GVN Interview With ‘Heir Of Storms’ Author Lauryn Hamilton Murray

GVN sits down with YA author Lauryn Hamilton Murray to discuss her electrifying debut, her inspirations, and what readers can expect from the next installment in her fantasy series. 

GVN: Hello Lauryn! Thank you so much for making time to speak with Geek Vibes Nation about your upcoming debut, Heir of Storms. Could you start by telling our audience about yourself and your work? 

Lauryn Hamilton Murray: I was born and grew up in Edinburgh, Scotland, where I live with my dogs, Huxley and Ziggy. From a very young age I knew I wanted to be an author. Books have always been my safe space, and it’s a real privilege to write for young adults. Heir of Storms follows Blaze, an outcast girl with devastating storm magic, who is chosen to fight in a dangerous competition for the crown, where she finds herself caught up in court intrigue and caught between two rival love interests.

GVN: Your debut has been described as RED QUEEN meets SHADOW AND BONE—two huge names in YA fantasy. What inspired the world of your book, and how did you set out to make it uniquely your own?

Lauryn Hamilton Murray: I’m a sucker for a high-stakes competition, elemental magic, and a love triangle! But I wanted to create a political system that was slightly different, specifically one that manipulated the concept of hereditary monarchy – that’s why in Heir of Storms the crowns aren’t inherited, they’re won. I also knew that I wanted to tell a story from the perspective of an outsider. I wanted to encapsulate what it feels like to be a teenage girl in a world that doesn’t understand you. I wanted to explore emotional repression, grief, first love and self-discovery. 

GVN: Blaze is born into a fire-wielding family but has water magic. What drew you to the elemental magic system, and what does Blaze’s relationship with her power say about her personal journey?

Lauryn Hamilton Murray: I love elemental magic. It’s classic, timeless, and provides huge scope for creativity. As a Rain Singer, Blaze is forever the outsider in her fire-wielding family. Even her name serves as a constant reminder of who she was supposed to be. Her relationship with her water magic is such an important part of the book, for in order to step into her power, she must learn to overcome her past, rise above adversity and accept herself for who she is. 

GVN: Magic systems can be tricky. How did you build yours, and what rules or limits were most important for you to establish from the beginning?

Lauryn Hamilton Murray: In Heir of Storms, Etheri are those with the ability to manipulate the elements. They are divided into four elemental courts – the Ignitia, Aquatori, Terrathian and Ventalla. Only the emperor has the power to wield all four elements, as well as one gift inherited by the Imperial family alone – light. But with power comes danger. For example, fire-wielders can burn themselves if they’re not careful, water-wielders can drown, etc. I also knew I wanted to explore the destructive side of elemental magic, namely natural disasters – that’s where Blaze’s storm came in. 

GVN: The idea of earning the crown instead of inheriting it adds a fascinating layer of tension. What inspired this competition-based political system, and how did it shape the stakes of the story?

Lauryn Hamilton Murray: I love a high-stakes competition. I’m a HUGE Hunger Games fan. But in Heir of Storms, instead of fighting for survival, contestants are fighting for a throne. Because the trials determine the next generation of monarchs, they were designed to prove the Heirs’ worthiness to rule. The first trial tests how they react to hostility and respond to fear. The second trial is a mental test, one that not only demonstrates intelligence, but the ability to be intelligent under pressure. The third trial is one of combat, a test of skill. So, the Heirs who ultimately triumph have proved themselves rational, brave, clever and powerful, and therefore worthy to be king or queen.  

GVN: You have a background in English literature and creative writing. How did your academic training influence your approach to storytelling, especially in the YA romantasy space?

Lauryn Hamilton Murray: I don’t think my academic background hugely influenced my approach to YA romantasy specifically, as the books I was studying were quite a bit different! But it definitely taught me a lot about my own tastes as a reader – what I like, what I don’t like, what I think works, what doesn’t. That self-knowledge really helped me when I was writing my own story.

GVN: What was the biggest challenge you faced while writing this book—and what was the most surprising moment of discovery along the way?

Lauryn Hamilton Murray: Before I wrote Heir of Storms, I’d only written short stories, so the idea of writing a novel was pretty daunting. I didn’t really know what I was doing, so it was very much a learning process! The most surprising moment was probably the realization of how engrossed I can get in the story. Sometimes hours will have passed, and I won’t have noticed. 

GVN: What’s your go-to move when you hit a wall in your writing? Are you a go-for-a-hike kind of writer, a playlist-and-vibes person, or something else?

Both! Going for a walk or making (yet another!) Spotify playlist always helps, but if I’m being entirely honest my go-to move is finding a quiet, comfortable spot and talking aloud to myself – this always helps me identify the problem and find a way around it. 

GVN: There’s a strong current of reclaiming one’s narrative running through this book. Why do you think that idea resonates so deeply with readers, especially in YA fantasy?

Lauryn Hamilton Murray: Being a teenager is hard! Your emotions are all over the place, and for many there’s this huge pressure to fit a certain narrative – which often means pretending to be somebody you’re not. It was really important for me to write a story about a girl who reclaims that narrative, who accepts and embraces herself and in doing so finds the courage to tell her own story. I really hope readers resonate with Blaze’s journey. She’s very much a ‘this is me trying’ girl <3

GVN: Did any parts of Blaze’s world draw inspiration from your own—like the Scottish landscape, folklore, or even the moodiness of the weather?

Lauryn Hamilton Murray: I think living in Scotland – a notoriously rainy country – definitely inspired Blaze’s rain magic! 

GVN: Lastly, what can you tease about Book 2? More secrets, more romance, more chaos? (We’re ready.)

Lauryn Hamilton Murray: Lots more secrets and lots more romance(s)! Book 1 takes place predominantly in one place, but readers will get to experience more of the elemental kingdoms in Book 2. 

GVN: Where can our readers connect with you online? 

Lauryn Hamilton Murray: You can find me on Instagram and TikTok – @laurynhamiltonmurray is my username!

Heir Of Storms can be purchased everywhere books are sold. 

About The Book

The day Blaze came into the world, she almost drowned it. A Rain Singer born into one of the empire’s most esteemed fire-wielding families, her birth summoned a devastating storm that left thousands dead. Ever since, Blaze has lived hidden away with a dangerous secret: the outcast born with a torrential power can only summon a drizzle. Exiled and powerless, she’s never felt that she belongs.

When Blaze and her brother are suddenly invited to join the trials for the empire’s thrones, she’s forced into the spotlight—and into battle. Threats abound at the palace, where two suitors vie for Blaze’s attention: the enchanting crown prince and a mysterious, alluring newcomer.

As Blaze struggles to reconnect with her long-dormant abilities, she discovers that still waters run deeper than she could have ever imagined. As sinister secrets come to light and the fight for the thrones turns allies into rivals, Blaze must find the courage to embrace her Rain Singer identity and reclaim her power.

I am the girl who wove the storm that shook the world. And I’m coming for my crown.

About The Author

Lauryn Hamilton Murray grew up in Scotland writing stories about sad girls, secrets and storms. She holds a BA Hons in English Literature from the University of Stirling and a master’s in creative writing from the University of Edinburgh. She is happiest when reading in the sun and hiking with her dogs, Huxley and Ziggy.