can break free, literally. That’s just a few examples.
Tyler: Can you give us a hint about why Raven Thorn isn’t all that she seems?
Dwayne: Raven was not always “black-hearted” but a beautiful person. Because of past events in her life she lost balance and chose to attack the world.
Tyler: Our reviewer at Reader Views commented about the extreme violence in the novel. Will you tell us about one or two of the more violent scenes in the novel?
Dwayne: I’ll give you one Tyler. Without giving the reasons why, there is a fight to the death between two women named Melinda Davis and Tonya Brooks. The fight lasts about three to four pages, but yes it’s brutal to the core, but once you read the events leading up to the battle you’ll understand why.
Tyler: Dwayne, what attracts you to writing about violence? Is it to give the reader thrills, or do you feel you are in some way adequately representing the real life of a subculture in the United States?
Dwayne: A little bit of both. I write in the thriller genre and within that genre violence persists, and if it didn’t, I don’t believe you would have a thriller. In the real urban world Tyler, there is tension, frustration, and aggravation for many reasons. Now the majorities of people in these areas pull up their bootstraps and keep marching forward until things get better. On the other hand you have the very small minority who let off “Steam” through violence and that takes place with some at 666 Cypress Avenue.
Tyler: Dwayne, when you refer to the real urban world, are you speaking from personal experience? Do you relate to these characters or have something in common with them that influenced your creating them?
Dwayne: Growing up in the Bronx, I once lived in a building that consisted of every race of people which included blacks, whites, Spanish, and Oriental and the one thing that separated those who went on to somewhat successful lives and those having to resort to any means necessary to survive was education and love of family. So yes, I do relate to my characters because of my personal experience and because at one point, I dwelled amongst them and shared in some hard experiences with them as well. Believe me when I tell you it’s a sad thing to look into another person’s eyes and see very little hope.
Tyler: Besides living in New York City, you obviously are aware that you’re writing within the thriller genre. Are there other authors in this genre, or other genres, that you would say have influenced your writing style?
Dwayne: Stephen King is my man (LOL). I also like James Patterson and Walter Mosley because they bring so much tension within their novels. But King tops the list because he doesn’t have a ceiling with his imagination and that’s the same way I try to write, with no ceiling as anything can happen within the thriller genre.
Tyler: Dwayne, where did you get the idea for “Like a Good Neighbor”? Do you start out imagining a situation, or does it start with creating a character?
Dwayne: For this book, Tyler, it was a little of both. I thought of Raven Thorn while going to work one morning, and while at work, I tried to figure out what to do with her and that’s when I thought about the building in the Bronx.
Tyler: Will you tell us about your writing process? Once you got the idea for Raven and the building, what came next in terms of creating a book?
Dwayne: I had to create the tenants. I mean as much as Raven and Crystal were important to this story, the tenants inside the building had to be carefully created with three-dimensional personalities. Once I had my players in place I had to make sure their back stories and motivations were clear. Then I made sure Raven and Crystal’s missions were very clear. Then it was time to write.
Tyler: When I introduced you, Dwayne, I mentioned your earlier novels. What do you think are the major differences between “Like a Good Neighbor” and your previous two novels?
Dwayne: “The Mouse That Roared” was more about a young woman’s journey for justice against an abusive partner who she truly loved. While “Whatever It Takes” was more about the consequences of not forgiving and letting hatred for an event build up inside you and how it affects the lives of others around you.
Tyler: Can you give us a preview of what you plan to write next?
Dwayne: My next project will be action filled (yes with violence) surrounding the theme of Robin Hood only with an urban flair.
Tyler: That definitely sounds interesting, Dwayne. You’ll have to come back to talk about that book when it’s done. Thank you for letting me interview you today, Dwayne. Before we go, will you tell us about your website and what additional information can be found there about “Like a Good Neighbor”?
Dwayne: Tyler, the pleasure was all mine and thank you. My website address is www.madboenterprises.com and I am about to start a blog about “Like a Good Neighbor” and I will be posting my future signings.