Library Speakers Series presents Murray Pura

Author Murray Pura at the Pincher Creek and Disrrict Municipal Library
T. Lucas photos

Toni Lucas, Pincher Creek Voice

Local author Murray Pura was at the Pincher Creek and District Municipal Library on Tuesday evening, February 12 to discuss his books and to give a featured reading from his new book 'The Face of Heaven' which has Abraham Lincoln as one of the characters and is set during the American Civil War.

"It is Lincoln's birthday, and Shrove Tuesday, and Fat Tuesday,"  Pura said, explaining why he chose this reading for this day.  This is only one of several publication that Pura has put out in the last 16 months.

"We will talk about all the books.  'The Face of Heaven', is out,  'Ashton Park'  just came out on January 1, and is part of a series.  'Beneath the Dover Sky' is the second one, and that should come out in the summer,"  Pura said.

His presentation was shared throughout libraries across southern Alberta via teleconferencing.

He's definitely a prolific author.  "I guess it's about 15 now," he said, referring to how many books he has in publication.  Even though much of his subject matter is historical he is embracing the future of publishing.  "Many of them are available as e-books," Pura said. "In Dickens' day, and Arthur Conan Doyle's day, they used to write a serialization.  That captivated an audience that had no radio, no television, no film.  They now do that with e-chapters.  The publisher I have does a lot of that.  So, right now, I am probably writing four books at the same time. One takes place in colonial America during the witch hunts, called 'The Rose of Lancaster County'.  The second one is called 'A Road Called Love', that's a more contemporary one, the third one is 'Seven Oaks', and that is set in a civil war plantation in Virginia."  Pura puts out an installment, called a 'volume', a month for each title.

"You put it out, and people buy them, just like you buy I-Tunes."  Each volume can be equated to a chapter in a book.  "If it's a volume, it's about ninety nine cents, if it's a novella, it's about $2.99 to $3.99.  People love it.  I get emails from people saying "I can't wait another three weeks."  It's a big thing."

Pura said that he is enjoying this style of writing.  Once the online book is completed, the finished book is published in paperback.

Pura is published through Harvest House Publishers and is available on Amazon.

"Amazon is the best place to get anything I have, but a lot of brick and mortar stores carry my books now," he said. 'Ashton Park' is a printed title available in stores now and it's sequel 'Beneath the Dover Sky' will follow in the summer.  Another series of printed books includes  'The Wings of Morning', 'The Face of Heaven' and 'Whispers of a New Dawn'.


Upcoming Tuesday night Speakers Series events

The Pincher Creek and District Municipal Library is holding a Speakers Series on Tuesday nights from 7:00 to 8:00 pm.

• February 19 – Author Roy Davidson will be talking about local history and his books, “Honour – a Story of the Blackfoot Indians” and “The Place Where the Kootenai Go Up”.
• February 26 – Larry Frith is a professional agrologist and had been a local rancher for 42 years, raising certified organic beef since 1997.  He will be discussing “Sustainable Ranching”.

Related links:
Murray Pura titles at Amazon
Murray Pura's Amazon bio


Pincher Creek & District Municipal Library
403-627-3813   www.pinchercreeklibrary.ca