Exploring The Intersection Of Art, Mystery, And Romance Through The Eyes Of Award-Winning Author
Lee Musgrave’s works seamlessly merge art and narrative, creating vivid worlds in which mystery, romance, and history intertwine, drawing inspiration from his extensive background in visual art and international exhibitions.
Lee Musgrave has long been celebrated for his ability to fuse art with storytelling, creating compelling narratives that blend mystery, romance, and the world of contemporary art. Born in Perth, Australia, and with an extensive career that spans both artistic and literary fields, Musgrave’s work draws heavily on his experiences as a practising artist and former curator. His art has graced numerous international exhibitions, while his novels, including Brushed Off, Off Kilter, and The Beautiful One, showcase his distinct narrative style. In this interview, Musgrave delves into his creative process, offering insights into how his artistic background shapes his writing, the influences behind his characters, and the challenges of balancing historical accuracy with fiction. Whether exploring the art world of Los Angeles or the romantic thrillers set in historical Berlin and Cairo, his work invites readers into vibrant, multifaceted worlds where art and life converge.
Lee Musgrave’s ability to craft compelling stories that bridge art and mystery is unmatched, making each book a captivating journey.
In ‘Off Kilter’, James Terra navigates the Los Angeles art scene amidst mysterious events. How did your own experiences in this community shape the narrative?
Having lived in SoCal for decades, I have had a vast array of experiences that struck me as odd and/or out of the ordinary and while participating in them my imagination would quickly build a narrative for each that made it feel genuine and authentic … which isn’t difficult to do when living in the art community of ‘Hollyweirdland’. There are artists, actors, writers and creatives of every ilk wherever you go. The challenge is to sort through them to find the gems and then polish them for clarity.
‘The Beautiful One’ is set in 1912 Cairo and Berlin, involving the discovery of the Queen Nefertiti sculpture. What inspired you to explore this historical period and intertwine it with a romantic thriller?
As a child, the first time I saw a photograph of the sculpture the joy artist Thutmose had in creating it overtook me. I knew in that instant I had to see it in person. When I finally did see the real thing, that precious feeling of joy embraced me even stronger. I’m certain it always will. The Queen Nefertiti exhibition in the Berlin Museum is a wonderful presentation of the many sculptures Thutmose made of Queen Nefertiti, her family and associates. The style and approach he used in creating them was unique in Egyptian history as was the art being created in 1912 Berlin (which I also treasure) so it felt natural to write a story encompassing them both. The challenge was how to be selective about incorporating many of the extraordinary historic people, inventions, and events of that era into a fictional story without overwhelming the main characters. Plus, since many of the characters were inspired by real historic people, I wanted to respect their individual legacies. Truth be told, there is so much actual legendary historic material from this era, I could have easily made this book twice as long.
Your novels often blend art, mystery, and romance. How do you balance these elements to create engaging and cohesive stories?
Writing is a very intuitive venture for me. I do not preplan anything. I simply listen to my inner self and begin typing; rarely questioning, only responding. The next day, I read aloud what I wrote. In doing so, I can usually tell if something seems off tenor or needs more definition. The process is very much like painting; adjusting the shade of each color, the direction of each brushstroke, the weave of every line to make the final image rewarding to the eye and mind. So the process is not one of balancing, but rather of organic tending and nurturing.
James Terra, an artist and public TV host, serves as the protagonist in your mystery series. What aspects of his character do you find most compelling, and how has he evolved over the series?
I’m an avid reader of mysteries, but rarely, if ever, can you find one based within the contemporary art community or one that features how an artist and that community function in today’s world. So that is my prime objective in structuring each story. Next, James is single and is constantly striving to fine-tune himself, with regard, to his love interest, friends, and colleagues. In ‘Brushed Off’ he is inquisitive, but stands outside of the situation and primarily helps his friend detective Cisco, while in ‘Off Kilter’ he is unconstrained and doesn’t have to live up to the expectations of others. The entire story is more fluid as is James, Nicole and Merra with-regard to how they approach every situation and each other. Their flexible, or liberal if you will, attitude is contagious, poignant, even stirring and reflects the general tenor of the art community internationally … all while being surrounded by the passion to create and share.
‘Brushed Off’ received the Literary Titan Silver Book Award. How did this recognition impact your approach to writing its sequel, ‘Off Kilter’?
It definitely-made me want to write an even more engaging story with snappier dialog … which I believe I achieved in ‘Off Kilter’. Plus, I strived to bring forth the innermost trickle of doubt, self-deprecation, nagging anxiety and fear to sound out each character thus really showing who they are. Beyond that, I always strive to stay sensitive to fiction writing and life, reminding myself each character I create, is an individual with a full inner life, and I need to be open to their humanity … the beauty of their otherness. Acknowledging that silver is not gold, helped me to reach that higher plane.
As an artist and author, how does your visual art practice influence your writing, particularly in crafting vivid settings and scenes?
I’m fond of saying, if I didn’t create art, I wouldn’t be able to write. I approach both forms of self-expression basically in the same manner. I do not pre-plan a painting or drawing, I simply begin. However, that said, while I’m painting, I often find myself flashing on how to improve the current story I’m writing and vice-versa. Each art form is ingrained within me. They make me whole. I cannot image a world without art and books. However, considering that contemporary life is rather crazy, creating fiction that pretends there are always solutions and closure to every major conflict; that life isn’t unpredictable and/or illogical every day, is really silly … but it never dulls my passion to create.
Your works have been featured in international exhibitions, including the Berlin Foto Biennale. How have these experiences enriched your storytelling?
In so many, many ways for I often travel to where the exhibitions are and in so doing enrich my life by having fresh experiences with new people and places. It is my hope my books will be read more universally, especially in the English-reading world, so I can have broader conversations about the stories and how they have affected the reader. During the past year or so, my artwork has been included in over 20 exhibitions internationally and many of those places, events and participating people will eventual show-up in one way or another in my writing.
What key advice would you offer aspiring authors aiming to blend personal passions with their writing?
Don’t listen to the naysayers. Be true to yourself. Allow yourself the time and space to screw-up; to fly and crash; to charge forward in full creative-fever for if you hold yourself back you risk making yourself ill. That said, it takes guts to be creative and courage to share your achievement with others. No matter what response you initially receive, be thankful for the feedback. Use it to grow with, to cultivate and flourish anew. Your drive to share is a very human need.
“Be true to yourself. Allow yourself the time and space to screw-up; to fly and crash.” – Lee Musgrave
