#TenThingsYouMayNotKnowAbout – #JacquiMurray

/ Marcia Meara

Happy Wodin’s Day, Everyone! It’s time to share another fun #TenThings post with you guys, and today’s very special guest is author Jacqui Murray. I know you are going to enjoy learning more about Jacqui, so without further ado, let’s get started. Jacqui, take it away!

Thanks, Marcia!

I don’t often talk about myself, but I thought this would be a good way to celebrate the launch of my latest prehistoric fiction, Natural Selection, Book 3 of the trilogy Dawn of Humanity. I haven’t lived around the world or completed any amazing feats, but my life has been full and interesting. Here are some of the unusual tidbits you may not be aware of:

  1. I spoke Russian well enough to travel comfortably throughout the Soviet Union for a summer. Before returning to the US, I bought a lot of Russian language books to get an understanding of their version of history.
  2. I owned a Fred Astaire Dance Studio and danced professionally. I loved it, but the lifestyle didn’t fit me well so I eventually moved on.
  3. I installed cell phone antennas on skyscrapers, church steeples, and water tanks. What a view from those heights!
  4. I loved programming in DOS (Disk Operating System–the precursor to Windows). I did a lot of crazy tricks that annoyed my husband. For example, once, I programmed his computer to play Christmas music before it booted up. I still miss it.
  5. I read California’s entire Uniform Building Code (defining the State’s construction regulations) as part of my job to design/build employer-based child care centers. I also read America’s 1200+ page Affordable Care Act (before it exploded in size) because news channels contradicted each other. I also studied America’s Common Core Standards for K-12 education to guide my teaching. Do you see a trend?
  6. I worked in the recycling industry for years. I collected used cardboard and paper, exported it around the world to places like Japan who don’t have enough trees. What an interesting job.
  7. Because of my background in recycling, I know corrugated is the right name for ‘cardboard’. Because of my background in building, I know people often say ‘cement’ when they mean ‘concrete’.
  8. Both my children are in the military. Their choice–I never was. They both love it. One’s a Naval officer, the other in the Army Signal Corps. Guess which is the boy.
  9. I play(ed) Blue Grass on my mandolin after college, jammed with a group. That was about as much fun as a girl can have. I still have the mandolin, but arthritis prevents me from playing.
  10. I think my dog is sentient. He’s Homo canineafter all!

Truth, I have always had trouble settling down to one endeavor, which explains in part my current obsession with both teaching and writing. How about you?

BLURB:

Survival requires change but can Lucy do that? 

In this final book of the trilogy, Lucy and her tribe leave their good home to rescue captured tribemembers who are in grave danger. Lucy’s Group includes an eclectic mix of species–a Canis, a Homotherium kit, and different iterations of early man. Each brings unique skills to the task. More will join and some will die but that is the nature of prehistoric life, when survival depends on a mix of man’s developing intellect and untiring will to live. Based on true events from 1.8 million years ago.

Natural Selection is Available in digital (print soon) at:
Amazon.com
Amazon.co.uk
Amazon Canada
 Amazon Australia
Amazon India

Author Jacqui Murray

Jacqui Murray is the author of the popular Building a Midshipman, the story of her daughter’s journey from high school to United States Naval Academy, the Man vs. Nature saga, prehistoric fiction, and Rowe-Delamagente thrillers. She is also the author/editor of over a hundred books on tech into education, adjunct professor of technology in education, blog webmaster, an Amazon Vine Voice, and a freelance tech ed journalist.

Dawn of Humanity (Books 1 & 2)

The Crossroads Trilogy

You can reach Jacqui on Social Media here:

Amazon Author Page    
Blog
Instagram   
Pinterest 
Twitter 
Website 

Contact Jacqui via Social Media or Email: askatechteacher@gmail.com

 

 

 

88 thoughts on “#TenThingsYouMayNotKnowAbout – #JacquiMurray”

  5. That’s an amazing list of accomplishments. I’m so impressed, I’ve just bought Survival of the Fittest on the back of it. I’m loving this series, Marcia! ❤ ❤ ❤

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  7. Wow! What an interesting life Jacqui has led! I’m petrified of heights, so I can’t imagine installing cellphone antennas. On the flip side, I love the sound of a mandolin. I knew about both of her children, but want to say a special thank you to both for serving our country. Also, a big congrats and well wishes to Jacqui on her latest release!

