If you are a fan of Oklahoma, and by that, I mean you really love the state, then you can't go very long or far without hearing the name "Alfalfa Bill Murray." He was the 9th Governor of the State of Oklahoma, and when it comes to being 100% Okie, well, maybe not; the man was technically a Texan when it comes down to it. He was born November 21, 1869, putting him at my great-grandfather's age. My great-grandfather knew William Henry Murray and wrote about him in the Tishomingo Paper. Another newspaperman, Irvin Hurst of The Daily Oklahoman, wrote often about the man, but they weren't friends. Irvin was my friend much later in his life, and by that time, by the time Irvin was in his late 80s, he had grown to love and respect his old nemesis, Bill Murray.
The former governor died about five years before I was born, but it didn't take me too long to learn about him in school. When I did, I remembered him for his reputation as a hard-headed man and his reputation for being good for our state. He was a rough and rugged man, even if he was a string bean sort of character, sporting his long-handled mustache and keeping a cigar poking out of his mouth most of the time. When he spoke, he did so with a voice that truly carried - he was heard.
My new book, Stratford, takes place between October 1933 and Valentine's Day 1934. It has a minimal and distinct timeframe and will showcase a few of the more interesting developments in government during such time. It will also focus on Governor Bill Murray, a central or semi-main character. If you wanted to compare the actor-comedian Bill Murray to the old man we knew and loved as our coming-of-age governor, there would be very little to compare. (You can laugh with only one of them) Alfalfa had a few too many things on his plate to waste his time cracking jokes. Still, those who knew him best said his wit, charm, and humor ran deep, if not ultimately a bit too dry for most.
Chapter five introduces the man to the book's central theme and plot. The first seven or eight chapters of my books explain the rest of the book you're holding so you can follow along without worrying or wondering too much about facts and details. I would love to go into more detail about how Bill Murray became a staple in the Chickasaw Nation as a bonafide white man, a Scot by heritage. Both his mother and his father were of Scottish descent, and one fascinating fact is that Uriah Dow Thomas Murray, the father of the Governor, moved to Bethany, Oklahoma, before he passed away. He's buried in the cemetery on 63rd and Rockwell -- in my hometown! That could be why we learned about Alfalfa Bill as early as we did in school.
Anyway, the 5th chapter is written. I can get into the grove and type out a chapter a day for the next few days, then a few more over the weekends. By the end of the month, "Stratford" should be written. I think it will be a good book - it's already changed from somewhat mean-spirited to a more realistic and forward-thinking book- much to my chagrin.
I wanted it to be a blasting cap of a book, to really punch the people in the face who live in that city now who took me for an illegal roller coaster of a ride seventeen years ago -- I'll write about it in the "Author's Notes" section of the book -- there is a reason I chose to dump on Stratford. However, this past week, my favorite cousin told me her dad, my favorite uncle (married to my favorite aunt), was born in STRATFORD!! WHAT? So now I can't be as mean as I wanted to be. Thanks, Uncle Marvin!
Anyway, that's the skinny on that—Chapters 6, 7, and 8 will be written this week, then 9, 10, 11, and 12 probably over the weekend. Maybe by this time next week, I'll be nearly halfway finished—we'll see. I like the method I'm using, and I like the way things are flowing—it could be that I wanted to write it this way all along, but I only thought I wanted to be nasty!
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