TENNIS mum Judy Murray is writing a ‘whodunnit’ – and says ‘we’ve all got a murder in us’.
Judy, 65, is set to appear at St. Andrew’s Book Festival in London after publishing her bestselling debut fiction novel The Wild Card earlier this year.
Judy Murray is a top tennis coach[/caption]
Judy Murray, mother of Britain’s Andy Murray smiles after watching him,[/caption]
The former national tennis champ will be talking about the book that took her into the bestsellers lists for the second time.
She has also revealed plan for her next fiction book – a “whodunnit” style murder mystery.
“I have just about finished a whodunnit. It’s out in May,” Judy told The Scotsman.
“It’s still set in the tennis world, at a nice sort of country club and there’s a murder at the start and it could be any one of the ladies first team that has committed the crime.
“The way I’ve written it is a bit like Big Little Lies where it could be any of several people.
“It’s at the editing stage.
“I love a whodunnit. I reckon we’ve all got a murder in us if the circumstances are right. I’m going to work on some pages on the train.”
Judy released her first book, a memoir, in 2017, but The Wild Card is her first move into fiction.
Set in the tennis world, the book follows the story of tennis player Abigail Patterson, who is forced to give up the sport aged 17, but becomes a Wimbledon sensation 20 years later – echoing parts of Judy’s own life.
“It’s two halves of her life, the first 17 years where she overcomes really quite horrific adversity, finds solace in tennis and unexpectedly becomes one of the most promising juniors in Britain but is forced to give up at the age of 17.
“Then 20 years later, she’s on her way to Wimbledon to play on the Centre Court, fulfilling the childhood dream against all the odds.
“The book kicks off when the sensation of the tournament is in the courtesy car and hears radio presenters asking listeners to fill them in on what’s happened to her in the last 20 years because she disappeared off the face of the earth and she realises that a secret she has been keeping for 20 years is about to be exposed in public.
“She’s not based on me.
“There are lots of things that I’ve seen and heard and experienced in there but the only bit people would recognise of me is when Abi changes her coach to a woman who takes the time to get to know her and understands the world according to girls, and she has a much better experience – a mother of two young boys with a softly spoken Scottish accent.
“I think the fact that Abi had to give up was something I could identify with because when I was 17, I’d finished my Highers and had a deal with my dad that if I got a place at Edinburgh University I could take a year to travel and play tennis tournaments.
“I went off to Europe and in those days there were no mobile phones, ATM machines, internet, hardly any flights, you were completely disconnected, and I went by myself.
“I didn’t last very long. I got robbed in Barcelona, my wallet, passport, all my money. I was very much on my own and didn’t speak the language.
“When I called my dad on a reverse charge call from Barcelona he said ‘it’s too dangerous you need to come home‘ and kind of made the decision for me and I think I was glad he did, because I’m not one for giving up on anything.”
“I always wished that things had been different, that I’d come from a country where your federation would accompany you on trips with a coach, and there would be more opportunity, so when I became the national coach I set about creating an infrastructure that allowed Scottish kids to have those chances.
“I never got the opportunity to play, but got the opportunity to have a huge experience of all of these major grand slam tournaments.
Tess Daly with Judy Murray and Anton Du Beke as Judy was voted off Strictly[/caption]
“I became the captain of the Great Britain women‘s team so I did all of the things as a coach that I would have loved to have done as a player.
“For me there was a second chance too.”
The best-selling book was Judy’s second – after penning her memoir in 2017, inspired by her Strictly Come Dancing partner Anton du Beke.
She also added that her sons, Jamie and Andy are “incredibly supportive” of her new and novel career.
“I did a memoir which was in lots of ways easier because it’s your life and you go through it chronologically,” she said.
“This is the first time I’ve done a work of fiction and it’s great fun because your imagination can go anywhere.
“It was entirely down to [Anton]” she said.
“He’s written about seven novels now, all set in the ballroom dancing world.
“I loved all the behind the scenes detail, how it operated and he said you should write one set in the tennis world, all the things you have experienced that people would love to hear about.
“He set me up with his literary agent on Zoom and that was where it started.
“They say you should write about what you know.”
“They [Jamie and Andy] sort of roll their eyes whenever I do something a little bit different, but they’re always incredibly supportive.
“They’re constantly raising their eyebrows at me, ‘what are you doing now?’
Judy Murray and Jamie Murray cheer on Andy from the stands in Australia[/caption]
“The first time I really experienced that was when I said ‘I’ve been asked to do Strictly’ and I took the easy option first and asked Jamie and he said ‘oh mum you love Strictly, are you going to do it? That would be good fun’.
“Then I asked Andy and he stared at me for about 15 seconds without saying anything and then he went ‘Oh my god. You’ll be crap’.”
“And they were both right because I was crap and I did absolutely love it.
“Strictly was the first thing I’d done for myself in years.
“My life had been saturated with tennis. So when I said I was writing a book I got the usual roll of the eyebrows and ‘what next!’ from both of them.”
“I think they’re protective, or worried in case anything goes wrong. But actually The Wild Card has been very well received.”
Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
