Interview with Laurie Woodward, Author of Time Murmurations

What’s the story behind the story? What inspired you to write Time Murmurations?

One day, I looked up into the sky and saw a flock of Brewer’s blackbirds moving as one. This inky black cloud seemed to hold the key to time itself as I started to imagine what might happen if they reversed direction. From there, I thought of all the things I wished I could rewrite from the past. If it were possible, what would I do? That moment became the spark for Time Murmurations, a novel about a grieving ornithologist who discovers that starlings can bend time and must decide whether changing the past is worth the cost to the future.

If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of Time Murmurations, what would they be?

For Renata, I’d choose “Dog Days Are Over” by Florence + The Machine. It captures her transformation—from grief and self-doubt to rediscovering her strength and joy. For Collin, it has to be “Under Pressure” by Queen and David Bowie. He’s juggling his doctorate, the burden of mastering time murmurations, and the fear of losing Renata. That pulsing rhythm and desperate beauty feel exactly like what’s going on inside him. And for the story as a whole, “Across the Universe” by The Beatles captures the wonder and timelessness at the heart of Time Murmurations.

What’s your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?

I love science fiction and mysteries, but I read a fair amount of fantasy. I have written biographies, fantasy, coming-of-age stories, and screenplays, but I would have to say that writing science fiction is my favorite. Why? Because it lets me explore the realm of the possible. Instead of escaping into a world that could never exist or one that mirrors all the sadness of our own, I get to imagine futures grounded in real science and human emotion—and I get to mold this future world however I imagine.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

Because I’m writing a new dystopian science fiction novel, Divine Proportion, I’ve been gathering stories that explore how power, truth, and control shape the human condition. On my TBR pile are The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin, Prophet Song by Paul Lynch, and Genesis by Nicolette Fuller. Each of these books looks at what happens when governments manipulate reality—and how individuals find courage and meaning within those systems. I’m drawn to stories that don’t just imagine the future but question what it means to stay human inside it.

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

One of my favorite scenes to write was the chase sequence near the beginning. It was inspired by the opening of The Matrix, when Trinity faces down the truck. I loved imagining a similar rush with a dark, Grim Reaper–like figure pursuing Renata through the streets as reality begins to fracture. That moment when time stops and she finds herself suspended in a starling murmuration was an absolute blast to write. It’s where terror and wonder collide—where Renata’s ordinary world unravels and the extraordinary begins.

Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)

I’m not sure I have any quirky habits—no lucky mug or cat on the keyboard—but I do have a morning ritual that centers me before I write. Every day, I meditate using David Elliott’s Manifest Meditation. His approach to breathwork emphasizes creative expression and conscious exchange as paths to healing. I focus on my mantra: I am love. I am kind. I am creation. I am a conduit for others to create joy. It’s how I remind myself that writing, at its best, is an act of giving—channeling creativity to uplift and inspire others.

Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?

I believe that everyone has a beautiful place inside—their creativity—that, when nurtured, births amazing things: paintings, poems, songs. So my motto is, “Let art be true.”

If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?

I would hope readers remember the way Collin and Renata choose compassion, even when everything around them is falling apart. They don’t just fight to save each other in high-stakes moments—they fight to heal the world as they travel through time.

Laurie Woodward is the author of the new book Time Murmurations

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