    Thanks for sharing today, Marcia!

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  11. Nice to meet you Jacqui. What an interesting list! I laughed at the DOS programming. I remember messing around with DOS when I was younger. I miss that sometimes. And I understand about not being able to settle down into one endeavor. I am interested is so many different things; I even had a hard time picking a major in college and have considered going back for a master’s degree but haven’t been able to decide on an area of focus. I wish I could just be a professional student 😁

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  16. What a wonderful ten things, Jacqui! I’d hate the heights of installing antennas, but the rest of that job would fascinate me. Sorry about the arthritis … I bet you really miss the mandolin playing. Congratulations on your latest release, and best wishes with the launch. Thanks for sharing, Marcia 🙂💕

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  17. Hi, Marcia and Jacqui! This was a great list! Russian, professional dancing, VERY heavy reading (in more ways than one!), antennae installaion, and a tons more. What a fascinating life you have led, Jacqui. You must be so proud of your kids–thank you for raising kids who grew up to want to serve their country, and thanks to them for taking on that kind of responsibility.

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  20. Thank you so much for sharing with us today, Jacqui. I agree with all of the comments. You’ve led a remarkable, interesting, entertaining, and often exciting life, and the best news is, you’re still going strong! Who knows what adventures and fun lie ahead?

    I’m afraid I’ll be running behind on responding to everyone individually today, as I’m not feeling 100%, so I’m going to do a blanket thank you to everyone who has responded to this post. THANK YOU ALL!!! (That was it right there. 😁) As I improve throughout the day (like I usually do with this stuff), I will start responding individually. Just know that I loved this post, and all the responses I’ve read so far.

    And last, to echo several comments, I’d like to say thank you to your children for their service to our country. I know you are proud of them, and rightfully so.

    Now, I’m going to go sprawl in the Comfy Chair until I feel a bit better. But in the famous words of You-Know-Who, “Ah’ll be BAHCK!!” 🤗❤️🤗

    (PS, I’m so glad you are enjoying your visit! It’s wonderful to have you here today!)

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  24. Wow, Jacqui, your work history is amazing – what a variety of careers and adventures. With your inquisitive mind, I can now see why research is not a problem for you. And it opens doors too – like your travels to Russia. And I also think dogs are sentient. Of course, they are! And I know you’re so proud of your kids. ❤ Oh, and the mandolin and dance. You're amazing. Great post. Thanks, Marcia, for featuring another fabulous and talented human being. 🙂

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  26. Wow you realky have done a variety of things, Jacqui! Between dancing, playing a mandolin in a band, working with recycle, and installing antennas! I know who to call when I get around to putting a cell antenna in a tree… lol! Wonderful both kids are in the service, we are lucky to have them protect us. I admire your patience to read through done of the stuff you had, not sure I could have made it through it. Great list 🙂
    Thanks for sharing this, Marcia 🙂

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  27. Jacqui, you continue to amaze me. I tried to learn Russian once. Took me forever to learn the alphabet and that’s about the time I gave up. It’s so good to see that Natural Selection is out. I’ve read all the early man (and woman) books in your two series and I never get tired of them. I hope you’ll be doing yet another series of these early times. They’re so well researched and entertaining at the same time.

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  32. Wow! What a diverse 10 Things.
    Love the computer prank, and respeck about both the heights and speaking Russian! I can just about read the cyrillic alphabet, but can’t remember the words. Apart from кофе (pronounced coffee!)
    Thank you for sharing your dancing, music and pranking with us!

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